PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s First Responder Mental Health Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding that will enhance the New Braunfels Police Department’s Peer Support and Crisis Negotiation Teams; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.
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DEPARTMENT: Police
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
New Braunfels’ City Council strategic priorities include using a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs. As such, Staff recently submitted a grant application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s First Responder Mental Health Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding on behalf of the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) for the enhancement of NBPD’s Peer Support and Crisis Negotiation Teams.
If awarded, the grant will provide funding for necessary training and resources to expand support provided by members of NBPD's Peer Support Team (PST) to NBPD’s sworn and non-sworn personnel who are affected by crime. The PST began providing services in July 2022 after being trained by a City-contracted mental health care provider and participates in ongoing training. To enhance the team, grant funding has been requested for additional training opportunities and all associated costs, and operating costs such as printed materials to advertise their services to personnel, and purchase books pertaining to mental health to create an onsite reference library at the police station.
The grant will also provide funding for a contracted, experienced Mental Health Provider (MHP) who will be on scene with members of NBPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) during high-risk calls. The MHP, a certified counselor, will assist CNT members by listening to the in-progress negotiation and providing feedback and guidance to the team as they utilize negotiation tactics to prevent injury or death in situations such as armed standoffs, suicide attempts, and domestic disturbances.
City staff recently submitted a grant application for a total amount of $105,143, of which the granting agency will be reimbursed for up to $84,114 in funds, and the City will contribute no more than $21,029 to fulfill its 20% grant match requirement.
If approved, the grant will be awarded by September 2024.
Staff is also requesting City Council approval of a resolution, as required by the granting agency, that will authorize our City Manager to act as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant. The designated authorized official is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the applicant agency.
ISSUE:
Submission of the aforementioned grant application supports the City’s Strategic Priorities as follows:
Use a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The granting agency requires a 20% match in funding therefore, of the total requested amount of $105,143, the grant will provide $84,114 in funds, with a City match of $21,029. The matching funds will be included in the FY 2025 Police Department Budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution; ratification for the submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division’s First Responder Mental Health Program for Fiscal Year 2025 to request funding that will enhance the New Braunfels Police Department’s Peer Support and Crisis Negotiation Teams; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to the grant if awarded.