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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09 - Victim Assistance GrantMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2023 SUBJECT: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OTHER VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT (OVAL) PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider a resolution authorizing the acceptance of funds for the State of Texas, Office of the Attorney General, Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAG) Program for Fiscal Year 2024 and approve an ordinance to appropriate the funds. FUNDING SOURCE: Upon approval, funds will be available in the Grant Fund in an amount not to exceed $25,700. BACKGROUND: The Office of the Attorney General for the State of Texas provides the Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAL) opportunities to assist law enforcement agencies in providing services and assistance directly to victim(s) and/or families of crime. The Grapevine Police Department received notification from the Office of Attorney General that grant funds have been allocated under the Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAL) Program. This grant will reimburse the Department for a portion of the costs for a Victim Services Advocate, who provides direct services to victims and/or families of crime. The Advocate works in collaboration with collegiate interns. The Advocate initiates services with victims identified by the Grapevine Police Department as individuals in need of services and/or resources and provides assistance, as needed. Examples of services are crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals, assistance with Crime Victims' Compensation, recovery, advocacy, educational outreach, and assistance navigating the Criminal Justice system. The duties of the Advocate include directing, managing, and coordinating assistance to victims of crimes; reducing or alleviating trauma and victimization while protecting rights of victims; coordinates assistance with other service providers; coordinate program required training activities and administrative guidance of the program for the City. The grant is effective upon the final signature of involved parties and concludes on August 31, 2025 unless terminated or otherwise modified. This is a two year grant. Staff recommends approval RESOLUTION NO. 2023-018 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OTHER VICTIM ASSISTANCE (OVAL) GRANT PROGRAM, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "GRANT PROGRAM"; AND CERTIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, The City of Grapevine ("the Applicant") is fully eligible to receive assistance under the Grant Program; and WHEREAS, the Applicant is desirous of authorizing an official to represent and act for the Applicant in dealing with the Police Department ("the Department") concerning the Grant Program; and WHEREAS, all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of this resolution have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems the adoption of this resolution to be in the best interests of the citizens of The City of Grapevine. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. Section 2. That the Applicant hereby certifies that they are eligible to receive assistance under the Grant Program. Section 3. That the Applicant agrees that in the event of loss or misuse of grant funds, the Applicant will return funds to the funding source. Section 4. That the Applicant hereby authorizes and directs the Chief of Police as the "Authorized Official" who is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate this grant with the OAG, as well as given the authority to sign all grant adjustment requests, inventory reports, progress reports and financial reports or any other official documents related to the grant on behalf of the City of Grapevine. Section 5. The Applicant hereby specifically authorizes the official to make application to the Department accepting funds from the State of Texas, Office of the Attorney General, Other Victim Assistance (OVAG) Grant Program Grant #2024- 0111480580. Section 6. That this resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 17th day of October 2023. APPROVED: William D. Tate Mayor ATTEST: Tara Brooks City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Matthew C.G. Boyle City Attorney Resolution No. 2023-018 2 ORDINANCE NO. 2023-064 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,700 IN THE GRANT FUND TO BE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OTHER VICTIM ASSISTANCE (OVAG) GRANT PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF $25,700 IN THE GRANT FUND FOR EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRANT WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED GRANT; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has received approval for grant funds for the Texas Office of the Attorney General Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAG) Grant Program (Grant #2024-0111480580); and WHEREAS, the City will continue to fund a victim services advocate who will provide direct services to underserved victims of crime in association with the grant; and WHEREAS, all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of this ordinance have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act and Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems the adoption of this ordinance to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes an amount of $25,700 revenue be appropriated in the Grant Fund based on approval of the Texas Office of the Attorney General Other Victim Assistance (OVAG) Grant Program. Section 3. That the City Council does hereby authorize an amount estimated at $25,7000 be appropriated in the Grant Fund for the expenditures associated with the grant. Section 4. That a copy of the revised FY 2023-2024 annual budget document shall be kept on file in the office of the City Secretary. Section 5. That the terms and provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed to be severable, and that if the validity of any section, subsection, word, sentence or phrase shall be held to be invalid, it shall not affect the remaining part of this ordinance. Section 6. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of Grapevine, Texas, are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Grapevine, Texas, creates an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public business, property, health, safety and general welfare of the public which requires that this ordinance shall become effective from and after the date of its final passage, and it is accordingly so ordained. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 17th day of October, 2023. APPROVED: William D. Tate Mayor ATTEST: Tara Brooks City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Matthew C.G. Boyle City Attorney Ordinance No. 2023-064 2