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THE CITY OF 18 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT PLEASANTON. November 16, 2021 Police City Manager TITLE: PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION TO IMPLEMENT AN ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE PILOT PROGRAM SUMMARY In response to community and City Council interest in developing an alternative response for those experiencing a mental health crisis, City staff is recommending the formation of a Mental Health Response Program that would operate as a two-year pilot program embedded in a newly created Alternate Response Unit within the Police Department. The goal of the Mental Health Response Program is to reduce uniformed law enforcement response to persons experiencing mental health crisis and/or unhoused residents. The program response methodology is structured to send a licensed mental health clinician to respond to non -urgent requests for service that do not pose an immediate safety risk to the public, or send a clinician accompanied by a police officer with specialized training to situations where a police response is necessary. RECOMMENDATION Provide policy direction to implement an alternative Mental Health Response Program as a two-year pilot. FINANCIAL STATEMENT The anticipated cost of the recommended two-year pilot program is $844,462. These funds will provide two full-time clinicians and one part-time temporary program assistant. Staff has also provided other options for comparison by the Council, ranging in cost from $688,145 to $1,744,580. The City Council allocated $800,000 from FY 2019/20 year-end General Fund balance for such a program. Anticipated expenses exceeding $800,000 will be included in the FY2021/22 mid -year budget.