Minutes 08/08/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 8, 2023 Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover Nays: None 23 - 262 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $514,068 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and appropriating said sum in the FY 2024 Grants Fund for use by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for the Victim Witness Program. Background:  The City of Portsmouth has received a grant from DCJS for continuation funding of the Victim Witness Grant, administered by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.  For over 20 years, this grant program has provided funding for positions and victim advocacy.  This program provides for comprehensive information and direct services to crime victims and witnesses. Discussion:  The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Grant is approved for seven full-time appointees who will be 100% dedicated to the grant’s objectives.  It is estimated that this program will serve in excess of 1,400 victims annually. Financial Impact  No local match is required as a condition of the funding. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The continuation of our Victim Witness Program focusing on serving victims of crime in our city. 1. Donna Biggs, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke on the duties of the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Motion by Mr. Hugel, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $514,068 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID SUM IN THE FY 2024 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM..” Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover Nays: None 23 - 263 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a Conference and Education Assistance grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and appropriating said amount in the FY 2024 Grants Fund for use by the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services for the Women in Public Service Conference. Background:  The Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) administers the Conference and Education Assistance Grant Program.  The purpose of the VDFP Conference and Education Assistance Grant Program is to provide financial assistance for training conferences and seminars sponsored by Virginia-based non-profit organizations that further the professional development and education of fire and emergency services personnel throughout the Commonwealth.