REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 5, 2015
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: PATRICK FARMER, Deputy Chief
Investigative Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Chief of Police to enter in Memorandums of Understanding ("MOUs") with the Community Based Organizations ("CBOs") as identified in the 2014 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant program agreement
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Chief of Police to enter into MOUs with four CBOs partnering with the City under the 2014 Project Safe Neighborhoods ("PSN") grant program: Valley Crimestoppers, County of Fresno, California State University Fresno, and Friends of Calwa. At the November 20, 2014, City Council meeting, Council approved the grant agreement for $450,000 from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services ("CalOES"), for the 2014 PSN grant program, and funding was appropriated in the FY 15 budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Board of State and Community Corrections ("BSCC") awarded the City of Fresno $1,500,000 in grant funds for continued staffing of the Mayor's Gang Prevention Initiative ("MGPI"), Ceasefire strategies, community engagement and community based organizations partners. The grant commences on January 1, 2015, and concludes on December 31, 2017. In conjunction with the grant objectives, a regional approach to anti-gang violence will incorporate multiple jurisdictions and organizations to embrace the goal of reducing gang activity in the City of Fresno and adjacent areas. In developing this approach the Police Department has engaged public participation by partnering with several CBOs toward these objectives as evidenced in the MOU's.
BACKGROUND
The citizens of the City of Fresno and Fresno County continue to be impacted by gang violence and gang-related crimes. The City of Fresno was designated as one of the 25 "High Intensity Gang Areas" ("HIGAS") in California. According to the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium ("MAGEC"), of the 24,000 validated gang members and associates in 141 established gangs within the County of Fresno, there are approximately 10,100 validated gang members and 10,000 associates in the City of Fresno. The remaining validated gang members and associates live in smaller outlying cities within Fresno County.
Reducing gang and gun violence requires a true multi-discipline collaborative community effort. The Fresno Police Department was recently awarded $450,000 in 2014 PSN grant funding to assist in our efforts to reduce gang violence and gang related shootings. Grant funds will augment MAGEC and the PSN Task Force by adding support for a civil gang injunction in identified gang-impacted neighborhoods dedicating jail beds for gang/gun offenders, creating a public service announcement campaign, and implementing a youth development program. Grant funds will also purchase direct project supplies for use by the Fresno Ceasefire staff, and fund training and overtime for enforcement operations related to gangs, gang violence, and illegal firearms.
A media campaign will be initiated through Valley Crimestoppers to urge the public to report gang activity in their neighborhoods and encourage current active gang members and associates to change their lifestyle by notifying them of the strict consequences of gang related violence.
PSN grant requirements mandate a portion of funding be designated for a community based youth organization. We have identified the Friends of Calwa, which will implement "Nature and Nurture," a positive youth development program for children ages 11 to 15 residing in the targeted area. The program is designed to develop leadership skills, strengthen self-esteem, learn community values and exercise self-empowerment. The program's goal is to reduce the occurrence of youth gang-related incidents and increase positive outcomes for young people with a high risk for gang involvement.
PSN grant requirements also mandate that at least 20% of the funding be earmarked for a local research partner to work with the PSN Task Force and analyze local crime problems, while assisting in development of a proactive plan to reduce gun crime and/or gang violence. We have identified California State University, Fresno, as the local research partner.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a "project" for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because the grant agreement is funded by state and federal programs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this program will not have a negative impact on the City of Fresno's General Fund. This is a reimbursement-based grant and all expenditures will be reimbursed on a quarterly basis. No additional personnel will be hired. There are no future obligations once the performance period has expired and all funds expended.
Attachment: MOUs