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January 23, 2024 <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the necessary budget adjustments. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Tillage, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PAY A ONE-TIME BONUS <br />TO PART-TIME AND GRANT EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN THE NET <br />AMOUNTS OF $2,000 AND $6,500, RESPECTIVELY.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />24 - 09 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a Safer Communities Program grant <br />in the amount of $2,846,000 from the Department of Criminal Justice Services and <br />appropriating said funds in the FY 2024 Grants Fund for use by the Portsmouth <br />Police Department to implement community-based strategies to address the root <br />causes and conditions of violent crime. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has awarded the City of <br />Portsmouth $2,846,000 for the Safer Communities Program. <br /> <br /> Recipient localities are required to establish a new position dedicated to planning, <br />implementation, and coordination of community violence reduction strategies, including <br />utilizing existing violence reduction grants and pursuing additional grant opportunities. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Recognizing the serious need to address violent crime, the Virginia General <br />Assembly appropriated $10,000,000 in FY2024 funding to the Department of Criminal <br />Justice Services (DCJS) for the Safer Communities Program. This Program seeks to <br />utilize holistic, community-based strategies to address the root causes and conditions of <br />community violence. <br /> <br /> As specified by the General Assembly, strategies include: (i) afterschool programs <br />and mentorships; (ii) connections to education and economic opportunities; (iii) case <br />management for trauma-informed mental health care; (iv) credible messengers and <br />violence interrupters; and (v) strategies to build trust between law enforcement agencies <br />and community stakeholders. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> <br /> The grant provides $2,846,000 in funding for the Portsmouth Police Department. <br /> <br /> No local match is required as a condition of the funding. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the necessary budget adjustment. In addition, <br />the Chief of Police or his designee will provide grant management and oversight. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A SAFER COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANT IN THE <br />AMOUNT OF $2,846,000 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE <br />SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE FY 2024 GRANTS FUND <br />FOR USE BY THE PORTSMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT <br />COMMUNITY-BASED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES AND <br />CONDITIONS OF VIOLENT CRIME.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />