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Report recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution approving an updated Memorandum of Understanding between the City of South San Francisco and the County of San Mateo that utilizes Justice Assistance Grant funding for the City’s Crisis Response Clinician for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (Adam Plank, Police Captain)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving an updated Memorandum of Understanding between the City of South San Francisco and the County of San Mateo that utilizes Justice Assistance Grant funding for the City’s Crisis Response Clinician for fiscal year 2025-26.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City of South San Francisco is one of four participating cities to develop a pilot program that embedded a mental health clinician within the police department. The pilot program was called the Community Wellness Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) and offered a co-response model to behavioral health incidents reported to the police department. The pilot program was a partnership between the City of South San Francisco, the County of San Mateo, and Star Vista. When the pilot program ended on June 30, 2023, the City approved a Memorandum of Understanding extending mental health clinician coverage in South San Francisco for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25. Recognizing the value of having a mental health clinician embedded within the police department, staff developed a new job classification that allowed the Police Department to hire a full-time mental health clinician. The new job classification was approved by City Council on September 24, 2025, and is now in the recruitment process.
The County of San Mateo was awarded a three-year Justic Assistance Grant (JAG) to fund an expansion of the CWCRT program for additional cities within San Mateo County. The grant term is from June 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. The County of San Mateo recently obtained approval to use this grant to fund the mental health clinician in South San Francisco for FY 2025-26. The proposed Memorandum of Understanding will supersede all previous agreements and will end on June 30, 2026. The total funds budgeted for the City of South San Francisco is $162,070.40, which includes the clinician’s salary, benefits, and miscellaneous costs associated with the continued operation of the mental health clinician for FY 2025-2026. The other cities participating in this JAG opportunity are San Bruno, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Belmont, and San Mateo.
FISCAL IMPACT
The County of San Mateo will utilize funds from the JAG to reimburse the City a not-to-exceed amount of $162,070.40 for our Crisis Response Clinician for FY 2025-26. The original funding source for this position was a combination of Police Department Operating Budget and Opioid Settlement Funds.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
The Community Wellness Crisis Response Team continues an alternative response to behavioral health-related incidents, supporting Strategic Plan #3: Public Safety by rendering skilled police, fire, and emergency service management.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends adopting a resolution and approving the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the City of South San Francisco and the County of San Mateo that utilizes JAG funding for the City’s Crisis Response Clinician position for FY 2025-26.
ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
Proposed Memorandum of Understanding