To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOY A. FORD, CITY ATTORNEY
STEPHANIE JOHNSON, QUALITY OF LIFE PROSECUTOR
TITLE
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ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2605-026 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA DIRECTING STAFF TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR THE INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP FUND TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL AGREEMENTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS, AND AMENDMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE GRANT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 31, 2026, during the Strategic Planning session, the City Council included in the draft Strategic Plan, to be adopted by the City Council, direction to staff to search for grant funding to continue the City’s Alternative Crisis Response (ACR) program to address mental health. The City Attorney’s Office has been working with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) on identifying grant funding to continue its ACR team. The SBCCOG referred the City Attorney’s Office to the Innovation Partnership Fund, being administered by the California Commission for Behavioral Health (CBH) for the first time.
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the Resolution to direct staff to submit a grant application and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all relevant documents.
BACKGROUND
The City’s Alternative Crisis Response (ACR) is designed to approach non-violent, mental and behavioral health service calls by offering trauma-informed care, crisis de-escalation, in person intervention and transport to immediate behavioral health services. Physical health, behavioral health, and substance use professionals provide intensive whole-person healthcare services in episodes of crisis, with goals of reducing the amount of hospital and emergency room visits as well as fire and police department involvement. The City’s ACR Program launched on November 10, 2025 and has been working closely with Chief Issac Yang and the Fire Department, with services being provided by CLEAR Behavioral Health and Hero Community Services. The annual operational budget for this program is $570,003. Currently, the ACR pilot program is funded by a grant from Health Net, which is set to expire on December 31, 2026.
The SBCCOG has attempted to facilitate a multi-city grant application for a multi-city ACR team. However, the other beach cities are not prepared to commit to a joint application with Redondo’s current model at this time. Therefore, the City Attorney’s Office has taken on this application to continue the ACR program beyond December 31, 2026.
The City Attorney’s Office is requesting $1,710,009 to continue the ACR team for another three years. The due date for the application is May 8, 2026.
Staff recommends City Council adopt the attached Resolution directing staff to apply for the grant funding from CBH and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute applications, contracts, agreements, and amendments necessary to implement the grant.
COORDINATION
The City Attorney's Office coordinated with the SBCCOG with the preparation of this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Redondo Beach Alternative Crisis Response team would be funded by the California CBH if the City is selected for the Innovation Partnership Fund award.
Submitted by:
Joy A. Ford, City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution