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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08171993 - 2.1 .............. ... •,' .1 Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A iA�ii10�1 S Costa FROM: Phil Batchelor Cpu / County Administrator ' - •�~ T'4 COUK� DATE: August 17, 1993 SUBJECT: Initiatives to Stabilize, Invigorate and Empower the North Richmond Community SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION(S): 1. ACKNOWLEDGE that violence in the North Richmond area stems from a complex interaction between social and economic forces including, but not limited to, limited job opportunities; employability of area residents; lack of family support networks and role models for young people; lack of recreational and service opportunities for youth; alcoholism; drug use and drug dealing. 2 EXPRESS appreciation to: • The North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) for its initiative in developing support programs for the North Richmond residents, including over $307,000 in funding for the next three years. • Neighborhood House for its grass roots organizing to divert gang .members to productive activities, its employment training programs and other activities. • Verde School for its generous use of its facilities for positive community activities and its valuable participation in planning for constructive alternatives for youth. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: —YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR—RECOMMEND" TION OF'BO 6 COMMITTEE v APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON August. 17, 1993 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X The County Administrator also included recognition of the cofitributions of the San Francisco'Foundation to the North Richmond community. I VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X 'UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact.Sara Hoffman,646-1390 i ATTESTED August 17, 1993 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc:CAO BY ,DEPUTY h331:violence.bos it • Justice Committee for bringing together disparate groups to form collaborative efforts and for its initiatives in conflict resolution. • The many individuals and groups who dedicate their time and expertise to the betterment of North Richmond. 3. EXPRESS APPRECIATION to the Zellerbach Family Fund, Van Loen Sels Foundation, Office of Child Abuse Prevention and others who generously have given the financial support essential to community initiatives. 4. ACCEPT the report on effort and results of County departments' activities that serve and protect the citizens of the North Richmond area, such as: • Fifth and Giaramita Housing Project - Seven new infill houses have been built and sold to lower income families. Four or the homebuyers are originally from the North Richmond community and six are female heads of household. • Head Start Services - Over the past year, six new Head Start sites have been initiated in North Richmond, serving approximately 200 children. • Abandoned vehicle abatement -103 abandoned vehicles have been removed from the streets and from private property in North Richmond over the past six months • Project Pride - Funded by the Housing Authority, two specially designated Sheriff's Department deputies provide community-based police in North Richmond. • Boys and Girls Club - Over 70 youth participate daily at the Boys and.Girls Club at the Las Deltas Health Site. • DARE - Every school in North Richmond now participates in the program to teach youth not to use drugs. • Resident Deputy - A deputy has been released from traditional police duties to interact with all community groups from the North Richmond area to provide community-based policing. • WNET - In conjunction with the FBI, the Sheriffs Department has successfully targeted "mid-level drug dealers." • Control of Liquor Stores - In conjunction with the FBI, ATF and ADC, the sheriffs department has closed 50% of North Richmond's liquor stores. These liquor stores have been associated with drugs, violence and gang activity. i • North Richmond MAC - Over the past year, the North Richmond MAC has been organized, has developed a comprehensive set of goals, objectives and a work plan and obtained over $307,000 in funding for the next three years. 5. DIRECT the County Administrator and departments to continue to work with community groups and other agencies in assisting North Richmond to increase its ability to revitalize and stabilize j the community. i i BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S): Newspaper headlines have focused on violence in North Richmond, portraying a community subject to the outbursts of gangs and drug dealers. These headlines ignore the many upstanding citizens in the North Richmond community. They ignore the effort being made to combat violence and provide stability for the citizens of North Richmond. 2 The challenges facing North Richmond stem from complex social and economic factors. Consequently, it is necessary to have a multi-faceted, comprehensive approach that utilizes the resources of the community, the County and others. This report examines current activities in the areas of violence prevention, housing, child care, mental health services, alternative activities for youth, economic development/job training, community initiatives, integrated service delivery and community safety. NOTE: These activities do not include "routine" services provided by County agencies for Sheriffs patrol, health services, code enforcement, planning, parks and recreation, PIC employment programs, et al. VIOLENCE PREVENTION Program Name: Probation on Campus Responsible Agency: Probation Department Activity: Two deputy probation officers have office hours at the Richmond High .School campus and County Community School classrooms, which allows them to interact more closely with school officials and students in need of guidance and at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. Program Name: Gang Violence Intervention Responsible Agency: Probation Department Activity: A. one-year $100,000 funding proposal has been submitted which would provide a collaborative, coordinated model for involving schools, police, community-based organizations and the Probation Department. Program Name: PACT Violence Prevention Project Responsible Agency: Health Services Department in cooperation with community agencies, the West County Unified School District and City of Richmond. Activity: This project is composed of several components, including the violence prevention leadership training program to teach youth about the origins of violence and how to become local prevention advocates. Other activities include community forums and conferences, parent and youth councils, cultural and recreational events. Two planned activities include a candidate's forum on violence in October and a "Stop the Violence" week planned for Spring 1994. The project is funded for the North Richmond, San Pablo and Richmond areas with $750,000 over five years from the Office of Minority Health and $750,000 from the Maternal and Child Health over a five year period. Program Name: Community in Peace Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity:Through a contract with North Richmond.Neighborhood House, this project will create a "gang unity" council and develop legitimate business enterprises employing former gang members. The planning effort was funded with $75,000 from the California Wellness Foundation with a potential $170,000 per year for four subsequent years. Program Name: Fire Arm Injury Reporting, Surveillance and Tracking (FIRST) System Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: Data is being gathered on fire arm injuries that result in death or hospitalization. Currently, the greatest number of fire arm deaths is among adolescents, age 15 to 19, with African American, males most at risk of injury. Data from FIRST will give the County information about.circumstances, victims, perpetrators and weapons involved in fire arm related deaths and injuries. The information will be used to focus both program and policy efforts. Program Name: Suicide and Grief Counseling Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: Through a contract with the Crisis and Suicide Intervention Services, services are provided to individuals at risk of suicide or who are coping with grief. Program Name: Workplace and Media Task Forces Responsible Agency: United Way with support from the Health Services Department Activity: The Workplace project conducts brown bag seminars for parents within Contra Costa County workplaces, while the media project has funded youth media activities including video public service 3 announcements and billboards with anti-violence and substance abuse prevention messages. Program Name: Teenage Program (TAP) Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: Health facilitators conduct or arrange for presentations at high school campuses on health related issues and violence activities such as fighting, suicide, acquaintance rape and conflict resolution Program Name: Mt. Diablo Unified School District Safety Task Force Responsible Agency: Multiple Agencies including Health Services Department Activity: The Committee was initiated in 1992 to assess violence in the school district and to develop recommendations for prevention. Their work is ongoing. Program Name: Community Forums Responsible Agency: Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board Activity: In 1992, PEHAB developed an extensive report on health priorities in Contra Costa County, including violence, and recommended various public health approaches. Follow up forms and focus groups have been conducted to elicit community feedback on health issues,including violence. Program Name: UC Berkeley Violence Prevention Class Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: In an effort to broaden interests and expertise in violence prevention, Larry Cohen, Director of the County Prevention Program, developed and taught a violence prevention class at UC Berkeley in Spring 1993. This will become a permanent part of the curriculum in 1994 and include a continuing education course for service providers. Program Name: Video Tapes Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: As part of the violence prevention program, the Health Services Department has created an extensive slide library on violence prevention and developed a fifteen minute "Highlights of Teens Speak Out Against Violence 1990" video tape. Program Name: State and National Networking Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: The prevention program of the Health Services Department participates in state and national networks, including the National Network of Violence Prevention Practitioners, the Violence Subcommittee of the California Department of Health Services and the State Injury Prevention Task Force. In addition, the Department has been instrumental in focusing the California Wellness Foundation on violence prevention (which resulted in $28 million funding for violence prevention in California). HOUSING Program Name: Las Deltas Housing Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: 226 low income family rental units. In recent years, these units have undergone extensive rehabilitation and modernization to increase the quality of life of the residents. Program Name: Housing Safety Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Wrought iron fencing and lighting have been installed throughout the Las Deltas development to increase safety. Program Name: Fifth and Giaramita Housing Project Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: Seven unit infill housing project on Fifth and Giaramita, between Market and Silver Avenues, currently nearing completion. Five of the units are occupied; the remaining two are expected to be sold and occupied in August. All seven home buyers are families; four are originally from the North Richmond community; six are female heads of household. 4 i Program Name: Parkway Estates Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: The Redevelopment Agency is working with CHBC to develop a "for sale" single family housing project on Gertrude Ave., east of the Parkway. The project would contain between 85 and 100 units constructed in two phases. Funding has been from the Redevelopment Agency, Community Development Block Grant Program and, currently in the application phase, the HOME Program. Public funds would provide silent, second mortgages to make homes more affordable to the lower income families. Program Name: Senior Housing Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: A senior housing component would be included as part of the LISC retail project. Feasibility reports indicate that approximately 50 senior housing units could be constructed. CHILD CARE/HEAD START Program Name: Verde Children's Center Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Provides 48 full day, full year child development slots for children of eligible, low income families. Program Name: Verde Children's Center Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Provides 25 half-day, ten month slots for children of eligible, low income families. Program Name: Brookside Children's Center Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Provides 48 full day, full year slots for children of eligible, low income families. Program Name: Los Deltas Children's Center Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Effective September 1993, 9 infants and 16 toddlers will be served at the Housing Authority complex. Program Name: Silver Head Start Site Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Child care is provided for 20 children in the mornings and 20 children in the afternoons , Monday through Thursday. Program Name: Las Deltas Head Start Site Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: 20 children are provided services,in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday . Program Name: Brookside Head Start Site . Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity:20 children are provided services in the mornings and 20 children are provided services in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday PARENTING/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Program Name: Neighborhood Resource Mall Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Mental health support services are provided by a .5 FTE Mental Health Consultant and 5 interns for the children and parents of the Community Services programs. Program Name: Family Mentoring and Support Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: Stable families from North Richmond will be linked with single parent families to provide mentoring and support. The families will be trained in how to assist, instruct and help single parent families enhance their parenting skills. It is anticipated that the family mentoring would extend over a 5 i six to 12 month period. The project is funded with $20,000 from the Office of Child Abuse Prevention and Zellerbach Family Foundation. Program Name: SIMBA Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: SIMBA will provide training to approximately 6 men who will provide mentoring and guidance to young African American males. The mentors will meet weekly with the children to provide ongoing support while the youth is in school. After the first year, this project is expected to become self supporting and provide its own recruitment and training of more volunteers. This project has been funded through $8,000 from the Van Loen Sels and Foundation Office of Child Abuse Prevention. Program Name: Coronado Elementary School Counseling Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: Grant funded, teachers are being trained to work with students who suffer debilitating grief as a result of intense and ongoing exposure to violence. ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH Program Name: Boys & Girls Club Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Housing Authority sponsors a Boys & Girls Club at the Las Deltas Housing site. Program Name: Summer Recreation Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Summer recreational programs for youth. Program Name: Baseball Field/Nature Center Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency/City of Richmond Activity: The agencies are working together to develop-a ballfield and proposed nature center west of Verde School. Program Name: Baseball team Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Once the new North Richmond baseball field is completed, the Housing Authority has agreed to sponsor a team. Program Name: Camp LEGIT (Let's Get It Together) Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: A two week camp for North Richmond youth at the Verde School staffed by volunteer, off duty deputy sheriffs. Graduation ceremonies include a neighborhood barbecue. Program Name: Easter Egg Hunt Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: Black Deputy Sheriffs' Association sponsors an Easter Egg Hunt as well as a Christmas toy drive for the children of North Richmond. Program Name: Youth Employment for Community Clean-up Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity:- Scheduled for June 1994, the MAC plans to coordinate existing clean-up activities with four teams of five youths each who will be supervised by County staff. The project funding of $20,000 is supported by Van Loben Sels Foundation funds. Program Name: Little League Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: The MAC is planning to recruit and train a volunteer board of directors to establish a Little League in North Richmond. The program will include training for volunteer coaches on effective coaching techniques as well as provide for the team travel, equipment and field maintenance. The project cost of $17,500 will be supported with Zellerbach Family Foundation funds. I 6 ! ANTI-DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS Program Name: DARE Program Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Verde School program to teach children not to use drugs. Program Name: Public Housing/Drug Elimination Program Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Funds to support two full time sheriffs deputies. Program Name: Control of Liquor Stores Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department, Redevelopment Agency, Department of Community Development and County Administrator's Office Activity: In cooperation with the FBI, ATF and ADC, two liquor stores which had been associated with drugs, violence and gang activity were closed. In addition, the County will be working with the North Richmond MAC to amend the area general plan to specify where liquor stores may be located, how many liquor stores may be permitted, hours of operations and other parameters to safeguard the community. Program Name: WNET Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: The Investigation Division participates in a regional narcotics unit which targets"mid-level drug dealers." ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/JOB TRAINING Program Name: Job Development Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Residential Coordinator of the Housing Authority functions as a job developer in assisting parents seeking employment. Program Name: Housing Authority Employment Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Housing Authority employs three full time residents as well as offering temporary employment to a number of community residents through local temporary agencies. Program Name: North Richmond House Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: The Community Services Department provides $12,000 per year to Neighborhood House for employment development. Program Name: .lob Training for Teacher's Assistants Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Community Services Child Development Services will provide, through a PIC grant, training opportunities for training in child care. Program Name: Head Start and Child Care Staff Responsible Agency: Community Services Department Activity: Community Services employs residents of North Richmond area for their Head Start and Child Care activities. Program Name: Job Training OPEN Program Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: In conjunction with Rubicon, job training is provided for residents currently unable to access existing employment programs. Funding was secured from the Agency's tax increment funds and PIC's 6% fund. In addition, a $480,000 grant application has been submitted to the Department of Health & Human Services for three year program funding. 7 i I 1 Program Name: USC Retail Initiative Program Proposal Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: The Agency is working with the North Richmond Housing Development Corporation to apply to LISC for funding of a grocery store, cooperative bakery, sheriffs substation, senior housing and potentially the Family Services Mall. Project applications must be submitted by December 31, 1993 with decisions expected in March 1994. Program Name: Rezoning Responsible Agency: Department of Community Development (?) Activity: The North Richmond community is currently in the planning process to rezone it to P-1 (planned unit development). This will enable the Redevelopment Agency to competitively apply for the Enterprise Zone program. Program Name: Enterprise Zone Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: An application for Enterprise Zone designation is being developed for submittal in January 1994. This designation would provide tax benefits, low interest loans and hiring tax credits for employing area residents, which would stimulate business locations and provide local employment opportunities. Program Name: Integrated Resource Recovery Facility Responsible Agency: Richmond Sanitary Service Activity: Planning approvals have been granted to build the facility, which would provide a minimum of 50 new positions with priority for hiring North Richmond residents. Program Name: Brookside Drive Realignment/Repaving Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency Activity: Brookside Drive will be realigned and repaved west of the railroad tracks to potentially Third Street. The project will remove two unsafe 90 degree turns which deter industrial development along the alignment project. Total project costs is approximately $1 million. In anticipation of the realignment, owners of an 11 acre parcel north of the alignment are preparing to submit planning applications to develop an industrial park. Program Name: Ex-felon Preparation Program Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: Community volunteers will be recruited to attend the Delancy Street training program. Using this model, an ex-felon employment training program will be established for North Richmond residents. Project funding of $13,500 is from the Zellerbach Family Foundation. Program Name: Young Asian Entrepreneurs Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: The Authority provides facility space to the Young Asian Entrepreneurs who make and sell tee shirts. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT Program Name: Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: Removal of abandoned vehicles from the streets and from private property. Program Name: Community Clean-up Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: In cooperation with the Public Works Department, the Sheriffs Department Work Alternative Crews have participated in community and property clean-up efforts. Program Name: Community Clean-up Responsible Agency: General Services Department Activity: Work crews staffed by General Assistance recipients remove litter form streets and clean-up property. 8 I Program Name: Area of Benefit Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency and Public Works Department Activity: The two agencies are working to establish a North Richmond Area of Benefit (AOB) fund and project list. Until late last year, all AOB funds collected from North Richmond projects have been available to finance improvements throughout West County. Establishing a North Richmond AOB ensures funding of projects which benefit the North Richmond community only. Program Name: Richmond Parkway Responsible Agency: Redevelopment Agency and City of Richmond Activity: Completion of the Richmond Parkway is integral to economic development for North Richmond. The portion through North Richmond is currently open to traffic, but is expected to be expanded to four lanes by mid-1990.. Section four, which links Parr Blvd. to Giant Road still has not been aligned, making it doubtful that the project will be completed by the December 1995 target date. Program Name:. Housing Code Enforcement Responsible Agency: Building Inspection and Redevelopment Agency Activity: CDBG allocations are funding code compliance abatement and housing rehabilitation programs in a nine block area of North Richmond bounded by Fourth on the west, Seventh on the east, Verde on the north and Grove on the south. The program was initiated this month. INTEGRATED SERVICES/COMMUNITY INITIATIVES Program Name: Integrated Service Pilot Project Responsible Agency: Probation, Social Service, Health Services and Community Services Departments Activity: Integrated effort to increase the effectiveness of service delivery through interagency efforts and linkage with community resources. Program Name: Facility Space Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Space is provided for organizations such as Parents of Murdered Children, Inc., Young America's Entrepreneurs, Mothers Clubs, Center for New Americans as well as the Head Start and Infant Care program. Program Name: Resident Council Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Housing Authority has assisted residents in organizing a residents' council which is in the process of completing a 501 C-3 Non-profit Status application. Program Name: Service Coordination Responsible Agency: Housing Authority Activity: Housing Authority staff assist in bringing the services of community-based organizations into the community. Program Name: Community Liaison Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: The Bay Station commander regularly meets and provides liaison with the North Richmond MAC, Neighborhood House, Senior Citizens Center, Justice Committee and other community-based groups. Program Name: North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) Responsible Agency: County Administrator's Office Activity: The MAC.has developed a work plan to accomplish seven major goals:job creation/economic development; ensure public safety; ensure the provision of health care; increase the number and quality of housing units; child/youth/senior services; improve the appearance of physical environment; promote cultural awareness and communications. Individual MAC sponsored projects are listed under the appropriate category. Program Name: Community/Family Day Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: Planned for August 28, 1993, the event will introduce the MAC to the community as well as provide a forum for increased community involvement. Activities will include not only food and 9 entertainment, but also information booths describing community, city and county programs, inspirational speakers on key community issues and a voter education program. The event is funded by a $12,000 grant from the Office of Child Abuse Prevention. Program Name: Community Summit Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: The Community Summit will bring together community leaders, Neighborhood House, Las Deltas, Verde School and city and county representatives to discuss priorities, identify shared activities and jointly work to provide support and resources for North Richmond's projects. The $1,000 cost is being financed through a grant from the Zellerbach Foundation. Program Name: Public Awareness Event/Quarterly Meetings Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: Quarterly meetings are being planned to increase awareness of major issues facing the community and to recruit volunteers for community mutual help and self support projects and to recognize outstanding community contributions. This project is being funded through a $2,000 grant from the Zellerbach Family Fund. Program Name: North Richmond Newsletter Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity:To reduce isolation and counteract inaccurate rumors about North Richmond issues, the MAC will publish a monthly newsletter. The $10,000 per year cost of this project is being funded by the Zellerbach Family Fund. Program Name: Mini-Grants for Self Help and Mutual Benefit Projects Responsible Agency: North Richmond MAC Activity: Mini-grants will be available to residents to fund projects that address community issues and provide activities that strengthen family life, offer respite care to grandparent caretakers, initiate afterschool recreational activities, provide opportunities for community service activities for youth and/or support small business enterprises. The $17,500 project costs will be supported by funds from the Office of Child Abuse Prevention. a Program Name: West County Elected Officials Health Committee Responsible Agency: Multiple Agencies including Health Services Department Activity: The Committee has expressed an interest in focusing more on violence and the Health Services Department is arranging for upcoming information/study sessions. COMMUNITY SAFETY Program Name: Project Pride Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department, Housing Authority Activity: Funded by the Housing Authority, community-based policing is provided by two specially- designated Sheriff Department deputies. Program Name: Resident Deputy Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: A deputy has been released from traditional police duties to interact with all community groups in the North Richmond area to provide community-based policing. Program Name: J-Team Responsible Agency: Sheriffs Department Activity: High profile, mission-oriented team that regularly patrols the "hot spots" of Second/Grove and Fifth/Market to identify and arrest drug dealers and weapons carriers. Undercover operations are also included as part of the J-Team. Program Name: Support to Victims of Battering and Rape Responsible Agency: Health Services Department Activity: Through contracts with the Battered Women's Alternative and Rape Crisis Center, assistance is given to victims of battering and rape. 10 DATE: REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. NAME: PHONE: 236-//6 4 _ ADDRESS: ��/ 7'�? c Aaxc.l—� �-G CITY: r e I am speaking formyself OR organization: &AX e/� (NAME OF ORGANITaTION) Check one: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # A My comments will be: general v for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider.