CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
August 21, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Andrew Mowbray, Finance Director/City Treasurer Michael Ellis, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH INSTITUTE FOR ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION (ECOCIV) AND GOD’S PANTRY FOR SERVICES RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CALIFORNIA VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION GRANT (CALVIP) RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Approve a two-and-a-half-year agreement with Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv) in the amount not to exceed $155,000 for project monitoring, evaluation and creation of the Local Evaluation Plan and Final Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program Funds; and, Approve a two-and-a-half-year agreement with God’s Pantry in the amount not to exceed $270,000 to manage the street outreach component for implementation of the CalVIP Grant; and Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and any extensions, subsequent changes or amendments thereto, on behalf of the City, subject to review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
EcoCiv and God’s pantry proposes to contract with the City of Pomona for a two-and-a-half-year agreement from August 2023 through December 2025, to provide the services relating to the implementation of the CalVIP Grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for both contracts totaling $425,000 is available in the CalVIP Fund (188-0900-52285-00000).
Vendor
Amount
EcoCiv
$155,000.00
God’s Pantry
$270,000.00
Total
$425,000.00
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On July 18, 2022, the City Council accepted and appropriated $5,144,940 of CalVIP Grant.
On January 9, 2023, the City Council approved a two-and-a-half-year agreement with Institute for Ecological Civilization in the amount not to exceed $458,000 for technical assistance relating to the implementation of the CalVIP Grant.
On January 23, 2023, the City Council approved a two-and-a-half-year agreement with Safe Passages/Advance Peace in the amount not to exceed $450,000 for the implementation of the CalVIP Grant.
On April 17, 2023, the City Council approved the classifications of Violence Prevention Manager and Violence Prevention Senior Analyst positions to assist with implementation of the goals and management of program objectives related to the CalVIP Grant.
DISCUSSION:
On June 9, 2022, the City of Pomona was notified by the Board of State and Community Corrections of an award amounting to $5,144,940 through the CalVIP. The Pomona Partnership (Partnership) for Violence Prevention, which consists of the City’s newly formed Violence Prevention Division, the Pomona Police Department, and collaborating community agencies, will focus on CalVIP strategies on the three aspects of community need. Those strategies are as follows:
1. Those individuals who are at an extraordinary risk of violence and incarceration, and who struggle with multiple negative factors;
2. On surrounding local communities that have been traumatized by violence, resulting in a lack of social cohesion; and
3. The historic relationships and conditions in the community exacerbated by COVID-19, require systemic change and a cultural shift in the relations between the community and law enforcement.
The four neighborhoods specifically focused for service will be the West Grove/District 1, Angela Street and Chanslor Street area, the Abbey Street and Karesh Street area, and the area near Pomona High School, with other areas included as appropriate. In light of these challenges, the Partnership for Violence Prevention seeks to improve public health and safety by employing effective violence reduction initiatives in the City of Pomona. At the same time, the Partnership plans to improve both the lives of high-risk individuals and community social cohesion as well as community-police relations.
The grant and the grant budget specify a series of roles to be carried out by community-based organizations. EcoCiv will be acting as the fiscal sponsor for Dr. Gabriele Plickert, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Plickert will conduct a first-year systematic problem analysis of local violence; oversee, provide support and through a survey process, identify the needs and priorities of young people at risk of violence. Dr. Plickert and a student team will also conduct ongoing evaluation and incorporate data collected by partner agencies to create a final evaluation report.
God’s Pantry is dedicated to managing the street outreach component of the CalVIP Grant. God’s Pantry will take the responsibility for overseeing the street outreach efforts, ensuring that effecting outreach and engagement with individuals in need within the community. They will engage with individuals on the streets, in encampments, or in other marginalized settings, providing them with information about available resources, including shelter, healthcare services, addiction treatment programs, mental health support, and employment assistance.
Contract with EcoCiv and God’s Pantry will be retroactive August 1, 2023 to allow the contract performance period to begin as originally intended by the community-based organizations who already commenced some initial work.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: This item supports the 2021 City Council Priority No. 4 – Safe and Clean Community; Goal N – Take actions to eliminate prostitution, human trafficking, and gang related violence.
ALTERNATIVE(S): None
Prepared by:
Aleli Burgos
Deputy Finance Director
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment 1 – Institute for Ecological Civilization
Proposal and Scope of Work: Dr. Gabriele Plickert
Attachment 2 – God’s Pantry Proposal and Scope of Work
Award Contract to Institute for Ecological Civilization