Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY OFFICIALS TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR INVESTMENT IN THE DULUTH COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM
Body
CITY PROPOSAL AND COUNCILOR ANDERSON:
WHEREAS, throughout 2021, a working group of community organizers, organizational stakeholders, and representatives from Saint Louis County, a representative from the City Council, the Administration - including the Duluth Police Department, Duluth Fire Department and the Chief Administrative Officer - have met with the goal of outlining and planning for the establishment of a community crisis response program in the city of Duluth; and
WHEREAS, the Community Crisis Response program is intended to provide consistent and timely, compassionate and non-punitive response to mental health, housing and substance use crises in the Duluth area by expanding the funds available for the existing Crisis Response Team services; and
WHEREAS, the staff and mission of the Community Crisis Response program is intended to represent the race, culture, lived experiences, sexual and gender identity, and socioeconomic status - to the greatest extent possible - of the Duluth community; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Community Crisis Response program to be accessible to all, non-punitive and able to respond independent of law enforcement, medical or specific service providers as appropriate in non-violent, non-medical emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, the Community Crisis Response program is intended to coordinate, respond when appropriate with and learn from existing community service providers, including law enforcement and medical responders; and
WHEREAS, on September 27, 2021, the Duluth City Council passed a maximum levy that included $600,000 in ongoing funding for an enhanced community crisis response program that - pending 2022 budget adoption - would fund the Community Crisis Response Program; and
WHEREAS, in Minnesota, crisis response service funding is allo...
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