Title
Approval of the Neighborhood Block Watch Oversight Committee's Recommendations for the 2026 Grant Program Awards - Citywide
Description
This report requests the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee (Subcommittee) recommend City Council approval of the recommendations from the Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program (NBWGP) Oversight Committee to fund 161 grant applications for the 2026 grant cycle. This report also includes an update on the use of NBWGP funds for the gated alley program and the youth prevention program supported by Neighborhood Block Watch funds and requests the Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of additional funding for those programs.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The NBWGP Oversight Committee was established to solicit, evaluate, and recommend to the Mayor and City Council appropriate proposals to expend funds for the expansion of the Block Watch programs within the limits of the Neighborhood Protection Ordinance. This ordinance, known as Proposition 301, was adopted at a special election on October 5, 1993. The City Council adopted the format and guidelines for this process on April 26, 1994. The NBWGP program is administered by the Police Department.
The 2026 NBWGP grant application process opened on November 1, 2025 and closed on December 4, 2025. The NBWGP Oversight Committee scored the grant applications based on the following criteria: Crime Prevention/Safety/Quality of Life Factors - 50 percent; Budget Evaluation - 20 percent; Community Involvement - 20 percent; and Project Viability/Feasibility/Ability to Complete the Project - 10 percent.
A total of 170 grant applications were received. Of those evaluated, 161 applications are recommended for funding by the Oversight Committee totaling $2,050,087. Nine applications are not recommended for funding. All nine applications not recommended to receive funding scored below the minimum requirement of 5.25 out of ten (10) points or were disqualified for various reasons including lack of neighborhood participation, lack of documentation, or requesting items the grant does not cover.
On April 9, 2026, the Oversight Committee voted to fund 161 applicants. See Attachment A for a full list of the FY26 recommended grant applications.
Gated Alley Program Update
The resident-driven Gated Alley Program (GAP) continues to enhance neighborhood safety and quality of life. A recent review of Phoenix Police data showed an average 16.4 percent reduction in calls for service overall, and a 17.1 percent reduction in violent calls for service for properties adjacent to gated alleys over the year prior to gating. Demand for the program has increased from approximately 25 requests per month to nearly 40 per month for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26.
The City Council's approved $2.25 million in Neighborhood Block Watch Program (NBWP) funds for FY 2025-26 was fully allocated by January 1, 2026. As of April 2026, there are 77 eligible alley segments pending funding. At an estimated 38 additional applications per month for the remainder of the FY, $2.1 million of gated alley projects may be pending by the beginning of FY 2026-27.
The proposed ongoing $2.25 million allocation from the Neighborhood Block Watch Program represents level funding and would allow Neighborhood Services to continue gating approximately 200 alley segments per year. Funding for future years is contingent on fund availability to be monitored by the Phoenix Police, Neighborhood Services, and Budget and Research departments and the City Manager's Office. This will help enhance neighborhood safety and further reduce calls for service.
Youth Prevention Programming
As part of the overall efforts to improve public safety, the City is focused on developing programs designed to support youth and reduce criminal justice system involvement among youth within the community. In June 2025, the City Council approved $500,000 in funding from the Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program (NBWGP) fund to initiate a program to provide additional resources to youth at risk of violence, substance abuse and involvement in the criminal justice system, while providing supportive environments and interventions. Staff is requesting the Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of $500,000 of additional NBWGP funding to be combined with the approved $500,000 for a total of $1,000,000 for development of a program through a partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department and the Office of Youth and Education. Funding for future years is contingent on fund availability to be monitored by the Phoenix Police, Neighborhood Services, and Budget and Research departments and the City Manager's Office
Contract Term
The NBWGP grant award period is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
Financial Impact
No matching funds are required.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Neighborhood Services, Street Transportation, Human Services and Police departments.