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Public Safety Committee reviews Prop S recommendations and funding for youth programs
Summary
The Office of Violence Prevention recommended nine youth-focused programs for Prop S funding after reviewing 62 applications requesting about $15 million; the committee discussed scoring, neighborhood targeting and follow-up with applicants before votes scheduled next week.
The St. Louis City Public Safety Committee on Nov. 13 heard a presentation from the Office of Violence Prevention outlining recommendations from the Prop S request for proposals and the process used to evaluate submissions.
Brett Delaria, public information officer for the Office of Violence Prevention, told the committee the RFP opened Oct. 6 and closed Nov. 6. “Overall, there were 62 proposals that were received,” Delaria said, and “a little over $15,000,000 was requested.” He said the available Prop S budget this year was $890,426 and awards were allowed to be up to $100,000 for a one‑year term.
Delaria described a five‑category scoring system used to evaluate applications: record of successful delivery (20%), equity‑centered approach (20%), program description (40%), data collection (10%), and budget and fiscal management (10%). Reviewers scored each category on a 1–5 scale and weighted totals determined recommendations.
Based on those scores, OVP recommended funding nine organizations for a combined total of roughly $881,302, leaving under $10,000 unallocated. The recommended organizations included Communities First; Mission Saint Louis Beyond Schools; CHADS Coalition for Mental Health; Harambee Youth Training; Boys & Girls Club; The Doctors Touch; Heal Center for the Arts; William and Associates; and Criminal Justice Ministry. Delaria provided the requested award amounts for each applicant.
Committee members questioned the process and the timeline for notifying applicants. Alderman Clark Hubbard asked whether applicants received individual write‑ups or notifications about why applications were not recommended; Delaria replied that “because there has not been an official vote by the Public Safety Committee, we have not sent out what was recommended at this point” and that OVP can pursue additional follow‑up at the committee’s direction.
Alderman Sonia asked why Broadway Park (and possibly Grabaway Park) did not appear on the list of priority neighborhoods. Delaria said neighborhood operating details were not included in his presentation but that he would provide a neighborhood‑by‑proposal breakdown after the meeting.
Several public commenters representing applicant organizations described their programs and asked the committee to consider funding. Lauren Ming, president of the Archway Missouri chapter of The Links Incorporated, described a STEAM enrichment program at Marion Middle School and asked the committee to “please consider” support. Joy Smith of Believe It Youth Organization described workforce, barbering, sewing and lawn‑care cohorts that operate in Dutchtown and urged the committee to review her group’s application.
The committee did not take final votes on the grant recommendations; Delaria said the committee is scheduled to vote next week and invited members to submit follow‑up questions in the interim. The meeting recorded routine procedural votes — the committee approved minutes from Oct. 16, 2025, and later voted to excuse two members for absence — but did not finalize Prop S awards at this session.
Next steps: the Public Safety Committee plans a formal vote next week on the recommended Prop S awards and OVP said it will provide additional neighborhood and applicant documentation requested by committee members.
