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Title:
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Approval of the Submission of an Application for $11,974.00 in Grant Funds Made Available Through the US Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY 2015 Local Solicitation.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: May 26, 2015 Item Number: C-5
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of the Submission of an Application for
$11,974.00 in Grant Funds Made Available Through the US Department of Justice,
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY 2015 Local
Solicitation.
Contact Person/Dept.: Lt. Bill
Browne/Police Dept.
Phone Number: (310) 253-6109
Fiscal Impact: Yes [x] No [] General Fund: Yes [x] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (05/21/15)
Department Approval:
Scott Bixby (05/20/15)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (05/19/15)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (05/20/15)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (05/21/15)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the submission of an application for grant
funds in the amount of $11,974.00 through the FY 2015 Department of Justice Edward
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Local Solicitation.
BACKGROUND:
Numerous people with mental health illnesses are contacted by and involved in the
criminal justice system every year as a result of unrecognized or untreated mental
disorders. Approximately one in five adults in the United States (43.7 million, or 18.6%)
experience a form of mental illness in a given year. Approximately one in five youth,
aged 13-18 (21.4%) also experience a severe mental disorder during the same period.
These disorders include schizophrenia, autism, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar
disorder, major depression, addiction disorders, and anxiety disorders.
In Culver City, from June 2014 through May 2015, officers have placed approximately
155 (approximately 14 per month) persons with mental illnesses on 72 hour holds per
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150. Additionally, during the same time period,
officers responded to over 500 calls for service involving transients or homeless
subjects who in many cases suffer from some form of mental illness but did not meet
the criteria at the time to be placed on a Section 5150 hold.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
Law enforcement officers are very often the first responders to incidents involving
people with mental illnesses and who are in crisis. Such first responses are often
911 calls ranging from suicide attempts to complaints about people potentially
endangering themselves or others. Officers may also encounter individuals in mental
health crisis while on routine patrol. Due to these facts, it is important that officers
have access to appropriate training related to interacting with those who suffer from
mental illness.
The grant proposal is for $11,974 which would be used to offset overtime costs
related to backfilling positions due to sending officers and communications operators
to POST approved training courses. As part of the grant application submittal, the
grant application must be made available for review by a city’s governing body and
public comment no less than 30 days prior to the grant application being submitted.
The grant application is due June 26, 2015.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Per Council Policy 2014-CP003, grant funds received up to $30,000 may be
accepted and appropriated by the City Manager. If the City is awarded these grant
funds, they will be appropriated into the proper object accounts upon receipt. Grant
allocated funds will be used to off-set overtime costs related to back-filling positions
due to sending officers and communication operators to California Peace Officer
Standards and Training (POST) approved training courses.
ATTACHMENT:
Grant Application
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Approve the submission of an application for grant funds in the amount of
$11,974.00 through the FY 2015 Department of Justice Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Local Solicitation For
Mental Health Services Training;
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.