City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: October 22, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Receipt of State of California Proposition 47 Grant Funds and Authorization of City Manager to Execute All Necessary Associated Documents
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and 15303 (New Construction and Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the State of California, Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) in the amount of $7,926,172 for the SaMo Bridge diversion program; and authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant, execute the grant agreement, and execute other necessary documents.
3. Authorize budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report. (requires 5 votes)
Summary
On June 5, 2024, the City Attorney’s Office, after consulting with partners in the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) and Housing and Human Services (HHS), submitted an application for Proposition 47 grant funding in an amount equal to $7,926,172 for SaMo Bridge, a diversion program that addresses the behavioral health, substance abuse, and housing needs of justice-involved adults in the Santa Monica community.
Specifically, SaMo Bridge will create a no-barrier 24/7 respite hub where SMPD can divert individuals so that they may address basic needs and enroll in 90-day care coordination plans to secure housing and treatment services. Upon program graduation, the City Attorney’s Office will dismiss citations and cases. 2 of 5
On October 3, 2024, the BSCC awarded grant funding to the City of Santa Monica for the full amount requested. The City Attorney recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application and accept the Proposition 47 grant award for SaMo Bridge from the State of California, Board of State and Community Corrections in an amount equal to $7,926,172 and further authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement and other necessary documents.
Background
Proposition 47 codified Government Code sections 7599-7599.2 in a 2014 voterapproved initiative. Its purpose, as stated in the ballot initiative, is as follows:
The people enact the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act to ensure that prison spending is focused on violent and serious offenses, to maximize alternatives for nonserious, nonviolent crime, and to invest the savings generated from this act into prevention and support programs in K-12 schools, victim services, and mental health and drug treatment.
As stated in the proposition, California’s Board of State and Community Corrections’ responsibilities are to:
Administer a grant program to public agencies aimed at supporting mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and diversion programs for people in the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on programs that reduce recidivism of people convicted of less serious crimes, such as those covered by this measure, and those who have substance abuse and mental health problems. (Gov. Code,§ 7599.2, subd. (a)(3).) Assembly Bill 1056 (Chapter 438, Statutes of 2015) added legislative priorities for this grant program, including housing-related assistance and other community-based supportive services, job-skills training, case management, and civil legal services.
Grants may fund programs that serve both adults and juveniles. 3 of 5
On April 11, 2024, BSCC approved release of the Cohort 4 Proposition 47 Request for Proposals, which made funding available competitively to public agencies located in the State of California. On June 5, 2024, the City Attorney’s Office, after consulting with SMPD and HHS, submitted an application for Proposition 47 grant funding in an amount of $7,926,172.
On October 3, 2024, the BSCC awarded grant funding for 27 proposals, totaling approximately $167 million. As part of that award, the City of Santa Monica was awarded the full amount requested.
Discussion
The Proposition 47 grant funds will be used to establish SaMo Bridge, a diversion program that addresses the behavioral health, substance abuse, and housing needs of justice-involved adults in the Santa Monica community by providing individuals who are stuck at the intersection of criminal justice involvement, addiction, unmet behavioral health needs, and homelessness a bridge to services to reduce recidivism.
Specifically, SaMo Bridge will create a no-barrier 24/7 respite hub where SMPD can divert individuals during the pre-arrest, post-arrest, and pre-filing stages of law enforcement contact. At the respite hub, individuals may address basic needs and enroll in 90-day care coordination plans to secure housing and treatment services. Upon program graduation, the City Attorney’s Office will dismiss citations and cases. The full project description is set forth in the City’s application, attached as Attachment B.
SaMo Bridge will be implemented in partnership with Exodus Recovery, Inc., a California based nonprofit, that will be primarily responsible for operating SaMo Bridge, specifically by providing Care Managers, who conduct outreach in the community, meet participants at the SaMo Bridge, and provide ongoing case management, and Community Navigators, who support the 24/7 operations of the SaMo Bridge respite hub, making it feasible for SMPD officers to make round-the-clock diversion referrals.
The City Attorney’s Office further anticipates contracting with a grant administrator using grant funds to ensure proper implementation and compliance. 4 of 5
The respite hub will operate from leased trailers located on City property. It is anticipated that participants will stay at the hub for approximately 24 to 48 hours as their Exodus Case Manager finds temporary housing and treatment services. The City Attorney’s Office is currently coordinating with various City departments to determine the best location for the trailers and the SaMo Bridge operations. The City Attorney’s Office will return to the Council with necessary approvals for these, and additional aspects, of implementation of the SaMo Bridge program, all of which will be fully funded through the Proposition 47 grant.
The City Attorney recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution, required by BSCC, authorizing the submittal of the application, acceptance of the grant, and execution of the grant agreement and other necessary documents.
Environmental Review
Acceptance of the grant funding for operation of the SaMo Bridge program would have no possibility of significant effect on the environment, and therefore, is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. If awarded, the use of grant funding would provide administrative services to participants, and therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment.
Additionally, operation of the program within small, leased trailers would be exempt pursuant to Section 15301 (New Construction and Conversion of Structures) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15303 exempts limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another. Therefore, use of the leased trailers would be exempt pursuant to Section 15303 CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from the State of California, Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for the SaMo Bridge diversion program. Approval of the recommended actions require the following budget amendment:
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FY 2024-25 Grant Budget Amendment
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
20120001.4xxxxx $3,301,850 20120001.5xxxxx $3,301,850
Total $3,301,850 Total $3,301,850
The grant was awarded for a three-year period, ending in 2028. However, the grant could be cancelled by BSCC during that time if insufficient funds are not available through the Proposition 47 grant program, which is funded by the annual transfer of savings generated by Proposition 47. On or before July 31 of each fiscal year, the California Department of Finance will calculate the State savings associated with Proposition 47, which will determine whether sufficient funds are available for funding SaMo Bridge during the three-year period.
Budget changes beyond June 30, 2024 will be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on Council budget approval. Should future funding not be available through the BSCC grant, staff would seek alternate funding to continue the program.
Prepared By: Heidi Von Tongeln, Deputy City Attorney
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. A-Proposed Resolution
B. B-Combined Program Proposal_Prop 47