[0:07] everyone is 05:30pm, on
[0:11] Wednesday, AUGUST. 26 2026.
[0:11] Welcome to the Public Safety
[0:13] Jessica Meuse City County
[0:15] Council. When the public
[0:15] Assembly room of city County
[0:16] building, we have 2
[0:19] presentation this evening.
[0:20] We'll start our meeting with
[0:21] architects of our council's
[0:21] committee members lead or
[0:23] Maori. Thank you, MR. Chaired
[0:27] Brian Mowery District. 25.
[0:28] Thank you. CHAIRMAN Jessica
[0:29] McCormack District, 16
[0:32] websites. Thank you, MR.
[0:34] Chaired up the College Park is
[0:36] district 6 Good evening,
[0:36] everyone. Tooth District 9.
[0:41] Thanks. Sure. Thank you.
[0:41] MISTER CHAIRMAN Renee Allen
[0:42] District 15, the far east
[0:45] that. Thank you. Committee
[0:46] members. We were Robinson
[0:47] chair, the committee district.
[0:51] One. We have 2 items on our
[0:51] agenda. The first item, the
[0:52] early Intervention Planning
[0:56] Council be moved to SEPTEMBER.
[0:57] 30th representation of the
[0:57] first for this evening is Dr
[1:00] actually. Oh, really, the
[1:01] regional health and mental
[1:03] health centers, Dr Overly. We
[1:07] do have a hard copy in our.
[1:08] For both station this evening.
[1:18] DR. We welcome. And DR. We
[1:20] will take. But there questions
[1:20] at the conclusion of your
[1:22] presentation. Yes, that would
[1:29] be great. Thank you so as
[1:30] CHAIRMAN Robinson said, I'm
[1:31] Ashley overly. I'm a
[1:33] psychiatrist and I'm the chief
[1:34] executive officer for Sander
[1:36] Eskenazi Mental Health Center.
[1:38] I'm here tonight representing
[1:40] the Marion County Community,
[1:41] Mental health centers to talk
[1:44] to you about the scope of our
[1:45] services here in Marion County
[1:46] and the impact that our
[1:47] services have on our
[1:49] community. So these are the 4
[1:51] community mental health
[1:52] centers that operate within
[1:54] Marion County. We have
[1:55] Centerstone say dress can, as
[1:56] you know, health center, the
[1:57] Spire and Community Health
[1:59] network. Very grateful to many
[2:01] of my colleagues from these
[2:02] institutions who are here to
[2:02] participate tonight as well.
[2:07] So I know we are in budget
[2:10] season. So I do want to
[2:10] acknowledge the statutory
[2:11] authority for funding of
[2:13] community mental health
[2:16] centers from the counties.
[2:17] There is a formula that is
[2:20] established in statute that
[2:21] defines county funding for
[2:23] community mental health
[2:25] centers. And while I
[2:25] understand that looking at it
[2:27] MAY feel like an expensive
[2:29] line item but also want to
[2:29] acknowledge the finding of the
[2:32] Indiana Behavioral Health
[2:35] Commission that found in 2022.
[2:38] That untreated mental illness
[2:40] cost the state 4.2 billion
[2:42] dollars annually. So note that
[2:44] not treating mental illness is
[2:45] also very expensive to our
[2:49] state. So. And I believe that
[2:51] our community recognizes the
[2:52] importance of treating mental
[2:53] illness and making mental
[2:57] health a priority. The Marion
[2:59] County Public Health
[2:59] Department conduct a needs
[3:03] assessment every 3 years to
[3:04] survey our community and
[3:06] identify what Marion County
[3:07] perceives as the most
[3:07] important health facing our
[3:11] community. This year for the
[3:13] first time mental health,
[3:14] depression and suicide were
[3:16] actually listed as the number
[3:18] one priority in our community.
[3:20] This is a very extensive
[3:21] survey that actually surveys
[3:24] over 45,000 Marion County
[3:26] residents. And so I believe
[3:26] that this is a clear
[3:27] indication of the recognition
[3:30] in our community of the
[3:33] importance of this issue. So
[3:35] given that I want to talk a
[3:37] little bit about the scope of
[3:38] our services who we serve in
[3:43] our community. So. This is the
[3:45] collective a number of people
[3:46] that are served by Marion
[3:47] County Community, Mental
[3:50] health each year. So in the
[3:52] past year, collectively, we
[3:53] served over 66,000 individuals
[3:57] with in Marion County. This
[3:59] actually represents almost a
[4:02] 45% increase since 2018. Just
[4:05] a brief note on this number.
[4:05] We do actually expect that
[4:07] this number will decrease next
[4:09] year as community Fairbanks,
[4:10] Behavioral Health will no
[4:11] longer be serving as a
[4:13] community. Mental health
[4:15] center. They will still
[4:15] continue to serve patients and
[4:19] provide mental health services
[4:19] but no longer has a community
[4:20] mental health center. And I
[4:21] will talk more about that
[4:22] transition a little bit later
[4:26] in this presentation. But this
[4:27] is the snapshot of the number
[4:27] of patients that we serve in
[4:31] the past year. In terms of the
[4:33] diagnoses that we are serving.
[4:35] These are the top 5 diagnostic
[4:36] categories for adults. And
[4:38] number one is substance use
[4:42] disorders, followed in order
[4:43] by depressive disorders,
[4:44] common stressor related
[4:45] disorders, anxiety disorders
[4:45] schizophrenia spectrum
[4:49] disorders. For youth. These
[4:51] categories first disruptive
[4:53] impulse control conduct
[4:55] disorders, followed by anxiety
[4:56] and then strawman stress
[4:59] related disorders, depressive
[5:00] disorders, Nora developmental
[5:01] disorders, which is like adhd.
[5:06] So so those trends are very
[5:08] consistent with what we see
[5:10] year-over-year and match what
[5:11] we would expect based on known
[5:12] prevalence is of these
[5:14] illnesses in the community.
[5:15] But something else that's
[5:16] really important that I want
[5:17] to highlight is the social
[5:19] needs of the patients that we
[5:23] serve. And in addition to
[5:24] diagnostic assessment, we also
[5:25] do assessments that help us
[5:28] understand the social needs of
[5:31] our patients. So over a 3rd of
[5:32] our patients experience these
[5:34] different kinds of social
[5:36] needs. So they've residential
[5:37] instability, legal system
[5:39] involvement in food,
[5:41] insecurity. And so this
[5:42] highlights, I believe why it's
[5:44] so important for us is a
[5:44] community mental health center
[5:47] to be looking for. These needs
[5:47] and to be equipped to be able
[5:48] to help address these needs
[5:52] because we know that they are
[5:53] so influential on people's
[5:53] mental health and overall
[5:59] health. This is another
[6:00] important slide that helps
[6:00] illustrate the level of need
[6:02] that we are meeting in the
[6:06] community. So in addition to
[6:07] assessing for diagnoses and
[6:10] social were also assessing
[6:11] what's the appropriate level
[6:13] of service to be providing for
[6:17] our patients. And so we
[6:18] actually stratify people based
[6:18] on the level of of services
[6:21] that they need and what this
[6:24] graph shows is that actually
[6:26] 87% of the people that we
[6:28] serve have needs that exceed
[6:29] what we can actually meet in
[6:32] an outpatient clinic. So they
[6:34] have needs that go beyond
[6:37] simply showing up for
[6:37] medication management and
[6:40] therapy services in an office
[6:41] building and services that
[6:43] actually can meet them out in
[6:46] the community. And so we're
[6:46] providing community-based
[6:48] intensive services and
[6:50] residential services to meet
[6:51] the vast majority of the needs
[6:53] of our patients. And so this,
[6:55] I think highlights part of why
[6:56] that community mental health
[6:58] center infrastructure is so
[6:59] important because we are the
[7:01] institutions that are equipped
[7:03] to be able to meet those needs
[7:06] and uniquely in provide the
[7:07] wraparound services that can
[7:08] help meet that intensity level
[7:12] of need. So this slide
[7:14] illustrates some of the
[7:15] settings of where we are
[7:17] serving people and
[7:17] collectively what we providing
[7:20] in Marion County. So we have
[7:22] 30 outpatient clinics 151
[7:26] hospital beds. We staff in
[7:30] over 160 schools and we have
[7:30] 513 residential beds. And so
[7:31] this is just a snapshot that
[7:34] helps you see how many people
[7:36] were serving in each of those
[7:37] settings. These are not on
[7:40] duplicated numbers. So some
[7:40] people MAY be receiving
[7:42] services in multiple different
[7:42] locations. But this at least
[7:45] gives you some of the scope of
[7:45] of where we're providing those
[7:51] services. This slide is really
[7:53] important because this
[7:54] demonstrates really where our
[7:56] primary sources of support are
[7:58] to be able to provide these
[7:59] services. So as you can see
[8:03] Medicaid and hip and together
[8:05] provide about 62% of our
[8:10] revenue in support one trend
[8:12] that I do want to point out
[8:15] here is that our Medicaid
[8:15] person has decreased last
[8:18] year. Medicaid was 47%. This
[8:23] year is 43% are self pay has
[8:24] doubled last year. This was
[8:27] 3.4% this year to 7%.
[8:28] Important to note that most of
[8:30] the people who are self pay do
[8:33] not have another source of
[8:36] support. And so most of those
[8:38] are individuals that that are
[8:39] struggle to be able to pay for
[8:43] their medical so I think the
[8:43] important thing from this
[8:47] slide was noting that has
[8:48] those other resources
[8:50] decrease. This puts additional
[8:51] strain on local resources to
[8:54] be able to continue to fill in
[8:55] those gaps make sure that
[8:58] people continue to receive
[8:59] care community, mental health
[9:02] centers together provide over
[9:02] 32 million dollars in charity
[9:04] care to Marion County
[9:06] residents. And I do want to
[9:07] point out as well that even
[9:08] though these are important
[9:08] sources of support for
[9:10] community mental health
[9:11] centers, we all have an
[9:12] obligation to serve people
[9:15] regardless of their pay so we
[9:16] provide the same level of
[9:18] service to people regardless
[9:19] of what kind of insurance they
[9:25] have. I also want to note that
[9:26] community engagement is a
[9:27] really important part of what
[9:28] it means to be a community.
[9:31] Mental health center. So
[9:32] together, our community,
[9:33] mental health centers
[9:37] participated in 354 and
[9:37] outreach and community
[9:40] engagement last year. So this
[9:42] includes everything from like
[9:42] providing educational
[9:46] presentations or tabling at
[9:49] outreach events. Media events
[9:50] providing different different
[9:51] out outreach is and
[9:53] participating as sponsors and
[9:55] different events. And so this
[9:56] we believe is a really
[9:58] important part of our identity
[9:59] and mission as a community.
[10:01] Mental health center is really
[10:02] engaging actively with the
[10:05] community being present,
[10:07] knowing our neighbors, knowing
[10:09] our partners and and really
[10:12] showing up in order to create
[10:13] the relationships that help us
[10:14] help us break down barriers
[10:17] for our community. So we know
[10:18] that even though we have a lot
[10:19] of resources to offer his
[10:20] community, mental health
[10:22] centers, there's no single
[10:23] institution that has
[10:25] everything that anyone person
[10:26] needs. And so it's really
[10:27] important for us to be
[10:28] partnering with other
[10:32] institutions in the community.
[10:34] I want to spend a few minutes
[10:36] talking about crisis services
[10:39] here. What you are looking at
[10:42] right now is state dashboard.
[10:44] The state has re very recently
[10:46] developed a dashboard those
[10:47] publicly available at the
[10:50] website that's listed here
[10:53] where you look the services
[10:54] across the spectrum of crisis
[10:58] services in so we like to
[11:00] describe the full continuum of
[11:02] crisis services as really 3
[11:04] pillars of meeting someone to
[11:05] contact someone to call
[11:08] someone to respond and and
[11:10] also a safe place to go for
[11:12] help. And so this dashboard
[11:15] looks at and reports the
[11:17] volume of care in each of
[11:18] those different categories.
[11:21] And so what you can see here
[11:23] is the increase in volume of
[11:26] calls to 9, 8, since 2023,
[11:27] which is one 90 date was
[11:28] introduced nationally. So in
[11:33] and in the state of Indiana.
[11:34] What we see here is the
[11:38] someone to respond. And so
[11:40] since JULY of 25 to JUNE of
[11:45] 26, we've had over 1300
[11:46] dispatches across. When you
[11:47] look at those provide
[11:48] community mental health
[11:51] centers, some of our senator
[11:51] served more than one county.
[11:52] And that's why we've got more
[11:54] than one county highlighted
[11:57] here. But specifically with in
[11:58] Marion County, the ccb
[12:00] agencies provide 24 7 mobile
[12:01] crisis coverage with 14
[12:04] different mobile teams that
[12:08] are dispatched by 9.88 So and
[12:08] that's part of the requirement
[12:12] of being a cc Ph d. And then
[12:13] next, we also have a safe
[12:17] place for help. And so this is
[12:17] a crisis is not able to be
[12:20] resolved on the phone, not
[12:21] able to be resolved on site
[12:25] with mobile team responding
[12:25] and then we need to have
[12:28] somewhere that person can go
[12:30] and these are not emergency
[12:33] departments. These are
[12:35] dedicated purpose-built
[12:36] psychiatric emergency
[12:36] services. They're called
[12:39] crisis receiving in
[12:40] stabilization services and
[12:42] they are created specifically
[12:46] for mental health crises. And
[12:47] frequently integrate the use
[12:48] peer recovery specialist are
[12:50] very focused on creating safe
[12:51] spaces for people with mental
[12:57] health crises. And again, all
[12:58] of these are available
[13:00] publicly on the state mental
[13:01] health Earth's to the state
[13:03] crisis dashboard. I think the
[13:05] thing that I would like to
[13:08] highlight here is that these
[13:10] crisis services, someone to
[13:12] respond and the safe place to
[13:13] for help. Our very
[13:14] specifically unique resources
[13:16] that are created with the
[13:17] certified Community,
[13:18] Behavioral Health Clinic,
[13:21] where Ccb hc, which is a state
[13:23] Medicaid pilot. But I also
[13:24] talk about a little bit later
[13:26] in the program are in the
[13:27] presentation here. But it's
[13:30] important, I think to note
[13:31] that without connecting crisis
[13:37] resources, 2 continuum of out
[13:38] patient ongoing chronic care
[13:40] management through this ecb,
[13:41] hc, those crisis services
[13:43] really are a bridge to
[13:44] nowhere. So it's very
[13:46] important that we have not
[13:48] stand alone. Crisis services,
[13:49] but crisis services that are
[13:51] integrated into a continuum
[13:55] services that can help prevent
[13:55] crises and also help follow-up
[13:58] after crisis has happened. And
[13:59] so I think that's the doubt
[14:02] part of the value and the
[14:03] beauty of this ecb hca system
[14:03] is really helping integrate
[14:07] those crisis services into a
[14:07] system that can that can do
[14:13] that. Long-term. Feel so have
[14:15] some important transitions in
[14:16] mental health service delivery
[14:17] in our county that I want to
[14:21] talk about right now as well.
[14:23] Importantly, I will announce
[14:27] that adult and child is now
[14:28] Centerstone. So adult and
[14:31] child in completed a merger on
[14:33] November. 3rd, it is important
[14:36] to note that locations that
[14:38] and the staff are still in
[14:40] place. So kind. New ad of care
[14:43] is definitely a priority. And
[14:45] this transition and so
[14:46] locations and staff are still
[14:49] in place. There's no change
[14:50] there. But now rather than
[14:51] being granted as adult and
[14:55] child. This is now Centerstone
[14:58] Centerstone is now the largest
[15:00] out patient nonprofit mental
[15:01] health provider in the
[15:05] country. As a matter of fact.
[15:06] Another important change
[15:09] that's happened in our county
[15:11] is that community Health
[15:13] network announced in DECEMBER
[15:14] that they were no longer going
[15:16] to no longer going to be
[15:17] providing services as a
[15:19] community mental health center
[15:21] anymore. So this left the
[15:24] state with an obligation to
[15:25] designate a new community.
[15:26] Mental health center for
[15:30] Warren and Lawrence townships,
[15:30] which historically have been
[15:33] served by community Fairbanks,
[15:33] Behavioral Health as the cmhc
[15:38] for those areas. And in
[15:39] collaboration actually with
[15:43] the City County Council. And I
[15:44] want to thank both John Barth
[15:45] and Maggie Lewis for their
[15:48] collaboration with the state,
[15:50] the State Division of Mental
[15:53] Health and Addiction named
[15:54] Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health
[15:55] Center as the New Community
[15:55] Mental Health Center for
[15:59] Warren and wants townships.
[16:01] And so at this time, those
[16:02] townships have transitioned
[16:03] into Sanders Mental Health
[16:06] center. And so we continue to
[16:08] provide the community mental
[16:09] health center services that
[16:11] were previously provided by
[16:12] community. Think it's also
[16:14] important to note that even
[16:15] though community won't be
[16:15] operating as a community,
[16:17] mental health center, they
[16:19] will continue to operate a
[16:22] significant amount of
[16:23] inpatient services some
[16:24] outpatient mental health
[16:27] services as well. They'll also
[16:28] breaking ground for a new
[16:31] mental health hospital towards
[16:38] the end of SEPTEMBER. So those
[16:41] are some of the changes to the
[16:42] service providers. I had
[16:43] mentioned earlier that I would
[16:46] talk little bit more about cc
[16:47] Beach Sea. I think statewide
[16:49] on this is really one of the
[16:50] most important developments in
[16:52] mental health service
[16:54] delivery. And so want to keep
[16:57] you posted on on where this is
[17:00] right now. So the state has
[17:01] launched a pilot of the cc
[17:01] Beach. See the certified
[17:05] Community Behavioral Health
[17:08] Clinic in 2025, this is a
[17:09] four-year pilot that goes from
[17:12] 2025. Until 2028. What cc
[17:14] Beach see is is a federal
[17:16] definition of the standard of
[17:17] care for community mental
[17:18] health services and a model
[17:23] for reimbursing those services
[17:24] that assures that charge our
[17:25] standard of care is a line on
[17:29] really across the country. And
[17:31] the and the state of Indiana.
[17:34] We have 8 organizations that
[17:37] are piloting through our state
[17:39] Medicaid program and we are
[17:40] seeing some really promising
[17:41] things already through this
[17:44] pilot. And so some of the very
[17:46] specific things that we are
[17:49] accountable for as acc Bhc are
[17:53] providing same day access to
[17:56] care, providing services
[17:56] initiating services within 10
[17:58] days of the request for
[18:01] services. So this is a very
[18:02] specific expectation that was
[18:04] not present for Cmh sees that
[18:06] is present for cc ph sees. So
[18:09] see chc introduces new, all
[18:13] the metrics and the
[18:14] expectation for additional
[18:15] evidence based practice
[18:18] implementation that goes above
[18:19] and beyond what the cmhc is
[18:23] have been expected to So we've
[18:24] already seen improvements
[18:26] access to care, improved
[18:29] access to substance use
[18:30] disorders, increased outreach
[18:33] and engagement with criminal
[18:35] justice partners to improve
[18:35] outreach in collaboration with
[18:38] the criminal legal system and
[18:39] also increased partnerships to
[18:43] help address homelessness. And
[18:45] so we believe that this ecb hc
[18:47] program does offer a in terms
[18:48] of improving and increasing
[18:51] the standard of care. The
[18:52] mission is the same. As for
[18:56] the cmhc system. But it's an
[18:59] additional enhancement in the
[19:00] investment for mental health
[19:01] services. So we are
[19:04] enthusiastic supporters of it
[19:05] hope to see this expand
[19:13] statewide. So so. I I this
[19:15] also again, ties back to the
[19:18] crisis because crisis services
[19:19] are something that are not
[19:19] resource under the community.
[19:22] Mental health center system
[19:24] but are resourced under the
[19:26] ccbc system. And so being able
[19:29] to maintain and continue those
[19:30] crisis services. It's
[19:33] something that an important
[19:34] reason that is important for
[19:36] cc Beachy to continue and
[19:39] expand. So we are enthusiastic
[19:43] about the future for Bhc. And
[19:45] then finally, I do want to
[19:47] thank George Heard he's vice
[19:48] president of behavioral health
[19:49] for Community Fairbanks,
[19:52] Behavioral Health. And as I
[19:53] mentioned, as community will
[19:54] be transitioning away from
[19:57] being a community mental
[19:58] health center. Nonetheless
[20:00] want to make knowledge George
[20:01] herds contributions to our
[20:03] community, mental health
[20:06] center system and his advocacy
[20:06] for mental health. And I want
[20:08] to appreciate his partnership
[20:09] and collaboration over many,
[20:11] many years. He's worked very
[20:13] closely with us on many
[20:16] important projects. Grateful
[20:17] for his his passion and
[20:17] advocacy for our patients and
[20:21] for our community and and have
[20:22] huge respect for him as a
[20:25] leader and has a mental health
[20:25] advocate. So this will
[20:27] actually be his last public
[20:29] safety meeting to be at since
[20:30] he will no longer be
[20:31] representing a community
[20:33] mental health center. But I
[20:37] know that he will continue to
[20:38] be a positive advocate for
[20:38] mental health in our
[20:39] community. So certainly want
[20:40] to thank you and appreciate
[20:44] his contributions to. And that
[20:52] concludes my presentation
[20:52] thank you, Doctor, overly you
[20:53] always do a great job versus
[20:57] you sharing your 2027 items
[20:57] with comes to question Dr
[21:00] with. From the committee
[21:03] council Boots. Welcome. Thank
[21:06] you, MR. CHAIRMAN, I have 3
[21:07] questions my to and then you
[21:15] come back. Counselor. DR.
[21:16] Really good to see Thanks for
[21:21] all your work. Can you explain
[21:22] what does it mean practically
[21:23] that community health is no
[21:24] longer the community mental
[21:24] health center, but still going
[21:26] to be serving inpatient,
[21:30] mental health patients. So
[21:31] in-patient services, in fact,
[21:33] are not actually a formal part
[21:35] of the community. Mental
[21:38] health center definition. And
[21:39] so many and many community
[21:41] mental health centers actually
[21:43] don't have in-patient mental
[21:46] health services. We happened
[21:47] to. But that's not because
[21:49] it's a requirement of the seam
[21:49] agencies so they will continue
[21:52] to provide their inpatient
[21:55] services but they will not be
[21:56] beholden to provide kind of
[21:57] that full spectrum of cmhc
[22:00] outpatient services. That
[22:02] includes requirements of who
[22:05] they see and what kind of wrap
[22:05] around in support of services
[22:11] they provide. So Secondly, you
[22:12] know, historically we've
[22:13] always been concerned that the
[22:14] county jail is the biggest
[22:15] provider of mental health
[22:18] services in the county. Is
[22:21] there been any progress made
[22:21] or any efforts made to reduce
[22:26] that trend? Well, I think that
[22:27] cc Bhc is a promising pathway
[22:32] in order to doing that. And
[22:34] it's so tc Bhc places, an
[22:35] expectation that we are
[22:38] collaborating with criminal
[22:40] justice partners. And think
[22:44] it's that is a very
[22:45] multifactorial problem. The
[22:46] fact the number of middle
[22:47] individuals with mental health
[22:51] in the jail. And and so we
[22:52] there's no I would not say
[22:52] that there's measurable
[22:55] reduction of that at this
[22:56] time. But I do think that cc
[23:01] Bhc is a vehicle that gives us
[23:02] greater ability to measure
[23:06] that over time and also places
[23:08] more specific expectations
[23:10] about creating liaisons and
[23:13] partnerships with that Ccb, 80
[23:14] resources, the ability for us
[23:16] to hire staff to be those
[23:18] liaisons to work with the
[23:20] jail. So there are people on
[23:21] site at the jail that part of
[23:26] your network. We have a grant
[23:28] that facilitates that. But we
[23:29] use what cc Bhc allows is that
[23:33] we have zahnd who coordinate
[23:34] with criminal justice partners
[23:36] and so who can be available to
[23:37] attend meetings and talk to
[23:40] talk to their staff and
[23:41] communicate with community
[23:44] corrections and help make sure
[23:45] that people are getting
[23:46] connected with care. Not kind
[23:47] got to drop through cracks.
[23:52] Okay. Finally. Are there any
[23:57] effort from the your group for
[23:58] providing any mental health
[23:59] services in for the local
[24:03] flood relief. Recovery. There
[24:03] are several of us that are
[24:04] heavily involved in that. I've
[24:06] yet to see anything from the
[24:08] mental health service side
[24:13] into the picture. So actually,
[24:14] I'm going to turn to my
[24:17] friends over here. Is anyone
[24:18] familiar with efforts through
[24:32] rest area? 5, perhaps so. And
[24:34] some of the areas serving from
[24:37] Centerstone Rabbi So yeah,
[24:41] several areas we have deployed
[24:42] crisis teams and folks out in
[24:45] community, some of more world
[24:47] we also serve on the side of
[24:49] the state. And so we're
[24:50] deploying in those scenarios
[24:53] being response to being
[24:53] available, just just being
[24:54] present for those folks that
[24:56] need need support. Is there
[24:58] any effort right here in
[25:00] Marion County? Didn't have Not
[25:05] immediately where at. We'll be
[25:06] in touch somebody or
[25:10] equipment. Thank you because
[25:11] just want thank you council.
[25:11] This comes to questions for
[25:15] DR. You know, when the
[25:15] audience speak to this
[25:17] presentation from Doctor Lee.
[25:28] Thank you, DR. Appreciate Up
[25:28] next in the final positions,
[25:29] even as the Office Public
[25:33] Health and Safety Director
[25:34] Andrew Merkley and covid Duffy
[25:48] come forward. Please.
[26:07] Director
[26:16] Mark. I'm never ready. Well,
[26:17] good evening, MR. CHAIRMAN
[26:19] members of the committee,
[26:21] thank you for the opportunity
[26:21] this evening to present. Okay.
[26:25] Just as 2027 budget proposal.
[26:26] My name is Andrew Merkley and
[26:27] the director of the Office of
[26:29] Public Health and Safety. And
[26:30] I'm joined tonight by current
[26:35] the our cfo. I also want to
[26:36] think before you get started,
[26:38] phs they have. Over the last
[26:39] year, there's been a lot of
[26:42] adversity that we've that
[26:43] we've worked they worked very
[26:48] hard to achieve the goals that
[26:49] we've set for them and this
[26:55] and you'll see that throughout
[26:56] I want to take our lead. And
[26:56] Brian Heineman Hannah, the
[26:58] school for their work on this
[26:59] presentation, countless hours
[27:01] put into that and various
[27:01] partners that are here this
[27:07] evening. I am proud to present
[27:08] this budget. This 29.6 million
[27:13] dollar budget proposal while
[27:13] it is an increase over last
[27:16] year's budget. That increase
[27:20] reflects. Opioid and economic
[27:22] enhancement district dollars
[27:24] that are being contributed to
[27:24] operations of the future.
[27:29] Housing help. And so actually,
[27:29] our Consolidated County budget
[27:31] is lower this year than it was
[27:32] last year. About $162,000
[27:36] less. This is representative
[27:39] of our response to the audit.
[27:40] We've taken a very hard look
[27:42] at our programs and we have
[27:49] done a great job of. Reducing
[27:49] and realigning programs to
[27:50] ensure effectiveness and
[27:57] efficacy. The mission of the
[27:58] office is to reduce violent
[27:58] crime by addressing the root
[28:02] causes of crime. And we do
[28:02] that. Are 5 divisions which
[28:05] are separated into 2.
[28:06] Umbrellas, a public health and
[28:13] public safety. Here for you is
[28:14] the structure of our staff and
[28:17] our agency. We separate staff
[28:18] into 2 programmatic areas,
[28:21] public health public safety.
[28:23] And each of our programmatic
[28:24] divisions is led by an
[28:24] administrator. We also have
[28:27] our 3 other exhilarating
[28:29] divisions, communications
[28:30] finance and our strategic
[28:34] initiatives Division. We have
[28:35] 30 authorized positions. 27
[28:40] are filled and 3 vacancies.
[28:41] Okay. Just is predominantly
[28:44] female and non-white. That
[28:46] holds true for all of most of
[28:46] our employees in at the
[28:50] management level. And now I
[28:51] will turn it over car. Let's
[28:53] who We just threw the budget
[28:59] numbers. Good evening,
[29:04] everyone. The 4 current rates
[29:05] awarded to the Office Public
[29:12] Safety. Through the assistance
[29:14] cows in Carson's office. He's
[29:17] a congressional earmark and
[29:18] that the award for that
[29:23] amount, $963,000. That grant
[29:27] 2027 SEPTEMBER of 2027. There
[29:29] are no match requirements. It
[29:32] is supporting the work of our
[29:36] DVRs programming We hope will
[29:36] actually will sustain that
[29:41] work after the grant by
[29:42] including it into our either
[29:48] our Programmatic structures in
[29:55] or are contractual. Services.
[29:56] Our overall gross budget
[30:02] breakdown funds. Reflects an
[30:04] increase 1 million, $618,780
[30:13] across all characters. The
[30:14] total approve consolidate
[30:17] county budget for 2026. Was
[30:21] 22 Million. 504,002 3, $1. The
[30:22] total proposed budget for 27
[30:30] is 22 Million. 341 dollars.
[30:30] $341,007.4 774 reflecting a
[30:35] variance of 162,000. 457.
[30:36] Difference, the negative
[30:44] between the 2 years.
[30:47] Character, one changes.
[30:49] Character. One covers all
[30:51] personnel. Is a net budget.
[30:59] Decrease of 112 $1000.
[31:02] $12,568. This is reflected by
[31:05] moving of 5 veteran service
[31:08] officers or employees transfer
[31:12] to the mayor's office budget.
[31:16] Budget funds, 3% increase in
[31:19] cola increases and one percent
[31:22] increase in health insurance.
[31:24] Also a step in great. Crease
[31:27] of 8, a 3,100. The budget
[31:29] breakdown for to which covers
[31:31] agency supplies. There are no
[31:32] changes to page's character to
[31:36] budget from 2026. Budget
[31:37] breakdown for character. 3
[31:40] care to 3 which covers
[31:42] Services reflects the total
[31:45] budget increase of 1 million,
[31:47] 736,377 dollars increases
[31:50] include the 1 million, 781,207
[31:52] dollars in opioid settlement
[31:53] funding and 1 million to the
[31:56] fall. County, which includes
[31:57] support from the economic and
[32:00] has been district. New
[32:03] violence reduction team
[32:06] reflects a movement of 216,000
[32:07] from the administrative budget
[32:09] to for prevention services
[32:10] increase of 100,000 for the
[32:17] Nationals to protest or form.
[32:20] The funds it that are charged,
[32:21] increases and decreases
[32:23] include a budget increase of
[32:24] $21,405 for ice. A computer
[32:27] service charges. But increase
[32:30] of $10,145 for I say, phone
[32:32] charges, a budget decrease of
[32:38] 160,000 781 for story. Rant,
[32:40] additional decreases include
[32:43] 300,000 pitches. Be Watt and
[32:44] added to Marion County.
[32:47] Prosecutors budget 27 budget.
[32:48] We've been engaged center at
[32:52] the ice reflects a $57,000 $24
[32:52] decrease to operational
[32:56] budget. Cb rt, which is
[32:57] actually in violence reduction
[33:03] team. $50,000 addition to Icr.
[33:06] For administrative Budget
[33:06] 300,000 total reduction in
[33:11] immigrant legal services.
[33:12] 100,000 a reduction in food
[33:14] services for the live program.
[33:15] And reduction in
[33:21] administration. 2027 re-entry.
[33:25] Really stopping. Kirk to 4
[33:27] which covers agency equipment.
[33:29] There are no changes to the
[33:30] operate. Cage's character for
[33:35] funding. For character 5.
[33:38] Covers our fleet Services. An
[33:39] officer corporation counsel
[33:42] charge backs. For free
[33:44] services were reflecting
[33:46] decrease of $5,949 for fleet
[33:49] service occ increases. By
[33:55] $920. All right. Well, thank
[33:59] you, Colette for overview. Now
[34:00] we will be diving in to take a
[34:01] deeper look at each of our
[34:02] divisions in the per the
[34:03] programs that those divisions
[34:08] operate. Throughout this
[34:09] presentation. You will see the
[34:09] character, one character 3 for
[34:12] most of our programs. However,
[34:12] there are some fluctuations in
[34:16] the character. One. And those
[34:17] are emblematic of the fact
[34:18] that this is still
[34:18] programmatic budgeting is
[34:21] still a pilot program. We have
[34:23] several new program codes as
[34:25] well. And many of the people
[34:27] that work on these programs
[34:28] spanned different divisions.
[34:30] So we're still working with
[34:32] them to make sure that we are
[34:34] a lot the appropriate amount
[34:35] of time of each individual's
[34:40] time to the various programs.
[34:40] We're starting with the House
[34:41] and the Homelessness and
[34:44] addiction Prevention division,
[34:45] which seen its largest budget
[34:48] to date with this proposal,
[34:48] which reflects that increase
[34:53] of the housing hub. Last year.
[34:55] We've asked each of divisions
[34:56] to identify the mission of
[34:57] their division and how that
[34:57] relates back to the mission
[35:00] Phs. And so we'll all be
[35:00] providing with each of those
[35:04] mission statements tonight.
[35:05] The mission homelessness and
[35:06] eviction prevention division
[35:08] as as we affectionately call
[35:10] hat, it's improved the quality
[35:12] of life for those facing
[35:13] housing, instability and
[35:13] unsheltered homelessness by
[35:14] supporting residents facing
[35:17] eviction and facilitating
[35:17] connectivity to resources for
[35:22] Unhoused neighbors. The
[35:23] homeless is an eviction
[35:25] prevention team has I just
[35:28] want to thank them quickly
[35:29] because they I have dealt with
[35:32] a lot of changes this year.
[35:33] We've emerged sorry, fiction,
[35:33] diversion services with
[35:37] another county program. We
[35:38] have kind of indoctrinated
[35:41] into streets to homework,
[35:42] helping to clean camps in
[35:43] clothes. Then after we've
[35:44] housed everyone, which is a
[35:47] new program, ends, we piloted
[35:48] a new Winter Contingency
[35:49] project. So thank you to that
[35:55] team. The team primarily is
[35:56] when that when they're out in
[35:57] the community, they are
[35:59] working with directly with
[36:00] individuals, whether that's in
[36:01] the courts or with our
[36:05] unsheltered neighbors. But
[36:06] they participating in some
[36:08] other events as well. And this
[36:08] year, in partnership with our
[36:12] legal aid Partners hosted
[36:13] education event inform tenants
[36:14] of their rights and provide
[36:15] resources to them. And we have
[36:16] another one of those planned
[36:21] this fall. They're also
[36:22] tabling multiple community
[36:23] events and they'll be
[36:24] partnering with our food team
[36:25] next month to have a
[36:26] conversation with our
[36:26] neighbors, about housing,
[36:28] instability and food
[36:29] insecurity considering the
[36:36] recent staff changes. Want to
[36:39] start with our Winter
[36:39] contingency program from this
[36:40] last season. You all received
[36:43] the report that we put out and
[36:44] it's available on our website,
[36:45] but really, really proud of
[36:48] the success is this winter. We
[36:51] provided shelter to over 1100
[36:52] individuals across the 3 sites
[36:54] that we operate in partnership
[36:55] with Aspire Indiana, helping
[36:58] cannot see. We were able to
[36:58] connect 48 households to
[37:01] permanent housing. In our
[37:02] overnight warming center was
[37:05] opened 50 nights in 30 days,
[37:06] which is far more than we had
[37:07] in previous winters. We did
[37:10] that by increasing the the
[37:11] threshold for that pilot from
[37:12] negative 15 degree windchill
[37:17] to 25 degree air temperature.
[37:18] This budget also reflects for
[37:21] the first time devoting
[37:23] committing a portion of the
[37:24] eye sees operational dollars
[37:28] to winter contingency and the
[37:29] fiscal that's running
[37:30] alongside this budget will
[37:31] include 2.2 million dollars
[37:32] for build out of the
[37:33] assessment and Intervention
[37:34] Center, the shelf space.
[37:36] That's there that has not been
[37:38] built out. And so in future
[37:40] winters by neck by 2027. 28.
[37:41] When are we hope to have that
[37:43] facility available with 60
[37:45] beds to serve in the winter
[37:45] contingency and whether
[37:51] contingency framework. Another
[37:52] real-time example of how these
[37:53] facilities have been helpful
[37:56] from whether contingent
[37:58] perspective is that we were
[37:59] able to operation allies, the
[38:01] should the family shelter tips
[38:02] during the previous the
[38:02] flooding event that we just
[38:06] experienced. And what I think
[38:08] the team and multiple
[38:09] directors from the from the
[38:10] administration who helped
[38:10] operate that facility over the
[38:14] weekend. We also paid for
[38:15] tells fruit, for families with
[38:16] pets. And so we're able make
[38:21] sure folks have shelter. Last
[38:22] Phs interpreters and they said
[38:22] provided food for workers and
[38:25] volunteers in Riverwood Park.
[38:26] And this coming weekend we
[38:26] will be participating in the
[38:30] resource fair and open house
[38:32] providing again food and are
[38:33] still see. Our team will be in
[38:34] attendance to assist with
[38:34] those behavior health
[38:35] challenges that you addressed.
[38:42] Council boots. Here on the
[38:44] screen is one of our many
[38:45] public facing dashboards that
[38:46] we're creating for our
[38:50] programs. This tab is our
[38:52] family and single women
[38:53] shelter. Winter Contingencies
[38:57] page that you can see. And I
[38:59] just want highlight here all
[39:00] the various resources that
[39:01] aspires providing to our
[39:03] neighbors when Aaron Shelter.
[39:04] As well as the average length
[39:06] of stay being 36 days. I
[39:10] believe that's that's a lot
[39:11] shorter than what a family
[39:11] would experience in one of our
[39:15] regular shelters. We served
[39:16] 160 households there, which is
[39:19] more than last winter. And I
[39:20] think that's a critical piece
[39:23] of data because we were open
[39:24] one last one month less this
[39:25] season and we worked the
[39:30] previous seasons. This is our
[39:34] pilot overnight warming center
[39:35] We served almost 400
[39:38] individuals at that location
[39:39] offering similar types of
[39:42] referrals and resources. And
[39:43] we were also able to create
[39:45] this heat map that you see the
[39:47] calendar and what that shows
[39:47] is the number of individuals
[39:49] in the shelter on any given
[39:51] night. And when we were open
[39:52] that last week of the month in
[39:54] JANUARY was the polar vortex.
[39:57] And that demonstrates when we
[39:59] we had 160 individuals in the
[40:01] facility, which is more than
[40:02] double the number of of of
[40:02] individuals that we were
[40:04] supposed to serve at that
[40:06] location. We did that because
[40:09] our partners in peace ph a
[40:10] staff worked overnight
[40:11] throughout that week in order
[40:12] to help assist aspire, make
[40:13] sure that keep our neighbors
[40:20] safe. As I stated, we merged
[40:22] our eviction Diversion
[40:23] Initiative, which was formerly
[40:24] known as the tenant advocacy
[40:26] project with the Lawrence
[40:27] Township, Eviction Diversion,
[40:30] initiative this year. And
[40:31] through that merger, we
[40:32] continue to provide services
[40:33] in all 9 Marin County, small
[40:34] claims courts as well as the
[40:38] Marin County Superior Court.
[40:39] This year. We provided more
[40:40] than 9,000 hours of legal aid
[40:42] to earn 8 to 10. It's here in
[40:44] Marion County and we've
[40:45] connected 842 households to
[40:48] navigation services. I did
[40:50] want to know one challenge
[40:51] that continues for us. And
[40:53] that is being able to track an
[40:54] individual from the moment.
[40:55] They either call the Mayor's
[40:58] Action Center or they appear
[41:01] in court throughout the
[41:02] process to make sure deal to
[41:03] tell you all how we're doing
[41:05] when it comes to diverting in
[41:07] eviction. And so we are
[41:07] working. Our team is working
[41:09] really hard. And I can not say
[41:11] that today. They've identified
[41:12] a program that we MAY be able
[41:13] to use that will help us to
[41:18] track those individuals. Our
[41:19] pathway to employment program,
[41:20] which began back in 2019,
[41:22] continues to operate and we
[41:27] are focusing more on.
[41:28] Individual outcomes. And so
[41:29] what this program does is it
[41:31] connects individuals that are
[41:31] participating with full-time
[41:32] employment after they
[41:36] completed the program. And in
[41:37] this in connection with
[41:37] Industry-recognized
[41:38] credentials as well as
[41:41] permanent housing. This year.
[41:42] We've we were we've been able
[41:45] to connect 66 individuals, 2,
[41:48] at least 2 credentials or
[41:49] more. 54 have obtained
[41:50] full-time employment and 10
[41:55] have secured housing. Okay. So
[41:56] that's what I'm really excited
[41:57] about that. A long time
[41:59] coming. The housing hub is
[42:02] under construction in on your
[42:02] screen is an aerial view from
[42:05] Monday of this week. As you
[42:06] can see, we've we've been
[42:10] working on preparing the site
[42:11] for Footers and we drainage
[42:15] has been install. I'm told we
[42:16] should have parking lots and
[42:17] curbs here in the next couple
[42:19] of weeks. And we'll see steel
[42:20] coming out of the ground here
[42:26] this fall. We are tracked to
[42:30] open in 2027. And we are
[42:32] continuing to work on
[42:33] constructing pedophiles
[42:36] facility. Have this location
[42:37] which will be another remove
[42:39] another potential barrier for
[42:40] individuals who trying to get
[42:46] out of homelessness. Our He's
[42:49] part of a more holistic vision
[42:49] for ending chronic
[42:50] homelessness. And part of that
[42:51] condition. Part of that is our
[42:52] streets to home in the
[42:55] program. We have a well. Okay.
[42:59] Just is not contribute
[43:00] financially to this program.
[43:01] We we are integral in closing
[43:03] and cleaning up those areas.
[43:05] Where individuals were
[43:07] camping. And since the
[43:08] beginning of the of this
[43:09] program, we have closed 9
[43:10] camps and restored them to
[43:14] public use. This program as
[43:15] about AUGUST versus House,
[43:18] more than 230 individuals. And
[43:19] you'll that number will
[43:20] increase on SEPTEMBER first
[43:20] when the next round of data is
[43:25] released. Chip expects to
[43:25] achieve their initial goal of
[43:27] housing 300 to 350 individuals
[43:28] before the end of this year.
[43:33] In phase one. And phase 2 is
[43:35] focus on stabilization and
[43:36] continued support of those
[43:39] that we've already housed. So
[43:40] face to the city has already
[43:41] committed significant amount
[43:45] of money to initiative at
[43:47] 11 million dollars and 5.9
[43:48] million dollars of that is
[43:49] going towards stabilization of
[43:50] those households that we've
[43:51] already house. Streets to home
[43:55] works. And the addition of
[43:57] this of the new housing hub
[43:58] gets us one step closer to
[43:59] ending unsheltered
[44:04] homelessness Indianapolis. As
[44:05] they discuss. We we are
[44:07] participating in the camp
[44:07] maintenance efforts around
[44:08] streets to home. And so we
[44:09] continue to fund that effort
[44:09] in this and this future
[44:12] budget. This year we've
[44:15] cleaned 5 encampments. As part
[44:19] of streets to home. And our
[44:20] partners have spent more than
[44:23] 220 hours clean. Those camps.
[44:27] This on your screen is is a
[44:28] camp known Dakota and it is on
[44:28] the south side of the city
[44:32] along the river. I think, you
[44:33] know, when we think about the
[44:34] floods that occurred last
[44:37] week, if we had not been able
[44:38] to restore the spirit of
[44:40] camping in house, these
[44:40] individuals, we MAY have seen
[44:41] a very different outcome for
[44:43] neighbors who are living along
[44:44] the river and are our
[44:45] neighbors down south of the
[44:48] river. Seen all this debris
[44:50] floating down toward that. So
[44:51] this is a really great effort
[44:55] by our team in a phs. Finally
[44:56] for have we continue to
[44:59] operate or public restroom
[45:00] facilities. And we are looking
[45:01] at a new location to move one
[45:07] of those restrooms. Moving to
[45:14] behavioral health. Excuse me.
[45:15] Their budget remains
[45:16] relatively the same as it has
[45:19] in the past. And the mission
[45:20] of our behavioral health team
[45:22] is to enhance community mental
[45:22] wellness and address barriers
[45:24] to care for all by connecting
[45:25] residents to timely and
[45:26] appropriate behavioral health
[45:30] and substance. You support
[45:31] with the aim of reducing
[45:31] unnecessary justice system
[45:33] involvement and expanding
[45:33] access to culturally competent
[45:38] services. I want to take just
[45:42] a second to thank should the
[45:42] and show on the behavior
[45:44] health team. They have been
[45:47] instrumental in. Thinking
[45:48] outside the box when it comes
[45:49] to engagement around
[45:51] behavioral health, they
[45:53] identified that are the
[45:54] assessment Intervention Center
[45:55] and clinician lead community
[45:57] response and just behavior
[45:58] health in general. There's
[45:59] enough awareness around that.
[46:02] And so they have taking upon
[46:03] themselves in partnership with
[46:05] our communications team to
[46:06] really double down on our
[46:11] awareness campaigns they
[46:12] posted a series of mental
[46:13] health first aid trainings and
[46:13] they've all been trained in
[46:15] mental health. First aid.
[46:16] Those trains have been
[46:17] provided to other agencies are
[46:19] in the city. We're expanding
[46:20] to other public part partners
[46:25] on the public. In MAY we the
[46:26] endeavor to put an extensive
[46:28] campaign for mental Health
[46:30] awareness Month. The dyeing
[46:31] the canal Green with the cold
[46:34] in partnership with the Colts
[46:35] and hosting you forums to
[46:36] understand how behavioral
[46:37] health is impacting our youth.
[46:38] have another one of those
[46:39] coming in SEPTEMBER during to
[46:49] side Awareness Month. The
[46:49] assessment interventions that
[46:51] Ruben Engagement Center
[46:51] continues operate. 24 7 in
[46:52] partnership with the skin on
[46:54] health, providing mental
[46:54] health addiction and
[46:58] homelessness supports. We have
[46:59] seen an increase utilization
[47:01] of beds for the everyman
[47:02] engagement side of the
[47:04] facility. So just to back up a
[47:06] second, we have recently.
[47:09] They're 60 beds at the
[47:11] facility and we since Winter
[47:12] contingency maintain 30 of
[47:15] those beds for unsheltered
[47:16] neighbors. So we've seen an
[47:17] increase utilization both on
[47:19] the what we're calling safe.
[47:19] Space side of the facility.
[47:23] Those 30 beds and increased
[47:24] sustained use of Ruben
[47:25] Engagement Center beds. Those
[47:30] 30 bets. There. We have served
[47:32] more than 70 individuals with
[47:34] a safe space beds since
[47:36] creating those that's 4 insult
[47:37] or neighbors. And as we
[47:39] continue to make improvements
[47:40] that expand, who can we can
[47:43] refer to those beds. We will
[47:47] see utilization in the future.
[47:49] We've also been able to link
[47:50] 350 individuals who views the
[47:51] Ruben Engagement Center beds
[47:53] to continued care and we're
[47:54] working. We continue to work
[47:56] to improve coordination with
[47:57] our stakeholders, to reduce
[47:58] barriers and improve data
[48:04] collection. The community, the
[48:05] clinician lead community
[48:07] response team or cr was
[48:09] expanded on the first county
[48:13] wide and that has been
[48:14] instrumental increasing the
[48:15] number of calls that are going
[48:18] to see else year. In addition
[48:21] to that, we have a&m o u in
[48:25] place with okay Chess Mesa
[48:26] ands the question like
[48:28] Community Response Team is
[48:30] stepping stones to ensure that
[48:30] behavioral health calls. Our
[48:34] first being directed to seal
[48:36] cr as opposed to in cat or the
[48:38] police, which is which is help
[48:38] to increase our numbers as
[48:45] well. Ok? So we're moving to
[48:46] the division of Community
[48:48] Nutrition, Food policy. And
[48:53] you will see $100,000
[48:53] reduction the lift program for
[48:57] this. For this division as
[49:01] we've realized that program.
[49:02] To q a and Catherine have done
[49:04] a wonderful job in continuing
[49:04] to provide food to our
[49:05] neighbors, through direct
[49:09] service. But Dr Shelley
[49:11] Settles his return to us after
[49:15] previously been in this role
[49:17] is really working to change
[49:18] the division to focus on
[49:20] systems change as opposed to
[49:22] direct services. And so these
[49:22] programs, these slides will
[49:25] focus less on the programs
[49:26] themselves. And more on the
[49:28] program, areas that she is
[49:29] focusing on. And there's 5 of
[49:31] those program areas, students
[49:34] of food. Security,
[49:36] infrastructure, food, security
[49:39] outreach, nutrition outreach.
[49:40] Grover Technical support and
[49:43] retailer promotion. The
[49:44] mission of this division is to
[49:47] ensure access to healthy,
[49:47] culturally appropriate food
[49:50] for all Marin County residents
[49:51] through support and
[49:51] coordination of the loop,
[49:52] local food, economy and
[49:57] infrastructure. In front of
[49:59] you is a map of those direct
[50:03] food service, direct Services
[50:04] events that our team has been
[50:07] hosting around the city. Many
[50:08] of those are in partnership
[50:09] with other divisions and lot
[50:12] of those with our community
[50:13] violence reduction team and
[50:14] the Ndp's team. And so as you
[50:17] can see from this map, those
[50:19] are taking place in the same
[50:20] areas where we see high rates
[50:23] of crime in our city. And
[50:25] we're doing that because many
[50:27] times those individuals who
[50:30] are engaging in that type of
[50:31] violent behavior are doing so
[50:31] because they need access to
[50:37] food. This slide, it will be
[50:37] the only slide that
[50:40] demonstrates a character. One
[50:42] spend for for this division.
[50:45] We do not break out their
[50:45] spend by by program. Instead,
[50:47] we do that for the entire
[50:48] division. And so I just wanted
[50:56] to note that for you. In 2027,
[50:56] we're going to continue
[50:57] funding the programs you see
[50:59] on the slide community Compass
[51:03] the pantry summit in the
[51:03] hunger networks, food
[51:05] resources, food resource
[51:07] services hub. The Marion
[51:08] County public Health
[51:08] Departments, fresh box
[51:15] program. Community Compass,
[51:16] which is picked pictured on
[51:17] the screen is a free to use
[51:18] website and app. Helps you
[51:21] find pantries Neil sites and
[51:22] snap and wic retailers around
[51:27] Marin County. It's had almost
[51:29] 100,000 visits through quarter
[51:32] 2 of 2027 2026. Excuse The
[51:34] food resources Hub connects
[51:36] individuals to food
[51:38] assistance, resources. We've
[51:39] helped 69 households complete
[51:41] snap applications this year
[51:43] assisting. 48 with fsa say
[51:47] interviews and we were able to
[51:49] connect 23 of those snap. We
[51:52] were able to get 23 of those.
[51:52] 48 households connected and
[51:55] approved for snap. When we
[51:58] think about what that means.
[51:59] The average household snap
[52:00] benefit in Marion County is
[52:03] $400 a month. So just 23
[52:06] households being approved for
[52:07] snap means that could bring in
[52:10] additional $100,000 annually
[52:11] and snap benefits to
[52:11] households and retailers in
[52:16] Marion County. Our Fresh Fresh
[52:17] Books program is a nutrition
[52:18] incentive program. For those
[52:20] who use snap. And what that
[52:23] does is that it helps
[52:23] individuals who have those
[52:26] funds purchase more fruits and
[52:30] vegetables from local farmers.
[52:32] Through q 2 of this 119 unique
[52:34] users have redeemed $3700
[52:35] worth of the nearly $4900
[52:38] available to them. Local
[52:44] farmers markets and retailers.
[52:47] As we demonstrated our map
[52:49] earlier, our food outreach is
[52:53] significant through q 2 of
[52:55] this year, we hosted 14
[52:57] events. But when the snap
[52:57] benefits, the were cut in JULY
[53:00] of this year, we hosted
[53:06] additional 13 events in JULY.
[53:07] Through q 2, we have provided
[53:09] more than 1000 households with
[53:13] produce another grocery items.
[53:14] Which account amounts to
[53:14] 55,000 pounds of food for
[53:18] neighbors. We continue to work
[53:18] with Gleaners to provide or
[53:21] food for these events. And
[53:23] 9.13, who is providing
[53:23] logistics to get those the
[53:24] food that we are are providing
[53:28] to those locations. Outreach
[53:32] is more than just distribution
[53:34] our food team has filmed a
[53:36] snap public now announcement
[53:37] to educate residents on the
[53:38] major changes that have come
[53:40] with the federal and state
[53:46] cuts to snap benefits. This is
[53:48] where you'll know the $100,000
[53:49] reduction in the budget for
[53:54] this this division. We had
[53:54] identified at the top of the
[53:57] year before the audit's
[53:58] release inefficiencies in the
[54:01] food lift program. And so we
[54:03] are working to realign that
[54:05] program now to ensure that the
[54:06] individuals and families that
[54:06] need these services most
[54:10] receive them. And so and will
[54:11] be able to access this. These
[54:16] lift rights. In addition to
[54:17] our new nutrition outreach
[54:19] includes cooking classes, food
[54:20] access programs and the
[54:22] promotion of healthier eating.
[54:27] We provided 35 classes in our
[54:28] community cooking classes in
[54:30] the system. More than 30,000
[54:30] individuals with rides already
[54:38] this year. Our food team also
[54:39] supports agriculture,
[54:40] entrepreneurship by providing
[54:43] grant writing assistance.
[54:45] Available funding when we have
[54:45] it and technical assistance
[54:48] related to her been growing
[54:50] and example of this type of
[54:52] assistance is the new code
[54:52] compliance guide that the team
[54:55] has has drafted. It includes
[54:58] tips on navigating city zoning
[54:59] soil tests, resources and
[54:59] personal livestock rules for
[55:05] local farmers. A retailer
[55:07] promotion slide here. We're
[55:12] hoping to get. Individuals
[55:12] connected to local stores and
[55:14] promoting our local farmers.
[55:17] We believe that's important.
[55:19] That's why the lift grocery
[55:19] access program and fresh books
[55:21] are critical to this retail
[55:24] promotion. Helping people buy
[55:25] local also helps our local
[55:26] retailers, which helps sustain
[55:29] food. Which helps us sustain
[55:34] our food ecosystem. Okay. Now
[55:35] we're going to shift to our
[55:36] public safety programs. And
[55:37] first, we'll start with
[55:39] reentry Division. This
[55:41] division, despite some
[55:43] changes, continues to see the
[55:45] same amount budgeted over the
[55:45] last over last year. And this
[55:49] year The mission of this
[55:50] division is to lower barriers
[55:52] to successful community
[55:53] reentry for individuals
[55:55] returning from incarceration
[55:56] and those with prior justice
[55:57] involvement through
[55:58] connectivity to employment,
[55:59] housing and other essential
[56:07] services. This team much like
[56:08] our Behavioral Health Division
[56:09] wanted to make sure that we're
[56:12] getting the word out about
[56:13] re-entry month. And they
[56:15] created a point of view video
[56:16] of the release lobby to help
[56:17] get the word out about what
[56:18] the release it is, where it is
[56:22] and what they do. Your partner
[56:23] spotlights during that month
[56:24] and created flyers and about
[56:27] expungement laws. Our team
[56:28] also spoke at iu India about
[56:30] there about a re-entry
[56:31] initiatives and they've been
[56:37] table multiple events. This so
[56:43] this demonstrates our release
[56:43] lobby and a reentry services
[56:45] budgets for next year. I think
[56:46] it's important to note here
[56:52] that. Moving forward into
[56:53] 2027, we are realigning our
[56:55] program really saw program.
[57:05] From a 24 7 response to.
[57:05] Day-to-day response during the
[57:08] workweek. We provide 3 Ft ease
[57:11] after really soggy. And so
[57:12] we're going to realign their
[57:14] mission to be more focused on
[57:16] recidivism and less on the
[57:17] day-to-day needs of
[57:18] individuals coming out of the
[57:20] facility. So that MAY be
[57:21] working with individuals
[57:24] before the exit, the jail in
[57:25] partnership with the mental
[57:28] health behavior, health case
[57:28] workers that are in the jail
[57:31] already. And we've already
[57:32] been working with the Marion
[57:35] County Sheriff's Department to
[57:36] identify ways that they can
[57:37] assist us in those overnight
[57:38] hours to ensure that
[57:40] individuals get access to bus
[57:41] passes Lyft rides to make sure
[57:47] they can get home. Now we move
[57:50] to our community, introduction
[57:54] teams, we call them cvr this
[57:55] divisions mission is to reduce
[57:56] community violence through
[57:57] data-driven, community-based
[57:58] non-law enforcement strategies
[58:01] focusing on prevention,
[58:02] intervention and supporting
[58:03] neighborhoods impacted by gun
[58:13] violence. This budget will see
[58:16] an increase of to our National
[58:16] for National Institute
[58:18] Institute for Criminal Justice
[58:19] Reform Partners. For the first
[58:22] time they will be budgeted in
[58:24] our budget as well as youth
[58:25] programming, which has not
[58:31] previously been in our budget.
[58:31] It's hard to MISS Are in the
[58:32] peace team. They're here
[58:33] tonight in their orange
[58:35] shirts. You see them out in
[58:37] the community often and they
[58:41] are often working to stabilize
[58:41] our neighborhoods and some of
[58:42] the most difficult and
[58:44] challenging neighborhoods.
[58:44] Providing intensive
[58:46] interventions in areas with
[58:48] high rates of gun violence.
[58:50] The canvas they provide food
[58:53] and they prefer promote
[58:53] community events in
[58:54] participating community. Vince
[58:58] throughout the year. Some
[59:00] additional impactful events
[59:01] that we participated in
[59:01] include piece on the Plaza,
[59:02] which is a partnership with
[59:05] the Pacers, which we believe
[59:06] help to reduce some of the
[59:07] JULY 4th challenges that we
[59:10] saw last year. Also the Love
[59:13] Fest at Washington Park and
[59:14] our Cars and Kick Ball event,
[59:16] which is a unique event this
[59:17] year, Carson Kick Ball,
[59:20] brought our car clubs together
[59:20] to play kick ball against one
[59:24] another at a local park
[59:25] participants in that program
[59:26] had to go through some various
[59:27] trainings before they were
[59:32] able to participate. This was
[59:33] I believe, thought up by our
[59:34] partners at Public Safety
[59:36] Foundation, Hoskins with our
[59:37] team. She does a great job and
[59:40] want to shout her out as well
[59:42] the rest of the cvr team about
[59:43] because of all the work that
[59:48] they do. You hear a lot of
[59:48] success about the that we
[59:55] have. Reducing homicides in
[59:56] Marin County. Part of that is
[59:58] because of the gun violence
[59:58] reduction strategy and the
[1:00:02] work that the peace team and
[1:00:03] are see the our team does in
[1:00:06] the community as of this
[1:00:07] morning, we are at a 15%
[1:00:09] reduction in criminal
[1:00:10] homicides since the start of
[1:00:14] this program in 2021. That
[1:00:15] includes a 23% reduction
[1:00:16] year-to-date in criminal
[1:00:17] homicides from last year. We
[1:00:21] have a lot to be proud of it,
[1:00:23] but in the piece and what they
[1:00:24] do there's a lot more to it
[1:00:24] than just reducing criminal
[1:00:30] homicides. Through the
[1:00:32] fellowship program. We are
[1:00:33] connecting individually or
[1:00:34] connecting with individuals
[1:00:35] who are at a risk being
[1:00:36] involved in criminal excuse me
[1:00:41] in violent. In violence and we
[1:00:42] hoping to rehabilitate them
[1:00:47] get them on the right path.
[1:00:47] This year, we graduated 27
[1:00:49] fellows out of her fellowship
[1:00:50] program. And some of those
[1:00:51] individuals have been hired to
[1:00:53] have to continue working with
[1:00:54] other fellows or with our
[1:00:55] outreach teams around the
[1:00:59] city. We're also hiring a
[1:01:00] behavioral health and wellness
[1:01:02] manager through grant funds
[1:01:06] that we received. The doj. One
[1:01:07] thing that we recognize is
[1:01:08] that individuals in this
[1:01:09] fellowship program. Our
[1:01:12] challenge by behavioral health
[1:01:15] mental health challenges and
[1:01:15] we want to be able to provide
[1:01:19] that service directly to them.
[1:01:20] And as I said, our staff are
[1:01:23] also putting their lives in
[1:01:24] harm's way on a day-to-day
[1:01:27] basis. And so they are also
[1:01:28] experiencing some of the same
[1:01:29] behavior, health and mental
[1:01:29] health challenges. And so we
[1:01:30] want to make sure that that's
[1:01:32] available to them as well.
[1:01:35] Some additional impactful
[1:01:35] collaboration. Ys through a
[1:01:37] partnership with Public Safety
[1:01:38] Foundation. They're working
[1:01:41] with Johns Hopkins and
[1:01:41] creating a violence Reduction
[1:01:45] Council here in the city. I
[1:01:47] like to think that a lot like
[1:01:49] the Le Bron Council where
[1:01:50] we're bringing were bringing
[1:01:52] together multiple partners
[1:01:53] across the city to MARCH in
[1:01:55] the same direction as as we
[1:01:55] continue to reduce violence in
[1:01:59] the city of Indianapolis. Our
[1:02:00] partnership with the Brookside
[1:02:03] cdc, transformative travel
[1:02:04] program. Our fellows go
[1:02:06] through conflict resolution
[1:02:06] and then they're able to
[1:02:08] participate in program to get
[1:02:09] experience a new opportunities
[1:02:11] outside of Marion County. Many
[1:02:12] of these fellows have never
[1:02:19] been outside of the county.
[1:02:22] This is our indie peace Public
[1:02:23] dashboard and what this
[1:02:25] demonstrates on your screen is
[1:02:25] our fellowship program.
[1:02:27] There's also another tab for
[1:02:32] age that program. I think what
[1:02:35] I'd like to note here is the
[1:02:35] number of number of fellows
[1:02:36] that are enrolled in school
[1:02:39] that re enrolled in school
[1:02:40] that are either searching for
[1:02:42] or have obtained full-time
[1:02:46] part-time employment. And also
[1:02:47] where those fellows are coming
[1:02:50] from the heat map on your
[1:02:51] screen demonstrates where
[1:02:52] identifying this follows where
[1:02:56] they live and so I think it's
[1:02:57] important have as part of this
[1:03:03] slide. In addition to that.
[1:03:05] The if you're looking for
[1:03:07] numbers around the reduction
[1:03:08] in homicides of production and
[1:03:09] robberies that you won't find
[1:03:12] that on our dashboard. That is
[1:03:14] on impd stash board. And so
[1:03:15] we're going to work with them
[1:03:16] to see if we can link those 2
[1:03:18] dash boards together. So you
[1:03:19] can see the comprehensive work
[1:03:20] that we're doing in
[1:03:30] partnership with impd. You
[1:03:32] will recall that we paused our
[1:03:33] elevation program to realign
[1:03:36] it this year. And we're in
[1:03:37] year one of a new two-year
[1:03:40] grant cycle for this program.
[1:03:44] This year. Provided grants
[1:03:47] ranging from 100,000 to
[1:03:50] $400,000 to 30 sept grantees
[1:03:51] through the Our partnership
[1:03:51] with the Indianapolis
[1:03:56] Foundation. This new cycle has
[1:03:56] already helps with capacity
[1:03:58] building. And with data
[1:04:04] collection. Last month. I you
[1:04:05] know, all of you the quarter,
[1:04:08] one results from the elevation
[1:04:12] grants and quarter 2 outcomes
[1:04:13] are are expected soon. You
[1:04:13] should see those in your
[1:04:16] SEPTEMBER 1st when I send out
[1:04:19] our SEPTEMBER first data.
[1:04:21] Grantees have established more
[1:04:22] than 150 new partnerships
[1:04:24] since the start of this new
[1:04:25] round. And if served over
[1:04:30] 7,000 participants. Of the
[1:04:32] more than 100 participants who
[1:04:34] were connected to housing
[1:04:35] resources. 66 have obtain
[1:04:40] housing. And worse. We're
[1:04:41] seeing improved positive
[1:04:41] outcomes across the board for
[1:04:44] elevation. Participants. Look
[1:04:46] forward to being able to share
[1:04:47] those quarter. 2 results with
[1:04:53] you in SEPTEMBER. This year.
[1:04:53] We also realigned our
[1:04:54] strategic prevention or excuse
[1:04:56] me are in the center for
[1:04:58] Conflict. Conflict resolution
[1:04:58] and are in the Champions which
[1:05:02] is r d program. Under one
[1:05:04] umbrella that we are calling
[1:05:05] strategic prevention. And so
[1:05:06] that's why you see these both
[1:05:09] on the same slide. What that's
[1:05:10] doing is it's it's making it
[1:05:10] easier for us to moves shift
[1:05:13] staff as needed and to share
[1:05:14] resources between those 2
[1:05:19] programs. Funding has been
[1:05:20] slightly reduced to more
[1:05:22] efficiently match. The
[1:05:23] year-over-year spending for
[1:05:26] the icc. Our program. But we
[1:05:27] have seen we hired someone new
[1:05:31] in that at the icr directly
[1:05:35] from impd and we've seen in
[1:05:36] 124 4% increase in conflict
[1:05:36] resolution trainings this
[1:05:40] year. And are in the Champions
[1:05:41] Program has trained more than
[1:05:43] 900 youth in domestic violence
[1:05:46] prevention. In addition, 300
[1:05:53] other individuals. 2026 marked
[1:05:54] a change in how we provide
[1:05:55] youth programming in Marin
[1:05:58] County. We launched the Youth
[1:06:00] Violence Reduction Initiative
[1:06:01] and We Re imagine summer in
[1:06:04] the city. After last JULY we
[1:06:07] talk to youth who told us that
[1:06:09] they needed another place to
[1:06:10] go. That was more appropriate
[1:06:13] space for them as opposed to
[1:06:14] being downtown. And in that
[1:06:17] re-imagining of summer in the
[1:06:19] city, we operated a new
[1:06:20] location on Friday providing
[1:06:21] services to youth on Friday
[1:06:24] and Saturday nights. We also
[1:06:26] hired 2 new program managers
[1:06:28] of violence prevention,
[1:06:29] violence reduction on the cvr
[1:06:36] team this year. For white your
[1:06:38] eye, which which began that
[1:06:39] pilot back in 2025. Through
[1:06:40] seed funding from the National
[1:06:41] Institute for Criminal Justice
[1:06:45] Reform. That program is taking
[1:06:46] what we learned from the adult
[1:06:48] combines reduction fellowship.
[1:06:52] And applies it to youth. So
[1:06:55] We've partnered with voices to
[1:06:57] do that work and they're
[1:06:59] engaged this year with 26
[1:07:01] juveniles who are at an
[1:07:03] elevated risk of being
[1:07:04] involved in violent violent
[1:07:09] crime. What we found through
[1:07:12] this program is that family
[1:07:12] engagement is key to the
[1:07:14] success of these individuals.
[1:07:16] And so we are providing
[1:07:17] wrap-around services not just
[1:07:17] to the individuals in the
[1:07:18] program, but also to their
[1:07:22] families. This budget is going
[1:07:23] to provide additional funding
[1:07:26] for wide your eye. And in
[1:07:27] 2026, we have also provided
[1:07:28] additional funding to why
[1:07:34] right to continue their work.
[1:07:34] Earlier this year. You all
[1:07:35] provided additional funding
[1:07:36] through fiscal. For our summer
[1:07:39] in the city fall in the city
[1:07:41] and winter in the city
[1:07:43] program. And so Waller, while
[1:07:44] our partnership with let them
[1:07:45] talk. And this initial summer
[1:07:46] in the city programming will
[1:07:50] wrap up this weekend. We are
[1:07:53] working with partners at
[1:07:54] Delano in Anthony Hampton to
[1:07:55] start youth men's Basketball
[1:07:56] league. That will continue our
[1:07:57] summer in the city. Efforts
[1:08:00] into the fall. And we're
[1:08:02] working on exploring a similar
[1:08:03] program for youth Women in
[1:08:04] partnership with the Powell
[1:08:06] Club. So that work will
[1:08:06] continue. And then over fall
[1:08:09] break and winter break. We'll
[1:08:10] have similar activities for
[1:08:12] youth on the weekends. The
[1:08:15] turnout for this for some in
[1:08:16] the city this year has been
[1:08:20] significant. When you look at
[1:08:21] the difference from last year
[1:08:23] to this year, we are averaging
[1:08:24] more kids in this program per
[1:08:27] night. This summer. Then we
[1:08:34] registered in all 2025. The
[1:08:35] earlier Intervention Planning
[1:08:36] Council, we continue to fund
[1:08:40] through our budget. They will
[1:08:40] come back to you. It sounds
[1:08:42] like on SEPTEMBER. 30th McCoy
[1:08:43] will be here to talk about
[1:08:44] their budget. But I did want
[1:08:45] to highlight that they remain
[1:08:52] in our budget for 2027. And
[1:08:54] then we we have a couple of
[1:08:56] programs that don't fit nicely
[1:08:57] under umbrellas of public
[1:09:00] safety and public health. And
[1:09:01] those are a lift concierge
[1:09:01] program and our immigrant
[1:09:05] legal defense program. First,
[1:09:06] we'll talk about Wisconsin
[1:09:07] years. We're continuing to
[1:09:10] fund that program at $45,000.
[1:09:10] This is essential to being
[1:09:13] able to assist some of our
[1:09:14] programs and the participants
[1:09:17] of those programs getting them
[1:09:18] rides to whether its rides
[1:09:21] home from the jail or whether
[1:09:22] it's getting out through
[1:09:22] winter contingency, getting
[1:09:24] them connected to behavioral
[1:09:25] health appointments,
[1:09:27] employment opportunities for
[1:09:29] school. And so we think it's
[1:09:29] necessary to continue
[1:09:31] providing the services to our
[1:09:37] to partners. Finally,
[1:09:40] immigrant legal defense. I
[1:09:42] want to thank Director Morales
[1:09:43] who I believe is here this
[1:09:44] evening and can speak more to
[1:09:44] the immigrant legal Defense
[1:09:48] services that we're providing.
[1:09:48] So I'll give you the
[1:09:49] highlights if if you have
[1:09:49] questions, you can answer
[1:09:55] those. This budget does not
[1:09:56] provide additional funding in
[1:09:57] 2027. And the reason for that
[1:09:59] is much like remember much
[1:10:02] like our elevation, fun. We
[1:10:03] needed to pause and take a
[1:10:04] look at what we were doing and
[1:10:05] realign this program. And so
[1:10:08] that's taken some time. Those
[1:10:11] dollars in 2026. Are not yet
[1:10:12] under contract. And so what
[1:10:13] we're going to do is apply
[1:10:14] those funds much like we did
[1:10:17] with the elevation Grant to
[1:10:20] the 2027 year. So we will
[1:10:21] still have $300,000 that will
[1:10:24] go to grantees to operate in
[1:10:29] the 2027 budget. And the 300
[1:10:31] the previous year's funding
[1:10:32] 2025 funding is still being
[1:10:33] spent this year. So we are
[1:10:34] still assisting individuals
[1:10:39] this year with services. One
[1:10:40] thing I want to note about
[1:10:42] this program is that our our
[1:10:42] partnership with Indianapolis
[1:10:46] Foundation is strong. And in
[1:10:47] each of their contracts, they
[1:10:47] agreed to provide additional
[1:10:49] funding through there funds
[1:10:53] that they have. To continue to
[1:10:54] support this program. And that
[1:10:56] will continue in 2027. So
[1:10:58] there will be at least in
[1:11:01] addition of $150,000 in 2027
[1:11:04] coming from the Indianapolis
[1:11:05] Foundation. And as you can see
[1:11:07] last year, they they provided
[1:11:08] additional funding above and
[1:11:12] beyond that $150,000. And so
[1:11:12] we're hopeful will continue to
[1:11:15] work with them that they will
[1:11:16] be able to provide additional
[1:11:17] funding in 2027 to support
[1:11:25] this program. As you all know,
[1:11:26] data has been something that
[1:11:27] we've been really focused on.
[1:11:29] And I think we've demonstrated
[1:11:30] that throughout this this
[1:11:35] program today. Now I'd like to
[1:11:35] wrap up by talking about data
[1:11:38] and our audit response as well
[1:11:39] as well as what we have to
[1:11:43] achieve moving forward. In
[1:11:45] 2024, we heard today to
[1:11:47] manager and she has been
[1:11:50] working diligently to create.
[1:11:51] 8 public facing dashboards
[1:11:53] that are now on our website
[1:11:54] and she working on more that
[1:11:59] are under construction now.
[1:11:59] This is dry. We have
[1:12:01] drastically improved their
[1:12:01] data collection and
[1:12:02] transparency across all of our
[1:12:04] divisions and begun sending a
[1:12:07] monthly report to council.
[1:12:09] We've updated our contracts to
[1:12:10] ensure timely and meaningful
[1:12:11] data is being collected. And
[1:12:12] we're helping our vendors to
[1:12:13] make sure that they are
[1:12:16] supplying us with that data on
[1:12:19] a monthly and quarterly basis.
[1:12:21] As well making sure that when
[1:12:22] they provide us with reporting
[1:12:23] that those reports are up to
[1:12:26] our standards. We're also
[1:12:27] partnering with IOUs a
[1:12:29] leveraging their expertise
[1:12:30] because we want to we want to
[1:12:31] take a look at all of our data
[1:12:34] across all of our programs to
[1:12:37] to be able to see who were
[1:12:38] serving and who's impacted by
[1:12:39] each of the programs that we
[1:12:41] are providing. So over time,
[1:12:44] we hope to be able to
[1:12:48] demonstrate how I is impacting
[1:12:48] our homeless neighbors by
[1:12:49] connecting. It's my asked to
[1:12:52] do with the icy data. We'd
[1:12:53] like to see how that then
[1:12:54] impacts the individuals,
[1:12:56] individuals coming out of her
[1:12:57] jail and and the release
[1:13:02] lobby. And so really excited
[1:13:03] about this. I think we're
[1:13:06] making some significant
[1:13:07] headway and look for look for
[1:13:14] more to come on that front.
[1:13:16] We've also made consistent
[1:13:18] progress since before the
[1:13:19] audit was released in
[1:13:20] addressing some of the
[1:13:20] concerns that came from the
[1:13:24] audit last earlier this year.
[1:13:26] To bring you up to speed on
[1:13:26] where we're will be talking
[1:13:31] about that here shortly. You
[1:13:32] also you've received in your
[1:13:33] packets, substantial
[1:13:35] information that addresses the
[1:13:39] audit findings. In your packet
[1:13:39] there with just a second. Why
[1:13:44] did that for you? You have the
[1:13:45] audit response tracking sheet
[1:13:47] that is color coded. Green
[1:13:49] means that we have already
[1:13:51] accomplished that response.
[1:13:51] Yellow means that we are in
[1:13:54] progress and red means that we
[1:13:55] have yet to really be able to
[1:13:58] start that response. You'll
[1:14:01] also see examples of logic
[1:14:02] model each of our
[1:14:03] administrators and and their
[1:14:05] teams have been tasked with
[1:14:06] creating a logic model for
[1:14:07] each of their programs to make
[1:14:08] sure that the work that we're
[1:14:09] doing and the outcomes that
[1:14:12] are coming from that work. Our
[1:14:15] ethic is I hsus and that we
[1:14:15] can demonstrate that you all
[1:14:16] and that they really back to
[1:14:19] our mission. You also find at
[1:14:20] the end of the packet and
[1:14:24] example work plan. So each of
[1:14:24] our employees has. We've
[1:14:25] worked with them to create a
[1:14:28] work plan. Relates back to the
[1:14:31] mission of the division. They
[1:14:34] work for and to these excuse
[1:14:35] logic models for each of their
[1:14:39] programs. You also see some
[1:14:39] reports in there. Some of
[1:14:40] those you've already received.
[1:14:44] But I wanted to to Ed them.
[1:14:45] You have a month one of summer
[1:14:46] in the city. Let them talk.
[1:14:47] Provided a really robust
[1:14:49] report for you. So I think
[1:14:50] that's helpful. Q one
[1:14:51] immigrant legal services
[1:14:54] report from this year. You
[1:14:55] have a q one with public. You
[1:14:57] won't have legally report.
[1:14:57] Already received that. But
[1:15:00] wanted to add that in there,
[1:15:01] that's just the legal data for
[1:15:05] you. Think that's all that's
[1:15:06] in your report. But just
[1:15:14] wanted to highlight this. As
[1:15:16] part of the audit response. We
[1:15:16] have made a new centralized
[1:15:20] documents, contract hub. And
[1:15:21] we are drafting multiple new
[1:15:24] standard operating procedures
[1:15:24] that relate to the responses
[1:15:28] in the audit. Our soapy has
[1:15:30] has been reviewed and approved
[1:15:32] by the Office of Audit
[1:15:32] Performance and the Purchasing
[1:15:35] Division fm. And we will be
[1:15:37] training all of our staff on
[1:15:39] so peas when they are
[1:15:41] finalized so that we can do
[1:15:43] that. Cindy. A quick
[1:15:47] succession later this fall. We
[1:15:49] are also working on an ethics
[1:15:50] training in addition to the
[1:15:51] annual ethics training that
[1:15:54] all city staff receive, that
[1:15:55] will be an in-person training
[1:15:56] and that is being developed by
[1:16:00] oc c. Later this fall. We will
[1:16:01] also provide leadership in
[1:16:03] conflict resolution training
[1:16:03] to our leadership team,
[1:16:06] including our administrators,
[1:16:06] something that we've we've
[1:16:09] just noted, some challenges in
[1:16:12] okay, chess. I think when you
[1:16:13] think about our maybe some of
[1:16:14] our cultural challenges that
[1:16:15] you've noted over the last
[1:16:17] couple of years, think some of
[1:16:17] that can be addressed by
[1:16:22] making sure that we are all
[1:16:23] that we're all adequately
[1:16:23] trained and that we know how
[1:16:26] to read. Rest resolve conflict
[1:16:28] with one another. And with our
[1:16:35] partners external to the city.
[1:16:35] Finally, we will continue to
[1:16:38] focus on the items discussed
[1:16:40] in the few slides. Refining
[1:16:42] our data improving reporting
[1:16:43] outcomes and continuing our
[1:16:46] staff training. We're also
[1:16:47] looking at improving our
[1:16:48] program structures so that
[1:16:49] they better aligned with our
[1:16:50] mission. We've done some of
[1:16:51] already, but we want to
[1:16:57] continue that. And so I want
[1:16:57] to thank again. Thank you to
[1:16:59] the if you just team our
[1:17:01] partners. We're joined tonight
[1:17:02] by a lot of partners. Some of
[1:17:03] them are probably going going
[1:17:05] to come up and share their
[1:17:05] experiences phs in the funding
[1:17:09] that you provided. I just want
[1:17:10] I want to note a few of them.
[1:17:13] Indianapolis legal aid society
[1:17:15] and, you know, legal services.
[1:17:16] We have David Muhammad
[1:17:17] National City for Criminal
[1:17:19] Justice reform here. I believe
[1:17:19] Judge Bacon from Lawrence
[1:17:23] Township is here as well
[1:17:24] Eskenazi and our partners at
[1:17:28] the icy. Clc are stepping
[1:17:29] stones are here. Shauna majors
[1:17:33] from the Martindale Brightwood
[1:17:38] Community Center director
[1:17:39] Mirallas in dp Staff Deborah's
[1:17:40] Place. Indianapolis
[1:17:44] Foundation. Any public safety
[1:17:45] foundation and and others. And
[1:17:46] so if I MISS You, I apologize.
[1:17:46] But thank you all for being
[1:17:47] here this evening. And thank
[1:17:52] you council with that. Thank
[1:17:52] you. Director Merkley stuffy
[1:17:53] comments or questions from
[1:18:00] counselors. Council Perkins.
[1:18:02] Thank you, MISTER Chair. Thank
[1:18:07] you. Director and cfo for the
[1:18:10] presentation. I believe
[1:18:14] several things can be true.
[1:18:18] All Phs serves some of our
[1:18:21] most vulnerable residents. The
[1:18:23] office reflects the diversity.
[1:18:29] City that we serve. That you
[1:18:35] provide critical support. Too.
[1:18:38] Residents in some of the most
[1:18:39] difficult seasons and
[1:18:43] experiences of But I also
[1:18:48] believe accountability,
[1:18:49] transparency and strong
[1:18:50] internal controls can also
[1:18:55] exists. We also acknowledge
[1:18:57] with the last 4, 5 years we've
[1:19:00] seen significant increases in
[1:19:04] the overall budget off office.
[1:19:05] And I want take you back to
[1:19:09] the audit report and the audit
[1:19:10] report card that you provided
[1:19:14] to us. And it gives me a
[1:19:17] little bit of heartburn that 2
[1:19:21] particular areas f 3 review of
[1:19:23] program effectiveness and have
[1:19:26] 6. Then the compliance review
[1:19:28] seem to be the 2 areas with
[1:19:33] the least progress. Can you
[1:19:33] share a little bit with this
[1:19:38] committee? Why is that the
[1:19:39] case? And what's the plan for
[1:19:41] the rest of the year?
[1:19:45] Absolutely. Thank you,
[1:19:47] counselor. Looking at this
[1:19:49] report card. I see that those
[1:19:50] 2 findings have a lot of
[1:19:52] yellow. And that means of
[1:19:54] those are in progress, as you
[1:19:59] can imagine. Phs. But your
[1:20:02] point is responding to a lot
[1:20:03] of emergencies and there's a
[1:20:03] lot of other changes and
[1:20:05] realignments that we've made.
[1:20:07] I discussed during our
[1:20:08] presentation. Trying to do all
[1:20:11] that. In addition to creating
[1:20:12] new standard operating
[1:20:16] procedures for all these
[1:20:17] responses? You know, working
[1:20:18] with other agencies to help us
[1:20:21] do that. And that takes time
[1:20:22] what I can tell you is that
[1:20:23] those standard operating
[1:20:25] procedures have been drafted.
[1:20:26] We're working to finalize
[1:20:27] those and make sure that
[1:20:27] they're policed by our partner
[1:20:32] agencies. We will be training
[1:20:34] our staff before the end of
[1:20:39] the year on those us a aside
[1:20:44] from that, I believe. We have.
[1:20:46] Yeah, I believe we are. We are
[1:20:48] addressing all those fines.
[1:20:53] The follow-up chair counselor,
[1:20:53] thank Are all those things
[1:20:56] being done internally? Yes, is
[1:20:59] the draft in and and help us
[1:21:03] to understand the decision to
[1:21:05] keep those things internal
[1:21:08] rather than seek an external
[1:21:10] support. Given the urgency off
[1:21:13] the audit report and the
[1:21:14] significant role that this
[1:21:19] office place in community. I
[1:21:20] felt that it was important for
[1:21:25] our team. To to have skin in
[1:21:25] the game in creating these
[1:21:30] policies and you know, there's
[1:21:34] been a lot of angst. Related
[1:21:35] this audit and a lot of
[1:21:40] adversity that we have that
[1:21:40] the entire team has experience
[1:21:41] because of the audit. And it
[1:21:43] was important to me that we do
[1:21:44] this internally and then we
[1:21:46] make sure that these the
[1:21:46] people who are actually doing
[1:21:50] the work every day. Who know?
[1:21:53] Our partners and know what's
[1:21:54] needed, that they are helping
[1:21:56] too helped, but they're hoping
[1:21:58] to address these findings and
[1:22:01] create the of Additionally,
[1:22:03] okay. Just does not have
[1:22:07] funding to seek external.
[1:22:13] Assistance so I don't know
[1:22:15] that it would have that we
[1:22:16] would've been able to go
[1:22:17] outside of a phs to find that
[1:22:21] assistance. Just a final
[1:22:26] comment. For an office that
[1:22:27] operates in almost 30 million
[1:22:30] dollars that's that's hard for
[1:22:34] me to hear. That an audit
[1:22:37] comes back with number of
[1:22:43] findings and I do believe that
[1:22:44] the staff needed our needs to
[1:22:48] have skin in the game. But I
[1:22:48] also believe that this is
[1:22:53] critical enough. That almost
[1:22:54] for months in 5 months stating
[1:22:56] that we're still not at the
[1:22:59] place where some of the more
[1:23:01] significant pieces from
[1:23:03] islands are still not fully
[1:23:07] addressed. It is important
[1:23:08] that we are reviewing
[1:23:08] effectiveness of the programs
[1:23:11] that we are funded. It is
[1:23:15] important that our vendors who
[1:23:17] were engaged in relationship
[1:23:18] that there is a way that we I
[1:23:20] of compliance. Seeing those
[1:23:24] compliance. And so I would
[1:23:26] consider at least from my
[1:23:30] recommendation that if the
[1:23:31] plan that is in place will not
[1:23:33] deliver this by the end of
[1:23:33] this year that strong
[1:23:36] consideration given to find
[1:23:37] some outside support to be up
[1:23:40] to get this done is too
[1:23:41] important to that with the
[1:23:41] work that you do so important
[1:23:44] to the community. For us to
[1:23:45] still continue to answer
[1:23:47] questions about
[1:23:48] accountability, integrity and
[1:23:49] credibility. Thank you. MISTER
[1:23:52] Chair. Doesn't. This will come
[1:23:54] to questions. Councilor Mike
[1:23:59] apart. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN
[1:24:02] thank counselor Perkins for
[1:24:03] those comments. I agree
[1:24:03] completely. And I just want to
[1:24:04] add a couple things there in
[1:24:06] that has a question about some
[1:24:09] under spent on the audit side
[1:24:10] that couple things I'd expect
[1:24:11] and want to see and hear our
[1:24:15] our date started. So when you
[1:24:17] started drafting the statement
[1:24:18] operating procedures and the
[1:24:21] expected completion date.
[1:24:22] Because when I read it the way
[1:24:23] it is, which is to colored
[1:24:24] Biden again, could be farther
[1:24:27] along. Could just highlighted
[1:24:28] and said we're working on. It
[1:24:29] started yesterday for all I
[1:24:30] know. So being able to see
[1:24:31] when you started it, when you
[1:24:33] expect it to be done is
[1:24:36] expectation on my side. I do
[1:24:37] think it needs additional
[1:24:38] oversight. Not to say that
[1:24:39] there's anything wrong with
[1:24:40] the office of the people that
[1:24:41] are working in the skin in the
[1:24:43] game that they will have. But
[1:24:45] i think there's value that
[1:24:49] comes from folks like with
[1:24:50] right ap that do these things
[1:24:54] more regularly or MAY have a
[1:24:55] best practice. I we've been
[1:24:56] doing this with dpw for 100
[1:24:58] years in the city, right? And
[1:24:59] they could even get some
[1:25:00] additional oversight. But
[1:25:02] addition to that, you know, I
[1:25:03] know that your office hired
[1:25:04] consultants to do some of
[1:25:07] these programs but the bond
[1:25:08] reduction, the Elevation Grant
[1:25:09] program, those consultants
[1:25:10] with that. I believe that
[1:25:11] consultants here today, I
[1:25:14] would imagine that in other
[1:25:14] cities they've come up with
[1:25:15] standard operating procedures
[1:25:16] for how they measure the
[1:25:19] results. That's another
[1:25:19] opportunity that we have. I
[1:25:21] think that I have an
[1:25:22] expectation out of the
[1:25:22] consultant that we're paying
[1:25:25] to provide that level of
[1:25:26] support. So that's my $0.02 on
[1:25:27] that. I agree wholeheartedly
[1:25:29] with. I do think that's
[1:25:31] behind. If I was tracking and
[1:25:32] I am tracking it and I expect
[1:25:35] to see more now on a second
[1:25:36] piece just from a financial
[1:25:37] side. What I'm looking at a
[1:25:41] couple of these things when I
[1:25:42] say things that I mean, the
[1:25:44] programs that you're running,
[1:25:46] there's 2 that jumped out at
[1:25:50] me out to me a lift program
[1:25:52] that you we're funding less by
[1:25:54] $100,000 but it looks like the
[1:25:56] spend was only. That was less
[1:25:59] than what you've budgeted for.
[1:26:00] And then there was another
[1:26:02] example that came out of a in
[1:26:04] a legal defense fund that was
[1:26:08] also somewhere that. You
[1:26:09] didn't spend any of this
[1:26:09] year's budget on it. And so
[1:26:10] you're going to use this
[1:26:11] year's budget for next year.
[1:26:14] So they got me thinking about.
[1:26:19] Overall. What is the total
[1:26:21] under spend for the Office of
[1:26:21] Public Health and Safety?
[1:26:22] Because we see what you're
[1:26:23] budgeting. We budget last year
[1:26:23] what you want for next year.
[1:26:25] But of that, the dollars you
[1:26:26] had. What did you actually
[1:26:29] spend? Yeah, I'll start to
[1:26:32] what you can weigh in on some
[1:26:36] of the more specifics.
[1:26:37] Previous years. We have had
[1:26:39] significant and are spent
[1:26:40] whether that was the
[1:26:41] assessment Intervention Center
[1:26:42] or the clinician likely
[1:26:43] response team because they
[1:26:44] were not county wide. We
[1:26:47] budgeted for those types of
[1:26:49] programs at as if they were
[1:26:53] full, fully operational. This
[1:26:55] year. We're tied wife or seal
[1:26:57] cr and we are, you we are
[1:26:59] utilizing also most of the 60
[1:27:00] beds on a regular basis at the
[1:27:03] icy. And so that where we have
[1:27:03] previously seen under spend,
[1:27:04] we're not going to see that
[1:27:10] 2026. Some of the items you
[1:27:11] noted, I I can speak to lift
[1:27:17] accounts, but we we are unsure
[1:27:18] how much of that we will spend
[1:27:19] by the end of the year. We
[1:27:19] could be a very cold winter
[1:27:20] and we need to use a lot of
[1:27:23] with funds. So I just want to
[1:27:24] know that much of what he just
[1:27:30] does it. We are not. We are
[1:27:32] always confident in some of
[1:27:33] those spends, but need to make
[1:27:33] sure that we have those funds
[1:27:34] available to us. In addition,
[1:27:36] I want to know couple things
[1:27:43] you both said. Just because
[1:27:43] the stop is not finished does
[1:27:44] not mean that you're not
[1:27:45] actively holding our team
[1:27:46] accountable in our vendors
[1:27:47] accountable. We are doing
[1:27:50] that. They think that the
[1:27:51] reporting that you've received
[1:27:52] already is demonstration that
[1:27:56] we're doing that. So I just
[1:27:56] wanted prove that you have
[1:28:04] anything you want about lift.
[1:28:06] Getting roofs so with the live
[1:28:07] program. There are 2 different
[1:28:09] types of lists that are
[1:28:09] occurring, costs or expenses
[1:28:11] that you saw on the list on
[1:28:14] the slide. We're for a lift
[1:28:15] concierge. Those live fries
[1:28:21] that are driven by. They
[1:28:23] either our agency or
[1:28:25] collaborative partners. So the
[1:28:27] icy can order a Lyft for
[1:28:28] someone. So we need determine
[1:28:30] the pick-up and drop-off and
[1:28:32] we can watch those rise as
[1:28:34] they occur. So whenever anyone
[1:28:37] was receiving a Lyft ride from
[1:28:39] the jail, then the person that
[1:28:40] is at the jail at that point
[1:28:41] in time there are tips,
[1:28:42] service worker, what we refer
[1:28:43] to it as night, rc East or
[1:28:45] night resource coordinators.
[1:28:47] They're the ones that would
[1:28:48] create that live. So it's
[1:28:52] driven by us the lift program
[1:28:54] that was cut by $100,000. That
[1:28:56] one is driven by the can buy
[1:28:58] art and the consumer. The
[1:29:02] community. So that is an it's
[1:29:04] on the Lyft app on their own
[1:29:05] phone where they would put in
[1:29:10] feat in d code and then that
[1:29:13] would allow them access to the
[1:29:16] reduction in the free ride in
[1:29:17] essence, to accost them, I
[1:29:18] think was like dollar to every
[1:29:20] $5 that we would pay for. For
[1:29:20] them to go to the grocery
[1:29:26] store. There is 2 different
[1:29:27] ones that we're looking at.
[1:29:28] Some the costs are not
[1:29:30] reflected for the feeding the
[1:29:31] cost, their own reflective for
[1:29:35] the concierge. And thank you,
[1:29:36] MR. PRESIDENT part MISTER
[1:29:37] CHAIRMAN. One more question
[1:29:41] related to counseling we look
[1:29:42] at the winter contingency. I'm
[1:29:43] interested, especially when
[1:29:44] we're talking just about to
[1:29:47] understand related I see and
[1:29:50] the 2.2 included for the icy
[1:29:52] build out. What's the expected
[1:29:53] savings in operational
[1:29:57] expenses? That will we will
[1:29:58] have in the future in relation
[1:30:00] to the capital expenditures
[1:30:01] that will have in relation to
[1:30:02] that full build Sure. Thank
[1:30:07] you for the question. I see we
[1:30:09] own that facility. So the rent
[1:30:10] that we're paying for the 2
[1:30:11] facilities that we are
[1:30:12] currently operating for
[1:30:15] families and for the overnight
[1:30:15] warming center. That's
[1:30:16] significant. And we would say
[1:30:19] that that funding
[1:30:21] additionally, the facility is
[1:30:22] one floor. And so the church
[1:30:22] that were operating out of now
[1:30:26] is 2 floors. It's very large
[1:30:26] facility. And so we need
[1:30:28] additional staff in order to
[1:30:31] maintain security at that
[1:30:33] location. So I I would
[1:30:35] estimate that we will see some
[1:30:36] cost savings from the staffing
[1:30:40] perspective as well. And I
[1:30:45] also want to know that. Winter
[1:30:46] contingencies still flexible.
[1:30:48] We are still changing because
[1:30:48] we don't know how streets to
[1:30:50] home and how the future
[1:30:52] housing whoa, we're going to
[1:30:52] impact the number of
[1:30:53] individuals that need that
[1:30:57] service. Housing help comes
[1:30:59] online. We also expect to
[1:31:00] cease operations its facility
[1:31:03] where we have our family
[1:31:04] location so that, again,
[1:31:05] should reduce some of our
[1:31:09] costs for winter contingency.
[1:31:10] All It's helpful to know the
[1:31:10] one thing I would like to at
[1:31:13] least see is if we're spending
[1:31:14] 2.2 million this year, we
[1:31:16] expect to save 8 million over
[1:31:18] 3 years or 8 million over 4
[1:31:19] years. That's that's the part
[1:31:21] that I'm trying to see. Thank
[1:31:27] you, got some Thank you, MR.
[1:31:28] CHAIRMAN, thank you, and see
[1:31:32] if over the presentation. 2
[1:31:33] quick questions. And then a
[1:31:34] comment to me a little bit
[1:31:38] more about these new
[1:31:40] initiatives of the Violence
[1:31:40] Reduction Council in the Youth
[1:31:43] Violence Reduction Initiative.
[1:31:44] As I understand, those are new
[1:31:49] programs as of this year. So
[1:31:50] the council, the Johns Hopkins
[1:31:51] that I noticed the Johns
[1:31:55] Hopkins Council the piece I'm
[1:31:56] sorry, any public safety
[1:31:57] foundation can give you more
[1:31:58] information about that. It's
[1:32:01] not a program that teaches is
[1:32:03] paying for. We're part the
[1:32:03] Public Safety Foundation in
[1:32:06] Okay, Chester, partnering with
[1:32:07] Johns Hopkins basically
[1:32:09] they're consulting with us to
[1:32:12] create our own local.
[1:32:17] Organization. The Youth
[1:32:17] Violence Reduction Initiative
[1:32:20] is a new initiative and were
[1:32:21] pilot That's pilots started at
[1:32:25] the end of 2025. With funding
[1:32:25] from the National Institute
[1:32:28] for Criminal Justice Reform.
[1:32:32] Khs in 2026. Provided
[1:32:32] additional funding for that
[1:32:35] program to continue and 2027.
[1:32:40] We will also be funding it the
[1:32:40] National Institute for
[1:32:41] Criminal Justice Reform, I
[1:32:43] believe will be some providing
[1:32:48] additional support in 2027. So
[1:32:50] tell me no, the Violence
[1:32:50] Reduction Council, what's
[1:32:54] what's going to be Besides
[1:32:55] obvious mission statement
[1:32:56] reducing violence to little
[1:32:56] bit more about who's going to
[1:33:00] be on it. Was going operate
[1:33:00] and whose continuously going
[1:33:04] to be funny. I'm going to tag
[1:33:06] someone from the Public Safety
[1:33:07] Foundation. That's okay. Mary,
[1:33:21] can you come up to the podium?
[1:33:25] Sorry. I'm with the any public
[1:33:28] safety Foundation. Mary
[1:33:29] Alexander statement Mary
[1:33:33] Alexander. I'm actually
[1:33:39] working 2. Researchers at
[1:33:39] Bloomberg put a Publix, the
[1:33:42] School of Public Health. They
[1:33:43] they put together what's
[1:33:46] called a violence Reduction
[1:33:46] Council. It's and the models
[1:33:49] based off of something. That
[1:33:49] would be very similar if
[1:33:51] you're on an infant mortality
[1:33:54] Review board or if you're on a
[1:33:55] domestic violence review board
[1:33:56] where you're actually doing
[1:34:00] really that the dive into
[1:34:00] specific criminal homicides
[1:34:04] looking at what are the what
[1:34:05] were some of the impacts? How
[1:34:06] did that person get their
[1:34:08] like? Not just that this
[1:34:11] individual was involved in gun
[1:34:13] violence, but looking at their
[1:34:14] background, looking at how
[1:34:15] they got that place and then
[1:34:17] also having in the room on
[1:34:19] that council vigils that
[1:34:22] represent different
[1:34:22] nonprofits, different
[1:34:24] organizations. Maybe the
[1:34:25] hospitals sitting around
[1:34:28] talking about this individual.
[1:34:32] What led up to shooting? What
[1:34:34] was their background were they
[1:34:35] previously incarcerated. What
[1:34:37] kind of services that they
[1:34:39] receive looking at where some
[1:34:40] of the gaps where the so that
[1:34:41] we could look at maybe even
[1:34:44] policies that happened that
[1:34:44] could improve what we're doing
[1:34:47] here in the city. So it's just
[1:34:51] one peace to the treaty.
[1:34:52] Violence intervention was
[1:34:54] caught like spokes to a wheel
[1:34:55] that we're going to add here
[1:34:56] in Indianapolis. So we're just
[1:35:00] in the beginning stages of
[1:35:00] this and developing it. And we
[1:35:02] haven't even really got to the
[1:35:03] point where we're looking at,
[1:35:04] who would actually sit on that
[1:35:07] council. And is it intended to
[1:35:11] cover every shooting every
[1:35:12] women want us know. It's
[1:35:14] looking at specific Initially.
[1:35:17] We will be looking at
[1:35:21] different maybe some high
[1:35:22] profile individuals that would
[1:35:22] be every single criminal
[1:35:23] homicide, we say it would be
[1:35:25] over burdensome. I would think
[1:35:28] it would so. But again, it's
[1:35:29] just an opportunity really
[1:35:30] take a deep dive into what
[1:35:31] were some of the things that
[1:35:35] led up to that? Looking at any
[1:35:35] gaps in services that might
[1:35:39] have been able to prevent it
[1:35:41] is where they actually like
[1:35:42] with we have the hospitals
[1:35:43] like now we have partnerships
[1:35:45] with iu Health Methodist and
[1:35:47] we're getting ready to work
[1:35:49] with Riley, develop a hospital
[1:35:49] violence intervention program
[1:35:50] with Riley, but they would be
[1:35:53] on this council. And we could
[1:35:54] even look at like how many
[1:35:55] times were they involved in
[1:35:56] gun violence? Were there a
[1:35:58] couple of non-fatal shootings?
[1:35:58] What kind of support that they
[1:36:00] get after those shootings?
[1:36:01] Where did we as a community
[1:36:07] dropped the ball? Thank Thank
[1:36:09] you. Council just one more.
[1:36:13] Yes, thank you. And this back
[1:36:17] addiction. They version
[1:36:17] information, particularly
[1:36:20] slide 20. You mention
[1:36:21] additional dissipated external
[1:36:25] funding in Where is that
[1:36:26] dissipated funding coming
[1:36:28] from?
[1:36:35] Is that from the Indianapolis
[1:36:37] Foundation the Public Safety
[1:36:38] Foundation? Yes. So we've we
[1:36:39] partnered with the new bar
[1:36:41] Indian up our foundation this
[1:36:46] too. Much like we do with
[1:36:48] Indianapolis Foundation where
[1:36:49] we granted the funds for legal
[1:36:52] aid to them up front. So that
[1:36:53] they could be because there
[1:36:56] are 5, one c 3 they can
[1:36:58] receive funds from external
[1:36:59] partners because a lot of
[1:37:00] funders. I want to give that
[1:37:02] to the city Indianapolis. And
[1:37:04] so we could pull those funds
[1:37:05] together in order to make the
[1:37:09] program even more robust.
[1:37:10] We're still in discussions
[1:37:11] with the Barr Foundation, but
[1:37:13] we do expect there to be some
[1:37:15] commitment from them
[1:37:16] financially. And we plan to
[1:37:20] work with the Barr Foundation
[1:37:21] are the lead partners. And
[1:37:25] just through Lawrence Township
[1:37:26] to go and solicit additional
[1:37:30] dollars from top of partners.
[1:37:31] Thank you. Thank you. Think
[1:37:34] Council Council island? Thank
[1:37:36] you, MISTER CHAIRMAN thank you
[1:37:41] at. If the d a Mike Lee is
[1:37:47] supposed Violet defeat your
[1:37:52] presentation this evening
[1:37:53] first, I want to say thank you
[1:37:54] for taking time out to meet
[1:37:55] with me. Says that I did okay
[1:37:59] has came out and we have
[1:38:02] covers several different
[1:38:04] topics, including the agency
[1:38:05] coaching and which I heard you
[1:38:09] mention that within the
[1:38:10] presentation and how you guys
[1:38:12] are trying to improve that
[1:38:14] area because counselor Perkins
[1:38:17] has. Tap into that attic
[1:38:19] piece. I'm not gonna at any
[1:38:20] more to that because it we
[1:38:22] continue its, you know, your
[1:38:25] things. We come up with more
[1:38:27] questions. What happened to
[1:38:31] the contract? The agency? So
[1:38:34] before any of our major
[1:38:36] contracts go out for be, are
[1:38:37] they offer everybody or do you
[1:38:41] from 2 expire I see in the
[1:38:45] piece for So the Office of
[1:38:46] Public Health and Safety
[1:38:49] follows local procurement
[1:38:50] procedures per ordinance in
[1:38:52] the and the procedure rules.
[1:38:56] It skews me procurement rules.
[1:38:59] It depends on what type of
[1:38:59] procurement we are using for
[1:39:02] that particular project. But
[1:39:07] regardless. Things like the ac
[1:39:09] and Eskenazi operating there
[1:39:11] or aspire health operating
[1:39:12] winter contingency. All of
[1:39:15] those have been procured
[1:39:18] through even rfp rfq process,
[1:39:19] which takes, you know,
[1:39:20] multiple weeks it it's put out
[1:39:23] for bid to the public because
[1:39:24] in the public in I t j a and b
[1:39:25] star and it's and its public
[1:39:30] on our website. We. Do that
[1:39:36] for all of our projects and
[1:39:37] then okay, chess has also
[1:39:39] gotten kind of in the
[1:39:40] construction game with the
[1:39:41] housing hub. So we now we've
[1:39:42] now done that type of public
[1:39:44] instruction did as well. Ok,
[1:39:49] thank you. Now it is all of
[1:39:49] our contracts with the Marion
[1:39:50] County are outside of Marion
[1:39:52] County. I I'd have to get back
[1:39:55] to you on that. Okay. Please
[1:39:57] do that. One more question,
[1:40:00] MR. CHAIRMAN. Now there is a
[1:40:00] reduction in programming. Has
[1:40:01] this affected minority
[1:40:08] vendors? That's good question.
[1:40:11] The reduction in programming
[1:40:14] is related to the really
[1:40:15] sloppy predominately the
[1:40:19] release lobby what as it
[1:40:20] pertains to our budget, what
[1:40:24] was in our 2026 budget. And we
[1:40:25] did not have vendors in that
[1:40:28] space we we had contractors.
[1:40:30] That part of its from a temp
[1:40:31] agency. And so those
[1:40:33] individuals will be impacted.
[1:40:38] But as far as the rest of our
[1:40:39] programming, we continue to
[1:40:40] work with predominantly
[1:40:44] minority. Partners that the
[1:40:47] services that we offer. Okay.
[1:40:48] Thank you. Thank Thank you,
[1:40:51] Jim. Because the Grays thanks.
[1:40:54] MISTER Chair. Thank you guys
[1:40:54] for the presentation.
[1:40:56] Certainly appreciate it. Chock
[1:41:01] full of great information. But
[1:41:02] director, with if it's ok with
[1:41:09] CHAIRMAN I want asked the
[1:41:09] those in the audience they
[1:41:10] carry out the work to give
[1:41:12] themselves an applause because
[1:41:15] those are the men and women.
[1:41:20] And in our community Whether
[1:41:22] they're whether role in the
[1:41:25] city county building directly
[1:41:26] literally interrupting
[1:41:28] violence in our communities. I
[1:41:32] can't say enough about them.
[1:41:32] Director Merkley. I've seen
[1:41:34] you our community a lot more
[1:41:35] over the recent years are one
[1:41:39] up. Give you a shout for that.
[1:41:40] Thank you for getting down
[1:41:41] into the grass roots. When you
[1:41:42] talk about funding the
[1:41:44] basketball program's over with
[1:41:48] Hampton and those guys. I see
[1:41:49] that they get more energy to
[1:41:50] do the work that they do to
[1:41:54] help keep those young people
[1:41:55] busy with the things that they
[1:41:57] do. So thank you for your
[1:42:00] dedication. There but I do
[1:42:04] want ask a question as you
[1:42:06] take a look at all the
[1:42:07] different departments you over
[1:42:10] so much, so much work. So much
[1:42:13] programming. Is there one
[1:42:14] central organization that's
[1:42:14] above your. Your is your
[1:42:19] mayor's team. The only person
[1:42:21] like you've got representation
[1:42:23] from gun violence to get
[1:42:25] representation from Tennessee
[1:42:26] fictions. And you've got
[1:42:28] you've got all these different
[1:42:29] areas. But who is your like Co
[1:42:31] 2? Is your your director who
[1:42:37] helps help you guide all these
[1:42:38] men and make sure you're
[1:42:39] pulling it all together. Yeah,
[1:42:40] you know, just has a lot of
[1:42:47] support and support from the
[1:42:48] rest of the cabinet. Specific.
[1:42:48] If you're if you're speaking
[1:42:53] specifically to me, you know,
[1:42:54] Aaron Jones is integral in the
[1:42:54] work that she does around
[1:42:56] homelessness and you know,
[1:42:58] works hand in hand with our
[1:43:03] housing The deputy mayor's
[1:43:05] Chief Bailey Shea have been.
[1:43:08] And mental and helping us.
[1:43:12] And, you know, chief Terry and
[1:43:20] chief Bailey bring significant
[1:43:22] overseeing major agency. And
[1:43:24] so, you know, we've had
[1:43:26] conversations and they helped
[1:43:28] to know navigating provide you
[1:43:31] with advice. Thank You know,
[1:43:33] cause it's one thing to create
[1:43:35] the programming create
[1:43:36] division asked men and women
[1:43:40] to carry that vision. Now, are
[1:43:41] you doing anything or can you
[1:43:41] talk about what you've done or
[1:43:45] what you plan to do too, to
[1:43:47] demonstrate your care for
[1:43:48] those that are out there to
[1:43:49] make sure that their wellness
[1:43:50] is being taken wake well,
[1:43:53] taken care of as well as those
[1:43:53] in the insight on the
[1:43:54] administrative side of the
[1:43:56] work that you guys do. What as
[1:43:59] a leader of people, what are
[1:44:00] you doing to to oversee their
[1:44:07] wellness? Well, you can take
[1:44:12] your question literally. If
[1:44:19] you called us at this, what as
[1:44:20] I stated at the top, you know,
[1:44:21] there's been a lot of angst
[1:44:21] and a lot of adversity and the
[1:44:22] work that we do is really
[1:44:29] hard. And We encourage
[1:44:29] collaboration and we
[1:44:34] encourage. Taking
[1:44:35] opportunities for additional
[1:44:36] training and getting, you
[1:44:39] know. Going to. Convinced the
[1:44:41] things that will help them
[1:44:43] with their career right into
[1:44:44] that. Well, that's on a break
[1:44:45] from what we do. It is an
[1:44:48] opportunity for getting out of
[1:44:52] the city County building. We
[1:44:56] also I'm really thankful too.
[1:44:57] To kill teacher. Martin are
[1:45:01] teaming Angie, more for their
[1:45:03] support. And we have a monthly
[1:45:05] event that we hope that they
[1:45:07] host. We're we have lunch
[1:45:08] together. And I think that
[1:45:09] that's helpful for us. All to
[1:45:12] get to know each other. Those
[1:45:13] are themed and we we are
[1:45:14] having the opportunity to
[1:45:16] learn about each other's
[1:45:17] backgrounds and just take a
[1:45:20] moment to kind of decompress
[1:45:21] from the challenged every day.
[1:45:22] Challenges that the work that
[1:45:27] we do. I'm going to to rescind
[1:45:30] say that. Thank you. But they
[1:45:30] should go a leader Schober,
[1:45:33] which and not me. Because he
[1:45:34] was giving game
[1:45:36] representation. Yeah. Final
[1:45:39] comments, a team effort. You
[1:45:41] thank you for that. Just one
[1:45:45] suggestion, I think cross
[1:45:47] training assignments, if
[1:45:48] that's something that you guys
[1:45:51] it. If not, I'd love to make
[1:45:51] that recommendation. I could
[1:45:52] see some of those men and
[1:45:55] women that are moving through
[1:45:58] just like in corporate
[1:45:59] America. They're moving up to
[1:46:00] up the ranks become have take
[1:46:02] on more and more
[1:46:04] responsibility. But what I
[1:46:05] really want to finally say,
[1:46:09] MISTER Chair is that I've been
[1:46:10] a supporter phs and the
[1:46:12] programming that you guys have
[1:46:16] done over the years. I think
[1:46:17] that it's important that we
[1:46:20] continue to focus on those
[1:46:20] root causes of crime because
[1:46:22] that in and of itself is crime
[1:46:25] prevention. And if we are
[1:46:27] excited about our crime
[1:46:28] numbers across the board
[1:46:29] moving in the right direction.
[1:46:30] We have to give credit where
[1:46:30] it's due and we have to
[1:46:33] continue to support. What we
[1:46:37] see coming out phs. They're
[1:46:38] true. There are some
[1:46:40] challenges in this document is
[1:46:41] demonstrating some of the
[1:46:42] challenges. So as we continue
[1:46:48] to the supportive director and
[1:46:50] be patient to get those get
[1:46:52] that document. I understand my
[1:46:54] colleagues are really
[1:46:55] demanding that we get some of
[1:46:56] that red and some of the
[1:46:57] yellow corrected on the on the
[1:47:00] on on the sheet. But I do know
[1:47:03] that you guys have been.
[1:47:04] Basically building this plane
[1:47:05] while you're flying it because
[1:47:06] I've been here since he's kind
[1:47:09] of started this thing off. So
[1:47:10] I want to applaud you and the
[1:47:13] team that works with you. And
[1:47:14] yet you got a lot of
[1:47:15] responsibility. We're going to
[1:47:18] continue to to pull more from
[1:47:20] you. So being in this role, I
[1:47:20] know that it's coming and
[1:47:21] thank you for what you've been
[1:47:22] doing. We've got our eyes on.
[1:47:26] Thank you, MISTER. Thank you.
[1:47:26] Council district comments
[1:47:31] Council Perkins. Thank you,
[1:47:32] MISTER Chair. Just a follow-up
[1:47:33] on my colleagues, a sip graves
[1:47:36] and Allen. I think what I
[1:47:40] wanted to use director is that
[1:47:41] you're also getting some
[1:47:47] executive coach. Hugh Carey,
[1:47:48] you lead a very significant
[1:47:55] part of the city. With all the
[1:47:56] concerns challenges that we've
[1:47:58] heard over the last 2, 3 years
[1:48:02] and this particular office I
[1:48:05] know as as an executive.
[1:48:10] Executive coach and also
[1:48:13] helpful. So recommend that as
[1:48:14] citizen that I will also be
[1:48:15] participating in the
[1:48:15] leadership training that
[1:48:21] you're providing. And over the
[1:48:22] last year, I hope my
[1:48:24] colleagues will agree that,
[1:48:26] you know, being thrown into
[1:48:28] I've learned a and there's
[1:48:32] been. Trials and tribulations
[1:48:36] along the So I I don't
[1:48:37] disagree with you and I look
[1:48:37] forward to a leadership
[1:48:39] training. We provide. Thank
[1:48:41] you. Just a final. A follow-up
[1:48:45] on counsel Alan Scherr in
[1:48:46] terms of the precursor public
[1:48:50] human process. Much of the
[1:48:50] work Phs is done to partners
[1:48:55] store vendors. Once a vendor
[1:48:55] is identified to do a
[1:49:00] particular job. What is the
[1:49:02] process off review win and
[1:49:04] renewing that contract given
[1:49:09] that we go through annual
[1:49:11] budget process. How do you
[1:49:12] know that a particular vendor
[1:49:13] is doing what the city needs
[1:49:15] for them to do and that
[1:49:18] contract is renewed. Yeah,
[1:49:24] that's a that good question. I
[1:49:24] think this is going to be the
[1:49:25] first year that we perform
[1:49:31] that review since the audit.
[1:49:34] We that is something that we
[1:49:35] need to to finish the s and p
[1:49:36] and train our team on what
[1:49:40] they're doing right now
[1:49:41] whatever the contract says. If
[1:49:43] it's a monthly invoice report
[1:49:46] or a quarterly report, they
[1:49:47] are required to meet with
[1:49:49] their vendor review the the
[1:49:50] reporting in the data that's
[1:49:54] coming in. Maintain that
[1:49:55] relationship and to make sure
[1:49:58] that the work is getting done
[1:49:59] at the end of those contracts,
[1:50:01] they're required to provide us
[1:50:01] with a rule. They will be
[1:50:03] required provide us with a
[1:50:04] full reporting of how the
[1:50:06] program went that year, which
[1:50:09] will be reviewed in on top of
[1:50:12] that, we will be requiring our
[1:50:17] team to essentially. If
[1:50:18] they're developing a new
[1:50:18] program, they have to create
[1:50:20] these logic models and they
[1:50:23] have to provide us with. You
[1:50:24] know, a reason for why we need
[1:50:25] this program and what's
[1:50:26] working. What will what it's
[1:50:30] going to address. And so
[1:50:31] similarly, we will we will be
[1:50:33] asking them to do that for
[1:50:34] existing programs and present
[1:50:36] that to to understand whether
[1:50:36] or not that program is
[1:50:49] continue. Counseling. Thank
[1:50:49] you, MR. Chair thank you,
[1:50:51] tractor and car less for being
[1:50:55] here this evening. I first
[1:50:58] just want to state that my
[1:50:59] heart and my mind is with the
[1:51:01] victims who are flooded right
[1:51:02] now. They've lost their homes
[1:51:06] and most of what they own and
[1:51:06] a lot of that occurred in my
[1:51:09] district side, just one let
[1:51:10] everybody know. That's where
[1:51:12] my head right now and when
[1:51:13] everybody to be thinking of
[1:51:15] our flood victims in our city.
[1:51:18] We were just declared a
[1:51:19] federal full-scale federal
[1:51:21] disaster last evening. MAY
[1:51:22] PRESIDENT Trump. And so
[1:51:22] there's more resources coming
[1:51:26] our way. But also wanted to
[1:51:27] take this time to thank you
[1:51:30] for being out there. Saw car
[1:51:31] let their personally. I'm
[1:51:33] sorry. Missed you, Director
[1:51:34] Mark Leno. There are other
[1:51:34] folks from the agency that
[1:51:35] were also out there. So thank
[1:51:41] you. My. We've talked a lot in
[1:51:44] this committee about youth
[1:51:45] violence over the last year.
[1:51:47] And I noticed that you said
[1:51:49] you created the youth violence
[1:51:53] Reduction Initiative so I
[1:51:54] wanted to know more about
[1:51:57] that. And then I sit on early
[1:51:58] intervention Planning Council
[1:52:02] along the counselor ne. And
[1:52:03] we're really getting deep into
[1:52:05] the work there. All save all
[1:52:05] that those questions for when
[1:52:09] they come back. But I was
[1:52:09] hoping you could just tell me
[1:52:11] a little bit more about what
[1:52:13] is the Youth Violence
[1:52:14] Reduction initiative. What you
[1:52:16] have plans for it like just a
[1:52:21] little bit more details there.
[1:52:22] The counselor, the Youth
[1:52:25] Reduction initiative is. Is
[1:52:26] much like the Adult Fellowship
[1:52:31] program. For the
[1:52:32] contradictions strategy. Only
[1:52:33] we're addressing those you
[1:52:35] threat highest risk of. Being
[1:52:39] involved in violence. And so
[1:52:40] that, you know, we've
[1:52:41] identified 26, I believe that
[1:52:43] actually MAY be 27 as of
[1:52:44] today. Individuals who are
[1:52:48] participating in that program.
[1:52:48] That those those referrals
[1:52:54] come from various sources impd
[1:52:56] then we are providing high
[1:52:58] intensity, wrap-around
[1:53:00] services to help those that
[1:53:01] individual their families so
[1:53:02] that we can get them on a
[1:53:08] better path. 27 eu states.
[1:53:09] Year 18 under 18. So
[1:53:09] completely separate from the
[1:53:13] other program you expanded
[1:53:14] more staff to be able to
[1:53:18] handle this. So we're
[1:53:20] partnering with voices to
[1:53:21] implement this program. So we
[1:53:22] provided funding in addition
[1:53:22] to the national criminal
[1:53:25] justice reform funding. Okay.
[1:53:28] Just providing funding to
[1:53:30] voices and this is a pilot
[1:53:31] program. So we're still
[1:53:34] receiving data back. But the
[1:53:36] community violence reduction
[1:53:37] team is overseeing that
[1:53:41] partnership with voices. And
[1:53:42] we do have a new staff or her
[1:53:47] name feel Fuller. Is is our
[1:53:48] violence prevention program
[1:53:48] managers social ever see that
[1:53:51] partnership. Thank you. And I
[1:53:54] have seen that reality. The
[1:53:56] the ipc meeting. So there is
[1:53:57] overlap there. So thank you
[1:53:59] very much. It. Counsel counsel
[1:54:06] Alan. Thank you. MISTER Chair
[1:54:10] Quest and going back to the
[1:54:12] question. Is there a website
[1:54:14] or anything that these vendors
[1:54:15] can sign up to, you know,
[1:54:16] sign-up for to able to take a
[1:54:17] look me. Is there a protocol,
[1:54:18] I guess for that for the
[1:54:22] vendors? Her let help answer
[1:54:28] that question. Purchasing
[1:54:29] website. Anyone can sign up to
[1:54:31] become a vendor to the city of
[1:54:32] Indianapolis in they would
[1:54:33] state whatever services that
[1:54:38] they for and the purchasing
[1:54:42] department sent out the rf
[1:54:43] piece to any relevant vendors
[1:54:45] that provide those services to
[1:54:46] let them know that these are
[1:54:48] available for them to respond
[1:54:49] to. So then we would go based
[1:54:51] off those responses. Ok? Thank
[1:54:56] you. And going back to the
[1:54:57] Youth initiative. And you did
[1:55:00] mention in the presentation
[1:55:01] earlier that you guys are
[1:55:02] doing and I forget the other
[1:55:05] initiative that you mention. I
[1:55:06] want to make sure that we
[1:55:07] point out not every child who
[1:55:09] wants play basketball. So I
[1:55:12] want us to be thinking about
[1:55:15] other ways that we can help
[1:55:16] our use because that's the
[1:55:17] very first thing we wanted am
[1:55:21] a mother of 3 boys. Yes, I I
[1:55:21] do see the benefit in it
[1:55:24] because I in all sports, but
[1:55:28] not all kids want to play
[1:55:29] basketball. And I've set with
[1:55:30] some of the high risk of, you
[1:55:33] know, offenders in some of
[1:55:34] them said they want to learn
[1:55:35] how to cook. Some of them are
[1:55:37] teenagers with babies and have
[1:55:40] to figure out how to, you
[1:55:42] know, take care of their child
[1:55:44] or they MAY have a mother, a
[1:55:45] father grandmother. So I want
[1:55:46] us to make sure that we're not
[1:55:47] just thinking about basketball
[1:55:48] all the time, but we're
[1:55:52] thinking about other things
[1:55:52] and making sure that we're
[1:55:56] listening to like you that we
[1:55:57] just now have a at the table
[1:56:00] and we're trying to tilt the u
[1:56:01] what they should head. I do
[1:56:04] think that they should have a
[1:56:05] place at the table and they
[1:56:08] should be able to voice what
[1:56:10] they want and weirdly and were
[1:56:11] then allowed him solely
[1:56:12] through this process. Thank
[1:56:13] you, MISTER Chair. Appreciate
[1:56:14] thank you. To some comments
[1:56:18] from counselors. Missed have
[1:56:18] sign-up sheet for those of us
[1:56:22] speak. Court in one of the
[1:56:23] organs could speak to the
[1:56:24] proposal presentation from MR.
[1:56:29] Merkin will come forward. If
[1:56:30] you read the statement,
[1:56:34] please, this court yes. Before
[1:56:34] we open a Florida public
[1:56:39] comments will light. We like
[1:56:42] my committee members and the
[1:56:43] our rules so everyone can have
[1:56:44] fair chance to speak and be
[1:56:46] heard. It is important that we
[1:56:48] each observe the following
[1:56:48] Bills. First speaker will be
[1:56:51] limited to 2 minutes. Second,
[1:56:53] any public comments most
[1:56:53] recently relate to the agenda
[1:56:57] item under consideration. 3rd
[1:56:58] speakers stray from the item
[1:56:59] under consideration are become
[1:57:02] I'm is maybe yes. Move on to
[1:57:04] the next point conclude their
[1:57:06] comment. Finally attendees to
[1:57:07] cause disruptions to prevent
[1:57:09] the committee from scene to
[1:57:10] tonight's agenda a recently
[1:57:13] fishermen and will be crazy
[1:57:14] members, some types of
[1:57:15] threatening speech or
[1:57:17] incitement to violence are not
[1:57:17] protected by the First
[1:57:20] Amendment at all. We would do
[1:57:20] those issues if they come up.
[1:57:23] But we don't think that will
[1:57:24] now MISTER Chair for committee
[1:57:25] member has for consent to
[1:57:26] that. These rules we can
[1:57:29] proceed to public comments.
[1:57:31] Thank you as Thank you for the
[1:57:32] consensus. Do you guys think
[1:57:33] it's easier to your to your
[1:57:34] left there and is one of the
[1:57:35] time just come up those want
[1:57:37] to speak. Just come to the
[1:57:39] front row state. Your name for
[1:57:40] the record, please. And then
[1:57:41] again, you guys have 2 minutes
[1:57:42] to share your thoughts and
[1:57:45] comments. You name for the
[1:57:48] record. Belinda Drake,
[1:57:48] executive director for
[1:57:49] Community Research Resource
[1:57:54] Center, also known as c r c.
[1:57:55] And I don't need 2 minutes.
[1:57:57] I'll be very brief. Just want
[1:57:58] to speak about being in a cbo
[1:58:02] with the elevation Grant crc.
[1:58:04] Our mission is to empower
[1:58:04] disenfranchised communities by
[1:58:06] connecting people to
[1:58:09] comprehensive health and
[1:58:10] social services. Right-sizing
[1:58:14] black and brown, lgbtq adults
[1:58:17] in a major part of our work is
[1:58:17] some pretty individuals who
[1:58:20] face barriers stability and
[1:58:21] opportunity, including members
[1:58:23] who are just as involved
[1:58:25] through the elevation grants.
[1:58:27] Erc has been able to provide
[1:58:29] direct support just as
[1:58:30] involved community members and
[1:58:32] help them successfully move
[1:58:34] toward greater stability to
[1:58:36] date this year, we have been
[1:58:39] able to help 205 unique
[1:58:40] individuals with support of
[1:58:41] this funding. So thank The
[1:58:45] grant does allow us to connect
[1:58:45] people to critical resources
[1:58:48] to make a real difference.
[1:58:49] We're talking about real
[1:58:51] people with organization to
[1:58:55] help them rebuild their lives.
[1:58:57] For example, we have with
[1:58:59] housing utility assistance and
[1:59:01] legal services while also
[1:59:05] helping them get and keep good
[1:59:06] paying jobs. The supports are
[1:59:07] interconnected. As you
[1:59:10] difficult for someone to focus
[1:59:12] on employment they don't have
[1:59:13] housing or other unresolved
[1:59:18] legal services. Just as
[1:59:19] importantly, Elevation has
[1:59:23] also invested in cr sees
[1:59:24] capacity as organization
[1:59:26] through the individualized
[1:59:28] technical assistance. We have
[1:59:29] developed a stronger
[1:59:30] development plan and strategy
[1:59:33] that helps that helped us
[1:59:36] diversify our funding by 500%
[1:59:37] and strategically plan for the
[1:59:37] long term support of our
[1:59:42] organization and our clients.
[1:59:43] We have also improved data and
[1:59:44] client management systems.
[1:59:45] Given us a better
[1:59:46] understanding of are serving,
[1:59:50] services are needed. I just
[1:59:50] want to say thank you for the
[1:59:51] opportunity we're grateful for
[1:59:53] the elevation program. Thank
[2:00:03] you for your comments next.
[2:00:03] Thank CHAIRMAN Staff. Name is
[2:00:04] Adam Christopher Collins on
[2:00:07] the ceo of Foster Kids. Family
[2:00:09] also advocate for Black Me
[2:00:09] United Envision ERs
[2:00:12] Initiative. Also stand aside,
[2:00:12] Thomas, really and festival
[2:00:16] one like me. What I see here
[2:00:17] is a let's just say if the
[2:00:19] mental health was hydrogen,
[2:00:21] too, gentleman here was
[2:00:22] oxygen. When you bring them
[2:00:24] together, creates water
[2:00:25] rights, the water that we need
[2:00:28] here is what I'm seeing.
[2:00:30] Transportation. I traveled
[2:00:31] around the world speaking to
[2:00:33] people very culturally
[2:00:35] competent. One thing that I
[2:00:37] noticed when people click up
[2:00:37] gang most of don't have
[2:00:41] licenses. Preventing people
[2:00:42] from traveling and defunding
[2:00:47] people who move is a problem.
[2:00:48] So I was I had a question for
[2:00:49] gentleman. If we have funds
[2:00:53] not use for legal services,
[2:00:54] but asking for more funds for
[2:00:56] 2,020th legal services. Maybe
[2:00:59] that money can be used towards
[2:01:02] outsourcing external sources
[2:01:03] towards what we can do legally
[2:01:04] to help people get the
[2:01:05] license. You could also
[2:01:06] address that lift issue. You
[2:01:09] guys got going on. So I got to
[2:01:09] thank you, sir, for your
[2:01:15] comments next. Please.
[2:01:21] Welcome. Good evening chair
[2:01:23] and members of the Public
[2:01:25] Safety Committee. My name is
[2:01:26] Jessica, great and I am the
[2:01:26] founder and executive director
[2:01:29] of Deborah's Place since 2018.
[2:01:31] Our mission has been to remove
[2:01:33] barriers and create pathways
[2:01:34] to stability and
[2:01:36] self-sufficiency for
[2:01:38] underserved families just as
[2:01:39] involved individuals,
[2:01:41] survivors of domestic
[2:01:42] violence, youth and seniors
[2:01:44] throughout Indianapolis. With
[2:01:46] support from the Elevation
[2:01:48] Grant program Deborah's Place
[2:01:49] has expanded his work across
[2:01:51] the justice continuum during
[2:01:55] the first 2 quarters of 2026.
[2:01:58] We've served 1446 and
[2:02:00] duplicated individuals. 632
[2:02:01] joined the 1st quarter and 114
[2:02:04] during the 2nd quarter. We
[2:02:05] provide care to development
[2:02:08] training to detained youth and
[2:02:09] financial literacy and
[2:02:09] character development training
[2:02:12] inside the Marion County Jail.
[2:02:13] Participants will successfully
[2:02:16] complete the training required
[2:02:19] testing receive certificates
[2:02:19] of completion. Those
[2:02:20] certificates are placed within
[2:02:22] their personal property. It
[2:02:24] MAY be presented to the court
[2:02:26] as evidence of accountability,
[2:02:27] personal growth in their
[2:02:30] willingness to make positive
[2:02:31] changes. Our Ed does not stop
[2:02:35] inside the classroom
[2:02:36] throughout expungement.
[2:02:36] Resource fair as we connect
[2:02:37] people with expungement
[2:02:38] assistance, driver's license,
[2:02:43] reinstatement. Vixens ceiling.
[2:02:44] Housing insurance, workforce,
[2:02:45] resources and development and
[2:02:46] other services that remove the
[2:02:51] barriers to stability. We also
[2:02:55] provide transportation access.
[2:02:56] People cannot mates and
[2:02:56] employment attend training
[2:02:57] appear in court. Receive
[2:02:59] medical care rss essential
[2:03:01] services if they cannot get
[2:03:04] there. In addition to that,
[2:03:05] the elevation capacity
[2:03:06] building program has
[2:03:08] strengthened Deborah's place
[2:03:10] to individualize financial
[2:03:12] management assistance and
[2:03:14] improvements in our budgeting
[2:03:15] financial reporting outcome
[2:03:17] measurement and long-term
[2:03:18] sustainability. This
[2:03:21] investment is helping us
[2:03:23] remove barriers, restore
[2:03:24] dignity, rebuild lives. Thank
[2:03:25] you again for this opportunity
[2:03:25] to thank you for your
[2:03:34] comments. Next. Please. Good
[2:03:36] evening. My name is John
[2:03:36] Florence. It comes ceo and
[2:03:37] general counsel in the ap's
[2:03:39] legal aid society. And I want
[2:03:42] to begin tonight by thanking
[2:03:43] all of you council members for
[2:03:44] the investment you made last
[2:03:47] year in Phs eviction diversion
[2:03:48] program as well as the re
[2:03:52] commitment proposed tonight.
[2:03:53] Also want to Phs and and
[2:03:57] director Merkley for the
[2:03:58] continued leadership around
[2:03:59] the prevention of
[2:04:00] homelessness. I think it's
[2:04:03] important for you to hear.
[2:04:03] What that investment looks
[2:04:07] like when it reaches. And
[2:04:07] Indianapolis resident recently
[2:04:11] through the eviction program,
[2:04:12] actually lights. It
[2:04:13] represented the tenant in an
[2:04:16] extraordinarily contentious
[2:04:18] eviction case. There are 3
[2:04:22] separate hearings, extensive
[2:04:23] discovery evidence, all sorts
[2:04:26] of court involvement.
[2:04:27] Ultimately our attorney at the
[2:04:27] Legal Aid Society helped
[2:04:30] resolve the case and we
[2:04:32] negotiated a full waiver of
[2:04:34] satisfaction claims that
[2:04:36] exceeded $13,000 for this
[2:04:36] client. He never have been
[2:04:41] able to pay that. So. It
[2:04:42] matters because very few
[2:04:43] tenants could afford legal
[2:04:47] representation like this. You
[2:04:48] know, in fact, in preparation
[2:04:49] for these remarks tonight, I
[2:04:49] asked our staff attorneys
[2:04:53] whether they had ever seen a
[2:04:54] private attorney represent a
[2:04:55] tenant in an eviction case.
[2:04:57] And the resounding answer was
[2:04:59] no. They never seen a private
[2:05:01] lawyer. Do do do work for a
[2:05:03] tenant. So you know, it's
[2:05:08] it's. It's far less expensive
[2:05:08] to prevent a crisis and to pay
[2:05:09] for everything that follows.
[2:05:12] So. You know, we're preventing
[2:05:16] homelessness were preventing.
[2:05:18] Preserving employment,
[2:05:20] avoiding emergency shelter in
[2:05:21] reducing interactions with law
[2:05:22] enforcement and other
[2:05:25] expensive crisis response
[2:05:27] systems. I did want quickly
[2:05:30] address a question about
[2:05:30] funding. The Annapolis
[2:05:33] Foundation was one of our
[2:05:34] founders 97. He almost 90
[2:05:35] years ago. We've had a great
[2:05:38] relationship with them and we
[2:05:38] are working with MR. Merkley
[2:05:40] to fund this. Thank you. Thank
[2:05:47] you for your comments. Are.
[2:05:48] Welcome. Thank you. And good
[2:05:49] evening My name's Davidson.
[2:05:51] I'm also with the legal aid
[2:05:53] society. I just kind tell you
[2:05:54] what the investment your
[2:05:55] fiction diversion program
[2:05:56] looks like when it's
[2:05:57] specifically about one client.
[2:05:59] We had. So we had our client
[2:06:00] was a paraplegic gentlemen.
[2:06:01] His son was the primary
[2:06:04] caregiver. His son told me is
[2:06:05] going overseas for a little
[2:06:07] while, but not to worry the
[2:06:08] rent to pay the bills we're
[2:06:09] taking care of. A new wave was
[2:06:10] coming. Everything would be
[2:06:14] fine. Except none of that was
[2:06:15] true. The sun into the bank
[2:06:16] accounts stop paying the rent
[2:06:18] and left him. He left to die.
[2:06:22] His own side left him to die.
[2:06:23] You know how he discovered all
[2:06:23] that? He got an eviction
[2:06:25] notice on his door. So what
[2:06:26] does he do? He calls the
[2:06:29] court. You know, if the court
[2:06:31] does the court Phs because we
[2:06:32] do have a working relationship
[2:06:33] with the court system Phs
[2:06:36] immediately calls me so we had
[2:06:37] the pleasure of being the ones
[2:06:38] to step in and work on that.
[2:06:39] And because that program is
[2:06:41] funded the eviction of program
[2:06:42] when it contact the court and
[2:06:46] everything one knew what to do
[2:06:46] want to share a couple of the
[2:06:47] first words. He said our
[2:06:50] attorney he said, and I think
[2:06:53] the quote was exactly why
[2:06:54] should I just and it all
[2:06:55] rubber done my own side can
[2:06:56] even handle Eyes will stick my
[2:07:00] head in the oven. Our
[2:07:01] attorneys, obviously able to
[2:07:02] address the eviction. But more
[2:07:03] importantly, what this program
[2:07:05] did, it set up a position, it
[2:07:05] kind of tools and resources so
[2:07:07] that we can reach agreement.
[2:07:09] The landlord, I can say kind
[2:07:11] of probably the landlord agree
[2:07:11] for that person remain house
[2:07:12] free of charge. Well, we got
[2:07:14] them alternative housing. We
[2:07:15] got them and that its
[2:07:16] alternative housing that we
[2:07:18] got them now permanent healthy
[2:07:19] living, the volunteers we got
[2:07:21] came in, moved them, move this
[2:07:22] person, belongings. We got the
[2:07:25] apartment cleaned. We got rent
[2:07:26] ready. And all of that worked
[2:07:27] at all that work because what
[2:07:28] it said was people are going
[2:07:32] to show up. And so eventually
[2:07:33] a man believed nobody wanted
[2:07:33] learn that people cared
[2:07:37] whether he was there tomorrow.
[2:07:37] When this whole time I've been
[2:07:39] kind of saying we did this,
[2:07:40] what I really want to say is
[2:07:43] the city that this this city
[2:07:45] funded that court, if under
[2:07:45] that program is funded, all
[2:07:46] those people that were able to
[2:07:48] step up and do there. The city
[2:07:49] p Chesson Andrew Merkley. The
[2:07:53] city funded his staff. Thank
[2:08:00] you for your comments. Good
[2:08:02] evening. Counselors, Rachel
[2:08:02] Hogan camp. I'm a senior staff
[2:08:04] attorney with Indiana Legal
[2:08:05] Services where represent
[2:08:06] tenant to our partnership with
[2:08:08] okay, just as eviction
[2:08:09] diversion program from
[2:08:10] JANUARY. First AUGUST, first
[2:08:13] of 2026, there've been 13,439
[2:08:15] eviction filings in Marion
[2:08:17] County. So far, Indiana legal
[2:08:20] services to serve over 3 it 3,
[2:08:20] 1300 households through our
[2:08:24] partnership with okay chess.
[2:08:26] 66% of our tenant clients Self
[2:08:27] express better understanding
[2:08:28] and that they know what to do
[2:08:28] next after contact with our
[2:08:32] office. This program connects
[2:08:36] people. It connects tennis
[2:08:37] lawyers, social workers and
[2:08:38] navigators. Yes, but it also
[2:08:39] connects tenants to each
[2:08:40] other. Our 10 attorneys to
[2:08:43] landlords and their attorneys
[2:08:43] housing advocates in various
[2:08:45] disciplines to each other. We
[2:08:46] have developed a strong
[2:08:49] relationship with the courts
[2:08:51] and this program connected us
[2:08:52] with okay chess, which allowed
[2:08:53] us to partner not only on
[2:08:55] providing legal support to
[2:08:56] tenants but also in the
[2:08:57] eviction education events.
[2:08:57] MISTER Merkley mentioned
[2:09:00] earlier. Through connection we
[2:09:03] have found understanding. And
[2:09:04] I want to tell you a couple of
[2:09:07] stories from our office. And
[2:09:08] 19 year-old was being evicted
[2:09:10] from her family home. She was
[2:09:12] facing potential emergency
[2:09:14] eviction and certain
[2:09:15] homelessness and attorney
[2:09:16] worked with the tenant for
[2:09:19] many, many weeks the work of
[2:09:21] the court and her familial and
[2:09:22] more to secure more time for
[2:09:23] her an agreement to keep the
[2:09:24] scarlet you off her record.
[2:09:29] Given her young age, a social
[2:09:29] worker from our office
[2:09:30] connected the young woman with
[2:09:32] a local housing organization
[2:09:32] and helped enroll her in the
[2:09:33] city's homeless response
[2:09:34] system. She is currently
[2:09:38] helps. This morning. I
[2:09:40] assisted a 90 year-old veteran
[2:09:40] who is being evicted from a
[2:09:42] federally subsidized senior
[2:09:44] housing project. He is on a
[2:09:45] fixed income and had nowhere
[2:09:46] to go. But he also wanted to
[2:09:50] leave. Intervention at the
[2:09:51] clinics, allowed him to be
[2:09:52] connected with a Navigator who
[2:09:53] is assisting him with finding
[2:09:54] housing and getting connected
[2:09:56] to services he did not even
[2:09:57] know existed. His attorney
[2:10:00] through our program was able
[2:10:02] negotiate extended move out
[2:10:03] time and protection of his
[2:10:04] eligibility for future
[2:10:05] subsidies. Thank you for this
[2:10:06] opportunity. Thank you. Thank
[2:10:08] you for your comments. Anyone
[2:10:09] else in the audience going to
[2:10:16] speak to the presentation?
[2:10:17] Good evening, everyone. And
[2:10:19] thank you to Andrew Merkley
[2:10:22] and a phs for assisting in
[2:10:23] funding 3rd part of the
[2:10:25] problem, which I would call 4
[2:10:28] of the eviction diversion
[2:10:29] program in Lawrence Township.
[2:10:31] We have the eviction diversion
[2:10:32] initiative. And in 2024, we
[2:10:33] were able to expand to assist
[2:10:36] the whole county since that
[2:10:40] time in 2026 of office, Vo ph
[2:10:43] s was able to supplement our
[2:10:45] funding that we had retained a
[2:10:46] leftover from private funders
[2:10:48] to assist us in continuing the
[2:10:50] program with that was holding
[2:10:51] camp just gave a story of
[2:10:52] exactly what happened in our
[2:10:55] court this morning. This
[2:10:56] morning, we had a 90 year-old
[2:10:56] veteran that actually was
[2:10:59] about to be an house. But
[2:11:00] between the legal services and
[2:11:01] the navigation services that
[2:11:03] found the resource to rehouse
[2:11:05] that person, that person was
[2:11:05] able to find new housing in
[2:11:10] being able to move an
[2:11:10] untenable condition that he
[2:11:12] was. That was not the best in
[2:11:15] housing. I'd like to let you
[2:11:16] know that this three-pronged
[2:11:18] program that has been created
[2:11:20] is essential to our community.
[2:11:22] It prevents are working class
[2:11:24] individuals being able to be
[2:11:25] able to keep up with the
[2:11:29] ability to stay in the home
[2:11:30] and not unsettle and unrest,
[2:11:32] their home at home and their
[2:11:35] children in Franklin Township.
[2:11:35] Their stories were there was
[2:11:39] that a mother of 4 children
[2:11:40] that had $4,000 of unpaid
[2:11:42] rent. She was unable. She did
[2:11:43] not have employment at the
[2:11:46] time, but she was able to
[2:11:48] through navigation services
[2:11:50] and legal assistance, get
[2:11:52] funding from a church as well
[2:11:53] as the trustee's office in
[2:11:55] order to remain in their
[2:11:56] house. In Perry Township, we
[2:11:59] had father, single father of 2
[2:12:00] daughters that was able to be
[2:12:04] able to relocate and relocate
[2:12:05] without losing any type of a
[2:12:06] roof over his head for his
[2:12:09] children himself as well as
[2:12:11] gain employment. He was $100
[2:12:13] short of being able to
[2:12:17] actually pay and stay. But
[2:12:18] with the help of the Navigator
[2:12:19] and legal aid, he was able to
[2:12:21] come up with that money to do
[2:12:22] so. MAY I just give you a 3
[2:12:32] more stories. Absolutely not
[2:12:35] Robinson MAY I so so. So it's
[2:12:36] so it will have a statement
[2:12:40] for the record. City the
[2:12:41] Kimberly Bacon. Judge Lord,
[2:12:42] still give you one more story.
[2:12:46] I'm I it. And then we also
[2:12:49] have a story in Wayne Township
[2:12:50] where there was individual who
[2:12:54] was about to be unhoused and
[2:12:55] that person by the name of Kh
[2:12:57] had 3 children. What I want
[2:13:01] you all to realize is that
[2:13:02] this program is not just the
[2:13:03] individual that you see in
[2:13:09] court. It is too to 7 more
[2:13:10] people sometime in a household
[2:13:12] that has an effect when we
[2:13:16] issue a ruling by having these
[2:13:16] navigation services that
[2:13:19] assist people in finding new
[2:13:21] housing, assist people in
[2:13:23] getting to legal services so
[2:13:24] that they can stress with
[2:13:25] their issues are and bring
[2:13:27] them properly to the court to
[2:13:28] the judge. So they're able to
[2:13:31] hear, though, those issues so
[2:13:32] understand that when you are
[2:13:36] funding a program Phs, you are
[2:13:37] not funding just one person
[2:13:38] that comes before the court
[2:13:42] that gets legal aid. You are
[2:13:44] funding at up to 4 to 10
[2:13:45] individuals at one time.
[2:13:48] Sometimes that is the
[2:13:49] importance of this program. Is
[2:13:50] that the U.S. The people that
[2:13:52] you don't see, not just the
[2:13:54] people that you do see. And
[2:13:56] with that you have to
[2:13:57] understand that that goes to
[2:13:59] other programs that you all
[2:14:00] will fund or have an impact on
[2:14:03] the court systems when a
[2:14:05] mother or father is dislocated
[2:14:06] and they lose the stability of
[2:14:08] their housing, they MAY be
[2:14:11] subjected to dcs programs that
[2:14:13] destabilizes a home in
[2:14:14] separates families when a
[2:14:17] person is unable to provide
[2:14:17] toiletries because they
[2:14:19] sacrifice to make their rent
[2:14:22] payment, that then becomes a
[2:14:23] criminal activity sometimes
[2:14:23] because people are just trying
[2:14:26] to make it and they MAY have
[2:14:28] to go find food and unlawful
[2:14:30] ways or toiletries. Please
[2:14:32] note that housing instability.
[2:14:36] Is the foundation of so many
[2:14:39] other issues that result in
[2:14:40] families. It is important for
[2:14:41] you to fund this program so
[2:14:45] that all of these programs
[2:14:47] have an opportunity to touch
[2:14:48] these families and keep them
[2:14:49] unstable environments so that
[2:14:52] they can provide. This is your
[2:14:53] working class. I want you all
[2:14:56] councilors to understand that
[2:14:57] these are not people that
[2:14:58] choose to be unemployed are
[2:15:00] just unemployed for no reason.
[2:15:03] Many of them have jobs. 2, 3
[2:15:07] jobs. Many of loose their
[2:15:07] employment for week because
[2:15:08] they had to take care of a
[2:15:15] child. So these are not full.
[2:15:17] I tell about more thing. These
[2:15:21] are not people that taking Get
[2:15:24] one opportunity at And so
[2:15:26] these are not people that do
[2:15:29] not want to have a roof over
[2:15:31] their So we ask that you
[2:15:33] continue it. Did raise the
[2:15:38] gavel to me?
[2:15:44] Thank you for your comments
[2:15:45] for your service. And I were
[2:15:46] not there to on Thank you so
[2:15:51] much. MAY just come forward
[2:15:51] state. Your name for the
[2:15:54] record, please. Good evening.
[2:15:56] I'm Shauna majors Brightwood
[2:15:59] Community Center. I made them
[2:16:03] 5 she just got I have a huge
[2:16:04] list which will not fit into
[2:16:06] the 2 minutes. So I'm not
[2:16:10] going to do that to you. It's
[2:16:11] a Robinson, but I want to
[2:16:13] speak about a couple things,
[2:16:15] really quickly. First of all,
[2:16:19] elevation. As we've had a
[2:16:20] relationship with elevation
[2:16:24] for many years and they have
[2:16:25] been great supporters of our
[2:16:27] work. And I know that that the
[2:16:29] funding comes through Phs. So
[2:16:32] I really want to highlight the
[2:16:33] fact that now elevation
[2:16:36] process has changed a bit to
[2:16:37] be more reflective of making
[2:16:42] sure that we are sending in
[2:16:43] our data and and our our
[2:16:44] financials and all of those
[2:16:47] things that always happen. But
[2:16:48] it's really become more
[2:16:50] robust. And the opportunity to
[2:16:53] train staff on various other
[2:16:54] things. So just want to shout
[2:16:56] that out really quick that it
[2:16:57] has been instrumental to the
[2:16:59] work that we do with our kids
[2:17:00] talking about teen dating
[2:17:01] violence and suicide
[2:17:03] prevention and mental health.
[2:17:07] The second thing really has
[2:17:09] more to do with the budget
[2:17:09] that I saw on. It's probably
[2:17:12] more of a question Phs. I
[2:17:16] didn't see where you guys were
[2:17:17] continuing. I was here last
[2:17:18] year continuing to fund the
[2:17:21] Thomas really scrapped license
[2:17:23] program. And I didn't know if
[2:17:25] that was being shifted
[2:17:26] somewhere else of this funding
[2:17:28] coming from somewhere else
[2:17:30] because I know that that
[2:17:30] program is outstanding and
[2:17:33] people need it. And we see
[2:17:34] people come to our center on a
[2:17:35] daily basis for it. And so I'm
[2:17:39] just curious if that if that
[2:17:41] switch somewhere else and I
[2:17:42] MISS To door he's met will
[2:17:42] speak to that here shortly.
[2:17:46] But you can your comments. And
[2:17:49] the last thing is I still
[2:17:50] would love to see City County
[2:17:54] Council come out and and be a
[2:17:56] part of these programs in and
[2:17:57] I know you guys wanted to see
[2:17:58] it, smell it and be out there.
[2:18:01] So please come out. Thank you.
[2:18:05] Thank you. MAY just be calm.
[2:18:06] Anyone else care to speak this
[2:18:09] evening from the public. MR.
[2:18:10] Murphy want to speak to the
[2:18:11] Thomas really hopeless the
[2:18:16] program. Absolutely. So.
[2:18:20] Thomas, slow program. Has not
[2:18:21] ever been. Opp, justice
[2:18:24] budget. Originally it was
[2:18:27] funded with American rescue
[2:18:30] plan. Dollars. And last year
[2:18:32] we were able to find and or
[2:18:34] spend from the 2025 and are
[2:18:38] spent to put. Are 2026 budget
[2:18:41] in order to cover the cost for
[2:18:41] Thomas or at least one like
[2:18:47] me. This year. Through
[2:18:49] negotiations with mayor's
[2:18:49] office and the Council
[2:18:54] negotiated budget team it was
[2:18:55] determined we cannot increase.
[2:18:58] They cannot increase. Phs is
[2:18:59] budget to accommodate an
[2:19:00] additional $400,000 for this
[2:19:02] program. That does not mean
[2:19:03] that we don't think it was
[2:19:08] beneficial for that. It was
[2:19:09] good work. But that is what
[2:19:11] the negotiators. Ultimately
[2:19:15] decided. Thank you, MR.
[2:19:16] Comments or questions follow
[2:19:16] comments from committee
[2:19:20] members. Councilor Lee. It's
[2:19:21] counselor Wells. Thank you,
[2:19:28] MR. CHAIRMAN Director Merkley
[2:19:28] would the whole Kessler's
[2:19:29] program be eligible for
[2:19:31] elevation funding
[2:19:33] applications? Thank you for
[2:19:36] asking Yes, they do receive
[2:19:37] elevation funding already in
[2:19:41] the amount of $230,000. We
[2:19:42] have you continued to work
[2:19:48] making and we have also
[2:19:50] because we do find we do
[2:19:50] believe that license
[2:19:51] reinstatement and expunge. It
[2:19:53] is an important aspect to
[2:19:55] recidivism in this county in
[2:19:57] Marion County that we want to
[2:19:58] help find other funding to
[2:20:02] help support this work. It's
[2:20:03] unfortunate that it's not in
[2:20:04] our budget, but we we believe
[2:20:06] that we can find and support
[2:20:10] them in other ways. Thank you,
[2:20:11] director. My question. I guess
[2:20:16] then would be. Yield my time
[2:20:17] because I MAY not be approved.
[2:20:20] Great for television. Biggest
[2:20:24] will discuss the purchase.
[2:20:24] Thank you, MISTER Chair. I was
[2:20:27] almost done. So that I'm
[2:20:31] clear. The decision to not
[2:20:34] fund this program for 2027.
[2:20:37] Was based on negotiation. Not
[2:20:38] on the effectiveness of the
[2:20:45] program. Again, I will
[2:20:46] reiterate this was never in
[2:20:50] our budget. This whether or
[2:20:50] not our budget was going to
[2:20:53] increase. With what went
[2:20:54] through that negotiation
[2:21:01] process. We have not
[2:21:02] historically we've always
[2:21:05] received data from. Thomas was
[2:21:09] Thomas released one like me
[2:21:10] and this year we've worked
[2:21:14] with them increase. Well. To
[2:21:15] increase the reporting what
[2:21:19] they're providing phs I can't
[2:21:24] speak to. The decision that
[2:21:25] was made. What have they
[2:21:26] provided documentation of the
[2:21:27] effectiveness of the program?
[2:21:31] Yes. And that is more. So let
[2:21:33] me back up. It was in your
[2:21:36] budget. You Finnish you funded
[2:21:39] through and are spent. So
[2:21:40] there was a strategy to fund
[2:21:43] it for 2026. They have
[2:21:48] provided the impact
[2:21:49] effectiveness of the program
[2:21:51] through their data reported.
[2:21:52] But the decision was made not
[2:21:57] to fund it for 2027. Correct?
[2:21:59] Not to provide budget line
[2:22:06] item 2027 budget. MR. Chair
[2:22:07] out how you know back to you.
[2:22:11] Ask this committee for an
[2:22:13] opportunity. I know we have a
[2:22:15] pretty tight budgets here and
[2:22:15] schedule for the next month
[2:22:18] and a half. Think this was an
[2:22:22] issue last year and so
[2:22:23] clearly, 12 months later with
[2:22:27] it and fix it. And so I think
[2:22:28] at some point this committee
[2:22:30] should be fully briefed on on
[2:22:31] this and provide a
[2:22:32] recommendation for how this
[2:22:34] office the to move forward. I
[2:22:37] just my comment by saying here
[2:22:39] in the testimony from the
[2:22:43] community is another reminder
[2:22:44] for me that the work Phs is
[2:22:45] too important for us to be
[2:22:47] sidetracked, but the lack of
[2:22:49] accountability, integrity and
[2:22:51] transparency, the community
[2:22:55] depends on We should not allow
[2:22:58] what we can control, which is
[2:23:01] accountability, integrity and
[2:23:01] transparency to sidetrack what
[2:23:04] our community needs. Thank
[2:23:04] you. MISTER Chair Frank Oz.
[2:23:07] The purposes of boots. Thank
[2:23:08] you, MR. CHAIRMAN, I just
[2:23:12] want. People know out there
[2:23:15] that tenant protection is of
[2:23:19] upmost priority for us. We
[2:23:21] will fight tooth and nail to
[2:23:24] protect the tenant eviction
[2:23:26] program. We are well aware
[2:23:28] that eviction is one of the
[2:23:29] core drivers of many bills
[2:23:32] that we experience and our
[2:23:33] community. And to the extent
[2:23:36] we can improve housing,
[2:23:38] stabilization, we think that
[2:23:40] is a major factor crime
[2:23:42] prevention as well as all the
[2:23:45] other problems that come along
[2:23:46] with underemployed
[2:23:47] underemployment, no housing.
[2:23:47] So we hear you and we will
[2:23:52] fight for you. Thank you count
[2:23:53] professor Silver's. You have
[2:23:54] comment or question regarding
[2:24:01] conversation. My name is Loni
[2:24:03] Silva. I'm here as a Marion
[2:24:05] County resident at the new for
[2:24:06] 15 years and a board member of
[2:24:07] Thomas for these one like me.
[2:24:08] Thank you, CHAIRMAN Robinson
[2:24:10] and honorable members of the
[2:24:13] council. I just want to echo
[2:24:14] what doctor and council
[2:24:16] Perkins said. I think that
[2:24:18] data driven decision-making is
[2:24:20] a necessity. And Thomas, for
[2:24:22] these one like me thus far for
[2:24:23] every dollar that you gave us.
[2:24:27] We are putting a $1.30 one
[2:24:28] $1.30 back in the pockets of
[2:24:31] indigent folks and all of your
[2:24:32] jurisdictions, all your
[2:24:33] constituents, a driver's
[2:24:35] license changes somebodys life
[2:24:36] and not only changes one
[2:24:37] person's life changes the
[2:24:38] whole entire household. I
[2:24:42] could have brought. So many
[2:24:43] people in here today, but I
[2:24:44] didn't want to take all your
[2:24:46] time. And I had done that
[2:24:47] before. And so while I
[2:24:48] appreciate Director Mark least
[2:24:50] presentation, he didn't
[2:24:52] include us and we are yet not
[2:24:53] on the dashboard for anybody
[2:24:54] to say, even though we provide
[2:24:57] are timely reports. So we
[2:24:59] decided to contact you
[2:25:00] ourselves and provide you with
[2:25:01] our information so you could
[2:25:03] see it ourselves. And by the
[2:25:04] way, that dollars and $0.30 is
[2:25:08] just a projection. It's not
[2:25:09] even what is going to be the
[2:25:11] real number. At the end. We've
[2:25:12] always given you a dollar back
[2:25:13] for every dollar that you've
[2:25:16] given us. So I just encourage
[2:25:18] that committee this evening,
[2:25:21] too, really take into account
[2:25:22] the data and I'm happy to
[2:25:26] answer any questions. Thank
[2:25:28] you, Professor. You do to make
[2:25:29] a comment regarding the funds
[2:25:30] from the foundation as you
[2:25:33] guys receive funding from the
[2:25:34] foundation for a different
[2:25:35] program. So Thomas released
[2:25:37] one like me also as a peer
[2:25:38] mentoring program. They served
[2:25:42] 100 people every year. Their
[2:25:42] recidivism rate is very low.
[2:25:44] As is the hope, Hustle a
[2:25:44] program to help us to the
[2:25:47] program is different. Then the
[2:25:47] peer mentoring program and
[2:25:51] they did receive a grant
[2:25:53] CHAIRMAN Robinson for $250,000
[2:25:55] that sustains our staff. We
[2:25:56] have a very, very small staff,
[2:25:59] but we produce huge out. Comes
[2:26:01] in a great impact on the
[2:26:02] community. Think the fence or
[2:26:09] comments or questions Thank
[2:26:11] should stand Thank you. Have
[2:26:13] never had a chance to meet
[2:26:15] you. But her the great work
[2:26:18] that you have done prior to me
[2:26:19] could become a counselor. And
[2:26:21] I'm glad to put face with the
[2:26:23] name good job the wearer that
[2:26:29] you've been q. But going back
[2:26:30] to director Mark you say that
[2:26:32] there was a negotiation and I
[2:26:32] know that we just had
[2:26:38] proposal. One, 92. They came
[2:26:39] before us where they the
[2:26:41] reasons why. I mean, was this
[2:26:42] part of the cut to meet that
[2:26:43] budget help them? Ask them a
[2:26:49] question right? I will do it.
[2:26:51] You never see ice answers.
[2:26:52] Yes, there was a group of
[2:26:55] counselors and council staff
[2:26:56] that negotiated the budget
[2:27:01] administration staff. It was
[2:27:02] not a cut because it was never
[2:27:05] in our budget. The decision
[2:27:08] not to increase our budget was
[2:27:09] made by that that
[2:27:09] negotiations, those
[2:27:10] negotiations over the course
[2:27:14] of. Several weeks, months. And
[2:27:15] no, it is not budget was not
[2:27:19] cut from budget. Okay. I'm not
[2:27:24] gonna MISS It. A college
[2:27:27] counselor. Position right now?
[2:27:28] Well, as I'm sorry, counsel
[2:27:30] Wilson position right now. You
[2:27:35] and my my. Thank you council
[2:27:40] Wells. Thank for the time
[2:27:44] gather my thoughts. Last week
[2:27:45] we heard that the reentry
[2:27:49] court isn't funded and it's
[2:27:49] going away next month,
[2:27:51] actually, in like 2 weeks. The
[2:27:55] whole customers program, many
[2:27:55] of the people they serve and
[2:28:00] please correct me professor.
[2:28:02] So the and big t if I mess
[2:28:03] this up, but those are a lot
[2:28:06] of our returning neighbors and
[2:28:08] the number one barrier they
[2:28:09] face is getting all their
[2:28:13] paperwork right? Finding
[2:28:15] housing and getting a job with
[2:28:18] re-entry court going away. And
[2:28:18] I don't know if you can see on
[2:28:21] trembling. Because we're
[2:28:24] talking about. Our but
[2:28:28] rescinded rights being doomed.
[2:28:32] To increase. And we're not
[2:28:33] just talking about rates.
[2:28:35] We're talking about people who
[2:28:37] we're able to come home after
[2:28:42] serving their time. And we are
[2:28:43] continuing to put barriers in
[2:28:44] front of them. Some of them we
[2:28:47] did not do. We did not. Closed
[2:28:49] down reentry court. But it's
[2:28:52] gone. And the furloughs are
[2:28:57] done. And so it's not just on
[2:28:59] the court. It's yet another
[2:29:01] thing. We are now placing no
[2:29:05] phs shoulder and we have to
[2:29:07] lean on those experts in the
[2:29:08] community who have been doing
[2:29:10] this, who have relationships
[2:29:12] and are known to be safe.
[2:29:16] People trusted people who they
[2:29:17] literally trust with paper
[2:29:18] that could send them back to
[2:29:20] jail and So that's a really
[2:29:23] big deal for me. Because I
[2:29:25] love those people very dearly.
[2:29:26] One of them was my daddy at
[2:29:33] one time. And he's home. MR.
[2:29:34] CHAIRMAN, I don't know who the
[2:29:37] council's negotiators are, but
[2:29:38] I was duly elected by the
[2:29:39] residents of District 6 on the
[2:29:42] far West side for 6, 2, to 2
[2:29:44] who is super impacted by all
[2:29:47] these evictions who has a huge
[2:29:49] immigrant population whose
[2:29:51] legal defenses and supports
[2:29:51] have not been funded in this
[2:29:53] budget either. It feels like
[2:29:56] an attack on my community. And
[2:29:58] I was given a voice by my
[2:30:00] community to say these things
[2:30:02] tonight. And while we weren't
[2:30:04] impacted by the floods in my
[2:30:05] heart goes out to you.
[2:30:05] Counselor Dilanian, your
[2:30:08] residence. We are impacted in
[2:30:12] a different way. And I feel
[2:30:13] disenfranchised as a leader. I
[2:30:15] am not part of the negotiating
[2:30:15] team, but I did help
[2:30:19] negotiate. The whole customers
[2:30:20] getting funded in understand
[2:30:23] last year. So that's
[2:30:24] unfortunate. But my heart, I
[2:30:28] will in by. You know, the loss
[2:30:30] that people sit in this room,
[2:30:31] the people that we very this
[2:30:34] year. I know I my heart goes
[2:30:39] out to you. David Davis, who
[2:30:41] was Elevation? Grant recipient
[2:30:44] who took people out to fish in
[2:30:45] nature. People who have been
[2:30:48] locked up for years. Brittany
[2:30:50] Marble, who sat beside people.
[2:30:52] In their hardest of times, fed
[2:30:57] people. They're gone and this
[2:30:57] room, this crowd bins out
[2:30:58] every year and so did the
[2:31:05] dollars. We have to do more.
[2:31:06] This work is not done and this
[2:31:07] budget doesn't feel sufficient
[2:31:08] to me right now. MISTER
[2:31:10] CHAIRMAN, thank you. Also
[2:31:15] wills comes Okay, director, I
[2:31:17] you know, I'm kind of like a
[2:31:21] straight shooter, right? And I
[2:31:23] told you in one of want to
[2:31:26] ones that whatever you say, it
[2:31:27] comes back to us and we cannot
[2:31:32] do a lot of fact checked. So
[2:31:34] you mentioned that our
[2:31:36] leadership team negotiate it.
[2:31:39] To remove funding for them. I
[2:31:43] want to make it be clear that
[2:31:44] our counselors, leadership
[2:31:45] team, did not have anything to
[2:31:48] do with it. The cut this
[2:31:50] happening. This was never in
[2:31:53] the budget for them to
[2:31:55] negotiate anything. So I want
[2:31:58] to make that be clear that the
[2:31:59] counselors had nothing to do
[2:31:59] with this on leadership had
[2:32:01] nothing to do with it. The
[2:32:03] funding being cut. So I want
[2:32:06] to make that clear. And I went
[2:32:11] so to say we are in support of
[2:32:12] this program because I never
[2:32:15] like to see any programs get
[2:32:15] cut out ph is because I didn't
[2:32:19] know what population that it
[2:32:21] serves. And so I want to be
[2:32:22] clear, the counters leadership
[2:32:23] team had nothing to do with
[2:32:25] the cut. Thank you, MR.
[2:32:25] CHAIRMAN, thank you. Leader
[2:32:32] Mowery. So Okay. Thank you.
[2:32:34] Council moves. Thank you, MR.
[2:32:37] CHAIRMAN and just a final
[2:32:39] comment. I think the
[2:32:41] discussion clearly illustrates
[2:32:43] the importance of why we
[2:32:48] overrode the mayor's veto. The
[2:32:52] original our tax increase
[2:32:53] without that, there's no
[2:32:54] chance in heck we'd ever be
[2:32:57] able to fund anything like
[2:33:00] this. The austere budget the
[2:33:01] administration has put through
[2:33:01] these last couple years is why
[2:33:03] we're here tonight arguing
[2:33:07] about these things. You cannot
[2:33:09] survive a city of 900,000
[2:33:11] people. When you're tightening
[2:33:12] the belt in cutting budgets
[2:33:16] every year. That is why you
[2:33:18] have places in the condition.
[2:33:21] It is. Why our roads stake.
[2:33:24] That's why eviction is high
[2:33:25] because the administration has
[2:33:28] ignored these problems being
[2:33:31] too proud and always never
[2:33:31] going to raise the tax. I'm
[2:33:33] going to cut budget. I'm
[2:33:34] saving money. This is what
[2:33:37] happens when you act that You
[2:33:38] don't have money to do what
[2:33:40] you need to do to provide for
[2:33:40] the people that put us in
[2:33:43] office. So I am a firm
[2:33:46] supporter of doing all we can
[2:33:49] to enhance and expand tenant
[2:33:49] protection to enhance and
[2:33:53] expand reentry programs. It is
[2:33:54] our society will be judged how
[2:33:56] we treat the least in our
[2:33:56] society. And right now we are
[2:34:03] ignoring them. Thank you,
[2:34:05] Thank direct marked a record.
[2:34:06] Broke Merkley. Was your budget
[2:34:07] increased or decreased? The
[2:34:12] mayor had a plan for the
[2:34:13] 50 million And there's gonna
[2:34:15] be some budget cuts with with
[2:34:16] the administration's agencies.
[2:34:16] Was your age, the including
[2:34:21] that at all? Our budget was
[2:34:25] reduced by $162,000. Okay. To
[2:34:26] help to help meet 50 Million.
[2:34:28] I can't answer Thank you.
[2:34:32] Cause of heart. It just
[2:34:35] suggestion to my colleagues on
[2:34:36] that whoever is negotiating
[2:34:39] the fall off a school. Maybe
[2:34:39] this is a suggestion for them
[2:34:46] at that final comments or
[2:34:47] questions council perked up
[2:34:48] final comments council what
[2:34:48] you can always run this on the
[2:34:58] side. So it. You are invited.
[2:35:00] I will say thank you, council
[2:35:02] Allen for for that's for the
[2:35:05] clarity to ensure that we
[2:35:06] understand that this was never
[2:35:09] in a point of negotiation with
[2:35:10] the budget team from the
[2:35:12] council, right? So it was
[2:35:14] never presented in the budget.
[2:35:18] But that's why we're here. And
[2:35:20] so my charge to my colleagues
[2:35:24] to sue, make a commitment that
[2:35:25] over the next month and a
[2:35:26] half. This is another thing
[2:35:29] that we bring back to this
[2:35:33] committee to the full Council
[2:35:35] to make some kind of proposal
[2:35:36] that to the budget that's
[2:35:40] presented to us by the mayor I
[2:35:41] think we get to this place.
[2:35:46] And stop. There is a next step
[2:35:48] to this, which is we have the
[2:35:50] power as a fiscal agents to be
[2:35:52] able to amend the budget. But
[2:35:56] the mayor sent to us.
[2:35:57] Challenges over the next month
[2:35:58] to to make sure that we do
[2:35:58] that to reflect what we
[2:36:00] clearly hear from our
[2:36:02] community that they do Thank
[2:36:06] you. I think they'll for. And
[2:36:08] I do want to emphasize council
[2:36:10] hearts point of the fall
[2:36:12] fiscal. It's coming up. So
[2:36:12] there's some room there to
[2:36:16] addresses in that schools.
[2:36:17] Well, council worker the final
[2:36:22] comment. Thank you all for the
[2:36:23] opportunity tonight until the
[2:36:27] last. Discussion I thought
[2:36:28] tonight much better than it
[2:36:29] did a year ago. I assure you
[2:36:34] that. We have worked really
[2:36:39] hard. To deliver on results
[2:36:42] for this body. And for our
[2:36:43] neighbors. We continue to hold
[2:36:46] our vendors, our staff
[2:36:46] accountable to producing
[2:36:52] results that. Educations we we
[2:36:53] believe in the work that slurs
[2:36:58] doing. Look forward to
[2:36:59] continuing continued
[2:37:01] conversations. Thank you,
[2:37:03] Director Merkley. Thank you
[2:37:03] for those came out this
[2:37:04] evening. Thank you. Council