HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/2017 05B Letter Supporting YPAL's Funding Application to the State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDASTATEMENT
Item No. 5.B.
For Meeting of: September 5, 2017
ITEM TITLE: Letter of support to the State Department of Social and Health
Services (DS HS) supporting YPAL's funding application
SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Director of Communications and Public Affairs
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the August 24, 2017 Council Public Safety Committee meeting, Council member Dulce
Gutierrez, on behalf of YPAL, requested that the City submit a letter of support for YPAL's
funding application to the State Department of Social and Health Services. The request is for
funding from the Washington Gang Repression, Intervention and Prevention Project (WA -
GRI P). YPAL would utilize the funding to ensure its gang prevention and intervention programs
and services are more widely available and accessible to our community's high-risk, high -need
youth. The City supported YPAL's application the last time it submitted a similar funding
request.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
NA
Public Safety
City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
The Committee members requested that a support letter be brought forward to the full council for
consideration.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D DRAFT letter of support a3112017
D DRAFT letter or support a3112017
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Cover Merno
Cover Metro
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---, 2017
Ed Shoenbach
Yakima Police Activities League
602 N. 4th Street
Yakima, Wa. 98901
Dear Mr. Shoenbach,
The Yakima City Council wholeheartedly supports the application by the Yakima Police
Activities League ("YPAL") for funding from the Washington Gang Repression, Intervention, and
Prevention Project ("WA -GRIP").
Even though the violent crime rate in Yakima is considerably lower now than it was at its height
in the late 1980s, gun -related violence has spiked over that last year -and -a -half. Law
enforcement officials attribute much of the increased level of gun violence to gang activity,
specifically retaliatory gang activity.
Breaking the cycle of gun violence and gang -related crime currently being experienced in
Yakima will take long-term, sustained, intensive efforts. Public safety is the City of Yakima's
single highest priority. In 2017, 43% of the General Fund budget, nearly $34 million, is
dedicated to criminal justice.
However, the City clearly recognizes that it alone cannot cure the crisis of violence being
experienced in Yakima. The City is proactively engaging in strategic partnerships with faith -
based, non-profit, and educational organizations, such as YPAL, to enhance existing and
develop additional gang prevention and intervention strategies designed to offer at -risk youth an
alternative to involvement in gun violence and gang -related crime.
Since it was founded in 2003, YPAL has been at the forefront of providing innovative,
evidenced -based, successful programs and services that have proven to be effective at keeping
at -risk kids out of gangs. YPAL is currently leading the efforts of a broad coalition of non-profit,
governmental, and other partners that is dedicated to offering positive youth development
opportunities aimed at significantly reducing the negative effects of gang violence and gang -
related crime in our community.
Limited resources have so far prevented YPAL, the City, and our partners from expanding gang
prevention and intervention programs and services throughout the community. Securing
funding through WA -GRIP will ensure these programs and services are more widely available
and accessible to our community's high-risk, high -need youth.
The Yakima City Council endorses YPAL as the primary bidder for this funding opportunity and
stands ready to support YPAL in any way possible as it seeks to enhance gang prevention and
intervention programs and services in our community.
Sincerely,
Mayor Kathy Coffey
4
---, 2017
Ed Shoenbach — Board Chair
Yakima Police Activities League
602 N. 4th Street
Yakima, Wa. 98901
Dear Mr. Shoenbach,
The administration of the City of Yakima wholeheartedly supports the application by the Yakima
Police Activities League ("YPAL") for funding from the Washington Gang Repression,
Intervention, and Prevention Project ("WA -GRIP").
Even though the violent crime rate in Yakima is considerably lower now than it was at its height
in the late 1980s, gun -related violence has spiked over that last year -and -a -half. Law
enforcement officials attribute much of the increased level of gun violence to gang activity,
specifically retaliatory gang activity.
Breaking the cycle of gun violence and gang -related crime currently being experienced in
Yakima will take long-term, sustained, intensive efforts. Public safety is the City of Yakima's
single highest priority. In 2017, 43% of the General Fund budget, nearly $34 million, is
dedicated to criminal justice.
However, the City clearly recognizes that it alone cannot cure the crisis of violence being
experienced in Yakima. The City is proactively engaging in strategic partnerships with faith -
based, non-profit, and educational organizations, such as YPAL, to enhance existing and
develop additional gang prevention and intervention strategies designed to offer at -risk youth an
alternative to involvement in gun violence and gang -related crime.
Since it was founded in 2003, YPAL has been at the forefront of providing innovative,
evidenced -based, successful programs and services that have proven to be effective at keeping
at -risk kids out of gangs. YPAL is currently leading the efforts of a broad coalition of non-profit,
governmental, and other partners that is dedicated to offering positive youth development
opportunities aimed at significantly reducing the negative effects of gang violence and gang -
related crime in our community.
Limited resources have so far prevented YPAL, the City, and our partners from expanding gang
prevention and intervention programs and services throughout the community. Securing
funding through WA -GRIP will ensure these programs and services are more widely available
and accessible to our community's high-risk, high -need youth.
The administration of the City of Yakima endorses YPAL as the primary bidder for this funding
opportunity and stands ready to support YPAL in any way possible as it seeks to enhance gang
prevention and intervention programs and services in our community.
Sincerely,
City Manager Cliff Moore