Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2024 09. Resolution adopting the City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds 2 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024- A RESOLUTION adopting the City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds. WHEREAS, the City Council has settled, through the One Washington Memorandum, a number of cases against manufacturers and distributors of opioids; and WHEREAS, as part of the One Washington Memorandum, previously entered into by the City, the City is required to adopt a policy on how the City will distribute funds from the various settlements regarding opioids; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds that it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to adopt the attached City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds, attached hereto and fully incorporated herein, is hereby adopted. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 7th day of May, 2024. Patricia Byers, Mayor ATTEST: Rosalinda Ibarra, City Clerk 3 City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds Background In May of 2022, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a $518 million settlement with several major opioid manufacturers and distributors aimed at resolving opioid-related claims. Subsequent settlements have yielded significant additional settlement funds to be distributed to the City. Settlement funds will be allocated to the City of Yakima over the next 18 years to address the opioid crisis, including substance abuse treatment, access to overdose-reversal drugs, and services to assist those struggling with addiction. The City Council's approval included signing the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding and the Allocation Agreement outlining the goals and methodology associated with the allocation and distribution of the settlement funds. The Attorney General continues to fight for additional settlement funds from various manufacturers, and it is anticipated that additional funds will be allocated to the City of Yakima to address these issues. Additional funds will likely also be subject to the One Washington Memorandum and this Policy on Distribution of Funds. Goals and Scope The City's goals when distributing funds received from these settlements is to reduce the impact of substance abuse disorder and opioid use disorder to the City, its residents, business owners and visitors. Methods for Obtaining Proposals for the use of Opioid Funds 1. Use of funds by the City of Yakima The City Council finds that the use of opioid settlement funds by the City of Yakima are exempt from any formal request for proposal or other methodology for determining how funds will be allocated. Use of the funds by the City of Yakima requires a request from a City department or division that outlines how the proposed use meets the One Washington Memorandum Exhibit's allowed strategies, as well as the total amount requested for the use. The City Council will evaluate the request at a meeting of the City Council. Approvals of requests shall be by resolution. Periodic reports from the division or department awarded funds should be supplied in writing to the City Council and the City Council may also direct the division or department to appear at a City Council meeting to address the allocation. 2. Applications to Request Funding Under Requests for Proposals The City Council may periodically open up the use of the opioid settlement funds to entities and agencies working within the City of Yakima as part of a formal Request for Proposals action initiated by the City Council. The City Council, in initiating the process, will specify which approved strategy or strategies from the One Washington Memorandum Exhibit are required to be addressed in the Request for Proposal. The Request for Proposals will outline the application process, timelines, amount of funding available, and other pertinent information for applicants. Any successful agency shall use the funds to serve residents of the City of Yakima. The City Council shall be the ultimate determiner of which proposals are funded (based on the parameters of the RFP), and the amounts of funding awarded to such proposals. 4 3. Pooling Funds The City Council may choose to work with other jurisdictions also participating in the One Washington Memorandum to fund larger, county-wide or regional projects. Such projects are not required to go through a City-initiated Request for Proposals process. Rather, they should go through a process determined jointly by all of the jurisdictions funding the proposed project. One Washington Memorandum In all cases where funding is awarded, funding shall only be used as outlined in the One Washington Memorandum and its Exhibits (and as amended). All entities receiving funding shall submit all necessary documentation, reports, data and information requested by the City so as to inform City Council and Yakima residents how the money is spent, as well as to ensure all reporting requirements and deadlines are met. Prior to all awards, when necessary, the award will also be approved by the Opioid Abatement Council. 1 .. a, ____,) BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9. For Meeting of: May 7, 2024 ITEM TITLE: Resolution adopting the City of Yakima Opioid Settlement Funds Policy on Distribution of Funds SUBMITTED BY: Sara Watkins, City Attorney SUMMARY EXPLANATION: In 2022, Washington State, as part of a nationwide agreement, settled litigation against multiple opioid distributors. The State's total recovery exceeds $518 million. The City of Yakima will receive opioid settlement funds via the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Under the MOU, $476 million will be shared by Washington state and its counties and cities with populations over 10,000 to address the opioid epidemic. Distributions will be on a per capita basis. Before the City Council can distribute any money obtained through settlements with the opioid manufacturers or distributors, it must adopt a policy on how it will distribute the funds. The attached proposed policy would allow for City divisions to request direct disbursements from the funds, for council approval. It also would allow the Council to direct an RFP be issued to distribute opioid settlement funds as well. ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Neighborhood and Community Building APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type D Res-Opioid Settlement Distribution of Funds Policy 4/24/2024 Resolution ❑ 4/24/2024 Backup Material