DATE: June 20, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Rick Chavez, Chief Probation Officer
Robert Bash, Director of Internal Services/Chief Information
Officer
SUBJECT: Approve Amendment I to the Victim/Witness Assistance Program Grant Agreement No. 16-500 with the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize Amendment I to Agreement No. 16-500, which includes the Certification of Assurance of Compliance, with the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program Grant extending the term by three months from July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 and increasing the maximum by $435,511 to a total of $1,850,096;
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Probation - Grants Org 3432 in the amount of $29,000 (4/5 vote); and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Internal Services Department, Fleet Services - Equipment Org 8911 in the amount of $29,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Cal OES extended the grant term by three months to match the Federal fiscal year funding cycle. The grant funding amount was increased by $435,511 making the total grant funding $1,850,096. The increased grant funds will provide funding for the Victim/Witness Program for the three month term extension and one additional vehicle. This grant provides funding for the Fresno James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC), which the Probation Department has operated in Fresno County since 1980.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the services supported by the Victim/Witness grant funds for the Fresno James Rowland Crime Assistance will be significantly reduced.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in the Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended actions will add a total of $435,511 to allow for the purchase of a vehicle ($29,000) and extend the initial grant term (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017) by three months to September 30, 2017 ($406,511). No matching funds are required in order to receive the additional funding. Approval of the second recommended action will increase the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Probation - Grants Org 3432 in the amount of $29,000 to fund an Operating Transfer Out to the Fleet Services - Equipment Org 8911. Approval of the third recommended action will increase the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Fleet Services - Equipment Org 8911 in the amount of $29,000 through an Operating Transfer In from the Probation - Grants Org 3432 to fund the purchase of one vehicle to be utilized by CVAC staff. The term extension funding increase will be included in the Recommended Budget for FY 2017-18 Probation - Grants Org 3432.
DISCUSSION:
The Probation Department has operated the CVAC in Fresno County since 1980. Services include crisis intervention; emergency assistance; resources, referral and follow-up counseling; assistance with filing for victim compensation claims; orientation to the criminal justice system; and court assistance including preparation and support of victims, including writing victim impact statements for the Court.
On August 9, 2016, your Board approved the submittal of the grant application to Cal OES for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program Grant. Probation was then notified by Cal OES that Fresno County Probation was to be awarded funding beyond what was outlined in the submitted grant application and negotiations ensued on how the Department could best expend these additional funds. On April 4, 2017, your Board approved this additional funding and the correlating budget and salary resolutions.
Cal OES notified the Department on March 27, 2017 that the grant would be augmented/extended through September 30, 2017 to match the Federal fiscal year funding cycle and additional information would be forthcoming. On April 27, 2017, the Department’s Cal OES grant specialist provided the numbers for the increase in funding and necessary documents to complete the amendment. Additional grant funds were awarded for the purchase of one vehicle to be utilized by CVAC staff. These additional funds required a County match, however, Cal OES issued a match waiver to Fresno County resulting in no increase of Net County Cost.
The existing Cal OES grant partially funds a Probation Services Manager, three Senior Victim Witness Advocates, nine Victim Witness Advocates, nine Student Workers, eight Extra Help Victim Witness Advocates, and 85% of a Program Technician position. The grant funding for these positions will continue for the duration of the extension with approval of the recommended actions. If the grant funding is eliminated, the positions funded with the grant funds will be deleted unless an alternative funding source is identified.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 9, April 4, 2017
BAI # 47, August 9, 2016
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement with Cal OES
On file with Clerk - Resolution (3432)
On file with Clerk - Resolution (8911)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck