Title
A resolution authorizing the acceptance of the Dallas County New Directions in Public Safety Grant in an amount not to exceed $1,045,000.00, authorizing the City Manager to execute the required Interlocal Agreement with Dallas County on behalf of the City of Mesquite and authorizing the City Manager as the authorized official to manage, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the City.
Body
On December 7, 2020, the City Council approved Resolution No. 63-2020 authorizing the City Manager to execute and submit a multi-jurisdictional grant application to Dallas County under the New Directions in Public Safety Grant Program. The object of the grant is to provide seed money to help cities and groups of cities address the crisis of criminalization, mental health, poverty, and homelessness and utilize alternatives to police response and incarceration to more properly address the needs of Dallas County residents. The City of Mesquite submitted the grant application for a program on behalf of the Cities of Mesquite, Balch Springs, Seagoville and Town of Sunnyvale. The Mesquite grant application was approved by the Dallas County Commissioners Court on March 23, 2020.
The proposed program under the New Directions in Public Safety Grant will establish an Eastern Dallas County Response Team to provide proactive and reactive mental health services with professional mental health responders. The team will supplement public safety responses with the overall goal to reduce mental health calls responded to by police. The team will also follow up with residents who are identified in the program to have frequent calls for service for mental health issues and additionally share responsibility for outreach and communication with chronic homeless individuals in the four-city area. The City of Mesquite will serve as the sponsoring and coordinating jurisdiction for the program.
Recommended/Desired Action
Staff recommends approval of the resolution.
Attachment(s)
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