Title
Resolution Reaffirming the Commitment to Establish an Unarmed Crisis Response Program in the City of Ann Arbor
Staff
Reviewed by: Jennifer Janetsky, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council recognizes the need for an Unarmed Crisis Response Program to provide our community with an alternative method of addressing non-criminal crises involving mental health, homelessness, and substance use;
Whereas, An Unarmed Crisis Response Program represents a critical evolution in public safety, aiming to provide crisis response outside the traditional law enforcement model, thereby enhancing the overall well-being and safety of the community;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council acknowledges the valuable insight provided by the community during public outreach, and the recommendations presented in the March 2023 consultant report regarding the implementation of the Unarmed Crisis Response Program;
Whereas, In August 2023, in an effort to implement an Unarmed Crisis Response Program, Request for Proposal (RFP) 23-42 was issued seeking proposals for an organization to take charge of a portion of non-criminal calls for service that have traditionally been handled by law enforcement;
Whereas, After careful evaluation and consideration, city staff made the determination that the sole proposal received in response to RFP 23-42 did not meet the needs of the City of Ann Arbor, necessitating that RFP 23-42 be closed and a new RFP be issued;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council understands the importance of transparency in the program's development and ongoing accountability to ensure the Unarmed Crisis Response Program meets its goals of improving community safety and well-being;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council appreciates that expectations concerning Unarmed Crisis Response must reflect both the needs and expectations of our community, and be mindful of and framed by ARPA reporting requirements; and
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council supports the City of Ann Arbor’s expressed intention to reissue the RFP with all deliberate speed;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council hereby reaffirms its strong commitment to the development and implementation of an Unarmed Crisis Response Program using the ARPA funds already allocated through Resolution R-21-129;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council directs the City Administrator to provide a timeline for the issuance of a new Unarmed Crisis Response RFP, including key milestones and objectives, no later than close of business on Friday, January 26, 2024;
RESOLVED, That in an effort to ensure the successful and timely creation of the Unarmed Crisis Response Program, the Ann Arbor City Council directs the issuance of the new RFP for the Unarmed Crisis Response Program no later than close of business on Friday, March 1, 2024;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council directs the City Administrator to engage in a more targeted approach in publicizing the RFP, in addition to the methods used for RFP 23-42, thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving multiple proposals to evaluate; and
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council recognizes the importance of a successful Unarmed Crisis Response Program and remains strongly committed to providing the community with a viable Unarmed Crisis Response Program.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Harrison, Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Cornell, Eyer, Song, Disch, Radina, Briggs, and Watson