CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
February 28, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Michael Ellis, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF $4,000,000 DOLLARS FROM THE BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (BSCC) FOR THE POMONA OFFICERS ASSISTING THE HOMELESS (OATH) INITIATIVE RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-13 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING $4,000,000 FROM THE BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (BSCC) FOR THE POMONA OFFICERS ASSISTING THE HOMELESS (OATH) INITIATIVE AND AMEND THE FY 2021-22 SPECIAL OPERATING BUDGET BY INCREASING REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,008,600 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-14 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (DMH) IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $ 352,000 PER FISCAL YEAR RESOLUTION NO. 2022-15 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE AUTHORIZED STAFFING IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 OPERATING BUDGET TO ADD FOUR (4) POSITIONS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Approve a purchase from National Fleet Group for three (3) utility vehicles in an amount not to exceed $180,000; Approve sole-source purchases to WatchGuard Video, Inc. and Motorola Solutions, Inc. for equipment purchases in the amount of $17,500; Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all agreements on behalf of the City, subject to review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Acceptance of the recommended actions will accept funding from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) in the amount of $4M, amend the FY 2021-22 Special Operating Revenue Fund by increasing revenue estimates and appropriations in the amount of $1M of the $4M. Additional recommendations include: an approval of an Agreement to DMH for two clinicians, an increase authorized staffing for Public Works, the purchase of equipment for one (1) police officer, and the purchase of three (3) vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group for the Pomona OATH Initiative.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff is requesting to amend the FY 2021-22 Special Operating revenue estimates (291-2090-40873-58688) and appropriations (291-2090-5XXXX-58688) in the amount of $1,008,600. The remaining balance of the grant will be included in FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 proposed budgets. The budget for FY 2021-22 includes the costs of one-time purchases and a partial year of anticipated annual operating expenses in the amount of $1,008,600. Acceptance of OATH funds will allow for cost savings to the General Fund which will result in available funding to restore those positions that were unfunded with the Adopted FY 2021-22 General Fund Budget.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On October 15, 2018, City Council accepted State funding of $4,000,000 to establish the Pomona OATH Initiative.
DISCUSSION:
The OATH initiative began FY 2018-19 when Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez secured funding to create the Pomona OATH initiative per the budget act of 2021, senate bill 170. This program is geared to address and assist the homeless population in the City of Pomona (City) for the duration of three years (FY 2018-19 through FY 2020-21). During this period, Police Officers funded by OATH responded to calls and visited 11,824 homeless encampments providing assistance and outreach.
On August of 2021, Assembly member Freddie Rodriguez notified the City that he was successful in securing another round of State funding in the amount of $4M dollars to continue the Pomona OATH Initiative Program for another three years. Acceptance of funding from the BSCC in the amount of $4M will amend the FY 2021-22 Special Operating Revenue Fund by increasing revenue estimates and appropriations in the amount of $1M of the $4M (Attachment No.1).
In accordance with Senate Bill 170, Chapter 240, Statues of 2021, Control Section 19.56 (e), (284) the goals of the “Pomona OATH Initiative” are to fund:
Law Enforcement Programs on Best Practices on Police Interactions with Homeless Individuals Mental Health Clinicians
Homeless Liaison Officer Positions
Law Enforcement Trainings on the Administration of Naloxone Community Forums
Data Reporting
The City will contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) for two (2) Mental Health Clinicians to service the City for three years. In the previous program funding, the City had only one (1) assigned clinician to provide mental health crisis intervention, homeless outreach and mental health treatment for the program. With only one clinician assigned, staff realized a lack of coverage to address mental health calls in the evening hours. To enhance the program staff anticipates the need for two (2) clinicians for this round of funding will provide. The contract amount with DMH will not exceed $352,000 per fiscal year (Attachment No. 2).
In addition, City staff levels will be adjusted to better meet the program needs. In the previous allocation, eight (8) part-time maintenance worker positions were created to properly care for and handle any personal property encountered in the field. By the end of the last program, staff recognized the need for full-time positions. Part-time positions are limited to 1000 hours per fiscal year, this limitation restricted the operations of the program. The City previously added two full-time Public Services Maintenance Worker I/II positions in lieu of two of the part-time positions. The new spending plan replaces all of the remaining eight (8) part-time positions with two (2) Public Services Crew Leader positions and two (2) additional Public Services Maintenance Worker I/II positions. These changes will result in two full-time Public Works crews to perform clean up and storage of property for the program (Attachment no.3). The available OATH funding will allow for cost savings to the general fund and will unfreeze a previously frozen police officer position to be fully funded though the OATH program. The police officer will be assigned to the program to serve as a liaison with our Mental Health Clinicians and City divisions.
Creation of new positions will result in the need for new vehicles. Approval of a purchase utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Contract #120716-NAF with National Auto Fleet Group (Attachment No.4) will allow the City to purchase three (3) vehicles needed for the expansion of the program. Sourcewell is a Joint Powers Association for public agencies with legal authority to serve as a contracting agency for municipalities. City code section 2-997 authorizes the Procurement Officer to recommend the cooperative agreements upon review of the solicitation methods used by the lead agency on the procurement. Purchasing has reviewed the procurement process conducted by the lead agency and determined that the process meets the City of Pomona’s requirement for utilizing cooperative agreements. A 2022 Ford F-150, a Ford F-250, and a 2022 Ford Police Interceptor Utility unit will be purchased to aid in the program. The total costs to purchase and outfit these vehicles will not exceed the amount of $180k.
In addition, equipment needs have been identified to equip the additional staff. Approval of a sole-source purchase in the amount of $17.5k to WatchGuard Video, Inc. and Motorola Solutions, Inc. is necessary in continuing uniformity in the Pomona Police Department’s equipment. The Police Department currently utilizes two manufacturers as sole source vendors. The Police Department’s body worn cameras and mobile video systems are purchased from WatchGuard, Inc. and all radio communication equipment is purchased from Motorola. Therefore, the recommendation is that City Council approves WatchGuard, Inc. and Motorola as a continued sole-source vendor.
Staff developed an expenditure plan (Attachment No. 5) to best meet the above goals of senate bill 170. Many of the goals presented are based on the previous history of the program and successful outreach outcomes.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: This item supports the 2021-2022 City Council Priority 1: Fiscal and Operational Responsibility – Goal C: Obtain additional grant funding and other revenues to help achieve City goals.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Brad Paulson, Sergeant
Claudia Huerta, Management Analyst
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 - Resolution No. 2022-13
Attachment No. 2 - Resolution No. 2022-14
Attachment No. 3 - Resolution No. 2022-15
Attachment No. 4 - Sourcewell Master Vehicle Contract # 120716-NAF Attachment No. 5 – OATH Expenditure Spending plan
Pomona Officers Assisting the Homeless (OATH) Initiative