committeesub
[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] ORDINANCE NO. 221062
title
Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Director of the Health Department
Appropriating $250,000.00 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Fund to the Victim-Witness Relocation Program account; directing the Director of Health to issue a solicitation for handling the distribution of the funds to victims and witnesses; and authorizing the Director to enter into a contract with the selected proposer.
body
WHEREAS, the safety and cooperation of victims and witnesses is crucial to public safety of Kansas City and the successful prosecution of criminal offenders; and
WHEREAS, victims and witnesses may be reluctant to give information and evidence because of perceived or actual physical intimidation or threats against themselves or members of their family, or living in close proximity to their assailants; and
WHEREAS, the Kansas City Police Department has cited difficulty with victim and witness cooperation in all types of criminal cases, including homicides, non-fatal shootings, property crimes, and cases involving domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, victims and witnesses who receive appropriate and adequate care and support are more likely to cooperate with the criminal justice system in bringing perpetrators of crime to justice; and
WHEREAS, there are numerous organizations in the Partners for Peace collaborative that customarily provide witness and victim relocation estimate that the average cost to relocate a nuclear family is anywhere from $3,000.00 to $4,000.00; and
WHEREAS, more flexible City funds for the purpose of victim and witness relocation will make it possible to fill gaps left by existing funding from the State for relocation, which is restricted to use by the Kansas City Police Department.
WHEREAS, the purpose of the newly established Victim-Witness Relocation Program is to ensure the safety and wellness of Kansas City residents who have been victimized by crime and/or those who wish to assist with investigations and prosecutions of crime; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the Director of Health is directed to issue a solicitation for handling the distribution of the funds to victims and witnesses, and widely publicizing the availability of such funds, and the Director is authorized to enter into a contract with the selected proposer.
Section 2. That the sum of $250,000.00 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Fund to the following account:
23-2330-502019-B Victim-Witness Relocation Program $250,000.00
end
______________________________________________________
I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance, otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.
___________________________________
Tammy L. Queen
Director of Finance
Approved as to form:
__________________________________
Lana Torczon
Senior Associate City Attorney