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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-Council Office " CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION From: CouncilmemberWendy McCammack Subject: Discussion concerning funding for additional Police Officers Dept: Council Office ORiGiNAL Date: August 6, 2004 MICC Meeting Date: August 16, 2004 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: August 4, 2004 - Ways and Means Committee discussed possible options for funding additional Police Officers, and referred the matter to the full Council for discussion and input. Recommended Motion: It is recommended that the Mayor and Council discuss this matter, then refer it back to the Police Ad Hoc Committee for follow-up to the discussion, and continue to identify long-term funding sources. Signature Contact person: ~nlln('ilm~mhjOr r\J1('~~mm~r.1c Phone: 5068 Supporting data attached: st::Jff report Ward: all FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: none at this time Source: (Acct. No.) (A('r.t nlOc::t'!rirtinn) Finance: Council Notes: Agenda Item No. :;J,,(p gj/{p /D~ . STAFF REPORT Subiect: Discussion concerning funding for additional Police Officers Backeround: The Ways and Means Committee has consistently searched for funding for additional officers without jeopardizing staffing levels in any other departments. This item was placed on the agenda Ways and Means agenda of August 4 in order to bring all parties to the table with ideas, tools and suggestions for such an undertaking. As the City's population grows, police calls for service also increase, spreading thinner our existing police force. During the recent budget negotiations, the Mayor and Council were able to minimize any cuts to patrol officers. However, as the current beat plan is proving more and more successful in deterring crime, Chief Garrett Zimmon contends that in order to fully staff the 21 beats "24/1", we need to fund approximately 25 additional officers. His goal is to do so over the next five years. The estimate for funding the 25 officers plus necessary equipment in today's dollars approximates $3,000,000 per year. Funding possibilities include but are not limited to: 1. New grant opportunities including any Homeland Security money for officers protecting our natural resources. 2. COPS Universal Hiring Grant which can be used to expand our police force. 3. A comprehensive study of revenue efficiencies in the department to identify possible cost saving methods for contractual services. Any combination of the aforementioned programs could also bring us to the same end. At the Committee meeting on August 4, there was considerable discussion among Councilmembers, City Attorney, City staff, and the Police Officers' Association concerning these various alternatives. That discussion concluded with the following action items: . The Mayor and Council should ask our federal representatives to continue the Community Oriented Policing Services office (the COPS office) of the U.S. Department of Justice in the next fiscal year. There is discussion regarding the possible elimination of the office and its programs for FY 05. It is believed that this office currently has the only federal grant programs available for hiring additional police officers. . The method for distribution of court fme revenues should be evaluated to ensure that the City is receiving its proper share. Distribution is handled through the County court system. A meeting will soon be scheduled with Tressa Sloan Kentner, the Court Executive Officer, to discuss the issue. . . Discussions should be initiated with the League of California Cities concerning possible state legislation that would enable cities to recoup the costs of writing criminal citations and/or officer court time. Those costs are not currently reimbursed in any way. Legislation might enable the courts to collect these costs for cities in a manner similar to how court costs are now imposed by judges. . One option for a dedicated revenue stream for police officers may be the creation of a parcel tax dedicated to funding police officers for the beat plan. It was suggested that a public opinion poll of likely voters should be conducted to gauge whether or not there is support for such a tax, and at what dollar amount it is likely to have the support ofthe required 2/3 majority. . The City should work with the COPS Office and our federal legislators to submit an application to the COPS Universal Hiring Grant program for funds for additional officers. General information concerning the grant program is attached to this staff report. The Committee directed that this item be agendized for discussion and input by the Mayor and Council. Those involved in the discussion will be reporting back to the Committee at a future meeting to discuss the outcomes of the possible options and issues listed above. Financial Impact: None by this discussion. The cost of funding 25 Police Officers IS estimated at approximately $3 million annually. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Mayor and Council discuss this matter, then refer it back to the Police Ad Hoc Committee for follow-up to the discussion, and continue to identify long-term funding sources.