Title
Request to Apply for and Accept Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant Funding (Ordinance S-43910)
Description
Request to retroactively authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply, accept, and if awarded enter into an agreement for up to $5,100,000 in Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept and the City Controller to disburse funds associated with this item. This retroactive request seeks to ratify prior action because the grant application deadline occurred on Aug. 7, 2017, during summer break.
Report
Summary
The Fire Department supports VOCA's mission of providing victim services and has received VOCA grant funding for many years. VOCA funds will allow the Fire Department to continue to fund staff positions which provide direct services to victims of crime including domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, child abuse, vulnerable adult abuse, and secondary victims of homicide. Services are designed to help victims address immediate emotional and physical needs, stabilize their lives following the victimization, navigate the criminal justice system, and increase their measure of safety and security in alignment with the City's Domestic Violence Roadmap and Human Trafficking Compass Plan.
If awarded, the funding will be used to finance the salary and fringe benefits for the 15 Full Time Employee (FTE) positions (in FY 17/18 and FY 18/19), purchase two vehicles for use by the Community Assistance Program, and finance the salary and fringe benefits for 19.5 FTE positions (in FY 19/20).
Contract Term
The grant period will begin on or about Oct. 1, 2017 and end on or about Sept. 30, 2020.
Financial Impact
VOCA funds require recipients to contribute a 20% match of the total project cost. The Fire Department will provide the following match through in-kind volunteer and intern services:
-FY 17/18: 10,812 volunteer hours, with a value of $297,763
-FY 18/19: 10,497 volunteer hours, with a value of $289,106
-FY 19/20: 15,152 volunteer hours, with a value of $417,311
Total hours: 36,461 for a total value of $1,004,180, which satisfies the 20% project cost match requirement.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was approved at the Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee meeting on Sept. 13, 2017 by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Fire Department.