City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: BRYAN L. PORTER, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Supreme Court of Virginia (Specialty Dockets) on behalf of the Alexandria Recovery Court
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Grant Application to the Supreme Court of Virginia (Specialty Dockets) on behalf of the Alexandria Recovery Court (“ARC”).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Retroactively approve a grant application up to $75,000 for the Alexandria Recovery Court (“ARC”); and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The ARC launched a pilot program in the fall of 2019 utilizing existing department resources. The program expanded with the use of a three-year federal grant which expires in October. In FY 2025, City Council approved one-time funding in the current budget cycle to ensure that the ARC could continue to operate, while identifying long term sources of funding. The ARC Advisory Committee has been aggressively pursuing grant dollars to minimize reliance on City general funds. The Virginia Supreme Court (Special Dockets), contingent on City Council approval, in August awarded the City of Alexandria $75,000 to be used for ARC personnel costs.
DISCUSSION: The ARC seeks to divert from incarceration and conviction, nonviolent offenders who are arrested for felonies in the City of Alexandria and commit to engaging with substance abuse treatment. In the fashion in which it presently operates, the ARC relies largely on existing resources from the Alexandira Police Department, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Public Defender, the Office of Probation and Parole, the Department of Community and Human Services, and the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria to provide personnel to keep this program operating.
Those contributions notwithstanding, the program requires funding for various other expenses including the salary and benefits associated with the program coordinator, supplemental drug testing, housing assistance for participants in sober living environments, training, and equipment.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no match requirement and therefore no negative fiscal impact. If approved, the funding will help offset current fiscal year personnel costs. If Council does not approve the grant application, the funding can be returned to the Virginia Supreme Court.
ATTACHMENT(S): None
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
David Lord, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney
Ashley Milanes, Director of Special Programs, Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney