ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Chief of Police with a Request to APPROVE a SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT with DR. E. ANTHONY WHITE, for Research Partner Services under the 2020 Bureau of Justice Assistance Strategies in Policing Innovation Grant, through September 30, 2023, in an Amount Not to Exceed $50,000.00.
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BACKGROUND: In the Fall of 2020 the City of Peoria was awarded $516,123.00 under the 2020 Bureau of Justice Assistance Strategies in Policing Innovation Grant to support the Police Department’s efforts to combat violent and gun-related crime. As part of the reporting process for the SPI Grant, the Police Department is choosing to partner with Dr. E. Anthony White, a professor with the Illinois Central College Criminal Justice Program with extensive history working with the City of Peoria, as their Research Partner. Dr. White will work closely in tracking the Police Department’s efforts to combat violent and gun-related crime under the SPI Grant, and will assist Police Department personnel with quarterly, bi-annual and annual reporting, as well as the close-out reporting of the grant. Dr. White was chosen due to his unique experience having worked closely with Law Enforcement in Central Illinois, including the Peoria Police Department, as well as for his knowledge and experience in the Criminal Justice field. As part of this contract, Dr. White will work with the Police Department until the grant closes in 2023, and will be paid $50,000 over the life of the grant, paid out quarterly, from Federal Grant Funds allocated specifically towards acquisition of a Research Partner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City of Peoria will utilize $50,000.00 of SPI Grant Funding in order to secure Dr. White as a Research Partner. No local funds will be used.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: There are no neighborhood concerns identified at this time
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City of Peoria and the Police Department will receive valuable knowledge and dedication from Dr. White under the SPI Grant, ensuring the effectiveness of the SPI Project efforts to reduce violent and gun-related crime, and ensure SPI Grant tasks and goals are met in an efficient manner.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City and Police Department would be responsible for conducting research and analysis on the SPI Project on their own, possibly resulting in loss of efficiency, project effectiveness and incurring additional personnel hours required to complete the project.
ALTERNATIVES: There are no alternatives identified at this time.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Not applicable for this request.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2016 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reduce crime.
2. Support sustainability.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Police