CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
December 4, 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 JUST US 4 YOUTH (JU4Y) 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 twenty-month agreement (Attachment No. 1) with Just Us 4 Youth (JU4Y) in the amount not to exceed $200,000 for their role in supporting the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) as it carries out the City of Pomona’s California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant implementation of the CalVIP Grant; and, Authorize the City Manager, or designee, 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:
The agreement with JU4Y will provide the services relating to the implementation of the CalVIP Grant, which includes the hiring of two (2) Street Outreach Specialists to assist with a Needs Assessment (assessing the needs of the population we are seeking to serve) and provide critical intervention work and follow-up when violence arises. This would occur over twenty months, from November 2023 through June 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for the agreement in the amount not to exceed $200,000 is available in the CalVIP Fund (188-0900-52285-00000).
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 the 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 implementing the goals and managing program objectives related to the CalVIP Grant.
On August 21, 2023, the City Council approved a two-and-a-half agreement with EcoCiv in the amount not to exceed $155,000, for project monitoring, evaluation, and creation of the Local Evaluation Plan and Final Evaluation Report. The City Council also approved a two-and-a-half agreement with God’s Pantry in the amount not to exceed $270,000 to manage the street outreach component of CalVIP.
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 California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program Funds. 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:
Those individuals who are at an extraordinary risk of violence and incarceration, and who struggle with multiple negative factors; On surrounding local communities that have been traumatized by violence, resulting in a lack of social cohesion; and 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 (CBO’s). JU4Y will employ (2) Street Outreach Specialists who will engage in the following activities: complete data collection for the Needs Assessment; be first responders to shooting incidents, receive information from Pomona Police Department and engage active shooters or those most at risk of gun violence; participate in Community Safety Meetings; refer individuals at highest risk of gun violence to Peacemaker Fellowship for case management and life coaching, and engage in regular communication with the Neighborhood Change Agents.
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.
Prepared by:
Aleli Burgos
Deputy Finance Director
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment 1 – Just Us 4 Youth Scope of Work
CalVIP Agreement with Just Us 4 Youth