Council committee backs $800,000 county contract to expand "Roots" outreach hours

Council committees on Wednesday recommended a contract authorizing the mayor and city managers to accept up to $800,000 from the Alageney County Department of Human Services to expand the city-run Roots outreach program.

The Roots program's presenters told council the award would fund expanded mobile outreach coverage through later weekday hours and new weekend shifts, and would add 10 positions to the street-based team. "This grant in total will be hiring 10 people. Six of those people will be full-time for Monday through Friday, the 3 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift," said Ben Talic, program manager for the Roots program.

Presenters clarified the contract is a one-year, county-awarded contract (technically a service contract rather than a grant) with the option to renew; it pays for professional services, operational supplies and vehicles tied to outreach work. Laura Dragowski (introduced on the record as a Roots-affiliated staffer) and Nicholas Hudson, who identifies himself as the program manager responsible for operations, said the funding expands mobile and street-based responses but does not fund additional drop-in site hours. "Specifically for you: the grant ... does not cover site hours," Talic said, noting in response to council questions that site hours would be maintained at current levels.

Council members pressed on staffing, dispatch and equipment: presenters said the 10 positions are new hires in addition to daytime staff; the larger Office of Community Health and Safety complements Roots with about 40 staff citywide and 16 dedicated to Roots. On dispatch, staff said night-time routing of 911 calls to outreach remains a work in progress and currently relies in part on officer discretion; staff said they are working to establish clearer dispatch protocols so callers and public-safety partners can reach the right team during extended hours.

Members also asked about vehicle procurement and long-term retention. Officials advised that procurement and disposition would follow county and funding rules and that any equipment retention beyond the contract term would be subject to grant or contract requirements; staff said the RFP allows renewal based on performance and expressed optimism about continuing the service beyond one year.

Supporters framed the expansion as an investment in care rather than policing for people with complex needs. Council gave the contract an affirmative committee recommendation to advance for final council consideration.

What's next: the committee's approval advances the authorization toward a full council vote and establishes a one-year contracting mechanism; staff said they would return with operational details, including any dispatch updates and equipment disposition plans.