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Public Safety Committee adopts Office of Violence Prevention recommendations for unexpended Prop S crime-prevention funds
Summary
The committee accepted the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) rankings for distribution of unexpended Prop S Crime Prevention Program funds and passed Resolution 51 out of committee; a last-minute amendment to reallocate small sums to three public commenters failed.
The St. Louis City Public Safety Committee voted on July 8 to adopt the Office of Violence Prevention’s recommendations for distributing unexpended Prop S Crime Prevention Program funds and forwarded Resolution 51 with a "do pass" recommendation to the full board.
OVP reviewed applications and recommended award amounts; committee members said timing and process issues complicated applicant outreach and urged earlier timelines in future cycles. Several small nonprofit program leaders testified in favor of funding, describing after-school programming, field trips and workforce training for neighborhood youth.
Public testimony: Kristen Gumper, development director for Marion Middle School, described Marion’s programming for girls from high-need ZIP codes and asked the committee to consider Marion’s submitted program budget. Nora Ryan of the Roosevelt Community Council said transportation problems and a late start on OVP approval reduced program capacity this year; she urged the committee to review and refine program supervision and timing. Joy Smith of Believe It Youth Organization described a small program’s growth and the role of funding for skills training and field trips.
Committee action: Vice Chair Michael Aldridge moved a last-minute amendment to reallocate $20,000 each from Goodwill, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Affinia Healthcare to three organizations that testified at the meeting (Marion Middle School, Roosevelt Community Council and Believe It Youth Organization). That amendment was seconded but failed on a tied or split committee vote (the motion did not carry).
The committee then voted to adopt OVP’s recommendation list as Exhibit A to Resolution 51 and forwarded Resolution 51 out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. Committee members emphasized that the money is time-sensitive for summer programming and asked OVP and city staff to accelerate contract execution.
What’s next: With committee approval, Resolution 51 (with OVP’s Exhibit A) moves to the full board for consideration. Comptroller staff and OVP will implement contracting steps so awarded organizations can receive funds; members urged the program be reworked earlier in the next grant cycle to give community groups more time to comply and begin summer activities.
