STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Quality of Life, Arts & Culture
AGENDA DATE: January 22, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Equity and Inclusion
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to: (1) approve Cities Addressing Fines and Fees (CAFFE) Sustainability Grant and Assistance Program (Program), as shown in Exhibit A, to provide financial support in the form of grants to the Fines and Fees Assistance Program for eligible recipients related to unpaid fines and fees without compromising public safety; (2) accept a grant from the National League of Cities (NLC) - CAFFE Sustainability Mini Grant in the amount of $10,000.00 to address fines and fees with equity-informed lens on eligible recipients for the period of January 22, 2025 through June 16, 2025; (3) receive and deposit funds in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 in the NLC FY25 CAFFE Initiative Grant Fund; (4) establish appropriations in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 in the NLC FY25 CAFFE Initiative Grant Fund; and (5) execute a grant agreement and required documents with the NLC Cohort, each approved as to form by the City Attorney - Not to exceed $10,000.00 - Financing: NLC FY25 CAFFE Initiative Grant Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
In May 2020, the City of Dallas was selected as one of ten jurisdictions across the country to participate in the inaugural Cities and Counties for Fine and Fee Justice Cohort (Cohort) facilitated by PolicyLink, the City of San Francisco’s Financial Justice Project, and the Fines and Fees Justice Center, each nationally recognized for their work in advancing racial and economic equity through research and advocacy. Selection and participation in the Cohort included a $50,000 grant and an 18-month program to receive technical expertise and guidance from jurisdictions and thought leaders with experience in fine and fee reform. Staff provided an overview of the City’s participation to the Workforce, Education and Equity Committee at the October 12, 2020, meeting.
In 2021, the City adopted the first citywide Racial Equity Plan to address disparities that historically disadvantaged communities experience. The CAFFE initiative aimed to strengthen the financial security of families who are at risk of losing income and assets. This is in alignment with Dallas’ Racial Equity Plan and Dallas’ Equity Indicators Report where there are disparities in fines and fees, including: Indicator 40: Fines and Fees (60) defined as the ratio between the average amounts of fines and fees paid by Black and Asian defendants for cases adjudicated guilty by the City of Dallas Municipal Courts. Communities below I-30 have higher occurrences of receiving civil citations. 42% of non-payment citations are from five zip codes: 75216 (Council District (CD) 5), 75217 (CD 3), 75241 (CD 4), 75212 (CD 3), and 75211 (CD 4). Council Districts 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 also represent Historically Disadvantaged Communities (HDCs) where fines and fees can have a disparate impact on low-income defendants’ ability to pay for other essential needs, as communities in HDC areas are high-need and have lower incomes and access to other crucial services.
On November 9, 2022, the City of Dallas (COD) submitted the application for the 2022 CAFFE Initiative to focus on collaborating with Dallas Animal Services (DAS) to address pet fines and fees. COD prepared an application that met DAS’s goal of working with the National Leagues of Cities (NLC) to understand the public’s needs around reclaiming fees. Because equity was a strong core value of the application, the City of Dallas joined eight other U.S. cities as part of the 2023 CAFFE Cohort to address the impact of municipal fines and fees on residents (the other cities included Birmingham, AL; Las Vegas, NV; Maywood, IL; Montgomery, AL; Pueblo, CO; St. Louis, MO; and Washington, DC). This partnership with the NLC CAFFE Initiative Grand Fund and its team contributes to the pilar work that the City is engaged in to advancing equity by addressing disparities in fines and fees without compromising public safety. The City’s project embeds equitable changes for pets, and owners, helped by DAS. Reclaiming fees should not be a barrier for pets returning to caring and loving homes. The project is providing a new perspective on equity within fines and fees and is working in collaboration with NLC to enable understanding of the unique challenges of residents of color and low-income communities and to increase alternative methods to the reclaim fees through financial empowerment, incentives to pay unpaid fines and fees, and policy focus to strengthen a commitment to find alternatives to reduce fines and fees, particularly amongst communities who have the greatest need. The Dallas team collaborative effort has been able to explore financial inclusion of services and programs, engage in peer learning, and share Dallas’ comprehensive and cross collaborative approach to addressing disparities.
On October 29, 2024, the NLC invited Cities from the CAFFE Cohort to be part of its new Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably (CAFFE) Initiative program scaling pass-through grants to the CAFFE cohort cities, later called CAFFE Initiative Sustainability Mini-Grant Fund. This additional program is a testament to the importance of the City role in addressing the adverse effects and harmful economic impact that debt can have on lower-income residents. The Office of Equity and Inclusion, in collaboration with key internal City of Dallas departments, offices, and stakeholders, will continue to use the CAFFE Initiative's assistance to address inequities in fines and fees without compromising public safety.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On January 21, 2025, the Quality of Life, Arts, & Culture Committee voted for approval this resolution to be recommended for City Council’s consideration and adoption.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
NLC FY25 CAFFE Initiative Grant Fund |
$10,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |