Explanation
Background:
Community for New Direction will provide professional services to the Applications of Purpose, Pride and Success (APPS) office as administrative and fiscal agent for the Neighborhood Violence Intervention (NVI) program. The Contractor will provide violence interruption and crisis response activities that include responding to specific gang-related confrontations, working to mediate and diffuse conflict tensions, and actively promote peace-building. The Contractor shall ensure Community Intervention Workers (CIW) are following the NVI process. Contractor shall maintain a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week schedule to respond to calls regarding gang-violence confrontations such as shootings, aggravated assaults, homicides, and other violent incidents within 15 minutes after receiving a notification from the Columbus Police Division (CPD), the APPS Office, or the community. The Contractor shall respond to gang-related incidents outside of the designated APPS zone if the incident is believed to have potential to adversely impact activities within the designated APPS zone. The Contractor shall also provide support services to victims' families and friends. Support services will be provided after making initial contact with victim's families and friends at the scene of an incident, hospital, or at a time and location chosen by the victim's family and friends. Support services can also include Contractor attending funerals, vigils, peace marches, etc. Additionally, Community Intervention Workers shall participate in APPS activities and initiatives focusing on reducing gang violence citywide and improving community collaborations to support reintegration of clients; engage with active gang members, gang leaders, and ex-offenders to achieve a non-violent community life; and engage in targeted street outreach designed to contact individuals actively involved in gang activities. The Contractor will maintain financial records pertaining to all transactions. Community for New Direction will hold a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 and Certificate of Insurance, as required by the City. Compensation to Community for New Direction will be reimbursed as payment for these services, with total compensation not to exceed $334,000.00. We are seeking to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code due to the strong ties the Contractor has with the service areas and having developed meaningful relationships with the target populations which make it very advantageous to continue with the current contract. The Contractor has also played a vital role in the developement of the data collection plan and the continuation of this agreement would ensure that the evaluation process can progress with continuity.
Benefits to Public: The Columbus community will be offered violence intervention services that will focus on changing the behaviors and thinking of high-risk youth. The community intervention workers (CIW) will keep in touch with the community and seek to intervene in conflicts before they escalate to violence and also prevent retaliation. CIW's will attempt to steer individuals away from violence to more positive endeavors such as education and employment opportunities. CIW's are there to intervene in potentially violent situations to reduce the chance that a shooting will occur. They have the ability to carry a caseload of 15-20 participants, and they will assist each participant with changing his/her life. By linking participants and their families to educational opportunities, employment training and assistance, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, etc., outreach workers help to provide individuals with options besides a life of crime and violence. Their sheer presence in the community weakens the attractiveness and romance of gangs and street life culture that often perpetuates violence.
Fiscal Impact: The expense for the term of the contract is $334,000.00. This ordinance is contingent on passage of the 2015 operating budget.
Emergency Justifiaction: Emergency action is necessary to renew the contract with Community for New Direction so that the Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program can continue without interruption beginning March 1, 2015
Principal Parties:
Community for New Direction
2323 W 5th Ave # 160
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 272-1464
Contractor Federal ID #:
Contract Compliance Expiration Date:
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into an agreement with Community For New Direction to provide professional and fiscal services for 2015 Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $334,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Fund 285; and to declare an emergency. ($334,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into an agreement with the Community for New Direction for professional and fiscal services related to the Applications for Purpose, Pride, and Success (APPS) Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Recreation and Parks Department to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department that it is necessary to enter into a contract with Community for New Direction so that the Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program can continue without interruption beginning March 1, 2015; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be authorized to enter into an agreement with the Community for New Direction for professional and fiscal services related to the Applications for Purpose, Pride, and Success (APPS) Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $334,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from:
Recreation and Parks Department /Fund 285, OCA#511427, OL3# 3337
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.