Agenda Item #12.2
For Council Meeting of: January 10, 2023
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council, by resolution, authorize the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate the funds from the National Opioid Settlement fund to the Opioid Settlement Fund project keys, to provide an opioid related wellness program, training, and equipment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A legal settlement related to Opioid distribution has provided funding for specific narcotic related programs dealing with training, mitigation, and harm reduction. The approved resolution will make the funding available to the Police Department to increase the on-site wellness director contract, provide additional opioid related training for both Police and Fire Department staff and additional equipment.
BACKGROUND
On December 14, 2021, the Council of the City of Santa Rosa adopted Resolution RES-2021-223, approving execution of two settlement agreements as part of the National Opioid Settlements. The first agreement with Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc. (Janssen Settlement) and the second with all other distributors (Distributor Settlement). Both settlement agreements have the same restrictive uses, as outlined in Exhibit E to the National Opioid Settlement Agreements – List of Opioid Remediation Uses, and the amount of funding changes each year based on participation in the programs. The funds must be spent within five years of when they are “programmed” to the City, or they must be returned to the Opioid Settlement Fund.
The Distributor Settlement is funding for the next 18 years at approximately $100,000 per year and will be paid annually on or around July 15th. The first payment was received in November 2022 for $101,538.27; the second payment is anticipated within the next month and will be $106,711.77. The Police Department will use the first three years of funding to increase the onsite wellness coordinator contract to 40 hours to allow for additional classes and one-on-one discussions with staff that has been impacted by calls for service related to opioid use. The remaining funds will be used to obtain additional opioid testing equipment used for opioid related harm reduction and provide additional training as well as opportunities to attend conferences for detectives and other line staff focusing on opioid use in the community.
The Jansen Settlement is funding for the next 11 years at approximately $60,000 per year. Year one and two is anticipated to be paid to the City by the end of 2022 for a total of $120,482.94. The Police Department plans to use these funds to purchase several spectrometers for use in the field and by the evidence team. This equipment will allow staff to quickly identify suspected narcotics to help keep staff and the public safe.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
December 12, 2021, Closed Session - Opioid Settlement
ANALYSIS
A legal settlement related to Opioid distribution has provided funding for specific narcotic related programs dealing with training, mitigation, and harm reduction. Funds are specifically identified for first responders for criteria which include the following:
Education of law enforcement or other first responders regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs.
The use of these funds will be used to provide additional funding related to the above criteria. This would allow additional training in the area of narcotics enforcement and investigations, hazard mitigation, current trends and safety concerns, as well as best practices when responding to and investigating narcotic related incidents. Trainings could include courses such as: California Narcotic Officers’ Association Conference, Drug Endangered Children Investigations, and Drug Trends Update.
Provision of wellness and support services for first responders and others who experience secondary trauma associated with opioid-related emergency events.
An expansion of the Police Department’s current wellness program will provide dedicated services and responses to opioid-related events. By using analytical information in conjunction with neuroscience such as brain/cognitive performance tests, and blood biomarkers, the department could see the effects both physically and psychologically during specific instances and cumulative exposure to opioid related events. This will be coupled with specific wellness related programs and outreach by our dedicated wellness director.
Support efforts to prevent or reduce overdose deaths or other opioid-related harms through evidence based or evidence-informed programs which includes supporting screening for fentanyl in routine clinical toxicology testing.
The funds would be used to purchase several spectrometers for use in the field and by the evidence team. This equipment will allow staff to quickly identify suspected narcotics to help keep staff and the public safe.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project that has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and 15061.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Exhibit E to the National Opioid Settlement Agreement (List of Opioid Remediation Uses) Resolution
CONTACT
Pam Lorence, ASO, [email protected] 707-543-3577
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT PAGE 3 OF 3