Title
Appropriation of Unobligated Fund Balance of the Gainesville Police Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund (NB)
This item requests that the City Commission approve the appropriation of $120,000 of the unobligated fund balance in the Gainesville Police Department’s (GPD) Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund to bring the Banks Building, located at 635 NW 6th Street and purchased with forfeiture funds, back into compliance. The request for forfeiture is to secure the roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and fire alarms. Project Youth Build will complete the project.
Explanation
The Institute for Workforce Innovation (IWI) has operated Project YouthBuild since 2009 through a grant directly from the U.S. Department of Labor. Project YouthBuild is an intensive, 7-month academic and occupational and leadership skills program that serves low-income young people, ages 16 -24, who have dropped out of school. While in Project YouthBuild, students have access to an innovative alternative education program that provides individualized instruction as they work towards earning their high school diploma, earn multiple nationally-recognized construction credentials, participate in a rigorous leadership development program, volunteer in their community, and rehabilitate affordable housing. Project YouthBuild is an AmeriCorps program; students that complete 450 impact hours through volunteerism earn a Seagle Education Award valued at nearly $1,500 to be used towards post-secondary education. Project YouthBuild is also an affiliated member of the YouthBuild USA Network.
Project YouthBuild is proposing to collaborate with the Gainesville Police Department to strengthen its impact with local youth. Collaborative activities would include, but not be limited to:
• All eligible Project YouthBuild students will co-enroll in the Brave Overt
Leaders of Distinction (BOLD) Program
• All Project YouthBuild students will participate in police dialogue series
• All Project YouthBuild students will participate in “You and the Law” series
• Creation of formalized mentoring program in which Gainesville Police
Department staff will volunteer as mentors for Project YouthBuild students
• Project YouthBuild students will participate in Moral Recognition Therapy
provided by the Gainesville Police Department when appropriate
• The Project YouthBuild and the Gainesville Police Department will have a
shared position, Education Instructor, which will be fully or partially funded
by the City of Gainesville Police Department. The education instructor will
provide tutoring and coordination of tutoring services, Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) preparation, College Preparatory workshops, Basic Computer Training to BOLD and Project YouthBuild students.
Fiscal Note
The Gainesville Police Department requests the City Commission appropriate $120,000 from the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund. Working with the Institute for Workforce Innovation, almost half of the building’s repairs will be paid for by Project YouthBuild.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve the appropriation of $120,000 from the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund to renovate the Banks building to bring it back into compliance. The funds will be used for a new roof and improved plumbing, electrical, HVAC and fire alarms.