Report Prepared by: Sarah Knoester, Management Analyst
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Extend the Term of the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Contract to June 30, 2026
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the approval of extending the term of the CalVIP grant contract to June 30, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the term extension for the CalVIP grant contract to June 30, 2026; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
A continuation of FY 23/24 Council Priority: Merced Unity Project - Community Violence Prevention, as part of the ARPA spending plan
DISCUSSION
History and Past Actions
On June 10, 2022, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) released the CalVIP Grant Program Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP made available $53,440,829 through a competitive process for projects that address local impacts due to the legalization of cannabis in California.
On July 5, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-44 authorizing the submittal of an application/proposal for the CalVIP Grant Program and authorized the City Manager to execute the standard grant agreement, any amendments, and other necessary documents related to the grant application.
On July 15, 2022, the City submitted the CalVIP Grant Program Proposal package to the BSCC. The grant proposal submitted by the City is to provide supportive, wrap-around services for at-risk and probation-involved youth; thereby reducing recidivism.
The grant required a 100% match, with a minimum of 50% passed through to a non-law enforcement agency. To meet the 100% match requirement, the City partnered with the Merced County Probation Office. To meet the 50% pass through requirement, the City established the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) as part of the City Manager’s office.
On September 9, 2022, funding recommendations went before the BSCC Board and the CalVIP Scoring Panel. The BSCC Board unanimously passed the agenda item, which approved funding for the City of Merced’s grant application/proposal.
On September 19, 2022, Council accepted grant funding of $977,647 from the BSCC for the CalVIP Grant Program.
On November 17, 2022, Staff received an executed contract from the BSCC. The term of the contract is December 31, 2025, with all expenses ending on June 30, 2025. The six-month period between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 is to give grantees time to complete and submit the Final Local Evaluation Plan.
On January 3, 2023, the Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $250,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the City’s required cash match for the grant and approved the Personnel Board’s recommendation to establish four peer support specialist positions and associated salary range.
On September 18, 2023, the Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Merced County Probation (Probation). Probation provided an in-kind match for the grant in the amount of $2,459,430.
Current Actions
Since the start of the grant, the BSCC held quarterly progress report meetings with the program directors for all grantees. Throughout the first year of the grant (FY 22/23), the majority of the grantees struggled to find qualified staff to administer their respective programs, with most grantees not hiring staff until year two of the grant (FY 23/24). The City of Merced Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) faced similar challenges, with one failed recruitment occurring in January 2023 and one partially successful recruitment in May 2023, hiring three of the four peer support specialists.
The impediment in hiring competent staff deferred the start of grantees’ programs to year two (FY 23/24), This includes the City of Merced Office of Neighborhood Safety, with the Peer Support Specialists officially meeting with clients in June 2024. Due to this delay, most grantees cannot fully utilize grant funds by the June 30, 2025 deadline, the deadline by which all expenditures must cease.
To aid grantees in successfully completing their programs, BSCC staff submitted an agenda item to the BSCC Board requesting a six-month, no-cost extension of all contracts under Cohort 4, the cohort City of Merced is currently a part of. On November 21, 2024, the BSCC Board approved the agenda item, allowing all contracts under Cohort 4 to be extended to June 30, 2026, with most expenses incurring by December 31, 2025.
Staff is requesting approval of the BSCC CalVIP contract to be extended to June 30, 2026 to align with the BSCC Board’s decision.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There is no impact on City resources. Current grant funds and Merced County Probation in-kind match will continue as is.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Amended Grant Contract
2. Original Grant Contract