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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13d - Front Line Police ServicesDATE: June 19, 2018 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Robert Guthrie, Chief of Police By: Dr. Jennifer Brutus, Sr. Management Analyst SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7221 AUTHORIZING THE ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE FUNDS ALLOCATED FROM THE CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY- SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FUND (“COPS-SLESF”) FOR THE PURPOSE OF FRONT LINE POLICE SERVICES Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY This staff report explains the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (“COPS”) program and requests approval of Resolution No. 7221, which will authorize expenditure of funds for specific law enforcement purposes. The anticipated amount of grant funding is a minimum of $100,000. BACKGROUND Each year, the State Legislature considers supplemental funding for local police departments under the COPS program. The annual decision to fund the COPS program is based upon budget priorities and available funds. The program has been funded for over 20 years and the City is still receiving funding on a year-to-year basis. The intent of the COPS program is to enable local police agencies to enhance public safety by purchasing equipment and/or services otherwise unavailable to them through their respective budgets. The COPS program distributes State funds to local cities on a per capita basis. Recipient cities are required to deposit the State funds in a local Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (“SLESF”) to be expended only for equipment and services requested by the Chief of Police and approved by the City Council. Every year, the City Council reviews and approves the COPS-SLESF expenditures based on recommendations submitted by the Chief of Police. Resolution No. 7221 regarding COPS-SLESF Funds June 19, 2018 Page 2 of 3 The State has placed the following limitations on the funds: 1. They must be used for front line police services in accordance with a plan submitted by the Chief of Police; 2. Their use must not supplant what has been or should be general fund expenditures, and; 3. The spending plan must be submitted to the State for audit purposes. DISCUSSION With City Council approval in 1997, the Police Department created a Crime Analysis Unit (“CAU”) with COPS-SLESF funds. Since that time, the Crime Analyst – Investigative Support Specialist position has proven itself to be highly effective in evaluating crime patterns and trends, as well as tracking criminal activities of known offenders and recidivists. The minimum allocation for each city is $100,000, and the Police Department proposes to continue funding the Crime Analyst – Investigate Support Specialist position’s salary and other CAU services from the COPS-SLESF fund. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT The proposed COPS-SLESF expenditures have been included in the adopted FY 2018- 19 Budget, under the COPS-SLESF account. It is anticipated that $100,000 will be granted to the City of Arcadia under this program; however, that amount may increase or decrease when the State adopts its annual budget. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council find that Resolution No. 7221 authorizing the Arcadia Police Department to use funds allocated from the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety-Supplemental Law Enforcement Fund (“COPS-SLESF”) for the purpose of front line police services during FY2018-19 is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and adopt Resolution No. 7221. Resolution No. 7221 regarding COPS-SLESF Funds June 19, 2018 Page 3 of 3 Attachment: Resolution No. 7221