09/13/2005 Resolutions 2005-259
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RES 0 L UTI 0 N 2005-259
WHEREAS, the United State Department of Justice has awarded a Safe Havens:
Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant to the City of Grand Island to create a plan for
development, implementation and funding of a safe place for visitation and safe exchange of children
in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault or stalking in the city of Grand Island, Hall
County and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice encourages all participants for the Safe
Havens grant to enter into a collaborative working relationship with state or local courts and a non-
profit, non-governmental entity in the local community; and
WHEREAS, on December 23, 2003, the City Council of the City of Grand Island
authorized and approved a Memorandum of Understanding with The Crisis Center for the use of
Safe Havens grant funds in the amount of$119,893 to develop a visitation and safe exchange center
for victims of domestic violence and abuse as allowed in the special conditions of the grant; and
WHEREAS, in July 2005, the Board of Directors for the Crisis Center voted to
withdraw their support for the project; and
WHEREAS, the Visitation Center Consulting Committee accepted the Crisis Center
letter of withdrawal and agreed to postpone the Capital Campaign; and
WHEREAS, the feasibility study for the campaign will be completed so that
information from the study can be used for grant writing and other funding applications; and
WHEREAS, the Central Nebraska Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a local non-
profit, non-governmental child sexual abuse, child abuse and neglect agency that meets the
Department of Justice grant requirement; and
WHEREAS, the CAC Board of Directors agreed to assume responsibility for the
Heartland Family Visitation Center program and Department of Justice Implementation grant; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended that a Memorandum of Understanding be entered into
with the Central Nebraska Child Advocacy Center for the use of funding for the implementation of
grant goals and objectives; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to request an extension ofthe grant term until December
31, 2005 due to staff changes, unclear role definitions and other extenuating circumstances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, that:
1. The Letter of Withdrawal from the Crisis Center is hereby accepted.
Approved as to Form Xl
September 7, 2005
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2.
That the March 2005 Memorandum of Understanding with the Crisis Center for such
project is hereby null and void.
3.
A request be made to the Department of Justice to allow an extension to the term of
the grant until December 31, 2005.
4. a Memorandum of Understanding be entered into with the Central Nebraska Child
Advocacy Center for the use of grant funds for implementation ofthe grant goals and
objectives.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Grand Island, Nebraska, September 13, 2005.
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RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
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