TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Jonathan Serret, Cultural and Community Services Director DATE:February 11, 2025
SUBJECT: East County Family Justice Center
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Ventura to commit up to $2,000,000 toward the purchase of property for the East County Family Justice Center in Thousand Oaks.
2. Approve additional budget appropriation of $2,000,000 from A/C #001-0000- 311-1000 (General Fund - Fund Balance) to A/C #001-0970-646-5920 (Community Services - Grants & Donations).
3. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$2,000,000 Increase to FY 2024-25 General Fund Budget. $2,000,000 additional budget appropriation to the FY 2024-25 General Fund Budget is required in order to grant one-time financial assistance for the future acquisition of a building for the East County Family Justice Center (FJC) by the County of Ventura (County). The City’s grant contribution will be 50 percent of the acquisition up to $2,000,000.
BACKGROUND:
Under the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office (DA), the FJC model is a multi- agency, under-one-roof service for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, dependent adult abuse, human trafficking, and hate crimes. After starting a pilot program in 2019 at the Ventura County Hall of Justice, the Ventura FJC opened at 3170 Loma Vista Road in Ventura. It serves nearly 3,000 crime victims and their families annually. A second location, the Carmen Ramirez FJC, is scheduled to open in Oxnard in 2026.
East County Family Justice Center
February 11, 2025
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FJCs house a variety of agencies and non-profit organizations that collaborate to provide services in a welcoming and safe setting. Some of the services provided to victims include:
1. Emergency Assistance – Food, clothing, and basic necessities.
2. Safety Services – Safety planning, Hope Line cell phone program, and confidential address program.
3. Shelter and Housing Assistance – Emergency and transitional housing and developing a plan for long-term solutions.
4. Civil Legal Services – Assistance with civil domestic violence restraining orders, divorce, custody, and guardianship.
5. Mental Health Services – Individual and group therapy, behavioral health, and grief and bereavement counseling.
6. Career Guidance – Job, trade, or career counseling.
7. Financial Counseling – Guidance on money management and credit counseling.
8. Education – Pathways to furthering education and developing life skills.
9. Child Development – Enrichment programs for children and parenting skills.
10. Survivor Advocacy – Voices, community engagement, education, and resources to others.
City Council lists advocating for and supporting an FJC presence in Thousand Oaks as part of the Public Safety priority listed in the FY 2024-25 Council Priorities.
Last year, the County expressed its intent to place an FJC in East Ventura County.
At the December 3, 2024, City Council meeting, City Council expressed a desire to have the FJC placed in Thousand Oaks and discussed a willingness to commit up to $2.0 million. At the December 17, 2024, County of Ventura Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, the BOS approved Thousand Oaks as the next location for an FJC.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
With the selection of Thousand Oaks as the location for the East County FJC, the County will begin to search for a suitable property. The specific criteria the County team will be seeking include:
1. Existing Building from 8,000 to 12,000 square feet in size.
2. Building must be purchased, not leased.
3. Location near transportation and medical centers.
4. Outdoor space for youth recreational activities.
East County Family Justice Center
February 11, 2025
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At the December 3, 2024, City Council meeting, a $2.0 million contribution to the East County FJC was discussed, but no vote was taken for a specific expenditure.
After further review of the City’s budget and discussion with the DA’s Office, staff proposes entering into an MOU to contribute up to half of the purchase price of a property for the FJC, not to exceed $2.0 million.
Finding a suitable location may take considerable time. For this reason, the MOU is recommended to serve as the City’s financial commitment to the project. Once a site has been identified, staff will return to City Council to approve the location and enter into a grant agreement with the County for the purchase of the property.
While the MOU will define our financial commitment to the project, the future grant will include specific requirements, such as space allocated for use by Thousand Oaks Police Department.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
A. Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, language, education, and/or socio-economic status.
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
PREPARED BY: Melissa Hurtado, Deputy Cultural and Community Services Director
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