Good evening, everyone. 05:30pm, one Wednesday MAY 13, 2026. The public assembly room of the city County building. Welcome to the Public Safety Committee just committed City County Council. Started reductions of our meeting this evening at far left. Welcome back, Michael part counselor, thank you, MR. Chair Michael part representing District. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Josh District. 21. Thank you, MR. Chair Brian Mowery District. 25 thank you, MR. Chair Carlos Perkins District 6. Thank you, MR. Chair Bree and Illini District 2. Thank you, MR. Chaired and Boots District 3 Washington Lawrence townships. And Todd wrote Cause a great evening. Everyone keep Graves, District 9 I think MR. Thank you, MR. Chair Frank miscarried, Southeast Side
District 19. Thank you, MR. Chair. Night out District 15 Thank you council very special guest this evening with PRESIDENT Luiz. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Maggie Lewis District 5, thank you so much. Leroy Robinson District wants your the committee. First of all, origins proposal, one 28, 2026 appoints Jessica Harris to the Marion County. Public Defender is here as PRESIDENT. MISS Harris PRESIDENT. We will move this to the end of the agenda she comes in. Please let us know. Up next proposal, one 29. 2026 real points for Purdue. Wind to the Emergency Services Agency board provide welcome. You have been here before the hearing supported you before. Yes. And just talk to us. Why we like to reappoint you this year. Just talk to us briefly about what
going to be reappointed. I've been a firefighter for over 40 years, retired from ift. 35 and currently chief fire at the Indianapolis International Airport. Public Safety is very important to My 2 sons are in public safety. My sisters, public safety family. And I believe it's my obligation as a citizen to make sure that I can do everything I can do to help my community. So I'm always glad to serve. Thank you so much us to Thank you for your service. Comments or questions on one. 29. In one of your his care to speak to this proposal. So you know any motion. So Louisville most Republicans, second, it all those favor signify by saying
aye, those oppose. Thank you, sir, for your serving kure evening. Thanks so much. Proposal. Number one, 30 2026 reappoint Lieutenant Larry p Atkins to Stick by. The review team will tell that Kunz. Welcome. Good to see you. Thank you for your service to make want to be reappointed. I didn't share some words about us about this reappointment. Yeah. Want to say that? I've over our Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is It's been part of unit for 2 years now. And some of the things that we see in our community when it comes to domestic violence. And now that the Fed Review team looks it potential ways to try to avoid future homicides in our in community. One of things that we really focus on and the fate of teams we talked to
be victims of the family members that are the talk about their loved ones. Just really understanding. No concept trauma, informed care. Now that. He's also a preventive made measure, but also intervention method because that that a loved one is We're going to rely on their information and what we can do and best practices to help. Preventing homicide and our community related to domestic violence. Thank you so much for your service comments or questions on one 30. In one of your can speak to this proposal for 2 actions. True to motion. So most probably moved and seconded. All those offenders go by saying Aye, Those oppose motion carries. Thank you so much, sir. Thank you for your service. Up next is proposal one. 31 2026. Appropriate. An additional 1 million, $244,500 2026 budget. The Marion County Sheriffs, Drug Free community, federal grants and county federal law enforcement funds
for the purpose of funding the that program. The Medication Assisted Treatment mat program and security in feet expenses coming car. Welcome. Who talked to us briefly about appropriation. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN counters of the committee, I'm here tonight, as the CHAIRMAN Mentioned to request additional procreation and 3 different funds County Grant Fund Federal Grant Fund and then the county Federal Law Enforcement Fund. These funds will be utilized in the county grant fund character to character 3 in character for this will go to enhance our cadet program at the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the federal grants. And we are requesting 1 million 35 thousand in character. 3 to support an expansion and enhancement of
our medication assisted treatment program. And that program currently serves about 150 individuals each day in our map program. And then in the county federal law Enforcement program, we are requesting an additional appropriation of 184,500 and characters, 2, 4, to predict procure some additional security supplies and some specialty vehicles. Thank you so much. Risk are comments or questions from car. Thank you, MR. Just real quick. What are the security features that you referenced? The main? Thing we're looking to purchase our ballistic grade podiums that will go here in the city county building and also at the community, Justice campus. COUNCILMAN. Council boots. MR. Just quickly of Mis-c cfo, the funds that have gone through
that are passed through from grants. Can you, Dana, find those and all these numbers, which part are just passing through our hands. That come from the state are a fun. Yes, yes. The federal grant fund. This is a fear of justice assistance community project funding. I'm in character 3. The county Grant Fund is a drug free community grant and to the amount of $25,000 we get that about every other year. So the the Federal fund is the Medicaid medication assisted treatment, correct? Yes. What is that? In a nutshell? So in our facility when individuals come in on Medicaid, medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. So that is either they are on you can or fun or
another methadone. So they receive services in our facility if they are on them in the community, we continue them. If they are eligible to receive them when they enter the facility, we well induct them while they're with us. And then we connect them to care when they leave our facility so that they can continue that treatment and the community and is the federal pass through funds cover whole of Europe costs expenses and rendering those services so we grant fund that program right now is with these funds will be a 2 million dollar program for us. We grant fund all but 500,000 of that. So the need
is great. I think we could probably triple the amount of individuals in that program we continue to seek funding to do that. So we we initially started the program with 100 individuals. We've been able to raise a 250. So we continue to try to find funds to expand federal source, not receptive to your needs. I think, you know, they are. It's just it's very expensive. So I think, you know, we request quite a bit of money and we. We're pretty successful, but we continue to I mean, go after everything we can to try and expand. Thank council additional comments or questions anyone the orders could speak proposal. One 31. Seeing no 10 motions. Most are probably moved and seconded. All those in favor signal by saying Aye, aye. Those oppose mostly it's become a scar. Thank you very much. Up next
proposal, one, 32 2026 approving appropriation of 220,000 and $500 in the 2026 budget. American coroner's Office, Cody Gress, a state grant funds for the purpose of funding costs associated with the American Medical Association Project. The Health First Indian Initiative project and the trauma informed Care Project according MR. Mcginty is not you. Look, I m are deeply sorry disappoint. My name is Mallory Malceski. I'm the chief financial officer for the Marion County Coroner's Office. Thank you so much. Thank you, MR. Chair and council committee members first and foremost, the elected official this week. It too, would like to extend her regrets. She is unfortunately under the weather. Tonight we are requesting the additional appropriations related to opioid settlement funds, state
and local grant funding these appropriations are intended to support ongoing. A newly awarded public health and prevention initiatives that directly impact Marion County residents. We are asking for the Re appropriation of $40,500 and under spent 2023 opioid settlement funds character. 3. These funds would allow us to continue the trauma informed care services and projects through the end of 2026. Without any additional impacts to county funds, the trauma informed care programs are increasingly important component of our operations and help provide support services to family and individuals during some of the most difficult moments. In addition, we are requesting a total of 120,000 in state grants, appropriations with 20,000 and character 2 and 100,000 character, 3, these
funds are tied to grants awarded through the Indiana Department of Health and will support several prevention focused grant initiatives, including child drowning prevention programs aimed at reducing firearm related child deaths and efforts focused in reducing drug intoxication deaths among children. We are also requesting an additional 60,000 in local grant appropriations consisting of 20,000 and character to and 40,000 character. 3 related to an anticipated micro grants supporting maternal and infant mortality reduction efforts here in Marion County. In 2025. Firearm drug intoxication and drowning deaths represented. 34 1% of child fatalities investigated
by our office. These grants allow us to move beyond only responding after tragedies occur and instead support proactive education prevention outreach and community-based intervention efforts. This request will allow the coroner's office to continue our critical trauma informed care services while expanding prevention and public health initiatives that align directly with community safety and health priorities throughout Marion County. Thank you so much. And if you have any questions, thank you so much. Comes to questions. Council Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN counselor Wells District 11 West Side. Thank you so much for your presentation. You mind if you walk through the state character funds again, the numbers one more time make
sure my match what yours are. Absolutely. So the total is 120,000 with 20,000 total being in character, 200,000 being in character, 3. MADAM Council, I have 140. $1500 in my packet. Is that correct? That's when Adams, I have to. So part of it is a trend is transferring from one budget year to another. So you'll see a reduction and 2023 and is being moved to 2026. So I'm not quite sure. Something to do with their work, but that was my understanding. MR. Chosen. What years the under spend from just to clear it would be from 2023. That would be the 40,500. Thank you very much. Thank you, Justin. Also Thank CHAIRMAN, and thank cfo
for the presentation. This issue of child drowning came up the other day in Parks Committee meeting in connection with U.S. Summer programming to teach kids swim. Are the steps that your you mentioned, proactive versus reactive. In when you say proactive, are you the number one tool is teaching kids to swim. There are other things to do preventing access the bodies of water, things like that. So give us a little better, more clear picture of what you're referring to. Proactive steps. Sure. The drowning prevention grant. We will be partnering with indie parks and we're looking at it from a data analytics standpoint zip codes where we see drowning deaths where we seeing at risk using not from historical data and then we will be using a program to provide free swimming lessons within those impacted areas. Great. Just as I was hoping.
Thank you, council. Anyone cause big to proposal one. 32. Seeing no insurance emotion. Most probably moved and seconded. All those in favor is going by saying aye. Those polls motion carries. Thank you much. We have a corner regards, please. Thank you so much. A one. 33 2026 opposing appropriation of 2 was a $10,000 2026 budget. The Marin County Public Defender Agency, the county grants fund for the purpose of funding the personnel. Then this one area defense system project funded Eli Lilly, MR. Ray Casanova, welcome. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. We are asking for additional appropriations totaling 210,000 in character. One in the Grant to staff and support the interdisciplinary defense System project that is
funded by the Lilly Endowment. The IDs project is basically assisting clients that are coming out of the prison system in assisting them with finding housing employment and reconnecting them with services. This grant will continue to fund our team that is working on the idea system with the I d s a project we currently have 3 social workers, one of those positions currently open as well as one attorney. This additional funding will continue to assist them in assist our office and providing that support for those clients that are coming out of prison system. This. Project has been very effective in helping reduce
recidivism rates reintegrating those clients coming out of incarceration and in our system. There's any questions. Thank you so much. Custom for your presentation comments or questions 33 counts agrees. Thank you, MR. Chair, thank you for the explanation on that. Director, how individuals are Are you guys able to help to the ideas program? Unfortunately, I don't have that I'm happy to provide it to you. And a follow-up email. We have been very active in Work that we've been doing through our social workers and our attorneys. I apologize. I don't have that information, but I'm happy to provide that to you. Thank they find you or do you reach out to them Being released? Basically, we identify them through the nature of the
offense. And the length of the incarceration. So initial contact is made with them. And while they're still place and since I don't know the exact period of time in which they're going to be released. So the work begins with connecting with them in the prison system and before they come out and then identifying. Housing within the community employment within the community as well reconnecting them with services. I know that our team doesn't meet regularly with those individuals that we're supporting through the idea system. We are collecting data on a regular basis. What we hope to do in the future. This is a pilot program. I think it's been in place for about
little over 2 years. We're hoping to do is continue to collect data to compare the impact of the idea support for those clients that are coming out of incarceration and compare that to those that do not receive that additional support to demonstrate you. The efficacy of this program. Big counsel counsel me. Councilor Graves are ready. Asked my questions. Thank you. Thank you. Council thank you, MR. Public Defender are you tonight? I'm gonna I'm fine. Thank you. Reading the fiscal note on this, I understand that at one point these 3 positions, if I'm reading this right, it were covered by
federal arpa money. That's correct. And then the Lilly Endowment is picking that from there forward. That's correct. Actually, the federal funding expired sooner than we were anticipating. We were originally anticipating the federal funding which lasts through the 2nd quarter. Unfortunately, it did not. And that. But but Lilly had always been there as the additional local funding that was going to basically carry the project through. A longer duration. What. So tonight we're just approving the past through of the lily money pay these 3 spots for ideas program.
Correct. Yess, thank you for the excellent. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, because of comments, any one of the owners speak to impose a one. 33. Seeing no turn it motion. Most improper moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying Aye, those opposing que motion carries. Thank you so Appreciate Next could pose a win. 34 26 who's the Dish Appropriation of $34,000. The 2026 budget of the Marin County Superior Court. Drug free community, fun for the purpose of funding the initiative of the Drug treatment Court Aaron, court project ms Harley Phelps. Welcome. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and members of the council, I'm Holly fellow cfo of Marion Superior Court. And I'm here today to ask for an additional appropriation and the amount of 34,000 and character 3 and the drug-free Marion County Fund for our drug treatment and Reentry.
Court says they were awarded an an award from the drug free Marion County Grant. Thank you so much. Comments request from counselors. Anyone what his coach speak to proposal. One 34. To motion. Mostly probably moved and seconded all those affected by saying aye. Those oppose motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank you. Up next, pose a win. 35 2026 approves of appropriation of 4 Million. Been $30,000 and it 26 budget. The impd state grants federal grants of the general funds, the purpose of funding various grant awards. Not previously appropriated in crime. Good test. Ford's great cleanup DePaul. Welcome thank is requesting. Approximately 404.8 million dollars. 3.5 million of that is specifically for Greg Cleanup.
1.3 is for new Grant. Projects Awards that were received after budget to so last year, specifically for the in Dot Work Zone project and the Internet Crimes Against Children. Task Force. The zone. Is just for that. Officers will be patrolling that to help keep workers safe. Jones and the Internet crimes against children will of funding will support investigations for Internet crimes. The other 3.5 million is between characters went through for cleanup from Pryor. Your grants between 2019 2025. Where expenses were posted to the finds room grant projects. And of course, we need additional appropriations to clean up the account. The accounting general letters so that we can close out those grants in our system. So I'm
happy to answer any questions. Thank you so much. Comments or questions for impd. Any one of the oldest because be proposal. One 35. Seeing none. We'll take motion. Most were probably moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye. I those oppose motion carries. Thank you so Thank you. But next proposal, one, 36 2026 a prisoner transfer of $300,000 2006 budget. The Marin County Forensic Services Agency, the County General Fund compared to 3 to care to 2 and the purpose of funding costs associated with laboratory supplies, MR. By permanent member. The burden that thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you for your time. As indicated by proposal, one 36, we are requesting a transfer $300,000 from our county general character. 3, 2, county general character, too. This will allow us to purchase
supplies needed to maintain normal lab case work up until OCTOBER. We do want to make this body aware that we will probably need to return in the fall for an additional appropriations request for supplies. I mean, I just want to highlight that our supply funny concerns can be largely attributed to fact that we are working with less grant dollars in 2026 than in years past. Thank you and welcome comments requests from one. 36, anyone council race, thank will kind of supplies. Are you mentioning before dna unit? So that will be our global vilar. Kids are on a siler kits and white kits these are very expensive supplies. One global Tyler can alone can be over $5500. You know, we need to purchase 40 kids out of time so that you that the primary driver of our supply needs. Thank you. Council council
moves. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and thank you, MR. Permanent what has been the source or cause for the reduced grants you've received this year. So we haven't lost grants yet. There were still pending several applications that we wouldn't usually have received at a quicker pace. So we're still pending on 25 Psaki award and opening on some psn Rance. This is a result of current trend that we hear about of federal government withdrawing some of its. Funding for various state and local agencies. I can't say for sure, but we have just seen increased scrutiny on my applications. And I think there's just been some turnover on the federal and state level and grand offices to that slows down. The process of them actually reviewing applications and then warning on Then there's this loan has been applications for state sources
are federal money. I would say those. Thank you. Thank you, MR. Johnson, MR. Comes to questions. Anyone wants speak proposal. One 36. Seeing no that any motion. Mostly probably moved and seconded. All those in favor signal by saying Aye, I those oppose. Chris. Thank you, Appreciate it. But next to pose a one. 37 2026 directs the City County Council except for the record the 2026 1st quarter report submitted by the Marin County Sheriff's Office as required by hb 1208, 2025. Put the law. 54 and I see 36 8 dash 10. 21 MR. Martin, welcome. Good evening. I'm just here to answer any questions you might You guys have already had time to review fleeing. We just
your disposal. Thank you. Miss Miss Council peers. You are going to speak to this process what we should be doing today. This is just a quarterly, a commissary report that you got electronically last month. My but they continue get every quarter and all we do is accept. So it just shows to spend from the commissary. The statute requires lot 7 we submitted to you guys and we make ourselves available to uk should 70 questions e the final cancer today go back and find question the right answer for Thank you. Comments or questions counselors. Meanwhile, your audience. There's no vote. Here is the right experience. That's correct. All right. No questions. Thank you, MR. Martin, thank you. Appreciate I have a day. But isn't some of those concludes our proposals this evening? We do
have what we want to revisit proposal. 28. One. 28 was just a co Harris for the Marion County Public. Defend the borders here. Will come forward. Please. This this is your first time requests to be appointed to this board. We do. Thank you for your wants to volunteer. We do have your resume front of us. So just speak to us briefly you want to be a point of this board for the first time. I guess so. I am a Texan. The turnout been practicing for about going on 9 years. I I've been in Indianapolis for a few. I am really adamant about just wondering what's going on in the community and just being a part of the voice, the community and trying to figure out how we can better be a liaison for the people as well
as the professionals with our community and the ones that are making decisions for them. So this will be a great opportunity for me to kind of get involved. I was ecstatic to see position was opened so that I'm able to to really get in and kind of figure out how I can be of assistance for all involved. Thank you so much. Appreciate you wish to volunteer comes, the question there was disappointment. Council boots. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN will be brief. Can you explain the role of the Public Defender board particularly with respect to how it monitors the personnel and employee count of the public defender agency to make sure it does not run afoul of. That's grant guidelines for it's been cow if the economy
should say. So I am not as familiar, but I am willing to learn a little bit more to figure out we can make sure that the body count does not run over those guidelines. I adamant about working with the rules and figuring How those rules can really apply to. The professionals involved as well as the community. So I'm I'm really open to learn. I'm not familiar really opened line. And that should clarify my question. It's more the case count. Attorney. Okay. If exceeds too much, then you endanger the funding yes of the agency, ok? Because it's not. Staying in compliance. So attorneys are overloaded. Thereby underserved are indigent. Respondents in our county. So we'll look forward
to next year MAY be learning more. Thank you. Thanks so much. Customer accounts great. Thank you, MISTER. I just want to say thank you for your willingness to step up and take this role. We certainly appreciate it. Thank you. This will comments any one of orders could speak pose a one. 28. That route and emotion. Most are probably the second. It all those in favor come by saying aye and those oppose. Mostly because rules to volunteer. Thank Thank you so much right? Let's zoom. We have to presentation this One ap presentation one-by-one Phs. First up is the one from the audit. Officer on performance director Merkley, MR. Weston Jones will come forward, please to the council
members has a copy. The audit report a hard copy also sent to your inbox and we will MR. Jones and MR. Murphy go over this. From the Office Up. And we'll do questions at the conclusion, Kelso. So if we hold on to the and we will do the questions at the Sure about chances to speak. Publishers. We were thinking this is a different order. So we they shun first. Whenever you're ready. Good evening, MR. CHAIRMAN members of the committee. My name Andrew Merkley and and the director of the Office of Public Health and Safety. I'm joined this evening by office about it and performance director Leslie Jones. Who will providing information about how the audit that was recently conducted for a key test was
conducted and what it tells us about phs. But I will be discussing this evening about how open just has responded to the findings of the audit and what we're doing to improve. Agency. Before hand it over. I think it's important to note that we're here today to talk about financial and programmatic systems. That were not in place prior to my becoming director Phs. Efforts were made to begin addressing some of these findings prior to me shipped and we have made significant progress over the last year. What is important and cannot be understated is that the timeframe during which this audit looked back was during the period of worldwide emergency. Pa just was uniquely situated at the time. To address the pandemic because we're already
addressing many of the quality of life challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Because of the emergency in our focused efforts to implement critical programs through our grassroots partners and strategies. We often did not have the time to stop and think about what needed to be measured or ensure that we evaluated and trained our staff. Now with the pandemic behind us Phs isn't is at an inflection point. Our team is working hard to create systems and safeguards addressing these findings. We are providing expectations to our teams and ensuring accountability. I look forward to sharing shortly but will turn things over to Director Jones to provide more details about the process. Thank you, director. Thanks for having us here tonight I felt before director Mike Leigh got into more details about the findings and what they're doing to address them. I
thought it would be helpful to provide some additional contacts about our work in the office to perform on it and performance and and how this kind of a engagement and results came about. First of all, our office kind of works from the audit side based on risk assessment and by request so that those are the 2 passed through which any audit engagement is created. Our office currently focuses on performance audits, which are very different than financial audits. So throughout this process, we focus on examination of operations management systems and procedures and related controls along with a number
of other things. Our report, as you can read it it it actually speaks more to the operations of the unit and related items as opposed to a financial audit which went up high on the accuracy of financial statements. So both backed by evidence and by data. But the kind of end result of them are quite different. And then finally, all of our our work is governed by the generally accepted government auditing standards, which are issued by the Government Accountability Office in Washington. It's looking specifically at at phs audit. This was a ultimately a request by the mayor's office due to. Things that come up across the the time of the audit period. It really kind
of that finding 5 with the gypsy questions was really the genesis of where this engagement began. I in many ways it's a kind of a conglomeration of 2 or 3 different small audits that expanded into a larger one that kind of examine the operations over the six-year period. Within the fieldwork we completed. We. Conducted interviews with Phf staff reviewed a number of contractual agreements and the related financial transactions that ensued from them. In total, we looked 29 total vendors and related contracts and that represented about 20. I'm sorry. 92% of the expenditures that took place across that 6 year 5 plus year period. Just to be clear, this only we only looked at allocations from the general fund. So there's no arpa.
There's no federal grant type expenditures that were viewed as part of this audit. Those many of those are covered in our external audit, which is for this year's flashes is underway right now. So just for context, that's where the focus of the work and findings of this report live. And just a quick note. Also on the risk ratings, they're determined on on the likelihood and impact of the issues identified. There's more robust, a script feeling of those within the report. But happy to answer any questions about how those are generated. So last thing before I turn it back over to Director Merkley are some takeaways in many ways these are related. It's kind of a cascading effect, which is is I guess, technically in reverse order here. But I'll just run through all of them.
Basically, the most overarching thing was kind of insufficient oversight across key operational functions, specifically and program management and financial kind of control and management. This came about largely from kind of a limit understanding of strong financial control practices. A lot of individuals that have responsibility in with these areas and financial matters having limited experience with doing so. And so create some gaps. And then finally, generally a lack of standard operating procedures and systems to help guide those operations. For those that MAY not have that experience previously were also found to be PRESIDENT. None of these are uncommon for younger agencies. And I think one of the results that you'll hear director speak of is that there's been kind of greater
give some credit to a phs themselves of stepping up in asking for the help that that's been needed. Get from our office from Office of Finance and Management and other related parties. And as a result of some of the changes and findings through this process, there are already some measures in place not just with a phs but also them that are well ultimately enhance the quality and control environment across the enterprise. And finally, just the last thing is, is that it's not really know that that terribly. Overly in that report. But the trend of activities over the six-year period was going in a positive direction. So these issues have kind of persisted for a little bit. But there has been some progress made across the issues that we we found. So want to give credit there. So with that, turn it back to
direct Thank you, director. Before a jump into the findings and our responses to them. I wanted to take a little bit of a look at our his the history of our budget. There's been some discussion around the growth of okay, just as budget over the period of time. But this on it looked into just just remind you again that we were responding to an emergency. But okay, just was uniquely suited to fill that role. As you can see from me, information on the slide. Our budget increased by roughly 75% during the period from 2020 to 2026. That increase is primarily due to an increase in our character. 3 budget, which allows us to contract with 3rd parties who are implementing our
programming. Okay. Just is not a direct service provider. And that is somewhat unique to our peer agencies. We ensure that the funding we have goes directly into the community to partners that understand challenges in their community. Best. And they are the experts who know needs of their neighbors and how to help address those needs. It's important to that. I highlight some of the major programs that have that are the reason for the majority of that growth. Many of you know, the clinician lead community response team which provides free service is free access to behavioral health crises in our community, which just expanded county wide this month. We have the assessment and Intervention Center operations that's at the community. Justice campus where we provide substance use and behavior, health assistance, free of charge to
any Marion County resident. But also as a way to help keep folks out of her jail. We've we've increased funding to our addiction, diversion efforts and the largest share of that of increase comes from mark on violence reduction strategy or in the piece, as you all know it, which has helped to significantly reduce crime in Marion County. So we'll start with finding which found that there was insufficient program documentation and okay, chess, 51%. Of contracts reviewed lack sufficient. Programmatic documentation or failed to meet the reporting requirements outlined and contracts. Ap recommends phs develop and implement standard operating procedures for monitoring and documenting programmatic activities. These processes should include ongoing staff training to ensure understanding a program activities in compliance with contractual terms. Customized
plans for monitoring program, activities and expenditures as well as a centralized system for tracking and storing documentation. Throughout these findings. I will also provide what has already been implemented and what will be or is Development, you know, phs to address these findings. So for finding one, we have already we are already including universal reporting requirements and all our contracts. We have Universal reporting metrics across our programs. And we have standardized are reporting cadence for our programs. We've also signed dedicated points of contact phs for each of our projects or or contracts. What's in development? We have we are working on Universal annual reporting template in presentations to ensure that
our that our partners understand exactly what we are looking for. From a reporting standpoint. We are developing a central hub for all of our programmatic documentation data and reporting ensure point. We are providing quarter we will be providing quarterly training for all of our programmatic staff on contractual procurement and data management. Finding 2 identified insufficient invoice, documentation. 84% of the contracts tested had missing, incomplete or insufficient invoice, documentation or fail to comply with contract terms. Up recommends that, okay. Just develop and implement standard operating procedures to improve consistency and ensure compliance with the invoicing requirements outlined in each contract. The should include a centralized system for storing tracking and managing contracts and then voice related documentation and ongoing training for staff involved in the review of invoices and supporting
documentation with special emphasis on potential indicators, fabricated activity and fraud. Some of these findings are similar. And so you'll hear similar types of responses to the various findings. But for this particular finding, we have already and this happened before I became director created a finance team, hope finance hub in teams. We're unsure point that is to house all of our in Boise and financial documentation. Again before before it was in this role. Our finance team created a multi step financial review system, standard operating procedure. And we're we're going to continue improve upon that. And a financial tracking spreadsheet which is accessible to any of our team members for each program. Ensure point. We in development is a fine and is financial documentation and
payment processing standards. Finding 3 found insufficient review of program effectiveness up found that. Okay. Just like formal procedures to monitor and evaluate program affected this as a result, outcomes were not consistently measured are used to inform decision-making. Up recommends phs develop and implement standard operating procedures for evaluating program effectiveness, including steps to address noncompliance, centralized augmentation system and ongoing staff program administration should be developed to support this process. Similar to finding one. We've already again created those reporting requirements reporting metrics, Standard reporting Cadence. We have also created publicly available dashboards for many of peaches programming. We we have additional dashboards that because of the types of data
that we're collecting it or not for the public. But we can provide those those dashboards to off. You need them. And again signed dedicated points of contact for each project. What's in development? Universal quarterly and annual reporting template centralized hub, Fort programmatic documentation and data. Quarterly training for programmatic staff and a vendor non-performance soapy. So how does our team engage with the vendor who identified? This is not performing to our standards. Finding for contracts phs staff and their connections. Epc contractor View and leadership interviews found several contracts were awarded to vendors with significant
connections. 2 peaches employees. Additionally, one contract was awarded to a vendor who was employed by okay, just during the contract period. These connections were not disclosed and there's no documentation to verify that any exceptions were granted or that phs employees with connections to the vendor were not involved in a vendor selection process. This finding suggests a series of preventative control failures exposes the city to reputational and financial risks and a lack of awareness or understanding of the City of Indianapolis and Marion counties, code of ethics. Ap phs leadership and staff involved in contracting process should develop a
careful process for vetting vendors to prevent potential conflicts of interest. Ph a staff at all levels should receive additional ethics training. To gain a better understanding of relationships and situations that could create perceived or actual conflict of interest. Additionally, when a contract merits an exception to the city county prohibition on conflicts of interest, Phs should consult with those cc to properly document the exception. If you just as already implemented program and project design a soapy. So our teams have been trained and they are already. Creating these program, a project designed template that we have for them to make sure that we're identifying some of these challenge. Allen, just ahead of time working through We also have created a procurement so p that has been vetted a piano fn we will be training our teams on those in
the coming days. In development is will be working with acc to establish ethics training. Addition to the annual ethics training that the admit that the enterprise already offers. We'll go from there with our ethics training. Finding 5 found that use of the greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. We're just see as a federal federal grant recipient. Was utilized as the grant recipient for usda local food purchase, assistant or lfp. A grant totaling $800,000. Per Gypsies. Fiscal Agent Handbook. Gypsy should only be designated as the grant recipient when the grant criteria requires the 501 c 3 entity as an applicant. The
lfp a grant is intended for use by governmental entities and such criteria did not apply up. Recommends that all federal grant application and funding receipts be coordinated with the office finance and management screen steam to ensure proper oversight and compliance with all requisite terms and conditions. So we've already implementing our response to these. Moving forward any and all of pages programs and projects intending to be grant funded will go through the agency's program and Project Design. Stop. This will ensure multiple layers of review and oversight in program project planning and that, okay, just leadership is aware any plan. Grant seeking. Additionally any grants being sought will be done with advanced notice.
2 and in coordination with the Office of Finance and Management screen Steam to ensure proper oversight and compliance with all represent terms and conditions. Finding 6. Lack of under compliance review. Interviews ph a staff on that. There's no standard process for reviewing and or remediating the vendor compliance issues. Ap recommends phs development and docking procedures to detail the process of monitoring compliance and evaluation for future engagement. Okay. Just leadership in administrative staff should be trained on such procedures and maintain documentation of their efforts to monitor compliance, including remediation steps outlined in contractual agreements. We have already implemented programmatic. Our
programmatic staff is assigned as points of contact. For any of our vendors and they are required to check in regularly with those vendors. We're developing Senator Di scoring and review system related to compliance. You know. This won't just be a hodgepodge. How how we identify whether or not someone is in compliance. There will be a system for that development of appropriate under corrective actions and procedures. Discuss that in a different finding. Implementation of quarterly in-service training for phs programmatic staff regarding gender compliance and development of under compliance. P. Finding 7 inconsistent vendors selection. Staff interviews interviewed, revealed that no consistent process for vendor selection existed. Leadership also acknowledged the lack of recipes but noted Phs is operational needs often fall outside traditional purchasing
procedures. Ap recommends phs staff received formal training on the city county purchasing process. Phs should also develop internal procedures that defined roles and responsibilities for vendor selection. We hope you just operations require deviation from the standard purchasing processes phs to collaborate with purchasing in the controller's office, to develop a standard for navigating such situations. So we have again already implemented a program and project design as a p as well as our Peart procurement us up. He was training coming in the coming days. Last year, providing annual training for our team related to procurement. But because we have this new procurement that specific to a phs, we will providing that training in coordination with the purchasing division. And finally finding a transfer from the general fund to the Greater Indianapolis Progress
Committee. From JANUARY of 21 to JANUARY. 23. $314,119 and city general funds. Were transferred to the Indy's Food Council Gypsy account for food related activities including payments for consultants, community partners and technique, technological support. This allowed these funds to circumvent both purchasing in the county Auditor's Office review and approval for expenditures. While the transfer of funds from the General Fund to Gypsy was approved v 8 via a DECEMBER first 2021 memo from the mayor's office to the county auditor, the transfer subject of the funds to significantly less oversight, creating a control weakness. Expenditures from Gypsy accounts are only approved by the agency. Director mayor's
chief of staff and Gypsy executive director, all of whom were are often far removed from the activity that created the expense. Ap recommends that any future efforts to retain budgetary general funds. The Cordon 8 with the Office of Finance and Management and retained within city accounts to ensure proper oversight. To resolve this issue. The top. I authorized when I became director, a total return of the funds that remained in that account totaling $8,162 and $0.66 be returned to. That's the city's general fund. With that APRIL 30th 2025 memo. 2. We are available for any questions. Asked city which isn't we are available for any questions that you have to. Thank you, MR. Jones, MR. Merkley, Commerce, a question
counselors, PRESIDENT Lewis, thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a couple questions. Thank you so much for your presentation. Director Joe, you share that this was requested by the mayor's office because few things kept coming up. Do you mind speaking to what those things were? The first one was the the transfer and use of Gypsy. So there with a two-inch issues with Gypsy, the transfer of the funds again, which was directed by the mayor's office at that time. And then a couple years later, there was the use of Gypsy as the grant federal grant recipient. So those kind of raise red flags, even though they activities took place. And so we had looked into kind of each of those individually to see what had taken place with those. And that's what led larger review,
MR. As my second question, your first time actually auditing this department. Yes, it offers. Yes, it is the first time. So you mentioned given them credit where they're making progress. Can you speak to that at the things that you've seen so far to show that they actually are making progress from your lands as the director of product. Main thing is is. A greater attention to the need for processees. So as the director mentioned, that that they have now there's a whole submission and approval process for when they receive an invoice for giving activity. It runs through an approval path within their department itself before it goes on to 2 processing with the rest of the enterprise I think there's. Due to some of the issues they run into him. Your payment delays and other sorts of matters. The
leadership has has taken this with much more seriousness. And so there's they've reached out again to other departments to ask for help and guidance on how to help improve those operations. So those are just a couple and it doesn't any of those risk factors. Do you believe we need to be aware of as the city County Council? In terms of the neighborhoods or back to the risk factors, anything that you saw on this audit that we as members of the city County Council need to be aware just moving forward to ensure that we are at all right, fit seeing some of the issues that you saw. Absolutely. I mean, I think everything that's kind of listed in the report are significant risks need to be address. Our office is looking
at ways to address those risks because they might exist and other agencies and departments just given the nature of how our enterprise works. And so I failed to mention this, but part of that kind of remediation process of this is that our office will go back. We usually go back within 6 months or so. A smaller type review to make sure the recommendations and the plans are implemented. But given the nature of this that review will be a little more substantive and so our plans with the agreement him Phs is that we'll go back and q 3 q 4 and retest another smaller sample of activities. Run it up against the new standard operating procedures to see exactly how much progress has been made in this period. Thank you for your efforts.
Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. Thank you. MADAM. PRESIDENT Council boots. Directors this report, at least my mind generated a laundry list of questions that we don't have time for this evening. So many of those all-important line. But correct me if I'm characterizing this incorrectly and that is. This was prompted by the mayor's office being concerned about the use, the funds given to Gypsy and it's serving as a fiscal agent. As a grant recipient, which authorized. But the DECEMBER memo 2021. Well, just to clarify that there there were 2 separate things. So the memo and 20 DECEMBER of 21 was just authorizing the transfer of those funds. It was directing the auditors office to
transfer that some to the food gypsy accounts. Subsequent to that and totally unrelated and with new leadership or new individuals in the mayor's office. Phs. Food Division went on its own and then sought out that. Ella Pa Yeah. Yes, that's correct. So that was not necessarily run through the mayor's office. They're kind of 2 distinct. Issues, but they were the mayor's office. Was aware of the 2021 transfer. So that's where the questions Okay. Other questions or counseling piggybacking on PRESIDENT Lewis's question. Everything you've seen. Is there any threat? Are any concerns we should have that there's a potential for clawback by the federal government if it becomes aware of some of these deficiencies in the process and questionable uses of these funds. Council. Are you referring to the lfp a grant
or other federal funds? There's a lot of money coming through your office. And I know you were there at the time, but, you know, it's 75% increase in budget in 5 years. It is astronomical. It's probably unprecedented the history of the city. Hundreds of millions of dollars came through a phs and we're just concerned. Where did it all go? They're very little documentation. The reporting process was very loose. Grants. You know, my experiences until I see report is detailed. You don't see another penny. And that was not happening. Millions of dollars flowing out the door. And that's concerning to us.
The For tech. If we're talking about arpa funds, which was a large portion of the funding that came through phs of the last several years. We so we have confirmation with them that our vendors who receive those funds who are reporting directly f n because our boat reporting went directly to often. We are in compliance with federal guidelines and and we have already. But we have been audited by 3rd party. Already. So those funds we are in compliance and to my knowledge, the any federal grants that we've received outside of our. But we are also in compliance. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Also count Raleigh. Thank you. MISTER Chair. Picking back MADAM PRESIDENT's question and MR. CHAIRMAN's question. When talk about the government
contract, I think the where we were looking for. So she said that we're moving in another direction and offering training. And keep this from preventing happen again. Are we asking is there any conflict of interest? And if there's a conflict of interest with funders and the city of Indianapolis, have we put that form before the employee? All right. We even talked about the conflict of interest are you referring to the finding just endured bags are MR. CHAIRMAN is Quest and and I ask this question because, you know, my background is in compliance and audit me and I've even had to sign a conflict of interest. And when you're dealing with money, there should be a conflict of interest form signed by anyone that maybe working for the city are have relationships with the fund or so. That's my
question. Has a conflict of interest Vance, guess in General jet, you know, federal Dollar City dollars, anything. Because that's flowing through office ph is. Can answer that counselor. So first and foremost, everyone in the Enterprise receives an annual ethics training, which includes the receiver annual ethics training. So so they are made aware of what? Is appropriate or not when it relates to these kinds of conflicts of interests. My understanding is that there has been no illegal activity related to these grants there. Think things MAY not have been documented correctly. I think that's what this audit demonstrates is that. Document things correctly or we didn't say those documents in one place too. Make sure that folks were. If you're in to
the ethics code to your point demonstrating that there was no conflict of interest. So. Moving forward, we will make sure that if there is any kind of conflict that that employee understands signs any kind of conflict of interest, MR. CHAIRMAN Councilor, ok, so going back to you said there was no legal consequences, but it MAY not any but a conflict of interest should have been there. And I have to have another question. Were there any of p 8 p? Ph is on any of them certified because most out of 5. In health care where you have the professional coders. Now you have this sort of 5 bucks or fix center where coders that works. More on the legal side. And so I need was there any of them certified on
this process? Because most people that are certified understand that. Not disclose point should have been it and place. I could probably speak to So kind of back to your first question from an enterprise standpoint in terms of disclosing economic interests that form which we just process was just completed in APRIL is kind of reserved for elected officials. Plant officials and related employees to those appointed official. So it does not kind of reached down to the. Other levels of agency or department. So that is one reason why those were not, i think in place for those that were involved peaches at that time. As for the audits, those word the federal funds and grant programs that were included in the audits were
included part of our our external audit by our external auditor for mismas, ours. So there are no issues or findings identified in any of those single audits. The current audit is going on right now. And so we have confirmation that those were done in accordance with their with their procedures. It's I think a little bit different than traditional financial audit. So we have the financial statement audit and then the single audit which cover kind of grant expenditures. So there were no findings through those. But again, those were done by an independent 3rd party. I got one more question counsel. Sorry, got one more question, Andrew, a deputy director. You know that I have started building the ecosystem around the gbra system. And I have already met with several
funders giving this eye and the elevation Gray. And I have stressed the importance of what this ecosystem is and what it will, too, because I feel as though it way up given oversight to everything that's happened. Happening now. And we should have been done already. Did that. What is your hope that we would do differently now? That is it has hang out. And I mea even a staffer standpoint and a funding standpoint, what does the in it? And with our community engagement with our funders, that a place where the elevation grant, what it what is your hope? What does that look like for you moving forward? Counselor, I want to make sure, Anderson, your question where this is directly related to elevation, the elevation grant exactly in is, you know, as we had met
previously, spoke with you out told you that I was meeting with some funders about building ecosystem of how important that is since the in this it has came out and so my question to you, what does that look like with me building this ecosystem? What does that look like for you where you see this elevation going. Elevation Grant socially. So appreciate your interests and ecosystem. I think that is critical for our community partners to. The collaborating together. More ovation is a fantastic way too. Start that process. And with what we'll talk about later this evening in the elevation presentation, is that with this new round of funding? Current round of
funding. That is we. There is more collaboration phs is at the table involved in bringing all of those recipients as grantees together on a monthly basis and making sure that there's case conferencing of individuals being served and, you know, cross collaboration who what can ok just do to help? How can the other grantees assist each other? There's also a lot of capacity building coming from local capacity building partners. The any public safety foundation. As think, you know, has been in contact with one of the, you know, one of our universities to help build that ecosystem and whose and they developed that in other locations. And so they kind of spearheading that development
of that body that would help to create the ecosystem the bill done. I think I think you're exactly right, having our partners partners of the table to help drive the decision making related to gun violence reduction. It is critical. Counselor Kosar Council heart. Thank you, MR. I want to say I'm shocked. Not and I say that because as a reminder in 2022, I brought a proposal to most. Everybody here is not everybody's here at the time, but I brought up proposal and agency that quick receiving money from Arpa to come back to body and tell us how it was spent. Management throughout this council. It took until last year. When we were having grant request
coming through the spring, fiscal that I put in another amendment to this body. And I said for us to release those funds, we need to start seeing the efficacy of those programs and then he released this document. Never the sea of all the other 420 million dollars that came through. I've been saying these things for a reason. Because there's been concerns from me. And I've asked the same question over and over again. What is the effectiveness of the dollars that we're spending? And even when I look at it at these reports that you have here, right, these are large macro. Metrics. They are not the finite. Orman standards of the individual programs that are being funded. So if we look at all this 40 million dollars and elevate and you know, with the audit is showing this is
an insufficient programmatic oversight of these individuals that we asked them to do a thing. Did they do the thing? And if they did did that result in a reduction in crime? We don't know. We have 400 and well. You didn't have 4.20, but you had 40 million to try your office that because I I will recognize this wasn't just you'd recommend. Was a this was been going on for a long time with the office, had this amount of money for a long time for a really good opportunity for the city of Indianapolis for us to try some new things to see what's going to work. And that has been the point the entire time for all of us has to say, are these things working or are they not? Because if they were this body has the ability to double down, triple down on some of those things to help reduce crime. We just lost out on
that opportunity. That's where I came from this year. For the citizens of Indianapolis. As for questions. You know, I'm looking at number 2 and I'll just have to couple questions, MR. CHAIRMAN, that number 2, we're looking at funding ever to. 84 1% of the contracts tested had missing, incomplete, insufficient invoices and documentation. We recognize those invoices had insufficient says, have we gone back to any of those contracts and look for those conflicts to be reviewed, corrected or any other type of corrective action to take place on else are we okay? Just has not gone back and done any kind performed any corrective action for any invoices. We do not have the details of the audit of that. That level of detail to
understand. Where we need go with any kind of corrective action that I'm not sure that corrective action required. I mean, I would suggest it I mean, it isn't the audit that we don't even have a standard procedure for selecting. Individuals for our programmatic opportunities. If we don't have corrective action for those individuals that work how do we know that we're not going to keep paying them for not doing. But what we don't we don't even know if they're doing what they're saying. They're doing. So again. Councilor I can only speak to my times as director of this agency whatever I worked on previously in my former rules we to your earlier point about whether or not we can tell that the elevation grants that we prefer that we provided provide results or that we learn from them. I think that I I will respectfully disagree with your comment the we present to you later on elevation grants that are
currently ongoing. We can. We definitely learned from mistakes from the past or how those grantees performed to to tell us how who we should like moving forward into inform how we should make the program better moving forward. And so we have implemented a lot of those changes. Additionally, what we heard from Elevation has informed peach U.S. Is operating moving forward. You know, creating logic models to better understand what it is that we're trying to solve for with the program at outset before the program was never implemented. What are those outcomes that we want to measure? And are they measurable? And then? Being able interpret that data and be able Corley what we've done
to violent crime reduction. And so I do think that while the report that you MAY have in your hand right now is more of a macro level report what we're doing moving forward is going to help us dive deeper into these programs because we will have better data that is measurable. I hear you, but we don't have for the last 10 years that we've been spending hundreds of millions or 10's of millions of dollars on last questions to chair does is there and this MAY be migrants from No one of top of my head. But I know and you know what works begin as they have boards that oversee their contract executions for a lot of the Ph U.S. Have a board that has any contract execution oversight. Yes, there is an office of Public Health and Safety Board. I'm
the director or CHAIRMAN Of that board we've received contracts. We review contracts from impd isd and other emergency services agencies as well as the Office Public Health and Safety. Majority of the contracts that come before board. Our professional Services Grant or services grants which are not required to be reviewed. Buy our report. So when we look at the dollars that that came through saying the elevation, those didn't after that. When you get down to the finest level for service provider, they don't need prove. That's correct. So example of a contract that would come before our board is the the purchase of Firemen's helmets, right? The construction of the housing home and contract
agreement providing funds for that contract. What doesn't come before our board is implementation of a gun violence reduction. Initiative. Thank MR. Council. Council Perkins. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN, thank you. Director Jones and director Merkley for your presentation. I have I think 2 questions, but I'll make a statement. The complexity world in the situation that we find ourselves in pushes us to accept that 2 things can be true. The first thing is what is revealed through this audit. They're inconsistent practices, financial practices and Office of Public Health and Safety. It is also can be true. But many of the programs that were supported that are supported through the Office of bin Impactful and effective
in community. And so I challenge my colleagues to be able to to wrestle with those 2 facts that what we have seen from the data over the last 4 years in terms of gun violence reduction in terms of addressing some of the root causes in our community. But some of the programs, joy the programs that we have been supportive have been very effective in doing so. And so I don't want lose that in the midst off wrestling with inconsistent policies, financial pauses within the office statement. First question, Director Jones, you mentioned that none of these findings are uncommon for north agencies. And so the first question is, what is the role off up and working with
new agencies are expanding agencies to develop financial policies and practices that are consistent with acceptable financial products. What's the role of your office in working with the new agents? Yes, no. Appreciate that question. Counselor it. Do our independence. We don't really have a role in establishing those things. So fm generally is the responsible party kind of for a financial risk across the enterprise. And so our role is to come in to evaluate how well things are operating. So we would compromise independence if we were involved with the creation of it and then coming into audit it to say whether is sufficient or not. So when a
new agency are in, department is created. That is more of a collaboration between them of him to get whatever's set up. They need going and then we would come in to test that at a later date. Thank you. So so in fact, what we had agency that over the last 5 or 6 years grew into itself as a response all that we were experiencing from the pandemic. So the reality is across Marin County kind of the direction and how do you develop effective financial practices? My second question is the initial audit period was between 2020 2024. But it was noted that it was expanded to include specific activities to 2025 end of 2025, what with those specific activities that
were included in 2025. Additional contractual agreements, some things that and were initiated during the original audit period were extended and then that carried them into 2025. So expanded the scope to get the full breath of those activities. MR. CHAIRMAN COUNCILMAN Councilmen scary. Counter moves and ask my questions. Thank you. Council council meeting. Thank chair and thank you directors for. Being here. I know it's a probably not a presentation that you look forward to giving going over all this. But Merkley to just do you personally in your role as director and you know, your your hopes and aspirations to continue. Leading this department in the future. Were you caught off guard by this? You feel the results of this report are alarming to you.
Are you disturbed when you first read them? What was your initial reaction to Thank you for the question. Counselor. As I stated during the presentation, there were there were activities occurring from the moment that I took this position to begin addressing some of these findings. So these are not all new to me. Having been with the agency for now, 6 years, I had witness. Practices that maybe weren't. Up par with how we should be operating so what's that? Some of these things I was not privy to obviously is not being directors. So I look forward to continuing the challenging work making these things right and making sure that our teams. Understand what the rules are, their expectations but also giving giving them the tools to be
able to do that. Thank you have. And said that there's nothing criminal in it and I go through and I looked to see, you know, there's all these conflicts of interest. And there was protocols are anything here. Part of me is wrestling with. How that possibly not criminal or how how we you know. Basically has the prosecutor's office reached out to you guys at all throughout this or have you all anything to them? I don't even know if it's technically your role to refer things. Probably not. But as I have to imagine, you know, the office of performance, you will maybe have some sort of relationship with them. Is the prosecutor's office been involved in this at all as law enforcement been
involved? And this at all? Are there any investigations looking into specific abuses of taxpayer dollars? In short. Yes, there are a couple entities that are continuing to look into those one is at the state level. There is no law enforcement involvement at this point. But those investigations are still ongoing. So have no additional information on where those stand, but that is what's going on from the operational standpoint. What are the state level? It's because that would be involved in this. I know you're going to ask that and I'm Tony Blinken on their name. I would be like it's kind of are overseeing body. It is the state Board of accounts. Okay. Yes. Know, maybe one. Coming here, too. Kind of wrap this up and being here for 6 years? No, I think I'm to say I was there when
this originally came up and I think probably 5, 6 years ago. During pandemic, the city was. Drunk on a lot of money and we had money burning a hole in our pocket and we can spend a lot can spend it fast enough. But I remember there were multiple counselors, myself included during that process. They're like, well, what can we do to make sure that we are actually getting results? From all the all the dollars that are going out. And I think the response is that we would consistently get is that's a really good question. You should keep asking it. And never really went beyond that. I think things have changed at least on this council. So I certainly want to give credit to our new council leadership and everything. But I think we are here. Partially and result to a very weak legislative branch of government. The
rubber stamp budgets without actually doing due diligence and looking into that and I will give credit to current council leadership because I think that has changed. But we're here is a direct result of I think the lack of oversight from from this fiscal body. Also count struggling. Thank you, MR. Chair. So your 2025 budget is approximately 30 for millions and looking to findings one through 3. They basically outline a lack of documentation and data 4, the agency and I similar to counsel her. And then I feel like that doesn't surprise me because during your budget hearing last year. And also during your confirmation, numerous counselors and committee asked about data making sure that the data was
there to support the spending and that 34 million dollar budget and so I just want to reiterate something I know I have brought up multiple times in this committee which is making sure that we do have the data to show that what we're spending 34 million dollars on. Effective. We are the fiscal body for the county and we need to make sure that what we're spending our money on is, you know, right priority and that work, you know, getting our money's worth when we have, you know, roads that are crumbling and lots of other top priorities that come to come to us as counselors. We need to make sure that that we are getting results and the money is going where it needs to So I I just felt that it was really important to bring that up. I
do want to give you some credit because you have heard to date administrator and you brought that up. That was one of your priorities in your confirmation hearing. So I know that that knew from day one I've seen this is an issue. Tonight I just want to bring that up again, reiterate the point that data is really important to us. Think ouster. Little Maori. You share. Thank Director Mark Jones being evening first, I want to say commissioners, understand you have been there the whole time is the director a lot of this kind proceeds you from your time as director. However, I I don't want to fall. Honestly, you know, it. Because it was a news out of a deal. I think this is an option. If you also too, buck stops with you. You're the top of the chant
food chain on this one. Lets just take accountability for it and know what how come forward. I'd like to see that more off. And got kind frustrate hearing will that was before I don't care if those for you during You're here now. And I want I want to hear on these things. So with regards to kind of are saying, look, income or at the individual levels. And Cal looking back on some of these city and have that info right hand right away. I'm peaking get that info to you. Is that a plan? You are looking something you're looking to plant a look back and certain looking at to see if there are instances. And with those, you know, pinched potential. Remedies could be a correct situations with we're council heart was going. My in my work thus far in my intention is looking forward and making
sure that what we're doing forward is in compliance and that we and I'm committed to ensuring that our programming, our financial documentation is robust and that it it is in place for, you know, data for this body moving forward in. I will absolutely take ownership for you know, this agency and where we have Ben. But again, I am focus on the on the future. We absolutely have to move forward. We also have know what we've done in the past has been money well spent because if we're not looking back at what we've done already, then we don't know if we should keep you keep doing these things. And to me, it seems like all we've done is just, you know, do the same thing over and over again. Showing money out. Taxpayer dollars without any kind of knowledge of where how it's
being spent or went, where is being spent. So I would hope that we can really look back at this, too, is 2 things can be done at once. And I think you can try to do it that some of yours, your staff, but well, the question here is with budget season. Coming up, I'm kind of with counselor foods here where he said that we you know, not shot another penny until we know what's going on. And I ap said we're going to have another look at this. Quarter, 3 quarter sewer at kind of compare, you know, benchmark off this and explain to the public here, how we can have a meaningful conversation good feeling of funding. Okay. Chess with this plaque. I have a report that we got here today. When we get to the budget season, you will see significant significantly more detailed data. Regards to the programs that we are currently
offering. Our team has been working diligently to collect that data and ensure that our vendors are providing that to us we just met last week to ensure that we have all of our data reporting from all 25 in quarter one which just ended. And that is that is in preparation for this upcoming budget season because we understand that there is the rightly so you all have concerns about. Whether or not the money that is going these programs is effective. So aside from that, you know, I think. I know that we can show and demonstrate that the work that we have done has been impactful in our community. If you go onto our website, look at our dashboards now. You can see the number of people who received food. You can see the
number of households who have been impacted by eviction diversion work. And we know how many people have been impacted by gun violence reduction strategy. So. Yes, there's more we can do. There's a deeper dive that we are doing and we're working with our partners to do that our team is committed to making sure that we have the data for you all come budget season. Thank Thank To my recounts. A boots. Erin, I'm going one. So be quick. My second time here just to clarify. And then the you said earlier this on it had nothing to do with the arpa money that came through the city. Correct? Yes, that's correct. Yeah. And that that money was overseen by. A fam. It was yes. And then audited by our external auditor for Christmas are so so that there is a final report on how use of money was overseen a
particularly money that went to the Indianapolis Foundation. There's a report that tells us that. So that final report is what we're discussing our next presentation. And that is coming at the full report will be this this evening or I'm sorry by the end of the month. Well, you have tonight is executive summary will be giving you a sneak peek presentation of that of pack up a report. And finally, just as maybe a suggestion when we see all this data, I would like to see make sure we have causation shown and not merely correlation. We've seen a lot of that in statistics. You can make statistics say anything you want and how you spend it. I want to see causation that the money we're spending here is the primary cause of this benefit? Not a mere
correlation. Correlation is. The sale of ice cream goes up as the level of crime goes up. That's a correlation. It's not a cause. We want to make sure what we're talking about in the money we're spending is a cause factor to the intended objective. And because this, in fact, back in the day I was even with Counselor Heart, I Co sponsored that proposal saying it just makes sense that we know where this money is going. And I'm also a little alarmed that. This ethics and conflict of interests require so much training. I would hope. A moral person. Would know better. That's in a position that they're not having conflict of interest. They're not hiring a relative and using taxpayer money to further their family's financial interest. I hope that should not take much training. If that's not inherent in that person. And
that person should not be an employee of this enterprise. So I just want him. That's that's also Easter. Thank you. Thank you. Council council remain. Thank you very much, MR. CHAIRMAN, I want to acknowledge first, MISTER CHAIRMAN, the appreciation I have for you allowing this discussion also acknowledge participation of our council PRESIDENT. That's just a really positive thing to see. And I think that it will only continue on the effort. I think all councilors on this committee in the council, Bonnie, are hoping to see not only on this issue, but on a variety of other issues. Directors. Thank you for being here tonight. Luckily for you. A lot of my colleagues asked lot of the questions I had and made a lot of the same statements I was going to make. So you are going to have to hear a lot from me. But you know me well enough to know
you are going to hear a little bit from me. Director Jones, one thing you said in the beginning of your comments was this idea of women experience in gaps. The idea that this is not uncommon with younger agencies, I that's what I understood you to say. And they're kind of was a pivot to say that there are now measures in place, quality control practices that are kind of assuring us that this type of on it shouldn't be conducted again, would not render the same results. My question to you is with your department and office of Odd Preformance. If you know that a younger agency is prone these type of issues, does your office regret not going after and taking a work
earlier on in a more proactive way at a younger agency's practices. In other words, if you or had a probability that there would be some of these gaps that existed, understanding that there's limited experience and the younger agency knowing ph was a younger agency, wouldn't have been beneficial before you got tipped off. To maybe do a proactive type of audit. And so I guess that's what I want to hear from. You said a fair characterization and what I want to know is how you move forward with maybe future agencies that are newer or doing something different than in the past being more proactive than reactive thank you. Council know I I think that's a fair question. Again,
I can only speak to the 3 or so years I've been in this chair. And as I alluded to earlier, we've been working on various elements of Oak hs from almost jumped from. When I got to the chairs, one of the first things I place on my desk. So I would slightly disagree that we have just been waiting to get tipped off on this. We worked on a couple different gauges that were not full public audits. They have were rolled up and turned into this. So it's taking some time to do that. Of course, think it would have made sense to. Maybe have some sort of engagement phs in its formative years. But again, I and a lot of our part of our team was not here for that. We haven't had that many new agencies departments. I Cs and Mason would be the That would be the most fresh as part of
our listing. And that is what you're getting at is one of the challenges of our So we've got a 1.6 billion dollar enterprise. We have 4 auditors, which is not nearly enough. So but I think that's the point I'm making is if it's not enough, you know what the council doesn't want is to walk out of this chamber with egg on its face. You know, that's not going to happen this agency. You know, it's going to have to start making us bring towels with us to meetings to wipe the egg off of our face with these type reports and the lack of answers were giving. So all I'm trying to say is it would to me be smart to say what agencies in the enterprise are new and you should have in my mind some type of audit ready to go automatically that make
a difference is agency's new. It's been 2 years. It's been 3 years. We're ready to go and do an audit that way. You can catch it early. And then defined director Moakley. Now, if there's one thing that I know other than I'm probably going to pull out of this building and had a pothole. It's that my agencies on deck to get another audit very You know, those are the 2 things that I think as a counselor would be really reassuring to know that these new agencies have some audit tasks ahead of them and that they will be Rihanna. Did quickly after. Should there be challenges in issues now? I am not in your position and I am not trying to tell you exactly how to do your job. Mayor Hogsett decides to call me sometime and offered me the position.
I'm sure I'll be waiting on that phone call long time. You know, then I'll get into to the nitty gritty. But I think you understand what I'm trying to say. So I would rather to spend more money on auditors. Then on these type of headlines and this type of response that I think we're getting out of pages, ok? Director Mark It's been and I acknowledge in the game ph as hot potato, you ended up with the hot potato last. But there were a lot of people that touched the potato before got you. So I don't really blame you. 100%, obviously for the audit report. But I appreciate what I think you understand. It's very serious on that report that needs significant
attention. My question to you is. I was shocked at how much I wasn't shocked by the report. It didn't surprise me at all because I've been in this council chambers for like 6 or 7 years. And I ask questions, never get answers to That just from you. That's from a lot of people prior to you, whether it's with violence interrupters, whether it's with arpa dollars, whatever it is. I never feel like I get any answers. So if those simple answers can be. Right, what about the hard ones? You know, so surprising to me, I'm sorry that the audit report came out as it did, but it wasn't surprising to me. So my only words of wisdom to you before we get into budget season is that I
do every agency every department, every person who sits down, we're sitting now or goes up to the podium. This body should have its head spin at the dramatic difference in the presentations and the depth that you go into this year than the agency has gone in the last 10 years. There shouldn't be a question we ask you and you say I got to get back to you, Rob. You know you I really hope phs this year is prepared to answer questions, provide the data. It sounds like that's exactly what you have prepare for us, which I'm very excited about. If you know, you have money in the 34 million dollar budget to buy a few tense or something to make additional time for folks to get that stuff ready before the budget season.
That's very important. I want to just acknowledge some council boots Council Bush is one of the great advocates for the issue between causation and correlation. You know, one thing that we know is that we are par with national violence reduction trends were not special. We're we're on par so, you know, let's talk about correlation and causation because we know that we're not necessarily breaking any records were just on national violence reduction trends. Those are the things I want to see if we can get those type of answers answered, it's easier to fund the agency and it's easier to restore confidence in the agency which has been significantly undermined by this audit. Thank you. Thank you. Council
in a council agrees. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Director Jones. This the first question I have is for you. You talked about the reason for audits, risk assessment and requests. I'm curious to know there's anything in the protocol that talks about changes in leadership as we have witnessed with the responses from director monthly. With that create or trigger the need for know that. Thank you, counselor. So part of our risk assessment process is both qualitative and quantitative in it. What or you more than you can imagine. But there are so many factors that we can use to select an audit or we're going to audit. So traditionally the agency had selected 2, 1, to 2 agencies or departments each year and kind of done in a tizzy audit
of those. We're working to move away from those because of the staffing kind of constraints that I mentioned. So we're working more on an issue based approach now where, you know, given that even work with this audit, the issue of 3rd party vendor maintenance and compliance, that's an issue that transcends multiple agencies and Our new approach is to to pick something agency aired an issue like that and then fine, 4, 5, 6 different agencies that we can test that specific risk within. So we are still in the infant stages of getting that deployed. But when it comes to selecting which agencies those are there, a number of factors we can use the last time we talked to them budget size.
You name it, go down the list. So between your suggestion and counselor is I leadership changes basically tenure or maturity of agency are 2 factors that we could add into our consideration to help maybe move up the list. Some of those agencies or departments that might be more inherently susceptible to risk. Thank you my opinion. I think that that would help us identify things during those transitions in leadership. And I think it would allow us to jump right on it versus Wade. For years before we identified the challenges and then my final question, MISTER Chair, just this real quickly for director Merkley. I know that portions of what you guys do
depend on anonymity. And now we're asking for more transparency. Do you think that we might risk? Because in my opinion, the work you do is helping drive crime down. So I I appreciate that. And in some way, but will this will any of this request for trans more transparency and more conversations with that. Challenge what we see and regards to crime in our city going in the right direction. Thank you for the question. The data that we collect is typically not identify, not identifiable, but it is it does, you know, collect demographic type information. And then we aggregate that. So what we would share with you all would not necessarily it would be very difficult for it to for anyone understand maybe who we've worked with any
individual person I do think that there could be situations where we MAY not be able to that. There MAY data point that we are able to share because of anonymity. But for the most part, we aggregate it and we can provide that to you to the points that several of your colleagues have made. You know, demonstrate correlation versus causation and whether or not we can do that. What he just does is not like filling a pothole. There's not 30 potholes and we feel 30 potholes and therefore we have solved that problem. Reducing crime is multifaceted. It caused by individuals. With that are housing insecure is caused by lack of access to food. I'm not telling you anything. You don't know. We could address one of those items for one person and they still have 15 other challenges that they're trying to
address. And so if we can't address all of this at one time, that is where it becomes challenging to demonstrate causation. But what the work that we're doing is identifying the best ways, the best outcomes that are going to get close as close as we can because Asian ahead of those programs going into place so that we measure that 4. You will. Council PRESIDENT Luis, thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, not question. Just a request. And so on the budget history page, speak to the expansion of the clinician let community response. And so congratulations on that however, I was informed earlier this week that the numbers have decreased. And so I'd be interested to see what those numbers look like. So put more dollars in the program. We expanded it to
recently to my council district at that. Yet the numbers are decreasing. So just in arrested on what's going on there. So again, if you get you to respond tonight, if you can give me that information, that would greatly appreciated. Thank you. PRESIDENT Lewis concerning going to make this very brief for the second time without having consulted council leadership just popped in my head. But what I think would be interesting during the budget process, Director Jones is if there was some way to come to the council committee for the Office of on Performance and just give us an idea, right? You just said you have Nutters. You talked about the size, the enterprise. What's 2 more auditors get You know, it would be an arrest and a kind of better understand what the
bang for our buck is so that maybe would determine, you know, I'm very rarely for increasing the size of any government agency. You know, maybe a couple of additional people would tremendously help this body in the enterprise. Ensure we don't find ourselves in this position. Appreciate that. I'm happy to pull that together. Provide I see a couple faces that are on my admin finance committee. So, yes, happy to revisit that. Additional comments on the audit portion of the presentation. Thank you, MR. Jones, MR. Murphy won't stay put move on to Other aspects of the presentation. Guys have a hard copy of the Innovation Grant program. MR. Murphy, going to start on the presentation as well. Yes, and MR. CHAIRMAN, I have 2, 2, colleagues from eating out Indianapolis. And you haven't come up and introduce them to
us, please, yes, absolutely. If it's okay with you, I'm going to transition to podium and they're going to sit here. Yep. MR. Murphy, you have almost 50 slides in this presentation. You don't have slides and was a presentation. So before you begin talk to us, how you're going to the present, 50 slides to committee. Yes, absolutely. I can understand how that is shocking to see you will. We will not be presenting on all the slides that many of them are just supplemental for you all to look at in your free time. But for the worst The so I will get started. But the majority of this presentation will not be by means you won't have to hear me drone on this evening night. My colleagues at from iu Indianapolis Foundation will be presenting majority of this to you. MR.
CHAIRMAN members of the committee, in fact tonight, too, and introduce my colleagues as they are going present to you some information about previous 6 rounds of the elevation. Grant and that those are the rounds that were funded primarily by arpa, but also the thriving neighborhoods results from tonight through the neighborhoods funds which are local dollars. I'm joined this evening by a several partners, including back an who is a senior policy analyst with the University Public Policy Institute, along with members of the Indianapolis Foundation Team Act that young ceo and quickly chief of staff ritual McIntosh, vice PRESIDENT Of
Grant making and Dr Joy ucb director of impact and evaluation. Before I turn it over to Rebecca to talk to you about the previous rounds. I wanted to just touch on some high-level items. So for the evaluation portion of this presentation, I wanted to note that a majority of organizations funded. Are located in areas where crime hotspots are all have also been identified. And that demonstrates the strategic strategic strategy. Excuse me in these programming decisions. We can. We're going to demonstrate to you very good outcomes across the board in terms of participant experiences. And they're while there have been challenges, we believe that many of those challenges were impacted by
the current economy like high rent prices and lack of good jobs. But we've seen success in spite of these challenges. Grantees have indicated that they learned a lot during this process, especially as it relates to different funding. The from federal government, which is different from what they received an other operations. And in some cases we saw significant program growth since receiving this federal funding. And I'll just name a few of our partners who have who we've seen that expansion voices corporation like no other the Peace Learning Center and use what you got ministries. You'll also learn about how we've taken the experiences. I talked about this in my
previous presentation, but how we've taken these experiences from the 6 rounds of arpa funding to make significant improvements to not only the elevation program, but 2 other Phs offers with our direct funding. And that includes the intensive supports that we're providing to the current list of 30. Programming. Excuse grantees. Moving on to the current funding again, we've been intentional in selecting our partners who are located in these high crime areas. And their focus on work that is strategic to address the root causes. We've plan during this planning process, which we did before selecting grantees in partnership with the Indianapolis Pot Foundation in black onyx. We've we've created lodge logic model and measure and identified measurable outcomes that we have been provided to the
grantees that we believe will will help them be successful in reporting. Back to us. The causality of the work that they're doing and how it impacts violence. We've also implemented timely site visits and require quarterly reporting. I can tell you tonight that all of the quarterly reporting has already been provided to the Indianapolis Foundation for this current round. This two-year grant cycle that we have implemented for this round is going to allow our grantees more time to implement their programming. And will hall will ideally provide data and measurements that will hopefully someday allow us to directly Corley this were to the crime reduction that we're seeing in the city. And at this time, I will turn it over to Rebecca Menery to provide details on the previous 6 rounds of the elevation group. Thank you.
Director week All right. Thank you. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to present the results of the valuation of the elevation grant program between the summer of 2022. Through the fall of 2025. Elevation was designed to fund organizations that are working unity's to address the root causes of crime in Indianapolis to prevent crime by addressing it early on through supports prevention and other activities that will ensure that individuals and neighborhoods are healthy and safe. Over time. This will reduce engagement to people in these neighborhoods with the criminal justice system. During the time period of this
evaluation. 6 angered funding rounds lasting one year. Each invest a total of 40.0, 2 million dollars elevation. Grantees. 235 grantees are awarded funds across 6 funding rounds. 52 of these are funded more than once. Of these grant. He's 189 refunded using arpa funds and 46 were funded using city dollars. Elevations served at least 175,000 individuals throughout Marion County based on data from 92% of grant. He's. Our team conducted a statistical analysis to identify crime hotspots and Marion County using data from the impd robberies, non-fatal shootings and murders that occurred between JANUARY 2021. And
FEBRUARY 2026, the map illustrates these hot spots in relation to elevation grantee locations. The green dots are apa funded and the yellow dots are city-funded. In general crime hotspots and Indianapolis spanned the center of the county from the Far East side to the Mid West Side and northwest toward Eagle Creek Reservoir. The locations of elevation grantees are mostly located in crime hot spots, although there are some on the north side of the city outside of hot spots. A sizeable proportion of grantees serve many zip codes in the county and some serve the entire county. Grantees collected data on the characteristics of those that they served, which indicate a priority for the target population of elevation, young, black or Hispanic. Or Latin a nails. Grant. He's also collected
data relates their program activities. Each grantee selected outcome measure that passed represented goal of its elevation, funded activities. Among the city. Grantees. Not all selected are reported data for these measures because there are fewer of them. Youth serving programs reported excellent outcomes related to youth employment skills, development, positive attitude changes and school suspensions or expulsions. Grant. He is also reported the outcome data of adult participants. In this slide to Asterix beside a percent indicate that the data that this is the data of 30 or fewer participants. So as less of an impact on the overall percentage across both city funded. Grantees. Grantees reported that participants exhibited excellent results relate to substance, use stability, housing, stability,
and violent injury treatment and prevention. Somewhat lower proportions related to employment and pay are likely indicative of local employment employment trends related industries and types of jobs for which participants are qualified. This MAY also represent challenges that individual's face, keeping a job such as on reliable transportation or child care. Education or training program. Completion outcomes include degrees or patients that take a longer period of time. And that's where started but not necessarily finished by the end of a yearlong elevation funding cycle. Finally, 88% of adults with prior convictions were not re arrested during the funding round. On the other hand, about two-thirds of justice involved youth did
not violate existing court order or have a new case. This indicates the need for ongoing support for this age group as their justice involved youth who MAY benefit from longer-term a more intensive support. Finally using data from impd. Our team analyze longitudinal data of several categories of crime. Over the course of the elevation Grant program until shortly after the conclusion of the 6th funding round robberies in Marion County declined, although we seasonal fluctuations and this and the following graphs. The number of non-fatal shootings each month also declined over time and through the end of the grant period. Finally, the number murders each month also generally declined. But the pattern of this, more difficult to see, especially
as there are far fewer murders and non-fatal shootings, robberies Marion County. Our team also conducted an analysis of narrative report submitted by grantees during at the conclusion of their funding cycles. Grantees expressed their appreciation for the elevation team support. They communicated that they saw challenges as opportunities for organizational learning and growth. Grantees experience typical growing pains that many organizations MAY face when launching new or expanding existing programs. Some experience challenges, meeting financial reporting requirements that were different for more rigorous than their previous experience. Many reported that the event, the elevation Grant allowed them to increase service delivery capacity
leading to more people served, expanded service offerings and improve service quality. And it's and director Merkley stayed at these results, support the finding that the elevation Pro grant program made a difference in the lives of many Indianapolis residents and ways that are expected to reduce violent crime communities or the short and long term. Next, I'm going present to you a snapshot of the capacity budin efforts that was implemented 2 out on the grounds of the elevation program. In the first round draft all around. You can see that the know about workshops and intense intensive group trainings that was provided to grassroots organizations. And number of attendees 1000 and 49 cause. 56, what shops and additionally to as the end of dog around more intensive
coaching one-on-one coaching was provided 2.67 Of them is a shuns and 81% developed practical fundraising tools. 78% created fund development plans outlining strategies and logos and timelines. And 22 engaged in by development. And 48% report it securing additional funding doing with reporting period. And moving on to the current television Next. Few slides going to highlight some of the projected outcome. So we hope to see and some measures that have been put in place to strengthen and radio division program. Just direct a month fee highlighted and previous to launch of this coming round. We applied key learnings from prior rounds to strengthening the elevation program and in doing so. We
work very collaboratively together among the Indianapolis Foundation, ph as the city and council members to work together to for the program, design and outcomes on disrupting pathways to violence and Butte stability, connection, opportunity, a community, emegency to your right is a logic model logic model. He's a clear step by step. A road showing you how to build additional program. He's going Ryan and truck outcomes short time alone parents. And you will have this in your packet to review more in detail. This slide Calling some point he lines. And on the chart you see the focus areas that would timely the collaborative effort and the work sessions that we had to intentionally identified. These is that we believe for causing wake on this is we
help them contributes to grantees, working around collaboration and systems. Trent, me, crime history, public safety. We should be focusing interaction with justice system potentially avoiding re interaction with justice system and reducing recidivism. And then we also focusing on education and training for participants, safe, secure and affordable housing, mental health and wellness workforce and employment youth and young adult development and protective factors and disappointment and all of these all of this because has been selected because we believe Ferguson efforts around areas would help and bait and prevent individual is in reducing risk involving the
client. Inbounds. For the calling. While we have a total of 1920's across and then we did a total of projected 15,364 individuals to receive This cause the two-year period of this grant for a total budget of 7 million dollars. Moving on image right here shows a quick glance of target population and age groups that we're going to be serving you see on the map on the covid television going tees closed in those highlighted on the map and the age group of focus around youth 11 to 17 year old. Well, 26.7% and then young got 0.18 to 24. 43.3 1% of those projected to be served and adults. 25 to 54 account for 30% open individuals to be served. And we can assure you the
Indianapolis Foundation has we are to ensure that the impact an evaluation of the official program is strengthening and debate outcomes of this program. We in anybody Jean team, which I lead all into innovative team and own data these, that's going to be working very closely. Also going to use to provide any technical assistance support that is needed to ensure that will be able to come back and favorable outcomes to these committee. And with that, that's the end of our presentation any questions for Thank you so much, MR. Korean team appreciate you as well. Comes to questions from council on the Elevation Grant presentation. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and thank you so much for the detailed presentation that I really appreciate the trend, grass that you have
here. I'm just curious. Did you happen to compare those 2 MAY similar? Cities are national trends or anything like that? We did not compare them to similar cities. We were we were focused mainly on Indianapolis. Pressure. Definitely get books in them. The city and maybe that's homework for. Myself and the council. But think that would be an interesting comparison. Counselor, if I can add to that, the Office Public Health and Safety is that contracting with our partner aired on asking what that stands for right now. But air is going to be looking at our bouncer actions reduction strategy and they are going to be comparing our efforts to other cities on top of city Indianapolis is has produced our crime across the board in all categories. And I believe we are one of
the only if not the only city to do that. Counselor, this comes to questions counselors. Kelso, heart. A follow-up on that. How do we determine the impacts from the efforts here versus say impacts policing from impd. Results production. Incorrect. I will let Rebecca Start that answer see if I can add to it. Yeah. So how we would do something like that. Quantitatively speaking, it would broader scope. But it it would involve taking into account the activities of, you know, that impd is doing also community conditions. What what community partners are doing to understand the extent to which they explain changes and crimes are specific
individual crimes. So could be John. It would likely be complicated and expensive to do. But I think that this could be done over time to understand it. To understand that a little bit better. And just, you know, my my observation. And I think I mean, obviously you guys are doing work, right? But I'm peas doing work. Prosecutors office is doing work. Judges are making decisions. All of those things get. Ultimately that determined reduction in crime overall. So it's hard to say that. This is only potentially one, 4th, not less of the entire equation that we're looking at a public safety. So you know grateful that crime is down across the city and town wanting go down. I do want to all the credit to one or the other because I do
think it's a combination. All the efforts that are being given throughout the city. That's a great point. Counselor and you're exactly right. I mean, the number of partners, a number of agencies that are touching individuals who MAY be impacted by the justice system. It would be very costly and very time consuming too. Pull that data together. Understand every single program and every single entity that that individual engage with over the years and then try to look back and see. During that time period of their life. How many times that they engage with each of those programs. But I think we're getting closer to by making sure that all of our grantees the compliance reduction strategy and impd are all working together. Collaboratively moving forward
with a rotation Thank you. Council doing. Thank you, MR. Chair. I my my questions. Sarah are surrounded around data here. And one of the things that talked a little bit about tonight is the national trend of violent crime, reducing across the nation and something that's come to my mind. And this is only thought that I have, which is. Perhaps the arpa funding that was distributed nationally made a difference like not just here in Indianapolis but nationwide. And so I know you don't have an answer to this tonight, but are there any national groups that are looking at the influx in the funding and outside of Indianapolis? But nation
nationally did that help reduce crime and the parallel here would be trying to figure out. Our our numbers are is our crime reduction due to the influx of funding? Is it just because there's this national trend of us? I don't know. Socio economic things are going on nationally that's causing the kind to decrease in such just. The common thread what we're all asking. Counselor heart is just trying to get at. Why are we seeing her crime go down. This is great. What can we do to keep it going down? So I think I'm just carrying out another angle. Something I'm interested in knowing Morris as additionally do what my colleagues have up. So thank you. For Yeltsin. COUNCILMAN.
Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN to address. The concerns that counselor to lay council Hart says. One of the things that will say with the ecosystem and about bringing all of these different partners to the table. Like you said, the judges and impd in all of the organizations that is doing the work. It's supposed to help identify who's actually doing prevention, work crews doing in a vigil working who's actually just doing those resources. And what I have found that there is a gap in nobody is talking to one another, which definitely needs to happen. And so that was the reason why I went to the Tate. That task on his
back building that. That ecosystem, because one of things that I did tell the funders that came to the bureau like we have to push back on mentality because if I don't know what the record Merkley is, do it and they you over there doing one thing. How can we all collaborate in? So my hope is to have all of us through this collaboration together so that we can continue. So see these numbers going down because I do believe that the strategy so working and everybody is doing doing their part. But my other question is there's been some concerns around Paris, grantees. And, you know, missive behavior and I didn't
see that here in the report. So have we done anything to rectify those relationships? To say why didn't they didn't get the grants or anything like that? We have we took a look at that because I didn't see that in this report. As far as the did MISS Dismiss it. You know, behavior and how my second part of that question is what will the organization see something different from you from a leadership standpoint I think if I understand your question correctly, counselor. Are you? Well, let let me ask it. Are you referring to the current round and then dove and grantees that previous grantees that had not been selected for this round. Both. Okay. And are you referring to
grant? He's in the past who MAY have? Had difficulties or were not felt that they were not treated. It they were treated poorly or something like that, correct? Yes, okay. I will answer the second piece. Then. Related to the current round. So as you know, there was only 7 million dollars in this current round of funding. And so it we're there. We're going to there were just because of the amount of funding that we're not going to build the fund. All of the different programs that had previously been funded when we had 40 million dollars arpa funding. And so we made some very strategic decisions and we involve we included the council staff as well ph a staff in vetting the applications to ensure that we
were selecting programs that if they had been previous grant, he's had demonstrated efficacy in the work that they were doing. And that also could hit the ground running and begin work while also receiving, you know, additional capacity building as we're moving forward. As far as previous grantees from previous rounds I only know of one situation where there was a grantee that that frustrated with the outcome of their time as innovation, green tea and we rectify that. And but I don't know if anyone from that foundation PRESIDENT. Your best MAY be ship. Yes, they will see a different leadership. And I'll give you an example. One of the grantees have not submitted their quarterly reports a week late. I picked up the phone, give him a call. We have the
report this morning. Through just the council Perkins. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN. I think there is a separate conversation that could be held around how we see a way forward Phs to make sure that we are effectively provide leadership in the and effective provide services to the community. I will echo what I heard from from 2 of my colleagues. I would love to see in this committee in the near future before the budget season, a collaborative presentation phs along with impd along with the prosecutor's office and some of the other major agencies. That's in to reduce issues around not only gun violence, but violence in our community.
For us to release, but to see a demonstration off the collaborative effort that it takes. Part of my frustration. This council has been I will in this to celebrate the work that's done through impd. And not provide the same energy. And celebration for what some MAY consider thus off to work. We know that it takes collaboration to address gun violence reduction crime in our community. We know that impd cannot do it by themselves. Takes a work that's being done Phs and a partner agencies to be able to impact that. Asked for outcome evaluation. We've been waiting
for this. This demonstrates to us in part of the effectiveness of some of those programs. And I think we ought to pause. Give. The community group the grassroots organizations that in the field that's doing the work that we don't necessarily see and oftentimes don't get to And because we have a conversation about whether or not they need to exist that are positively impacting our community, the celebration and recognition that deserve. And so I want them to hear me because I understand how. The research works. And that we're not going to see at direct cars. Ation between what a particular organization is doing in crime reduction. But there is going to be some
correlation. We've had this correlation, causation conversation for 2 years now. And I think that this still somewhat of a failure to understand the complexity of this work and the need for the different agencies to continue to work together to do it. And so there's a separate conversation about leaders about office that I hope will have in the future. But as tonight, thank you for the work that's been done not only pitches but to the point agencies in making a difference in our community. Council Council heart. Just want real commission for some members of the budget might not know. There is a body that meets that's called the Criminal Justice Planning Council. It has effectively everybody that your your name accounts of Allen, which is, you know, the share that the prosecutor presiding Judge
County, Judge. I mean, there's 13 members of this body. And and I think that is the intention is to break down the silos. I have the ability to present too. That body not too long ago and report that smart and he did on essentially trying to find some solutions to reducing crime. They're always open for us to join. That wasn't an indication that I've had from prosecutors time. He let come speak shares information. So I know that they're very open hearing and collaborate with us. And we also have, think, 2 or 3 members of the council on court as well. So just reminder to the board, committee. Thank you. Council heart additional comments. As clerk will go to the audience for a few questions you want
Read your statement see if anyone has question or comment regarding the presentation. Before we open the floor to public comments who would like to remind committee members and the public a few ground rules so everyone can have a fair chance to speak and be heard. It is important that we each observe the following rules first, each speaker will be limited to 2 minutes. Second, any public comments must really relate to the agenda item under consideration. Thurs speakers stray from the item under consideration are become unduly repetitious MAY be asked to move to the next point. Park include their comments. Finally attendees who cause disruptions to prevent the committee from proceeding to tonight's agenda in a recently efficient manner will be removed. Please remember this some types of threatening speech or
incitement to violence are not protected by the First Amendment. It out it would deal with those issues if they come up. But we don't think they will now MR. CHAIRMAN a committee member asked for consent to adopt these rules. We can proceed to public comments. Thank you. Thank you. As clerk, did you have a list of anyone want to speak okay? Anyone you want speak to what your this evening on the phs presentations will come forward. You have a little bit experience in the work with his agency. Last year's welcome statement from Shauna majors executive director of the Brightwood Community Center. Good Evening, Counselors. Very good to see you. All. 2 minutes. All right. First as a grantee of elevation. I have been through one through 6 the elevation program was was very helpful.
I am glad to hear Phs is going to participate moving forward. I know that in my in my experience working Phs, we had monthly meetings with elevation. Well, it was called something different. Then grantees and that helped us keep the polls. What was going on with each grantee. So I'm happy to hear that that's going to be. Of happening. Also. I was not surprised about this report either there were so peas and in place when I was there and I big leadership to put those into place because I knew that something like this could happen and the violence reduction team when I was in charge did so peas and we did have reports that we collected
from grantees for the 300,000 that we receive from 2018 to 2020. I was there. And so I'm hoping that moving forward. Phs takes this seriously. And really puts forth a good effort to. Everyone accountable. Look at be involved in the meetings. Show up and not just every once in a while, but all the time. Because we as the grantees look at. Indianapolis Foundation. I'm just using them because they're here as the grantee or the grant or excuse me. But Phs is the leader. That this city has a point. It. To work with those gun violence strategy, housing, food and so on and so forth. So if the leader is not at the table. Telling everybody given us the strategy on what we need to do
to make this work and put us in concert and make sure we're working together. This is going to continue to to happen. So I just wanted to let you know, from a grantee perspective that we do the work I'm involved with. I r and I'm hoping that we get to see more Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else could speak to the presentation this evening. Thank you Sabres my name is just at Robinson. Am a former employee of the Indianapolis Foundation that but the elevation Grant program. And I want to thank City County Council for your continued commitment address in violent crime in the city of Indianapolis. And I want to encourage you to continue to support this initiative,
particularly focusing ones supporting grassroots organizations. We believe that those closest to the problem are closest to the solutions I'm concerned that there MAY be a shift in focus of the grant program to no longer support as many grassroots organizations when Andrew spoke, you mentioned about like organizations that ready to go, but he also did mention continue capacity. But support. And I want to encourage you to continue to support presses organizations, but also provide culturally competent capacity-building support so can continue to make a difference our city grant, thank you. Thanks for coming down. Thank you for your service to organization. Anyone else can speak to peaches presentation. MR. Merkin final You was great.
Which again, would you learn this evening and how you move forward? As thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN. This audit ands evening elevation grants has and my work with the Indianapolis Foundation has significantly impacted how we will move forward as an agency to address these audit findings. And I'm I hope you all are pleased with what you've seen related elevation because I do believe that Morris Morris to come related to everything that okay just is doing. I'm committed to addressing all the findings in the report and supporting are very capable team. In order to make that happen. So thank you for your question tonight. If
you have any other questions, please reach out directly and I'm happy to answer them, MR. Murphy House, the culture and the work environment up Peaches. The culture is improving and there I think many of these audit findings MAY have contributed over the over the years too. Some of the discontent. We have very passionate team. And this work is very difficult. And we don't always have the same. Way that we've we don't always agree on how best to address these very difficult challenges. And so we are continuing to work with each other to the internal challenges that we have. We've just distributed an internal survey after the Enterprise survey came out to try better
understand and dive into. Where are the challenges in our agency? We'll be we'll be working on those. But I think. When we started looking at the findings knowledge about how things worked in the agency. It was clear that there had not been expectations. We've never done a pro. We never done employee evaluations. So if you had never done employee evaluation and you've never had expectations set for you and your role, it can be very challenging when someone new comes in or someone asks you to do something and you didn't know how to do it. You know, that was part of your will. And so moving forward, we starting we will have those expectations set forth in writing. And we will be performing by annual evaluations moving forward,
but also making sure that our teams understand what is required of than so training them on how to create a program and how to evaluate a program and then holding them accountable to that. I think all of that will help with the cultural challenges that have come up in recent years. Thank you. Any other questions from MR. Comey seeing? No, we are