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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/05/2021 - ITEMS RELATING TO THE FORT COLLINS POLICE SERVICES Agenda Item 6 Item # 6 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY January 5, 2021 City Council STAFF Melissa Funk, Victim Services Supervisor Jeremy Yonce, Police Lieutenant Adam Stephens, Legal SUBJECT Items Relating to the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. First Reading of Ordinance No. 002, 2021, Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue from the Eighth Judicial District Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement Board in the General Fund for the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit. B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 003, 2021, Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice under the Federal Victims of Crime Act in the General Fund for the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit. The purpose of this item is to fund the Victim Services Unit of Fort Collins Police Services for victim advocacy services under the Colorado Victim Rights Amendment for victims of crime and their family members. The Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit has been awarded two grants. The VALE grant is a 12-month grant in the amount of $26,000 for the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, by the Eighth Judicial District Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement (VALE) Board to help fund services provided by this team. These funds will be used for a portion of the victim advocate salary who provides crisis intervention services during weekday hours and is housed in the Victim Services office. These funds will also pay for a portion of the operational expenses needed to provide 24-hour, 7-days/week services to victims of crime in the community. The VOCA grant is a 24-month grant in the amount of $49,101 for the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022, by the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice under the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), to help fund services provided by this team. The VOCA Grant will provide $24,551 in calendar year 2021 to the City with the remainder of $24,550 expected in calendar year 2022. These funds will be used for a portion of the victim advocate salary who provides crisis intervention services for sexual assault victims between the school ages of kindergarten through 12th grade. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinances on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Victim Services Unit has received funding from the Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement (VALE) grant since the inception of the program in 1996. Colorado state statutes mandate law enforcement agencies follow the Victim Rights Amendment to the Colorado Constitution. Many of the stages in the mandated statutes are fulfilled by the Victim Services Unit, which has provided services to thousands of victims of violent crime in the community and their family members. Council has approved appropriations of the VALE grant revenue every Agenda Item 6 Item # 6 Page 2 year. Services to the community would be drastically cut without this grant award. This will be the second year Fort Collins Police Services has received VOCA grant funding. This funding will also help Police Services fulfill the legal mandates of the Victim Rights Amendment to the Colorado Constitution. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS The City has received a grant award in the amount of $26,000 from the Eighth Judicial District Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement Board and there is no match required. The City has also been awarded a grant in the amount of $49,861 from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice under the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The VOCA grant required a 25% match which will be filled by an in-kind match from volunteer hours worked. Both grants will be used to benefit victim services activities. -1- ORDINANCE NO. 002, 2021 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE FROM THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BOARD IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FORT COLLINS POLICE SERVICES VICTIM SERVICES UNIT WHEREAS, Fort Collins Police Services has been awarded a grant in the amount of $26,000 (the “Grant”) for the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 by the Eighth Judicial District Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement (“VALE”) Board to support the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit (“Victim Services”); and WHEREAS, the Grant does not require a financial or in kind match by the City; and WHEREAS, Victim Services provides crisis intervention, resources and referral services to victims of violent crime and other traumatic situations; and WHEREAS, the Grant will be used to fund a part of the salary for the victim advocate who provides crisis intervention services, a part-time victim advocate, and to partially pay for operational expenses needed to provide 24-hour a day, 7-day a week services to victims of crime in the community; and WHEREAS, appropriation of the Grant serves a public purpose by assisting crime victims in the Fort Collins community; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and determined that the appropriation of the Grant from the VALE Board to support Victim Services will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Police Services fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated grant revenue in the General Fund the sum of TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($26,000) for expenditure in the General Fund for the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit. -2- Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 5th day of January, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 19th day of January, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 19th day of January, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk -1- ORDINANCE NO. 003, 2021 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE FROM THE COLORADO DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNDER THE FEDERAL VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FORT COLLINS POLICE SERVICES VICTIM SERVICES UNIT WHEREAS, Fort Collins Police Services has been awarded a grant by the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice in the amount of $49,901 (the “Grant”) under the Federal Victims of Crime Act (“VOCA”) to support the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit (“Victim Services”) for the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022; and WHEREAS, the amount to be received and appropriated in 2021 is $24,551, with the balance projected to be received in 2022; and WHEREAS, Victim Services provides crisis intervention, resources and referral services to victims of violent crime and other traumatic situations; and WHEREAS, the Grant will be used to fund a part of the salary for the victim advocate who provides crisis intervention services for sexual assault victims between school ages of kindergarten through 12th grade; and WHEREAS, the Grant requires a 25% match which will be filled by an in-kind match from volunteer hours worked; and WHEREAS, appropriation of the Grant serves a public purpose by assisting crime victims in the Fort Collins community; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and determined that the appropriation of the VOCA Grant to support Victim Services will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Police Services fund to exceed the current estimate of actua l and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. -2- Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated grant revenue in the General Fund the sum of TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE DOLLARS ($24,551) for expenditure in the General Fund for the Fort Collins Police Services Victim Services Unit. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 5th day of January, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 19th day of January, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 19th day of January, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk