pages: CityCouncil/2021-07-06.pdf, 7
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CityCouncil | 2021-07-06 | 7 | to decide which program the City should have that included any contracted mental health services; he does not think the contracting process will slow the process down much; expressed support for monthly reporting on the change in calls and the related protocols and for discussions on how to better serve the community; stated the matter is a simple win due to agreement in allowing people to perform jobs better; requested Councilmember Herrera Spencer provide direction in iterating and bringing the Felton Institute and other community players into thinking about how to bring the mental health direct response into the pilot program; stated the budget for the year has been approved and includes mental health funding; the question for the City is how to engage with the Felton Institute; the goal is for other cities to engage in the same system as Alameda; there is an opportunity to start the journey. Councilmember Daysog stated the aftermath of incidents involving dancing in the street have been calling for a reform of the way policing of non-violent calls are conducted; two programs are before Council which represent the reform sought; the most important portion of the reform has to do with the delivery of mental health professionals to an event which is happening in real-time and the ability of mental health professionals to call on their experience to perform a range of things in order to de-escalate situations and understand and communicate with individuals; professionals must also transmit individuals to the appropriate service or set of mental health services; both entities present for the matter represent the reform being sought; he is of the opinion that the Felton Institute is the best represented entity for reform; the Felton Institute performs services at all times and has the comparative advantage of dealing with mental health issues; staff members in AFD have the capacity and can train-up to ultimately deal with mental health issues; the level and depth of experience with the Felton Institute, when compared to AFD, is provided in lived experience; either choice will reform City Hall in regards to delivery of Police services; the Felton Institute does represent more of the reform desired by citizens and is more in line with the Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) model; the Felton Institute is a non-City entity that would provide a set of services to improve the way in which Police and the City handle non- emergency calls for service; he has no doubt that AFD will be able to train-up quickly over the future months; the edge is given to the Felton Institute based on field individuals responding to calls at 2:00 a.m. that know the proper questions to ask as opposed to providing the answers which need to be delivered; the residents of Alameda will be served with reforming Police in regard to non-violent emergency situations; expressed support for the Felton Institute and the possibility of having contracts being provided to the Felton Institute in order to provide clinical services in conjunction with AFD. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she appreciates the Felton Institute applying for the program; she is hopeful that the City Manager looks at other agencies as well; Alameda Family Services has provided counseling at multiple levels for over 50 years; other agencies within Alameda could be well qualified for the program; inquired whether other agencies will be allowed to apply to the RFP. Continued June 15, 2021 Regular Meeting Alameda City Council July 6, 2021 7 | CityCouncil/2021-07-06.pdf |