CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: January 14, 2020
Agenda Date: January 22, 2020
Prepared By: Patrick Dovale, Commander
Through: Mike Cantaloupe, Chief of Police
Requested Action: Approve Request to Apply for Grant
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To provide approval for the City to apply for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant in the amount of $134,078 and to commit $33,519 towards the match requirement in the application in order to provide victim advocate services to crime victims. The total amount equals $167,597.
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BACKGROUND:
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has announced the availability of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice. The purpose of the VOCA grant funds is to support victims of crime by providing services that respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims, assist victims of crime to stabilize their lives after victimization, assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system, and to provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security.
The Cocoa Police Department is committed to reducing crime in Cocoa by strengthening our citizen’s understanding of victimization. A victim advocate devotes attention to the various needs of the victim by acting as a liaison with officers, keeping the victim informed on their case, and arms them with knowledge to reduce the potential for further harm.
The funding for this project would be a necessity in providing further assistance to victims of crime in Cocoa. According to the Cocoa Police Department's Uniform Crime Report from 2019, there were approximately, 1591 total Crime incidents, of those, 176 were Domestic Violence related incidents. If the requested funding was granted, the agency would be able to continue to staff both victim advocates positions and ensure that every crime victim in Cocoa would be assisted and supported through the criminal justice process.
The Victim Services Program, which began October 1, 2013, it has been a great success, and as more citizens of Cocoa are aware of the victim services the Cocoa Police Department offers the more demand on the advocate. The Victim Advocate provides crisis intervention counseling, follow-up contact for cases, personal advocacy, criminal justice support, information and referrals to local organization and agencies, emotional support, assistance with property return, assistance with filing crime victims compensation, assistance in filing for injunctions and accompanying the individual to court hearing(s), locating transportation, and assisting in locating translators. The types of victims/survivors served so far are domestic violence, burglary/home invasion, assault/battery, child victims of physical abuse, homicide, robbery, fraud, and elder abuse. The Victim Advocates have created essential working relationships with other criminal justice agencies and local organizations. Both the Victim Advocate Coordinator and the Victim Advocate positions are subject to continued grant funding availability annually, and this grant if approved would continue to provide funding for the current positions.
As part of the VOCA Grant, the City would receive $134,078 from the U.S. Department of Justice to implement this program. Then a 20% City match of the total program budget, ($33,519) is necessary and required to establish services for the City. This makes the total program budget $167,597. The positions will be budgeted in FY21 when the funding becomes available October 1, 2020. These positions will only be funded by this grant for one year, and staff will apply in future years for continual support. As part of the eighth year application process, the City can utilize the supervisor as 10% match, in addition to a new vehicle.
The grant cycle will run from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021. The Police Department will budget the in-kind/cash match in Fiscal Year 2021 since the program is slated to be conducted in that fiscal year.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
The Victim Advocate Program compliments the efforts of the Cocoa Police Department in reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing immediate and long-term assistance to the victims and survivors of crime.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Budgeted N/A
If not budgeted, is amendment/transfer attached? N/A
There is no further budgetary impact for Fiscal Year 2020. The grant would not be awarded until FY 2021.
• The Police Department will budget the appropriate funds for FY 2021 as part of the City’s required total program 20% match.
• The Police Department will request through grant application and budget the appropriate estimated funds for FY 2021 to complete the project as follows:
Amount Requested $72,564
Account Number 001-2101-521.12-00
Account Name Salary/Wages
Amount Requested $5,919
Account Number 001-2101-521.21-00
Account Name FICA
Amount Requested $6,148
Account Number 001-2101-521.22-00
Account Name Retirement
Amount Requested $40,515
Account Number 001-2101-521.23-00
Account Name Life/Health Insurance
Amount Requested $132.00
Account Number 001-2101-521.24-00
Account Name Worker’s Comp
Amount Requested $4,800
Account Number 001-2101-521.27-00
Account Name Non-Union Benefit
• The Police Department will match, through general funds, 10% of supervisor pay and benefits, and a new vehicle. The appropriate estimated funds for FY 2021 to complete the project as follows:
Amount Matched $6,793.60
Account Number 001-2100-521.12-00
Account Name Regular Salaries
Amount Matched $538.10
Account Number 001-2100-521.21-00
Account Name FICA
Amount Matched $1,566.70
Account Number 001-2100-521.22-00
Account Name Retirement
Amount Matched $2,048.30
Account Number 001-2100-521.23-00
Account Name Life/Health Insurance
Amount Matched $241.30
Account Number 001-2100-521.24-00
Account Name Worker’s Comp
Amount Matched $22,091.50
Account Number 001-2100-521.64-00
Account Name Vehicle
Source of Funds: ____State Revolving Loan
____ Other Loan Source:
__X__ Grant Source: US Department of Justice VOCA Grant
001-0000-331.20-15
PREVIOUS ACTION:
This is the eighth application cycle for this grant. In the previous years, we have applied for and were approved funding for a victim advocate coordinator and a victim advocate.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
To provide approval for the City to apply for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant in the amount of $134,078, and to commit $33,519 towards the match requirement in the application to provide victim advocate services to crime victims. The total amount equals $167,597.