CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: September 20, 2021 Action Required: First Reading of Resolution to Appropriate Funds Presenter: Chip Boyles, City Manager Staff Contacts: Chip Boyles, City Manager Title: Proposed Charitable Donation to Support Community Civilian Policing Background and Discussion: On September 8, 2021 Brothers United to Cease the Killing (BUCK) Squad, submitted a request to the City for support to their effotts to reduce the cycle of gun related crimes by implementing a community policing program that will provide assistance of crisis management in "conflict mediation, mentorship, and economic development" through proactive civilian patrols within predominately black communities with low-income households, in high crime areas. On Febmmy 16, 2021 Council made a $20,480.00 donation to "Guns Down, Inc.", a charitable corporation that holds IRS 401 (c)(3) tax exempt status. At that time the BUCK Squad had not yet fully organized as a charitable organization within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The materials submitted by the BUCK Squad for the current request document that they now have an organizational status. Staff believes that the attached documentation demonstrates that the BUCK Squad is eligible to receive funding directly from City Council pursuant to Va. Code 15.2-953(A), because it appears to be a charitable institution providing services to residents of the City of Charlottesville. The BUCK Squad is registered with the US IRS with a federal EIN registration number and registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission as of April 15, 2021 including the Virginia Depattment of Agriculture and Consumer Services for solicitation of funds to Five or Fewer Contiguous Cities and Counties. Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan: The services and projects proposed to be funded contributes to Goal 1 of the Strategic Plan, to be an inclusive community of self-sufficient residents through intentionally addressing issues of race of equity; Goal 2 to be a healthy and safe City through reducing adverse impact from sudden injmy and illness; meeting safety needs of victims and reducing the risk of re-occurrence / re-victimization; improving community health and safety outcomes by connecting residents with effective resources; and reducing the occurrence of crime, traffic violations and accidents in the community; and Goal 5 to be a well-managed and responsive organization through fostering effective community engagement. Community Engagement: The BUCK Squad has unofficially been operating in the Charlottesville Community since late 2020 and adopted its official bylaws on April 15, 2021. Numerous news articles and community discussions have occurred bringing public engagement to The BUCK Squad. This funding consideration is being conducted during a public meeting of Council open to public input. Budgetary Impact: Should City Council vote to make this a charitable donation, the donation will come from the funds which have been appropriated to Council's budget department line item for Strategic Initiatives. The current balance that is available in this fund is $222,507.00 Recommendation: Should City Council desire to make this a charitable donation, the recommendation is that the donation be made to The BUCK Squad. Alternatives: City Council may elect not to appropriate funding for these purposes at this time. Attachments: Resolution for the Appropriation of funds. RESOLUTION ALLOCATING CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FUNDINGTO SUPPORT A "COMMUNITY CIVILIAN POLICING" PROGRAM PROVIDED TO CITY RESIDENTS BY THE BUCK SQUAD, A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, pursuant to authority set forth within Virginia Code § 15.2-953, THAT a charitable donation is hereby approved to be made to The Brothers United to Cease the Killing (BUCK) Squad, a charitable institution or organization that provides services to residents of the City of Charlottesville, in the amount of $50,000.00, said donation of funds to be used exclusively for and in support of the Community Civilian Policing" services to be provided by The BUCK Squad for residents of the City of Charlottesville to reduce the cycle of gun related crimes by implementing a program that will provide assistance of crisis management in conflict mediation, mentorship, and economic development through proactive civilian patrols within the City of Charlottesville. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforesaid amount shall be paid to The BUCK Squad from currently-appropriated funds in the City Council Strategic Initiatives account in the General Fund, in support of the local Community Civilian Policing Program, as follows: $ 50,000.00 Fund: I 05 Cost Center: IO I I 0010000 IB.U.C.K. SQUAD Brot;hers Unit;ed t.o Cease the Kllllrig September 8, 2021 BOARD OFDIHECTORS BOARD CHAIR Kli\lHAYES Charlottesville City Council EXECUTIVE Charlottesville, VA DIRECTOR HERB DICKERSON Dear Councilors: lUE)ffiERS REY. AI,VIN EDWARDS The Buck Squad is requesting funding from the City of Charlottesville to support JAY TURNER the City of Charlottesville in achieving its goals to reduce the cycle of gun related KEVIN i\ICDONALD crimes by implementing a community policing program that will provide KRISTEL TOWNSEND assistance of crisis management in "conflict meditation, mentorship, and economic MARILU THOMAS development" through proactive civilian patrols within predominantly Black DR. SHARON communities with low-income households, in high crime areas such as - South BECKMAN-BRINDLEY First Street Housing Project 900 Block of South First Street, Green stone on 5th Street (Prospect 700-722 Prospect Ave and West Haven Housing Project 800 block of Hardy Drive. Currently, we are focusing solely on the South First Street area. Toward the end of2020 we faced trying times across the nation and specifically in Charlottesville as gun violent killings sparked the serious and dangerous reality in which we face. A national health crisis, and economic downturn has led to extreme unemployment, and a spike in shootings and violent crimes throughout the City. During a five-week time period between Thanksgiving 2020 and the first week in 2021, there were four murders. In Januaty 2021, the crime statistics, released on www.charlottesville.gov, displayed a spike of shooting related incidents in one week (1/4/2021 to 1/11/2021) of 4 shooting and 2 assaults reported. This was one week after the murder of Mr. Jamarcus Washington which sparked the birth of The B.U.C.K. SQUAD initiative. Our work has led to a dramatic decrease in 2021 in shooting incidents in the South First Street area. The problems are futther complicated with protests of police brutality and social injustice due to the deaths and mistreatment of black and brown people such as George Floyd, Eric Gamer, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and so many others at the hands of police across the nation. This has resulted in a lack of trust in law enforcement by the individuals they are swom to protect. P.O. Box 2616 • Charlottesville, VA 22902-2616 + www.bucksquad9 I l.org • BUCKSquad91 J@gmail con1 * 434-242-2851 Off Budget Program Funding Application- (1 of 4) Charlottesville Conditions of Eligibility Report Form To submit a funding application, an organization must meet these criteria/answer these questions: ORGANIZATION NAME: IH.:':.- (ov..c.\c 5Q.,._A D 1. Is the organization organized, qualified, and recognized as nonprofit and tax-exempt as defined by the Internal Revenue Service under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)? D Yes D No AQfcis.-0 Fo~-.;1u.c_J \JA d9<\D 0--,,, v:>D....\.LD C::2-:,A v-.J\ci P'Rf!R.5:::-c I flr--., Y':::. M ,_,Q,c:. Briefly describe the program for which funding is requested (25 words or less). \ 0 (LS~ ~u.N '\Jl()U"'.A..)<-S \N Cf..\(\(Z_L~~"i\Ll<'= ,o Briefly state the organization's mission. li2;"::o-C4_0;::, G,\Ar-:, \l ~ I I',) (::u.Q ~ I G,j-\\~(Rt-l~S, Why is this funding needed outside of the City's normal funding cycle? f0'6w (){IJ;.fy0, zfiTT"~ Signatures: ~ 2 : / , £/4,--4:C;- Executive Director Date Submitted: S \i \~Y}I Program Narrative to be completed by all programs requesting operational funding. 1. Need: Indicate which Council Vision Area(s) and goal(s) in the City's Strategic Plan (www.charlottesville.org/strategicplan) the program addresses. Describe the local needs the program addresses. Who are the beneficiaries (include number served and relevant demographic information) Gu"2l \J\<:>wc,.0c:.e -:s?w.s.O \•'-I UlT"" a.:,ef-::, w::.Ki-1 \"JCL.'-'O~ Lj l\f\ u (2.03<-':> 1~ Ci-lJ\RLcl\S.::,'\J\Lc:::.. I et, Wtp ~ o I C> q=.p \J.fi~\(6.)e- Q::13,F-~ w/\lF1(1..E ~ ' " ' · ALL M::MWL'=> ~._s, (F--00 Cr- ~ - - n is<:,\I, U;;_ VJ\ w... ~~ 11 r'Ro/Y\ ".",..M=.<2-G.SNG~ \¾.:>, L\Al :::_ "r <::A,\/\J~ _ 1 N-.;.,c,.l-\~Z l¼<::>D::, 10 \03,..:>llf=-..j, ~o-n-~11/\L-- I $'-\'->1 6"i.£. -, 3. Evaluation: What specific outcomes are expected as a result of the requested funding? Describe how the program is evaluated. _ n~ _"'- (W:c /W\!Y" Ii,, BZ.__ 5"1<-H (2.cCl.ACc: ~ '\J\t::>l-Svu-_' v=0>11..-, _, - \ 1'\11 eJZ-'10 'Tl ,:y-:::. Off Budget Program Funding AppHcation- (3 of 4) Activities and Outcomes Plan and Report Indicate which Council Vision Arca(s) and goal(s) of the 1. Strategic Plan Alignment City's Strategic Plan the program addreSses (www.charlottesville.orgistrategicl!l•n) L'\J A ', /3,0\-\1\,-,:>u."... l~ ?DC. IA L- i="AC-<2)(~ {:pf),-(S : ' \'\ EA L-,\,\y ' '3/.\-i"c CiTVI I Provide at least two meaningful indicators that this J!roject 2. The indicators this project will address. addresses are ... U) /VYW.1;_ cny St-"H32... 6{ Q2 0-< CI "Cl "" GciN ✓ •ouc.Nq,c_ ~ ~fY\~ CCN\IV\U-v 1--,Y S'\----.J t-l:::::.J I Describe what you n:rovlde1 to whom 1 how man:y:1 and time 3. The goal of this project is to frame I produce/provide ... 10'\/\'\':) 8U'-l10-" Or--lvA::,i/0'- . \ ) \ ~ (products or services, \.AJi~QJl(::,.,.::i \N r-.:,:=o, (., '~ e.-,:_ I Describe what changes you exn:ect 5. So that ' participants/beneficiaries 5'l F' (:5<... Nf.-\Gl\~\-\;::,uO-=:, ' G#-0.,c.:: I can ... \JI., L-'3,-..)J Cw-v VIOLB--:><---"=--- \'V S.:,.....,1-\ r•et'?, 71~1 /(c-:::f't ~\ (.,,N, y \(N\✓ \N~\ Off Budget Program Funding Application- (4 of 4) !-.cc'-~-•-;Si;e<--. ,r· < ,·.· -- Agency: f Program: i, _c /, ., ' ' .l ,. '_,'~ .. -- ,,. . " . ,' t,: :•j ,,-, , __ C '"" Funding Request Prior Year Year 2016/17 2017/18 ~6 11\\ILl"\4) Revenue: Actual* Budaet 1. City of Charlottesville 2. Albemarle County 3. Other Local Governments 4. United Way-Thomas Jeff. Area 5. Albemarle County-other 6. City of Charlottesville-other 7. State Funding 8. Federal Funding 9. Grants: Foundation and Corp. 10. Fees: Program Service Fees 11. Fundraislng/Gifts and Bequests 12. Investment Income/Transactions 13. Miscellaneous Revenue 14. TOTAL REVENUE _,·;:----:-_<<_ _ ::_ . :;o . ·•: : :,•::0:• " ' Expenses: 15. Personnel (Salaries/Fringes) 16. Operational Expenses 17. TOTAL EXPENSES 18. Surplus/(Deficit) * Explain any Surplus or Deficit: Note about FY 17 Actuals - Project the actuals as you best know them at the time of this funding application. 5:51PM Tho BUCK Squad ,mm, Profit & Loss Budget Overview ....,.,.,,,a..i. Ma~hthrough Oecembsr1021 Mu2i ., TOTJ.l. ..... .m,21 ,,_ dls ctPu!>li,Suppo,t "'"" 31,J»J.3 33,lllJ.3 33_331.3) 33,311.33 :i.3,3.)l.31 ""'" ,1.:m.3,3 U,iK,d Woy, CFC Cw,lrflu,UoM 0.00 •m ,m ,.oo ,.oo ,oo om ,.oo 0.C,) ,m •m Toll! J,,lf'~o:0.00 ,,.,oo HOOOO :l,C>Xl,((l 2,IX,),{IO ?,,X,,.00 '"""'0®00 ,=oo :l,(;;3.00 u:oo.oo N.Wlb-l 2MOO.OO m.oo Ofll1 217.(,(1 217.00 ,oo 217.00 ,oo "'" 217.00 o.ro 211.00 om W.N 217.00 217,t,) 217.(),) om ,0000 211.t>l 217.00 ,m :l,W).(,3 '-.170.(0 ,oo Tt!•~""•• lot,......,,,11nlUI!<>... 0.00 375,o;J n= 375-00 315.«I 315!» '" 315.00 000 371;.(l(I 375.00 n= 000 375.1:(1 3,750.00 ToldOp,l,.llOn ,~ ,~ 791.(0 79HIO 791.00 nl.l» Ji?.(1(1 792.00 ,~ moo mom W..rltpt• of Elon,H MOO.«l 3,0CIJ.00 = ,oo om 0.00 000 000 000 = ,oo O,Ol 000 000 000 ,oo ,oo ,m 000 3t,:,J.N M'AOO P•ytolru, P,r,¢11E>"°"ou '" 0.00 ,oo 0.00 om om 000 0.00 ,oo 0.00 •• FlC,'JVOa 1,750.00 1,750.00 = 3.750.00 ,., 3.750.00 3,751).C,0 3.760,00 U50.c» 3,750.t-0 3,W:lDol 37,roll'!O ,,._ FI/JA~onto Sil")'M''lf" r-,,..,Erptnu,-Ollu, 000 25.000.0 000 000 .., ;s.oo,.o,:, ZH00.00 000 000 ZM00.00 000 25,000,00 000 o.=N ,oo 000 000 25,000.00 000 om 25,000.00 000 ..• 000 25.CW.W 000 25.oo,JW = •• ,., ,,_= To!O!Pl)'tolEtpon," :/8,7!,i).(,ll 23.WJ.OO 23.750.00 za,100.00 28,750.00 zuro.oo 2U50.W 2U5'.® ZUSHll 23,750.00 :mµ>:1.00 S,ot!I 415.00 ,,150.00 Y,hlcl,£,;pon11 W•l>l-•Dtol;!'Jl,lo"11J,onu llo!O<=• -l,l'JU17 .,, ,., 32.s,55.00 ™" 32.~.00 ...,, 32.s,65.00 ™" U.!155.00 ~· ...,, "12,955.((l =" 3USU W:':lc ~_:> • _ 0 ·", ,.. "J• ll u a- . Cl.[ 11,_-, _..., ' Brothers United to Cease the Killing ((• B.U.CK SQUAD '''""""'""•w<>•'"" Executive Summary RtJNDOV\fN The B.U.C.K. Squad provides an immediate response to the critical needs of reducing gun violence in Charlottesville to keep our city safe for everyone. B.U.C.K. Squad is currently the only gun violence prevention/de-escalation program of its kind in the city addressing conflict through violence interruption. Who We Are Our mission is to reduce the cycle of gun related crime and homicides through education and economic empowerment by restoring a sense of commitment, community and personal development. We use mediation, mobilization and motivation as a means to carry out our mission. We are known to the community as violence interruptors, using our experience and credibility to connect with the highest risk individuals and intervene in potentially deadly conflict. Well known ex-offenders answered the call to address the uptick in violence, independent of law enforcement to preserve community trust in high-risk areas where they were previously known to protect or patrol unofficially. While the idea of using ex-offenders to stop violence may seem unorthodox, the violence interruptor concept has shown proven results in reducing violent crimes in the areas where such programming is implemented. Engagement is key to our visibility in the community to gain the trust and respect of our neighbors who trust us with managing the well-being of our community. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/3/#inbox/FMfcgzGkZZknWBwGGIJmmSFskBTXPsfq?projector=1&messagePartld=0.1 1/1 917121, 2:10 PM Buck Squad Who We Serve.jpg WHO W'E SERVE We serve at-risk communities who are consistently underserved. High-risk communities tend to suffer from the most violent crimes and benefit the least from necessary resources to prevent these same crimes from happening. We look at the cause of violence through a scientific and mental health lens to gauge how to treat each case. The B.U.C.K. Squad has identified high-risk areas by zones to properly identify a distress call or violent situation needing attention. These are also areas that are routinely patroled by the B.U.C.K. Squad to make their presence known. Our zones cover South First Street, Prospect Avenue, Westhaven Community and Friendship Court all deemed as "high-risk." EXPECTED BEN'EFITS Based on our brief six-month experience doing this work and some research, we've found that prevention can reduce the likelihood that any firearms will enter the community, criminal activity or family conflicts. This logic forms our strategy on hosting community events that focus on youth and families interacting in positive ways to show the benefits of unity and preventative measures to combat this escalating problem of gun violence. ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM Organizational Lead: Herb Dickerson - Executive Director Organizational Lead: Dean Smith - Field General Organizational Lead: Bryan Page - Operations Manager Expenses - $10,000 I Operations - $2,500 I Insurance/Liabilities - $2,700 I Payroll - TOTAL· $50,200* *This total is our basic operations budget so far, and does not reflect our greater need that would fund a more sustainable program with planning into the future. We can provide a line-item budget per your request. 1 fHE SUCCESS OP' OlJR, PROGRAM DEPENDS ON SUPPORT FROM SPON"SORSHIP As the need for our work increases, please consider assisting us in our quest to grow our program so we may fund the personnel to staff this effort and effectively manage community crises that involve gun violence. With significant support from the city, we can effectively rally for greater community support. https:l/mail.google.comlmail/u/3/#lnbox/FMfcgzGkZZknWBwGG\jmmSFskBTXPsfq?projector=1&messagePartld=0.2 111 The BUCK Squad Clarifying information for City Council After many meetings with members of City Council, areas of concern or confusion have come to light and we would like the opportunity to clarify these misunderstandings. The BUCK Squad (TBS) would request that if you have any further questions that you do not hesitate to reach out to Herb Dickerson (herb.locust@gmail.com 434-284-8288), Tommy Everett (jteiii13@gmail.com 434-996-5334) or Kim Hayes (thekirnhayes@gmail.com 301-806-0203) so that we may can further promote understanding of what we are doing in the community. 1. There seems to be a substantial misunderstanding about what TBS does. Below are three examples of calls/interventions that have been addressed by TBS. Additionally, TBS does periodic canvasing of the South First Street area to let the community know that they are present and take their mission of reducing gun violence in Charlottesville seriously. The Squad has a series of goals, first to reduce/end gun violence in a targeted area where gun violence is currently prevalent. Second is to expand TBS' influence and safety net to the entirety of the Charlottesville community, growing into each hot spot as TBS gains traction and influence. And third as immediacy of violence declines to help our community, put an end to the underlying causes that lead to gun violence. Work flow HOTLINE-> INVESTIGATION-> DISPATCH-> INTERVENTION-> FOLLOW-UPS The goal of TBS is to reduce/end gun violence in our community. Our current objective is to intercede with as many possible situations before they reach a point of gun violence. When a call is received, the TBS team strategizes as to the best way to intercede based on the information that we receive through the hotline, the team's knowledge of the people involved, the recent history that has been observed as well as cross referencing information that we may receive from other sources. We always do a basic risk assessment and when it is decided if the squad should become involved (as well as who should be involved), we send at least two members to engage in a consultation or intervention. We take the safety and security of our squad members and our community members very seriously. Below you will find three scenarios of situations that TBS has handled. We recognize that we are NOT law enforcement. However, many in our community lack ttust in law enforcement and are more comfortable dealing with TBS. Our community ttusts and believes in the work that we are doing to reduce gun violence in our neighborhoods. Gun violence has increased across the nation to epidemic proportions and Charlottesville has not been spared. While traditional policing has its place, TBS can engage in situations before they escalate to the need for police involvement, preventing gun violence and loss of life in our community. SCENARIO 1 We received a phone call through the hotline from multiple people (including the individual involved). The gentlemen had ban'icaded himself in a hotel room and was threatening ha1m to himself and others. Upon learning police were responding to the crisis, we disengaged from the situation so as not to interfere with the officers. TBS continued to receive calls from the community via the hotline requesting TBS presence. When the man who had batTicaded himself in his room reached out our field general, we reassessed and advised a team member to continue to talk to the man, trying to deescalate the situation and encouraging him to surrender himself in a peaceful matmer. Eventually, we were able to engage with the individual's mother, who was at the scene. She assisted us in gaining access to her son. Once we engaged with him, we were able to talk him down and bring him out safely. Result: After being released from incarceration, the gentlemen contacted our organization again for help and resources. We were able to provide him with the tools and resources that he requested. He is currently being mentored by Herb Dickerson, our Executive Director. SCENARIO2 The field general received a phone call that a young lady was missing and could TBS help find her. Numerous calls were received from community members about the missing young lady. After evaluation of the situation, we decided to assist in locating her. Her Facebook picture was shared with all the members of TBS and we tried to ascetiain her last known communication. We contacted mutual friends of hers through Facebook to gather information on places that she frequents. Then the team divided up responsibilities and forged out to try to find her. A few of the team members knew her parents, so they were in constant contact with them. The field general had received a phone call saying that a young lady fitting her description had been seen with her uncle. The team was dispatched to that location and eventually she was found by TBS. Seven team members were present upon making contact with the young lady. Three of the team members were speaking with the young lady inside while the others remained outside to provide safety for the young lady. The young lady was at first hesitant to speak with us. We ensured her that her safety was our main concern and anything that she wished to share with us was confidential (unless it was to bring harm to herself or others). She explained that she ran away from home, because she felt unloved and disrespected by the cu11"ent person that her mother was dating. She gave us examples of why she felt that way and she just needed time to regroup. We asked her questions and the main one was, how we could help her? We explained to her that our main goal is to prevent gun violence before it escalates; however, we help in situations like hers too. We have resources that we are able to connect her with. She stated that she did not want to go home. We asked if she could at least call her mother to let her know that she was safe, which she agreed. Her uncle said that she could stay with him until things were resolved. Result: Subsequently, we discovered that she had mental health issues. We linked her with CAVA (Counsel Alliance of VA) and Gene Cash. He refen-ed her to an in-house mental health facility treatment program. Upon release, she now resides with her aunt in the Tidewater area. Currently, the field general, Dean Smith, is in contact with her mother for periodic follow-up on how she and her family are doing in the aftermath of the unsettling event. SCENARIO 3 After a recent shooting that occurred at Friendship Comi, we received multiple requests from residents to come to Friendship Court to provide assistance. The field general had a meeting with the team and decided to venture out of our normal zone (South First Street). While we were handing out business cards and canvassing the area, some of the residents gave us information about the location of the shooting. As we approached the location, we could see the broken glass, the bullet holes in cars, and one of the apatiments had a hole in the window. We knocked on the door to make sure the resident was well, considering the damage to her home. Once we introduced ourselves to her and explained to her who we were (she recognized the name), she asked if we could come in and see the damage. We could see that she was visibly distraught. Upon looking at the damage, we asked her how she was doing in the aftermath of the shooting. She explained in depth on how bad it had gotten and that she is not able to allow her children to go out and play. We spoke for a few minutes more, offered her some counseling resources and left our business card. We then continued our canvassing. Three days later, we got a call on the hotline from a different young lady, requesting we come to the park to have our presence there to enable the children to go to the park and play. We assembled a team the next day, set up a 3-hour window which allowed the children to play safely in the park. Result: The following week, TBS held a community event filled with free haircuts, a pizza patiy, games, prizes, and the rescue squad. Due to limited funding and manpower, we are not able to venture out to all the zones that need our attention. We try to visit when we have the resomces and enough team members available. Our goal is to eventually be able to provide the services and resources to other zones. In all of these instances, TBS has helped to reduce violence and harm to our community tluough our relationships. Being from the communities hardest hit by recent gun violence, we are using those relationships to stop the escalation of violence, to ease worried parents and to help provide healing to those who have suffered. Our presence allows moments of peace so children can go outside and get exercise and sunshine. Our relationships with the community give us a network to draw upon to help find missing teens and intercede when someone has gotten in over their head and don't know how to step back. These are only a few examples in the last 8.5 months of our work. 2. What is typical call volume and actions taken by TBS? TBS has provided data from two random weeks. THE B.U.C.K SQUAD DATA FOR WEEKS ENDING 5-7-21 AND 7-9-21 Introduction: The hotline was established to provide a safe way for concerned citizens to bring awareness to situations that they feel are potentially dangerous in their communities. Calls are kept private and confidential. The type of calls that TBS receives on a day-to-day basis, range from domestic violence, threats, altercations, adolescent interventions, substance abuse concerns, and our focus which is reduction of gun violence. The following data will show the calls that TBS received in one week within two different timefrarnes. FOR THE WEEK ENDING OF 5-7-21 • Answered 63 calls. • 9 calls were general questions about what TBS does or potential to work for TBS. • 32 calls were threats on an individual not involving a gun. • 11 were potential gun violence situations. • 6 were hang-ups. • 5 were false alarms, like fireworks instead of a gunshot. A total of29 calls were dispatched to the team members for week ending 5-7-21 to provide de-escalation tactics and resources. FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7-9-21 • Answered 136 calls. • 51 calls were threats on an individual not involving a gun. • 15 calls were domestic violence • 22 calls were accolades. • 17 calls were potential gun violence. • 6 calls were for teenage/parental guidance assistance and resources. • 3 calls were false alarms, like fireworks instead of a gunshot. • 4 hang-ups. • 18 calls were general questions about what TBS does or potential to work for TBS. A total of74 calls were dispatched to team members for the week ending 7-9-21 to provide de-escalation tactics and resources. 3. What do the citizens in the area that TBS services think of TBS? Below is a survey conducted by TBS. Citizens of South First Street were surveyed with approximately 80% of the residents agreeing to participate. FEBRUARY MAY JULY HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE B.U.C.K 12%Yes 77% Yes 93%Yes SQUAD? 85%No 15%No 3% No DO YOU FEEL SAFER WITH OUR 82%No 88%Yes 95%Yes PRESENCE? 9%NIA 7%N/A 2%NIA As the BUCK Squad has become more visible and present in the community, our recognition has increased as has an increased feeling of safety in the community. Additional comments given by residents is that they feel safer having their children play outside, they are more familiar with resources and more likely to utilize resources that will lead to improving overall quality of life. 4. Please explain how TBS operates financially. There seems to have been a substantial misunderstanding about how much funding that TBS is seeking from the City. In February, after the training with Interrupt the Violence (ITV), Pertelle Gilmore and Sean Pryor presented proposals to members of Council in attendance as to how TBS would operate, including 3 budgets, a blue-sky budget, a middle of the road budget and a bare bones budget. Each of these budgets were future thinking and assumed TBS had reached normalization. The financial plan of TBS has always been a public/private partnership model and that may not have been communicated well to Council. TBS was asking the City for as much of the budget as they were comfortable funding at that point, not full funding. With the City onboard as a major donor, the plan is to leverage that donation to secure private donations and matching grant opportunities. The Board of Directors of TBS is a working board that consults daily with the Executive Director and other members of TBS. The Board assists in soliciting donations and grants to TBS, has helped set up the financial structure, made the necessa1y filings with governmental agencies and overall mission delivery. Additionally, Tommy Everett, a retired CPA that has lived and worked in Charlottesville for over 30 years is assisting the organization on a pro-bono basis to ensure compliance with all federal, state and local financial requirements. On April 15, 2021, The Board of TBS decided to disassociate from Guns Down Inc. (GDI). TBS determined that it was more financially prndent to develop our anti-gun violence program without the aid of this fiscal agent. Since then, we have filed all necessaiy paperwork with the state (see attachment) and ai·e waiting for final IRS approval as a tax-exempt entity. Since becoming an independent entity, the organization has raised over $67,000, and can expect additional funding with a show of monetary support from the City. While TBS no longer has access to the records held by Guns Down Inc., roughly $50,000 was raised locally while under the GDI umbrella. These fund raising efforts were not sufficient to pay TBS members as originally budgeted, so the organization pivoted and decided to pay the members on an on-call, hourly basis. This model has allowed our members to receive compensation for their time as many work multiple jobs and have family obligations. TBS does this work out oflove of their community but none are wealthy and cannot give the time needed without compensation. The organization is currently operating under this payment model until enough funding can be secured to bring all the members on a full-time salaiy basis so calls for help don't go unanswered. Of the funds that have been raised to date, a lai·ge ainount has been donations under $1,000. This speaks to the broad community support TBS has received. The organization has been cultivating several larger donors that are looking to the City to commit before making their donation. The off-cycle request is $50,000. We have at least $50,000 of additional funding from private donors pending that are looking to the City to commit before they donate and quite possibly more as new donors are approached. CmTently the organization has a pledge of $9,000 per quaiier from a private donor, of which 3 quarters are ($27,000) are future payments. The next installment should be made in late September. The organization also has approximately $20,000 of donations being held at CAFC until final IRS approval as a tax-exempt entity has been received. As stated above, the organization has already received the tax-exempt approval from the Commonwealth of Virginia. TBS believes that the data is clear that gun violence in the South First Street area has been reduced significantly since its inception. The City's own shots fired data supports this assertion (See Shots Fired) as there has only been one rep01ied gunshot in that area in 2021 (and we believe that was firecrackers, not a real gunshot). The organization is aware that there are other factors that also are contributing to that reduction, but firmly believes that it is an integral part of the reduction in gun violence that South First Street is experiencing. TBS would like to have its off-cycle request re-evaluated and additionally would like to be included in the annual budget process of the City. Public safety is being reimagined across the country and Charlottesville has a chance to patt of that with a group that has already proven in 8.5 months it can help our community grow and heal from this recent epidemic of gun violence. While TBS does not expect the City to be the sole supporter of this endeavor, our community safety is one of the City's responsibilities. As the last year has shown, "traditional" policing has not been able to be trnly equal in our country. The neighborhoods with the most at-risk people are being victimized and do not trnst the police. TBS can help those communities not have their children live in fear of going outside to play or going to sleep in case a bullet goes through a wall. cf '"t.Jo'-'1