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