June 20, 2023
Police Department
DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Sole-Source Contract with Community Violence Solutions
(CVS) to Provide Counseling and Emergency Shelter
Services to Victims of Violence
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed funding of $180,000 over the three-year contract will come from the Police Department’s
approved budget for FY2022-2023 and will be budgeted
for appropriately in upcoming budget submissions –
account string (01191021-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Community Violence Solutions is a community partner
that will work with victims of violence and will provide emergency shelter and counseling services at the behest of Richmond Police Department Staff.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a three-year sole source contract with
Community Violence Solutions (CVS) for counseling and
emergency shelter services to victims of violence, in an amount not to exceed $180,000, over the retroactive
contract term starting January 1, 2023, and expiring
December 31, 2025 – Police Department (Chief Bisa
French 510-621-1802).
DISCUSSION:
AGENDA
REPORT
June 20, 2023
Community Violence Solutions (CVS), a rape crisis center serving all Contra Costa County law enforcement agencies, has partnered with the Richmond Police Department to expeditiously provide aid to victims of sexual assault related crimes, regardless of age, to assist with the lifelong impact of the crime.
A CVS Advocate is housed at the Richmond Family Justice Center (where the Richmond Police Department (RPD) Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit resides) and works closely with RPD Detectives to provide services to victims of crime involving sexual abuse and/or human trafficking. Services can include, but are not limited to, counseling/therapy, shelter, relocation, or job search assistance. The presence of a CVS Advocate in the Family Justice Center with RPD Detectives, allows the victims and their families to obtain the support they need timely and in one place.
The funding for this contract will be used to cover the cost of the on-site advocate, expenses related to court hearings and travel costs to/from, emergency shelter accommodations, and/or meals for the victims directly involved in the case.
Richmond Police Department staff members are recommending City Council approval of the sole-source contract as CVS is the only CalOES-funded rape crisis center in Contra Costa County. Furthermore, CVS is local, has partnered with all police agencies within Contra Costa County for numerous years, is well acquainted with RPD officers, and its staff are informed about the community and the victims they serve.
CVS has done its best to keep up with admin duties while struggling with a decrease in staff and a steady flow of victims during the COVID-19 Pandemic. RPD staff had requested a contract renewal prior to the calendar year-end 2022, but did not receive CVS’ agreement until May; therefore, RPD staff is requesting the contract will be approved with a term retroactive to January 1, 2023. RPD’s current FY2022-23 budget includes the funds to continue with CVS’ services without interruption.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Standard Contract CVS 060823
Attachment 2 – Executed Sole Source
Attachment 3 – Executed ATF