ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager, Director of Community Development, Human Resource Director, and Police Chief with a Request for the Following:
A. APPROVE the COMMUNITY FIRST PILOT PROGRAM;
B. ADOPT An ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2020 - 2021 BIENIAL BUDGET Relating to the Transfer of Program Income Generated by CDBG and BRP Programs, in the Amount of $45,000.00, from the Capital Fund to the General Fund to Fund the Community First Pilot Program.
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BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria is committed to ensuring all our employees receive training and guidance that allows them to best serve our community. The City is interested in launching a new pilot program centered around offering incoming Police Officers an opportunity to enhance their exposure to our community before they are hired by the Police Department and attend the Police Academy.
The Community Development Department in partnership with the Police Department and Human Resources Department is pleased to introduce the “Community First” pilot program. The traditional hiring process for the Peoria Police Department includes a gap of time after testing is completed and a conditional offer of employment is made, but before attending the Police Academy. During this period, the officer is not engaged in the community or training in law enforcement. For the upcoming group of Police Officers, this period is from now until September. Through this pilot program, the Community Development Department will expose them to the training it provides to its staff on issues centered around neighborhood and community development before they leave for the Police Academy. The incoming Police Officers will have the option of being employed by the Community Development Department as Temporary Code Enforcement Aides until they leave for the Police Academy in September. Based on initial conversations with the incoming Police Officers, 5 of the 8 new officers are interested in participating in the program based on logistics and timing.
The Community Development Department staff has worked hard over the years to create a staff culture focused on engagement and education to improve our neighborhoods. A strong training curriculum for all their new employees has been developed that focuses on the history of community development and the impact the department - and each individual in the department - has on improving the community. The City believes that exposing new Police Officers to these concepts will better prepare them to serve our community in the future.
Benefits of the program will include:
• Strong focus on Education and Engagement to improve our Community
• Introduction to Neighborhood Leaders and Residents
• Increased understanding of the role housing issues play in our community
• Improved communication skills
• Improved customer service skills
• Improved organizational/administrative skills
• Exposure to our nonprofit community and the services they offer to our residents
• Exposure to personal and social issues affecting our residents
• Better familiarity with our neighborhoods and streets
• Understanding of past federal policy that impacted the makeup of neighborhoods today
• A better understanding of the role Code Enforcement plays regarding Public Safety
• De-Escalation techniques used by the Code Enforcement staff
In addition to the benefits for the Police Officers, the Community Development Department and specifically the Code Enforcement Division will have additional help in addressing neighborhood issues in the community which is especially helpful during this difficult budget situation. During the period before the employees leave for the Police Academy, they will be employed by and work for the Community Development Department and report to the Assistant Community Development Director. They will have the same responsibilities and expectations that the leadership of the Community Development Department has for all staff which includes working directly with residents to improve our community with education and engagement first before any enforcement action should occur. The education and engagement programming put on by the Community Development Department benefit Peoria residents and staff. Proactive outreach and this education first approach offer residents the opportunity to meet their Code Enforcement Inspectors in person and develop a relationship based on mutual understanding and trust. Staff can meet residents where they are, build relationships, and connect residents to social service agencies and other local resources in our area. This face to face interaction can help address the more “upstream issues” that can lead to property maintenance issues at a property. This outreach is valued by Neighborhood Leaders and residents who can form a relationship built on trust and understanding with Code Enforcement and Community Development staff.
The funding for the pilot project will come from the Community Development Department via program income generated by the previously administered CDBG and BRP Programs. While these funds do not have direct federal reporting requirements, based on the grant guidelines, the funds still must be spent to adhere to the general direction of the grants. This program meets these requirements. The initial funds being spent will have little impact on the general fund of the City of Peoria. The current funds that exist will fund the pilot program but, if the program is successful, additional funds will have to be identified in the future as the Community Development Department’s budget has been reduced and they will not be able to support the program with the current general fund allocation. The approximate cost of the pilot program is $45,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $45,000 will be allocated from program income generated by previously administered CDBG and BRP grant programs.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Improving the knowledge and skills of our Police Officers will have a positive impact on our neighborhoods. Also, the additional staff will aid the Community Development Department in fulfilling its mission to the City of Peoria.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Program will be launched upon passage.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Program will not be launched.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Beautiful Peoria
2. Grow Peoria
3. Safe Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
2. Reduce crime.
3. Grow employers and jobs.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office