TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Jeffrey L. Oris, CEcD
THROUGH: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: November 19, 2024
Title
CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED EXPENDITURE OF OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2024
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Review and consider an expenditure plan for Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds available to the City as of November 1, 2024
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Background:
The City of Delray Beach, in addition to other municipalities and counties located throughout the State of Florida, has experienced the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic which arose as a result of the manufacture, distribution, and over-prescribing of opioid analgesics and resulted in opioid overdoses, addictions, and in many cases, death. In response to this epidemic, and to hold manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids accountable for their respective contributions to the opioid crisis, legal action was filed by the State of Florida and a number of Florida cities and counties seeking damages from the resulting opioid epidemic. As a result of the Opioid Litigation, several named defendants agreed to payment of proceeds to settle various claims, much of which will be distributed over multiple years as part of a global settlement.
The City Commission, at their September 10, 2024 workshop meeting, accepted a suggestion that City Staff come back to the Commission with a recommendation on how to spend the Opioid Litigation Funds dispersed to the City to date and consider the creation of an advisory board to help determine the use of future funding. Since this time, the City Manager's Office has worked with the Police Department and Fire Department to formulate a plan to expend the $239,554.27 currently available. Several meetings were held to discuss relevant program/project types and determine anticipated costs. As the approved uses for these funds (which can be found in Schedule B of the Florida Opioid Allocation and State...
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