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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-02 City Council (3)TO: City of Palo Alto Manager’s Sun nary Repor HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE DATE: SUBJECT: DECEMBER 2, 2002 CMR:450:02 APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT ORDINANCE ACCEPTING CITIZENS OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,172, AMENDING THE CITY’S TABLE OF ORGANIZATION BY DROPPING A POLICE SERGEANT POSITION AND ADDING A POLICE CAPTAIN POSITION, AND TRANSFERRING $95,480 FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the City Council: 1)Adopt the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance in the amount of $120,172 amending the fiscal year 2002-2003 budget to appropriate funds received by the City from the State of California and allocated by Santa Clara County for the continuation of the Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) program and amending the City’s Table of Organization dropping a Police Sergeant position and adding a Police Captain position, and 2)Approve a transfer from the Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund to the General Fund in the amount of $95,480 for salary and benefit expenses associated with the new Police Captain position. BACKGROUND Since 1997, the California State Budget Act has included allocations to counties and cities for the COPS program. This funding is intended to fill the need for additional resources at the local level to ensure public safety. Under the provisions of Government Code Section 30061, 75 percent of the funds are allocated to counties and cities, based upon population, for law CMR:450:02 Page 1 of 4 enforcement services. Funds must supplement existing services and cannot be used to supplant any existing funds. Each county is required to continue the operation of a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) to receive the State funds and each agency’s proposal for the use of the funds must be approved by the county’s Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee (SLEOC). Prior to sending the proposal to the SLEOC, the bill requires that each city conduct a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing and approving the Police Department’s request for expenditure of funds. Each city is also required to deposit the funds into a separate SLESF so that these funds are not intermingled with General Fund dollars. The funds must be expended within two years after receipt. Council has approved Budget Amendment Ordinances accepting COPS funding for the last five years. Previous uses of COPS funds have included the purchase of surveillance equipment, mobile. data terminals, Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) program activities, upgrade; to the telecommunications infrastructure associated with the Computer Aided Dispatch system, and for an additional sergeant position for the Special Problems Team. In September 2002, staff notified the Council in CMR:383:02 that the Police Department proposed changing the use of the remainder of 2001-2002 COPS funds to cover the costs of an additional captain’s position instead of the sergeant’s position. The additional captain is responsible for coordinating the development of the City’s homeland security plan and training program. DISCUSSION As stated in CMR:383:02, staff proposes using 2002-2003 COPS funds to continue covering the salary, benefits and equipment for a third captain’s position. Since October 1, an existing captain has begun coordination for the planning, training, intelligence gathering, regional interactions, and grant-writing activities associated with the City’s homeland security efforts. The captain has already received extensive training from experts across the country and, together with the citywide Homeland Security team, is planning several first responders exercises that will occur during the next six months. During this time, a lieutenant has been working out of class as an acting captain in charge of Investigative Services Division. Upon approval from the Council, the acting captain would be promoted to a regular captain. ¯ Continuation of the third captain’s position would be contingent upon continued COPS funding during the next few years. At the time the funding is no longer available, the department would eliminate the position through attrition. CMR:450:02 Page 2 of 4 RESOURCE IMPACT The attached BAO has no impact on the Budget Stabilization Reserve and no future year General Fund ongoing costs are anticipated. Palo Alto’s $120,172 allocation of COPS funds have been received by the City and deposited into the City’s Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund. This BAO will adjust revenues in this fund accordingly and will also allow for the transfer and increased revenue to the General Fund in the amount of $95,480. The $95,480 will reimburse the General Fund for the salary and benefit expenses associated with the new police captain position. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Expenditures of funds associated with COPS funds are consistent with City Policy. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This is not a project subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Attachment B: Attachment C: PREPARED BY: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 Amended Police Department Table of Organization CMR:383:02 Dropping a Police Sergeant position and ,adding a Police Captain Position and a.c.,,cepting COPS funds JOHNSON Assistant Police Chief CMR:450:02 Page 3 of 4 DEPARTMENT HEAD: PATRICK DWYER Chief of Police CITY HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:450:02 Page 4 of 4 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,072 IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FUND (SLESF), TO TRANSFER $95,480 FROM SLESF TO’THE GENERAL FUND, AND TO ADD 1.0 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POLICE CAPTAIN AND DROP 1.0 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POLICE SERGEANT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on June 17, 2002 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 2002-03; and WHEREAS, as in the past the California State Budget Act has awarded the City a grant for the Citizens Option for Public Safety Program (COPS); and WHEREAS, in prior years the City has used the grant to support the ongoing salary expense for an Advanced Sergeant position to handle special community policing projects; and WHEREAS, the Police Department is proposing to eliminate the Police Sergeant position and add a Police Captain position to coordinate the development of the City’s homeland security plan and training program; and WHEREAS, $43,586 was transferred from SLESF to the General Fund in the 2002-03 Adopted Budget to partially cover the salary and benefit expenses associated with the Police Sergeant position and an additional $95,480 is needed for the new Police Captain position; and WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to accept and expend the grant receipts and to amend the 2002-03 budget, including the table of organization, as hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION i. The sum of One Hundred Twenty Thousand One Hundred Seventy Two Dollars ($120,172) is hereby appropriated to the Law Enforcement Services subfund in the Federal and State Grants Special Revenue Fund, from COPS funding, with Ninety Five Thousand Four Hundred Eighty dollars ($95,480) of that amount transferred to the Police Department to pay salary and benefits expenses related to the new Captain position for the remainder of 2002-03. SECTION 2. Revenue in the Police Department is increased by the sum of Ninety Five Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Dollars ($95,480) and a corresponding amount is appropriated to salary and benefit expenses in the Police Administration and Personnel Selection Functional Areas. SECTION 3. The table of Organization is amended to reflect changes shown in Attachment B are hereby approved. SECTION 4. This transaction willnot impact the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve and future year ongoing costs are not anticipated. If SLESF funding is terminated, the Captain position will be eliminated through attrition. SECTION 5. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City Council is required to adopt this ordinance appropriating new expenditures. SECTION 6. As specified in Section 2.28.080(b) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, a majority vote of the City Council ~is required to adopt this ordinance adding a position to the Table of Organization. SECTION 7. The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. SECTION 8. As provided in Section 2.04.350 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective upon adoption. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager City Attorney Director of Services Administrative Chief of Police Attachment El TAElLE OF ORGANIZATION - GENERAL FUND Police Department Administrative Assistant Administrator, Police Animal Control Officer Animal Services Specialist Animal Services Specialist II Assistant Chief of Police Business Analyst Chief Communication Technician Code Enforcement Officer Communication Technician Community Service Officer Coordinator, Police Technical Services Court Liaison Officer Crime Analyst Office Specialist Parking Enforcement Officer Parking Examiner Police Agent Police Captain (1) Police Chief Police Lieutenant Police Officer Police Records Specialist Police Sergeant Program Assistant Property and Evidence Techn c an Public Safety Dispatcher Public Safety Dispatcher-Chief Staff Secretary Superintendent, Animal Services Supervisor, Animal Svcs Supervisor, Police Service Veterinarian Veterinarian Technician Volunteer Coordinator 2001-02 2002-03 2002=03 Adjusted Adopted 2002-03 Adjusted Budget Budget Changes Budget 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 4.50 4.50 2.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 6.00 6.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.50 1.50 6.00 7.00 0.50 0.50 19.00 19.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 6.00 6.00 53.00 53.00 10.00 10.00 15.00 15.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 17.00 17.00 5.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 4.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 -1.00 1.00 1.00 4.50 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 6.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.50 7.00 0.50 19.00 3.00 1.00 6.00 53.00 10.00 14.00 1.00 2.00 17.00 4.00 5.00 1.00 1.00 4.00 1.00 2.00 1.00 The Police Department is authorized four positions slots to accommodate persons on a disability pay status. (1) 1.0 Police Captain will be eliminated through attrition once the associated funding ends. City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPc~RTMENT: POLICE SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 CMR:383:02DATE: SUBJECT:CHANGE IN USE OF CITIZENS OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (coPs) FUNDS This is an informational report and no Council action is required at this time. BACKGROUND In October 2000, and again in December 2001, the Council approved the use of Citizens for Public Safety (COPS) funds to cover the salary, benefits, and equipment for an additional sergeant position. The sergeant was assigned to supervise the Special Problems Unit (SPU). However, due to staffing shortages, the Department had to disband the SPU and reassign the sergeant and officers to regular patrol functions. The Police Department now plans to use those funds to cover costs of an additional captain’s position. This position wil! be responsible for coordinating the development of the City’s homeland security plan and training program. Staff will present this as an action item this fall with a formal request to amend the City’s Table of Organization. This report is intended to inform the Council of this proposal in order that work associated with City’s security plan notbe delayed. DISCUSSION Based upon all the information and training staff has received since September 11,2001, it is clear that the fight against terrorism is a local issue and each city and county must be responsible for the planning, training, and intelligence gathering associated with prevention of terrorist acts, incident management and consequence management in the event of an actual incident within their jurisdiction. In order to be as effective as possible, these activities need to be coordinated at a regional level as well. While some planning and preparation has been completed for Palo Alto, staffhas determined that there is a considerable amount of work still to be done. To this end, staff is proposing to use the unspent 2001-2002 COPS funds to cover the salary, benefits, and equipment for a third captain’s position. The Police Department is CMR:383:02 Page 1 of 3 currently authorized two captains’ positions, one to coordinate the Patrol and Traffic divisions, and one to coordinate the Investigative Services Division. The third captain would be assigned to coordinate the City’s homeland security planning, training, intelligence gathering, grant writing, and regional interactions. Staffbelieves that, due to the nature of these activities, it is important that a full-time position be devoted to ensure that the City of Palo Alto is as prepared as possible and that this position be a member of the command staff in order to work more closely with members of adjacent agencies who are of similar rank. Similar to the sergeant’s position that had previously been approved, to minimize any impact to the General Fund in future years, the continuation of this position would be contingent upon continued COPS funding. At the time the funding is no longer available, the Department would eliminate the position through attrition. Staffwill request that the Council approve an amendment to the City’s Table of Organization to reflect this change. This formal request will not be made until the City receives final word of the 2002-2003 COPS allocation. However, in efforts to move forward with the City’s plan and training, until that time, staff intends on using the balance of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 COPS funds to pay a lieutenant out-of-class as an acting captain. RESOURCE IMPACTS Because staff had to reassign the previously approved sergeant from the SPU back to normal patrol activities, .a balance of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 COPS funds remains unspent. Currently, including encumbrances, there is a balance of approximately $168,072 in the City’s Local Law Enforcement Services Sub-fund for COPS. Staff intends on using approximately $168,00 for the s, alary and benefits for a third captain’s position and $4,500 for computer and other equipment. These transactions will not affect the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Expenditures of funds associated with coPS funds are consistent with City policy. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This is not a project subject to CEQA requirements. CMR:383:02 Page 2 of 3 PREPARED BY: Assistant Police Chief DEPARTMENT HEAD: Chief of Police CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: gON Assistant City Manager CMR:383:02 Page 3 of 3