Agenda Item # ___
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
6/23/2015
Agenda Report # ____
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: DARE to be GREAT
INITIATED BY: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a one-year contract with
Columbus Police Department to award funding for Crime Prevention initiatives.
Background: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention has agreed to recommend the
funding of $50,000.00 to Columbus Police Department in effort to mentor
juveniles from ages 10-14 in middle schools to reduce drug usage, pregnancy and
gang activity among juveniles within the school system.
Analysis: Funds will be used to pay for quality programming as well as
mentoring for juveniles.
Financial Considerations: These funds are appropriated from the Other Local
Option Sales Tax, Crime Prevention Program and do not require a match.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager
to enter into a one-year contract with Columbus Police Department to provide
funding for mentoring and quality summer programming for middle school children.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH COLUMBUS
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR $50,000.00 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE INITIATIVES OF
DARE TO BE GREAT.
WHEREAS, Columbus Police Department has the DARE to be GREAT program to impact
the lives of juveniles to reduce the rate of drug usage, pregnancy and gang
activity and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention has authorized funding under
the Crime Prevention Program for this project in the amount of $50,000.00 to
the DARE to be GREAT Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into a one-year contract
through the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention with Columbus Police Department
for $50,000.00 for funding the DARE to be GREAT Program. Funds are budgeted in
the FY16 budget: Other Local Option Sales Tax, Crime Prevention Program.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the 23rd day of June, 2015 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting________________.
Councilor Baker voting________________.
Councilor Barnes voting_______________.
Councilor Buck voting_____________.
Councilor Davis voting________________.
Councilor Henderson voting____________.
Councilor Huff voting_________________.
Councilor Pugh voting_________________.
Councilor Thomas voting______________.
Councilor Woodson voting_____________.
__________________________________ ______________________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON TERESA
PIKE TOMLINSON
CLERK
MAYOR
5
Local Assistance Grant Agreement
Grant Program Name: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Fiscal Agent: Muscogee County
Administering Agency: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Grant Recipient: Columbus Police Department/Dare to Be Great
Amount: $50,000.00
Budget: Contractual Services ? $20,000.00
Local Field Trips - $10,000.00
Daily pickup - $10,000.00
Supplies - $10,000.00
Total - $50,000.00
Program Contact Information
Name: Chief Ricky Boren Title: Chief/Director
Address: 510 10th Street
Phone #: 706-653-3173
Project Description
The Dare to be Great program is a summer camp that will provide children the
opportunity to experience a wide range of activities that will reinforce
positive behavior. The lessons focus on five major areas:
1) Providing accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
2) Teaching students good decision making skills.
3) Showing students how to recognize and resist peer pressure.
4) Giving students idea for positive alternatives to drug use.
5) Prevention and serving as an immunization against teen pregnancy, obesity,
delinquency, youth violence and gang membership.
The camp is designed for children 10-14 years of age. Students will be
referred by teachers, counselors, principals and officers. Students are
accepted on a first come first served basis. The camp is designed to service
600 students for 9 weeks.
The program will take place Monday through Friday 11:00 AM until 5:30 PM. DARE
and GREAT officers will direct the program but outside speakers will be brought
in to work with the participants on special topics. Educational field trips
will be taken on Friday to enlighten the participants about their community and
the environment they live within. Recreation will also play a role in the
program as the day begins to end. Qualified college and high school students
will be selected and screened by sworn public safety officers to assist with
the program.
I, Chief Ricky Boren the duly authorized representative of the above named
Grant Recipient, do hereby agree to the following terms that outline the
requirements of Columbus, Georgia for organizations/agencies receiving funds
from the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention. I have been given the
opportunity to ask questions regarding these terms and fully understand my
organization?s obligations incurred by accepting this grant. I understand that
prior to the disbursements of any funds the following criteria must be met:
1. The above named Grant Recipient represents the beneficiaries of the Grant
and the above named individual is authorized to act in the name of Columbus
Police Department as the Grant Recipient.
2. The subject matter of this Agreement is primarily the provision of services
in the form of individualized summer programming through tutoring and
mentoring.
3. The Grant Recipient shall immediately notify the Agency if any of their
service providers are arrested. At the time Grant Recipient learns that one of
its service providers has been arrested, then Grant Recipient shall cease to
use such service provider in connection with programs funded by this Grant.
4. In the initial report submitted to the Administering Agency, Grant Recipient
shall provide: (a) the name of the chairman and the secretary of the advisory
committee; (b) the times and dates that the Grant programs are available ?
essentially a schedule of services; (c) the number of participants in the
program; (d) Description of the process used to identify individuals for which
services will be provided; (e) provide specifics on the evaluation process
that addresses how the process will work, how the statistical data will be
gathered, how it will be analyzed.
5. Grant Recipient shall provide an accounting system that shall separate Grant
Funds from other funds. The accounting system shall also separate Grant
related expenses from other expenses.
6. Grant Recipient shall submit to Agency a monthly report on the progress of
the programs. The monthly report shall provide statistical data that supports
the projects goals of reducing the recidivism rates of the participants within
the program.
7. Grant Recipient shall use Grant Funds strictly for the purposes outlined in
the Grant. Any changes to the programs must be submitted in writing to
Columbus Office of Crime Prevention for approval or the funding may be
jeopardized.
8. Grant Recipient shall identify the members of its Board of Directors which
will assume liability if the CCG determines the funds have been misused.
9. Monthly report must be submitted to Seth Brown electronically by the 10th
day of the month. Once the report is approved it will be submitted to the
Office of Crime Prevention Board for evaluation.
10. The Grant Recipient shall use generally accepted accounting principles
(?GAAP?) to account for all financial transactions used to substantiate the
fulfillment of this Grant.
11. The Grant Recipient shall maintain all records of Grant-related financial
transactions for a minimum of three years after the completion of the Grant and
to make all records available for inspection and fully cooperate with any audit
or investigation requested or undertaken by the CCG, the State Auditor, the
Internal Auditor for Columbus, Georgia, or any other officials of the state or
federal government who have the authority to conduct audits.
12. The Grant Recipient shall comply at all times with the provisions of
Article I, Section II, and Paragraph VII of the Georgia Constitution regarding
the prohibition against Sectarian Aid.
13. The Grant Recipient hereby releases Columbus, Georgia from any liability
whatsoever and Grant Recipient hereby agrees to indemnify Columbus, Georgia
against any and all claims for damages, bodily injury or death arising from any
of the activities contemplated by this Agreement raised by any person. Grant
Recipient shall provide to Columbus, Georgia a certificate of insurance that
shows general liability coverage in the amount of at least $1,000,000 per
occurrence and which shows that Columbus, Georgia is named as an additional
insured.
14. All services must be provided by properly certified or licensed personal.
15. In the event there is any discrepancy in the language of the project
description and these numbered paragraphs, the language in the numbered
paragraphs shall control.
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of City Manager, Isaiah
Hugley Date
___________________________________________________________________________
Approved as to form by City
Attorney
Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Director of Finance, Pam
Hodge
Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Grant Recipient Representative, Rick
Boren Date
Application for Columbus Office of Crime Prevention Grant
A. Applicant
Name of Organization: Columbus Police Department
Address: 510 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31902
CEO/Executive Director: Chief Ricky T Boren
Contact Person/ Title: Sgt Donald M Bush
Telephone and email: 706-653-3173 Email Address: dbush@columbusga.org
Has the applicant organization ever received a grant from COCP? X Yes
No
If yes, when was the grant made? 2014 Was a final report
submitted?
X Yes _____No
B. Project
Project period (full life of project) July 1, 2015 thru June 30, 2016
Where, specifically, will it occur? Muscogee County School District
Approximately how many people will benefit from the project? 600
children
How did you arrive at the above numbers? 10% of the 5th & 7th graders
in MCSD
When will funds be needed? May 1, 2016
Grant amount requested (must be no more than 90% of total project
expense)$132,480.00
Total project revenue and support (from line 3, pg. 6) None
Total project expenses (from line 12, pg. 7) $167,100.00
C. Project Budget
Project Revenue and Support
1. Revenue
Admission/Ticket income None
Other Revenue None
2. Support (indicate with * if already committed) None
Corporate support None
Foundation support None
Other private support None
Government support
Federal None
State None
Other County agency None
Organizations cash applied to project None
3. TOTAL PROJECT REVENUE AND SUPPORT None
Project expenses
4. Personnel (give as much detail as possible) (In kind police
salaries $34,620)
(paid teachers? salaries $26,880.00)
Subtotal, Personnel $61,500.00
5. Consultants and professional fees
______________________________________
Subtotal, Consultants and professional fees ___________
6. Supplies and equipment Shirts, pencils, Arts & Crafts, Snacks
needed for the
summer camp duration, food for Summer Families Component &
Family day;
Incentives (hats, t-shirts, backpacks, etc) and
(custodial services)
Subtotal, Supplies and equipment $18,127.00
7. Travel (Itemize) Transportation to/from school and for Field
Trips
Subtotal, Travel $87,387.00
8. Printing and copying 300 Activity booklets with 10 color
pages in each booklet
___________________________________________________________________
Subtotal, Printing and copying $86.00
9. Marketing and publicity N/A
___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10. Mailing/postage None
11. Telephone/fax None
Subtotal, Other None
12. TOTAL PROJECT EXPENSE $167,100.00
I. Organization
The Columbus Police Department?s mission statement is to deliver effective and
responsive law enforcement services to all citizens of the city of Columbus in
a fair and equitable manner. As an integral part of the Columbus community, we
are committed to communicate with those we serve and to join with them in
establishing priorities to enhance the quality of the life for the entire
community. The primary responsibilities of a Police Officer are the protection
of life, property and personal liberties; the preservation of the peace; the
prevention of crime; the proper enforcement of all laws and ordinances; the
arrest of violators of the law; and the preparation of cases for proper
presentation in court.
II. Background
Since 1831, the Columbus Police Department has been proudly serving
our community. Originally comprised of one lone employee, the Columbus Police
Department currently has over 450 sworn officers. For over 20 years, the Crime
Prevention Unit has been responsible for educational, informational and various
community service programs for the pro-active purpose of preventing and
reducing opportunities for criminal behavior. The Crime Prevention Unit is
under the Administrative Services Bureau. The current management structure of
the unit consists of one Sergeant and four D.A.R.E. certified officers. The
Columbus Police Department first began to experience gang problems in the fall
1989, not long after the movie ?Colors.? Many youths in the city began
identifying themselves as gang members and started wearing gang colors. In the
spring of 1990 the Columbus Police Department formed the Gang Task Force made
up of officers within the department. In 1995 the Columbus Police Department
and Muscogee County School District decided to implement the G.R.E.A.T. Program
in all middle schools in Muscogee County. The current management structure of
the G.R.E.A.T. Program consists of one Sergeant and two officers who are
G.R.E.A.T. certified. The D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. units are geared towards
providing positive police encounters with the citizens of Columbus. The
officers in these units are frequently engaged with children in the community
through each programs? curriculum based classes, after school programs, and
Vacation Bible Schools.
III. Project Description & Objectives
The Columbus Police Department?s DARE to be GREAT crime prevention program will
consist of two components (school & summer) to provide children the opportunity
to enjoy a wide range of activities. In the school component, Muscogee County
students will receive the regular curriculum that the traditional D.A.R.E. and
G.R.E.A.T. programs offer during the school year. The summer camp component
will be based on, and continue building on, those lessons. These lessons focus
on five major areas:
? Providing accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
? Teaching students good decision-making skills.
? Showing students how to recognize and resist peer pressure.
? Giving students ideas for positive alternatives to drug use.
? Prevention and serving as an immunization against teen pregnancy, obesity,
delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership
With the summer camp we will seek to enhance the community and enrich the lives
of children in Columbus, Georgia by providing a safe, supportive, and
structured educational program. It will support the overall health and well
being of the targeted age group. The program will offer quality educational,
recreational, and cultural programs that promote social, physical,
intellectual, and emotional development of each child. The camp will include
educational classes in which they learn conflict resolution, goal setting,
healthy self-image, career exploration, and communication skills. They
participate in recreational activities and team building games. The summer camp
will also provide relationships with positive role models and build the
children?s self-esteem
IV. Target Group & Selection Process
This summer camp program will be for children who range from approx 10-14 years
of age. Students can be selected based on their leadership skills and actions
demonstrating them to be exemplary role models for their peers. Adult
personnel such as teachers, principals, and police officers can refer
students. Parents will also be able to submit applications for their children
to attend. The students will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
V. Expected Outcome
This summer camp program will provide education in a fun learning environment
for area children. Many of our youths occupy their summer time in
non-productive ways. Often, this leisure time leads to mischievous and even
criminal activities. This undesirable behavior might have otherwise been
avoided if youths had an opportunity to attend such a camp as the Columbus
Police Department hopes to provide. During this program our expected outcomes
are:
? Strengthen protective factors among target groups at risk for drug, alcohol,
and tobacco use.
? Provide information pertaining to the negative effects of drugs.
? Demonstrate and model productive behaviors that promote healthy lifestyle
choices.
? Provide disadvantaged area children an opportunity to enjoy safe activities
at no cost to them.
? Help develop better problem-solving skills
? Increase students ability to work together constructively.
? To reduce recidivism among juveniles offenders
? Increase the number of middle school youth who demonstrate increased negative
views about gangs and criminal activity by 10% over the prior year.
? Increase the number of school-aged children who improve their positive
perception of law enforcement by 10% percent over the prior year.
? Increase the number of families (parents and youth between the ages of 10 and
14) receiving cooperative lessons designed to facilitate communication and
decision-making skills by 10% over the prior year
VI. Success
DARE Summer Camp:
The camp was held from June 2 through June 30, 2014 at Fort Middle School. The
students were fifth graders going to middle school and recent graduates of the
DARE Program. There were representatives from several elementary schools in
Muscogee County. We had 53 students apply for the camp and maintained an
average of 26 students daily.
We were challenged to create new experiences for the students due to lower
funding this year. We implemented some new ideas by incorporating
presentations from other departments within the agency and others from within
the community. One of our new speakers was the 2013 Ms Plus America winner,
Angela Szpak. She spoke to the students about being self confident and gave
them information on skin protection. The highlight of her presentation was
when she showed the range of her Opera voice. The students were highly
impressed. We continued to reinforce the DARE curriculum and ideals.
Additional classes were also given on self-esteem, bullying, and public
speaking. The children received Math and English lessons to assist them going
into middle school. For our celebration at the end of camp, we had a local
business bring out inflatable water slides and Chester?s BBQ provided the food.
The success of the summer camp continues to be measured in two ways. One
method of measuring success was to determine the recidivism rate of the
students over a one-year period. Since our first summer camp in 2012, only one
student was charged for Criminal Trespass and was later charged with Disorderly
Conduct. That child hasn?t been arrested again since then. Another
measurement of the summer camp?s success is the feedback received from surveys.
According to surveys completed by the students and parents, positive responses
were given. Many participants stated that out of town field trips would make
the camp more appealing. Based on the success of past GREAT summer programs
that included trips outside of Columbus, we agree that such events definitely
draw higher interest. However students and parents communicated they would
attend again and would speak favorably about the camp to others. According to
the surveys, the DARE Summer Camp was a success.
Being able to secure funds earlier allows us to confidently promote the camp
throughout the school district. For example, we received over 300 applications
from interested students this year. We are looking forward to an even better
summer camps in the future. We plan to build on the experience we?ve gained
through the previous camps and continue to provide children a safe, fun, and
educational alternative during the summer.
GREAT Summer Camp:
Our G.R.E.A.T. Summer component set out to achieve continuous education in the
areas of goal setting, social skills, life skills, self esteem building and
general education on current events and issues facing today?s youth. We
continued to enforce and review negative views of gangs and gang membership. We
instilled in students how to avoid bullying and how to report acts of bullying
against other kids. We also taught them the invaluable skills of teamwork and
healthy behaviors while working with others. During this year?s summer camp, we
had a total of 15 guest speakers. These classes provide a learning environment
for students, while giving them the hands on experience of the focused subject.
The guest speakers included: The ?Right from the Start Program? with Mrs.
Veronica Austin, which taught campers about life skills, abstinences and good
decision making skills. The campers also gained knowledge and experience from
the Columbus Police Department?s Bike Control Unit (Bike/Helmet Safety), K-9
Unit, ID Unit (Identification/Crime Scene Investigations), Motor Squad Unit
(Motorcycle Patrol). They were also taught by Muscogee County Marshal?s Office,
the effects of cyber-bullying, and they received basic CPR & First Aid skills
from an instructor from Columbus Technical College. They also witnessed a
Martial Arts demonstration along with a demonstration from the Columbus Fire
Department. All of our guest speakers donated their skills and time to the
camp. The students were also given several opportunities to participate in
field trips locally. We received feedback from parents who attended our final
event on the progress of their children and how this program positively
encouraged them.
In conclusion, through the collaborative efforts of GREAT Officers, Guest
Speakers, Staff and multiple agencies, the GREAT Summer Program was an overall
success for 2014. We will continue to build on the current curriculum and
explore opportunities learned for future GREAT Summer Camps.
VII. Participants
The summer camp program will have 600 students attend the D.A.R.E. / G.R.E.A.T.
summer camp. Students sign up for the summer program at their schools and all
those who sign up are selected on a first come, first serve basis. All
applicants will be accepted without regard to race, color, religion, creed,
gender, national origin, disability, or any other legally protected status.
VIII. Significance
The program will help create a higher quality of care for our community?s
children during the school summer break. It will keep them off the street by
giving them constructive and proactive structure. It will build interpersonal
skills with other children from different parts of the community and improve
social skills. This summer camp will help bridge the gap between elementary
and middle school and provide a positive learning environment. As it pertains
to gangs, the city of Columbus currently has ten street gangs with a membership
of about 450 members. The 10 street gangs are Uptown (UPT), Wilside, East
Wynnton (E-Dub), Southside Boys, Down South Georgia Boys, 1440, Gangster
Disciples, Hilltop Mob, The Delray Boys, 3rd Ward and Oakland Park Posse of
Columbus. These gangs are located throughout Columbus, Georgia. They are also
very active recruiting youth from our middle schools. The summer camp will be
significant to the community because it will help students become responsible
members of their communities, by setting goals for themselves, resisting
pressures, learning how to resolve conflicts and understanding how gangs and
crime impact the quality of their life. The D.A.R.E. / G.R.E.A.T. summer camp
will culminate with a certificate of graduation, a new philosophical outlook
towards police, and the tools needed to resist gangs and crime.
IX. Administered
The program will take place Monday through Friday during the daytime hours
(11:00 am until 5:30 pm.). It will include 30-45 minute classes; a critical
time to engage school aged children in structured activities. It is operated
and supervised by D.A.R.E. / G.R.E.A.T. Officers. The D.A.R.E. / G.R.E.A.T.
Curriculum, guest speakers, and others classes are taught in the morning. In
the afternoons we will have one hour of open recreation followed by the AWANA
Games. On Fridays we take the students on field trips to such places as
activity parks and/or educational and historical tours. Qualified college &
high school students will assist as counselors. They will be selected and
properly screened by the sworn officers. The program will compliment what
children are learning in school and strengthen their sense of responsibility of
being a productive individual within their community.
Officers assigned to the D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. programs are highly
qualified to carry out this program. These officers are charged with the
enhancement of the community?s understanding of the role of the police and to
assist the police in understanding the needs of the community. The ultimate
goal of the D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. programs are to provide an outreach through
community service, to enhance a positive rapport without losing patrol
effectiveness, and enable our department to establish a closer and more
effective relationship within all areas of the community. Further more, the
D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. officers undergo at least (80) hours of special
training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching
techniques, and community skills. Both the D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. curriculums
are designed to be taught by officers whose training and experience give them
the background needed to impact the lives of our young citizens.
X. References
Additional reference letters and other materials are included in this packet.
Attachments
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