December 19, 2023
Police Department
DATE: December 19, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Richmond
Police Activities League (RPAL)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $325,000 expenditure is included in the Police Department’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget and
will be budgeted accordingly for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 – account string 01191021-400201.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will
ensure the continuation of the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) programs that serve over 3,000 West
Contra Costa County youth annually in academics,
athletics, and life-skills guidance.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the City Manager to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City
of Richmond and the Richmond Police Activities League
(RPAL) to subsidize RPAL staff and programs, ensuring
that academic, athletic, and life-skills services offered by RPAL will continue for the period July 1, 2023 through
June 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $650,000
($325,000 annually for two years) – Police Department
(Chief Bisa French 510-621-1802).
AGENDA
REPORT
December 19, 2023
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1982 to provide a positive alternative to involvement in the criminal justice system for youth between the ages of 5 and 18 years. RPAL’s original location was in a small one-room office that, due to the popularity of the program with Richmond youth, quickly became overcrowded. RPAL utilized police personnel and community members to bridge the gap between the police and community. RPAL personnel and volunteers also tutored school-age children in a variety of academic subjects, as well as provided athletic and artistic training to many Richmond youth. The lessons learned far exceeded the classroom and playing field by teaching each child responsibility, community service, and teamwork.
In 1997, RPAL partnered with Mechanics Bank and purchased its current home located at 2200 Macdonald Avenue. Annually, the 40,000 square foot facility provides over 3,000 West Contra Costa County youth with invaluable learning and recreational opportunities that include:
Academic tutoring & homework assistance
Mentoring, leadership, and life-skills training
Audio recording via a state-of-the-art recording studio Athletic training via individual and team sports
Computer lab training & assistance
Community engagement, including participation in toy and food drives; “Shop with a Cop”; partnering with local soup kitchens to feed the homeless; and participating in numerous City-sponsored community events The Richmond Police Department (RPD) Explorer program
The City has been offering support to RPAL through the RPD since RPAL’s inception by providing police personnel to manage and oversee the overall operation. In return, RPAL conducts extensive outreach to thousands of West County youth and is tireless in its efforts to assist families that are financially burdened. RPAL is a key crime- prevention program for the community.
As of July 2013, RPAL’s paid staff ceased to be City of Richmond employees via RPD’s budget. Currently, the City provides RPAL one (1) Recreation Program Coordinator position through Richmond Recreation division. This position is established pursuant to the proposed MOU and has existed historically. This partnership supports youth and Richmond residents.
RPAL is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that depends on financial support from businesses, corporations, various grant sources, and community members. Despite these sources of support, continued financial assistance from the City of Richmond is critical to meet RPAL’s needs going forward. Approval of this MOU and annual financial support of $325,000 ensures a strong relationship between the City
December 19, 2023
of Richmond and RPAL, as a means of providing quality recreational and delinquency- prevention services over the next several years.
The contract term is retroactively dated to July 1, 2023, because Richmond Police Department staff did not receive the MOU until just before the deadline to submit for City Council approval prior the fiscal year cutoff, and still needed to secure Risk Management’s approval of the insurance coverage and the City Attorney’s Office’s approval of the document to be signed. During City Council’s recess, action was taken to ensure that there would be no liability issues resulting from retired Police Department staff working at RPAL.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – 2023-25 City-RPAL MOU Revised