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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-10 City Council (5)TO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL l 0 FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE DATE:DECEMBER 10, 2001 CMR:431:01 SUBJECT:BUDGET AMENDMENT ORDINANCE ACCEPTING CITIZENS OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $121,598 AND APPROVAL OF A $67,577 TRANSFER TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE TO REIMBURSE SALARY EXPENSES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends Council adopt the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance in the amount of $121,598 amending the fiscal year 2001-02 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 a transfer of $67,577 to the Budget Stabilization Reserve. .BACKGROUND For the past several years, the California State Budget Act has included allocations to counties and cities for the Citizens Option for Public Safety Program (COPS). This funding is intended to fill the need for additional resources at the local levels 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 front-line law enforcement services including community crime prevention and anti-gang activities. Funds must supplement existing services and cannot be used to supplant any existing funds. Each count3, 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 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 purposes of reviewing and approving the Police Department’s request for expenditure of funds. Each city is also required to deposit CMR:431:01 1 of 4 the funds into the separate SLESF that was established initially in 1998, so that these monies are not interrningled with General Fund dollars. The City’s financial officer must also provide monthly investment reports and the city must submit an annual audit report. Council has previously approved Budget Amendment Ordinances accepting COPS funding in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The Police Depamnent has previously used COPS funds to purchase surveillance equipment, mobile data terminals, "stinger spikes" (tire deflation devices), and night vision scopes. COPS funds have also been used in previous years to supplement the Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) pro~am and to provide upgrades to the telecommunications infrastructure associated with implementation of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Last year’s funds were used primarily to fund an additional sergeant position to provide supervision to the newly implemented Special Problems Team. DISCUSSION The original intent of the COPS funds was to provide additional staffing resources to the front line level of law enforcement agencies. Palo Alto has been encouraged by state and county officials to use the funds for this purpose. The Department’s Special Problems Team (SPT), which was implemented in fiscal year 2000-01, is normally staffed by one sergeant and four officers. The unit is responsible for dealing with special problems such as crime trends, traffic issues, Downtown and California Avenue patrols, surveillances, warrant service, etc. Funding the additional sergeant position ensures appropriate supervision of the SPT without impacting patrol staffing; however, the addition of this position was contingent upon continued COPS funding so that there would be no impact to the General Fund. Due to the current number of officer vacancies, the SPT has been temporarily disbanded. The sergeant, however, continues to handle special community policing projects until such time as the team can be reactivated. Recently, state lawmakers provided legislation ensuring that COPS funding will continue to be available in the future. Because the use of the funds for new staff positions meets the le~slative intent of the COPS pro~am, it should increase the leverage for future years’ approvals. When funding is no longer available, the department would eliminate the position through attrition. Similar to previous years’ requirements, prior to sending the proposal to the SLEOC, the City is required to conduct a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing and approving the Police Department’s request for expenditure of funds. CMR:431:01 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 $121,598 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 $67,577. The 67,577 will reimburse the General Fund for salary and benefit funds that were provided for the advanced sergeant position when the 2001-02 budget was developed. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Expenditures of funds associated with the BAO are consistent with City policy. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This is not a project subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Attachment B: Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) Budget Amendment Ordinances Impacting the Budget Stabilization Reserve Approved to Date in 2001-02 PREPARED BY: DEPARTMENT HEAD: LESLIE JE~GS Police Administrator PATRICK DWYER Chief of Police CMR:431:01 3 of 4 CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Assistant City Manager CMR:431:01 4 of 4 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001-02 TO ACCEPT CITIZENS OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM (COPS) GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $121,598 AND TRANSFER THE AMOUNT OF $67,577 TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on June ii, 2001 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 2001-02; and WHEREAS, as in the past the California State Budget Act has included allocations to counties and citiesfor the Citizens Option for Public Safety Program (COPS); and WHEREAS, COPS has awarded the City of Palo Alto a grant in the amount of $121,598 to support the ongoing salary expense for an Advanced Sergeant position to handle special community policing projects. Of this amount, the Sergeant position requires $67,577 in salary and benefits for the remainder of 2001-02; and WHEREAS, because the $67,577 has already been budgeted with funds derived from the Budget Stabilization Reserve, this amount will be transferred to the Budget Stabilization Reserve; and WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to accept and expend the grant receipts and to amend the 2001-02 budget 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 One Thousand Five Hundred Ninety Eight ($121,598) is hereby appropriated to the Law Enforcement Services subfund in the Federal and State Grants Specia! Revenue Fund, from the COPS funding, and Sixty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Seven Dollars ($67,577) of that amount is hereby transferred to the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve to reimburse salary and benefits costs related to the Sergeant position in 2001-02. SECTION 2. Revenue in the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve is increased by the sum of Sixty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Seven Dollars ($67,577). Future year ongoing costs are not anticipated as continued grant funding will cover any future expense for this position. SECTION 3. This transaction will increase the Stabilization Reserve from $22,628,979 to $22,696,556. Budget SECTION 4. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City Counci! is required to adopt this ordinance appropriating new expenditures. SECTION 5. As specified in Section 2.28.080(b) of the Palo Alto Municipa! Code, a majority vote of the City Council is required to adopt this ordinance adding a position to the Table of Organization. SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Services Administrative Chief of Police o!p ;o ATTACHMENT B Budget Amendment Ordinances Impacting General Fund Reserves Approved-To-Date in 2001-02 Balance Adopted Budget Addition to BSR Municipal Fee Schedule Con-ection $0 $0 Library Master Plan - CIP 10204, and Miscellaneous Operating Expenses (S305,444) Single Family Review ($170,000)$170,000 COPS Police Department Grant $67,577 $21,756,000 $1 ~,246,000 $0 ($305,444) SO $67,577 $0 $291,000 BSR Balance After BAO’s 1522,696,556 [ 11/30/01