Police Department
Reference: MOU between City of Brighton and the Youth Resource and Assessment Center
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Betsy Westbrook-Deputy Chief of Police
Date Prepared: December 4, 2025
PURPOSE
To request approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Fiscal Agent Services between the City of Brighton and the Youth Resource and Assessment Center (YRAC). The YRAC is a non-profit, multijurisdictional effort to provide assessment, intervention, and resource services for youth and families in Adams County.
BACKGROUND
In August of 2023, in response to the closure of the former youth assessment center (The Link) serving Adams County, the 17th Judicial District Criminal Justice Coordinating Council subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, led by then Thornton Police Chief Terrence Gordon, convened leaders and stakeholders from across the region to begin planning for a renewed and improved Juvenile Assessment Center. Participants included school superintendents, police chiefs, human services, and city and county officials from Adams and Broomfield Counties. This meeting resulted in the formation of a task force to lead the establishment of a new 501(c)(3) organization to fill the gap left by the closure of The Link.
The goal of the new and improved YRAC for the 17th Judicial District is to assess youth at risk and provide early, preventative support to young people and families before they reach a critical point or become involved in serious or violent offenses. This will be achieved by providing services that meet youth and families where they are and prioritizing access to timely services and interventions over entry into the justice or human services systems.
Progress to date includes:
• August 2024-YRAC received it’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
• October 2024-Requested and received one-time seed funding for re-distribution of ARPA funds for the new facility and start-up contract for the Executive Director.
• March 2025-YRAC hired startup Executive Director to lead the buildout of non-profit infrastructure, including governance, finance, fundraising, strategic planning, and operational management for successful launch of facility in late 2025/early 2026.
• October 2025-YRAC acquired dedicated space at 27J’s facility at 1850 E Egbert St, with a planned opening in early 2026. Initial operating hours will be eight hours a day, seven days a week, with plans to expand hours to ten hours daily in the summer, and eventually open 24/7.
In October of 2025 YRAC leadership communicated a request for all jurisdictions in their service area to consider acting as the fiscal agent for the YRAC. According to their request “We are seeking a fiscal agent to enhance stability, employee retention and legitimacy, positioning the center as a strong and sustainable organization worthy of future funding opportunities. The fiscal agent would be the employer of record, providing access to HR administration, while YRAC covers the full cost of salaries and benefits and retains full responsibility for staff management and labor matters.”
YRAC seeks to emulate the successful model and precedent of the Ralston House’s partnership with the City of Arvada, which serves as their fiscal agent. Serving as the fiscal agent would benefit the YRAC and in-kind, the City of Brighton would not be charged any annual fees or costs for participation in YRAC’s programs and services.
Leadership from YRAC met with City of Brighton stakeholders in November of 2025 and worked together to establish the attached MOU outlining City and YRAC responsibilities pursuant to the MOU.
CRITERIA BY WHICH COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER THE ITEM
Re-establishing a Juvenile Assessment Center in the 17th Judicial District is in the interest of at-risk youth in the Brighton community. Having these services available locally will provide for additional opportunities to intervene early and prevent unnecessary involvement of juveniles in the Criminal Justice System. Serving as the Fiscal Agent will not represent an undue burden on City of Brighton Staff and will be done in lieu of our anticipated 2026 contribution of $78,255.00
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact on the city by serving as the fiscal agent for YRAC. The additional workload will be managed by existing staff. Any indirect costs should be offset by the city not having to make the anticipated commitment of $78,255.00 to access the programs and services offered by YRAC.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the approval of the Resolution and MOU between the City of Brighton and the Youth Resource and Assessment Center and authorizing the City Manager to sign the MOU on behalf of the City.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
• Accept as proposed
• Deny as proposed
• Accept with modifications
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Fiscal Agency Services