Title
District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to accept a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution (VV) Program with a total project cost of $270,060 for the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 197-2024 202-2024 designating the District Attorney, or his designee, as the Authorized Agent for the purposes of submitting, accepting, and executing award documents via the CalOES Grants Central System;
3) Approve and authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically agree to and accept the associated grant Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance;
4) Authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically submit the grant application and execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost, contingent upon review and approval by County Counsel;
5) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 198-2024 203-2024 extending the expiration date of 1.0 FTE Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV - Limited Term position one year, through December 31, 2025;
6) Make a finding in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, Sections 3.4.2, 3.4.3, and 3.4.5, in which competitive bidding would produce no benefit to the County for the requested advocacy services under Agreement 7881;
7) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute Amendment I to Agreement 7881 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships for advocacy services, increasing the amount to $159,728 and extending the agreement term one year, through December 31, 2025; and
8) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any future amendments to agreement 7881, which do not increase the amount or the term of the agreement, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval.
FUNDING: Services Training Officers Prosecutors Violence Against Women Formula (75%) and General Fund (25%).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 10, 2024, the District Attorney's Office received notification from CalOES that they intend to fund the department for participation in the VV Program in the amount of $202,545 for the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. The funding requires a local match amount of $67,515, which brings the total project cost to $270,060. This will be the District Attorney’s seventh consecutive award under this grant program. The purpose of this program is to vertically prosecute violent crimes against the vulnerable adult population.
Funding provided by this program will continue to support 1.0 FTE Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney, 1.0 FTE Victim Advocate through a contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships (The Center), a District Attorney Investigator on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement, and as-needed operating expenses. The objective of this project is to improve the prosecution of Violent Crimes Against Vulnerable Adult Victims by creating a project team with a reduced caseload that can expeditiously conclude cases, reduce victim trauma, and enhance our services to victims.
Due to the continuation of this grant program, the associated Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney position will be extended through December 31, 2025, in correlation with the grant cycle. Per Personnel Rule 1105, (specifying that limited term allocations have a fixed expiration date which can be extended upon approval by the Board of Supervisors) a resolution is included under this item extending the Limited-Term Deputy District Attorney position. Additionally, Amendment I to service agreement 7881 with The Center shall extend the existing advocacy services another year through December 31, 2025 and increase the amount by $79,864, for an updated total agreement amount of $159,728, to cover extended service compensation.
As part of the formal grant application process, CalOES requests the acknowledged Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance be included with the submitted application. As of July 15, 2024, CalOES has implemented a new Grants Central System (GCS) for applicants to manage their grants. It is via this online portal that the grant application shall be submitted, along with certifications complying with assurances and proof of authority. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance includes details regarding Federal Grant Funds, Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Drug Free Workplace Compliance, California Environmental Quality Act, Lobbying, Debarment and Suspension requirements, Proof of Authority from the Governing Board, Civil Rights Compliance, and the special conditions of Subaward. The attached resolution is being requested for adoption by the Board Chair, designating the El Dorado County District Attorney, or his designee, the Authorized Agent role under the GCS, resulting in granted permissions consisting of initiating, submitting, and accepting the VV Program grant agreement and related documents for period January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, including any future grant amendments that do not increase Net County Cost, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the grant, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
10/24/2023 Legistar file 23-1820: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the VV Program funding in the project cost of $270,060 and executed agreement 7881 with The Center.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Human Resources/Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost for accepting this grant award. Of the total $270,060 project award, $67,515 is earmarked as a local match requirement. The department anticipates using the assigned District Attorney Investigator salary and benefits and a portion of the assigned Deputy District Attorney salary and benefits as the cash match, along with cell phone costs. Adequate funding is included in the department’s FY 2024-25 Budget and no amendments are necessary.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to:
1) Return one certified copy of the Proof of Authority resolution to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Justene Cline;
2) Return one certified copy of the fully executed Amendment I to Agreement 7881 to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Kelley Lawrie; and
2) Return one certified copy of the Personnel Update resolution to Human Resources, Attn: Michael Reddin.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney