Title
Memorandum of Understanding with Harvard Kennedy School (Ordinance S-48820)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to retroactively approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Harvard Kennedy School to participate in the Government Performance Lab's (GPL) technical assistance program. Further request an exemption from the indemnification prohibition set forth in the Phoenix City Code section 42-18.
Report
Summary
On June 16, 2021, City Council approved $15 million to expand the City's Community Assistance Program (CAP). The CAP Expansion focuses on utilizing alternative 911 emergency response teams to respond to 911 calls in lieu of traditional law enforcement. The Alternative 911 Emergency Response Implementation Cohort will help participating jurisdictions create or enhance unarmed response teams that reduce reliance on traditional law enforcement and connect residents to mental and behavioral health services, substance use treatment, and other forms of support.
The GPL Team will provide technical assistance to CAP on best practices, key performance indicators, call types, dispatching and other research. The purposes of this MOU are (A) to state terms regarding the engagement and role of one or more Government Innovation Fellows (each a "Fellow") and any other Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) researchers, students, scholars and staff who will assist the Agency in the development and implementation of Innovation Initiatives, and (B) to set out other arrangements between the City and Harvard who will be providing to the Agency with regards to the City's Innovation Initiatives.
The GPL Team means collectively, persons from or affiliated with Harvard who provide services under this MOU, including the Fellow(s), GPL managers, GPL Director, other researchers, students, scholars and staff affiliated with the GPL, and other Harvard researchers providing services under this MOU.
Innovation Initiatives may include improvements to procurement and contracting processes, use of data to inform service delivery and referral systems, piloting of new services or service-delivery models, establishing active contract management systems between governments and service providers, pay for success and performance-based contracts, optimizing resource allocation, and other initiatives designed to improve government performance and make government programs more effective.
The City of Phoenix was one of five jurisdictions chosen to participate in the one-year program. Other jurisdictions that are participating in the program are Durham, NC.; Harris County, TX.; Long Beach, CA.; and Philadelphia, PA.
The term of the MOU is for one-year starting Aug. 31, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2022.
Staff requests a waiver of Phoenix City Code 42-18 for a limitation of liability clause wherein Harvard is requiring language that the City is receiving services from Harvard at its own risk except for claims of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Financial Impact
The City shall have no responsibility for compensation or employment benefits for the Fellow(s), the GPL Director, or other members of the GPL Team with respect to any work done pursuant to this MOU.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Fire Department.