AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution to Ratify and Accept the Donation of a Newly Remodeled Soft Interview Room from The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation ($3,001) (PD)
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MEETING DATE:
April 16, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Andrea Morales, Administrative Assistant
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution to Ratify and Accept the Donation of a Newly Remodeled Soft Interview Room from The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation ($3,001)
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation is a California-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower survivors of sexual assault through victim advocacy, education, strategic initiatives, and collaborative efforts. They aim to provide survivors with the strength and support to rediscover their voices, share their stories, and ultimately find hope on their path to healing.
For us to collaborate with this nonprofit organization, the funding for the project needed to be spent no later than December 31, 2024, giving us no time to take it to Council before the funds expired. With the approval of the City Manager and Chief of Police, The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation donated the purchased items to remodel our Soft Interview Room. The project was completed on February 7, 2025. The goal of remodeling this room was to provide a calm and non-intimidating atmosphere for children, victims, and witnesses of violent and sexual crimes. It is essential to prioritize comfort, privacy, warmth, and a sense of security to ensure the victim feels safe while talking with an interviewer.
On behalf of the Lodi Police Department, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the generous donation towards remodeling our Soft Interview Room. This contribution has made a significant impact, allowing us to create a more comfortable environment for victims’ emotional well-being. Thanks to their kindness, our room now has softer colors with hints of nature that create a calming effect, soft chairs and warm lighting for a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, and soft blankets, snacks, water, coffee, and tea to make the room feel more welcoming to help provide comfort during the interview process.
The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation’s generosity is a testament to the power of community and the impact one act of kindness can have. We sincerely appreciate their commitment to helping victims find their path to healing.
STRATEGIC VISION:
7H. Public Safety: Address strategic safety problem areas in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Phyllis’s Garden Foundation donated all funding. This will have no impact on the general fund.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not Applicable.
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Ricardo Garcia
Police Chief
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Christina Jaromay
Acting City Manager