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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/4/2024 Item 5l, Scott - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum City of San Luis Obispo Council Agenda Correspondence ( DATE: June 4, 2024 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Rick Scott, Police Chief VIA: Whitney McDonald, Interim City Manager SUBJECT: ITEM 5l – FY 2024-25 GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL, OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TOBACCO GRANT PROGRAM Staff received the following questions regarding the grant application to the Department of Justice Community of Oriented Policing Services, included in Item 5l on the June 4, 2024, City Council meeting agenda. The questions are below with staff’s response shown in italics: 1) If we are applying for two new positions to support CAT, does that mean we are planning to expand to 4 CAT teams, when we have (in recent history) had two CAT Teams? a. If so, would this mean, that if successful at obtaining the grant, we would also need to secure 2 more behavioral health staff to complete 2 new teams? b. If so, have these new positions (and their costs) been budgeted in our forecasts? (as well as new BH staff positions?) The Police Department is currently engaged in a contracted and broad-based staffing study of all police operations and personnel. The results of this study are expected to be available to the department this fall (2024) and are not currently included in the supplemental budget or budget forecasts. Given the growth in the community and continued increases in calls for service, additional police officers are expected to be part of the recommendations from the consultant group working on the study and to be presented to Council for review at a later date. This year, President Biden’s administration boosted the Community of Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant funding by an additional $334 million to combat the significant loss of police sworn staff across the country. Focus areas include community outreach services, similar to our Community Action Team (CAT) team. Item 5l. F 2024-25 PD Grant Applications Page 2 Applying for this grant will not obligate the City to accept the funds at this time, but merely places us in the process to take advantage of the influx of federal funds while police staffing is a national priority. The decision to actually accept COPS funding and increase staffing will only occur by Council’s decision after the results of the staffing study have been brought before Council with the department’s recommendations. However, if we choose to not apply, we may not have an opportunity again that aligns with our study, department needs, or with national priorities. While the current CAT team is comprised of “two” officers and two social case managers, the second police officer position was never filled full time nor was the department granted a staff increase to fill the team. This position was attempted to be filled with current staffing awaiting the aforenoted study, but due to continued staffing challenges in Patrol, this position was not able to be filled. If awarded the grant, the current CAT officer will be reallocated into patrol needs and the grant would be proposed to, for the first time, truly fund two full-time positions dedicated completely to the CAT team. Each of these officers would be partnered with either an existing social case manager or a County Licensed Psych Tech if the proposed County contract is approved. If the grant is approved, CAT would only consist of two teams of two, just as we currently have approved. There are no immediate increases expected to County Behavioral Health or contracted outreach workers. 2) Why is the estimated cost the same each year? Does this account for COLAs and step increases? The step increases mentioned were built into the figures, starting at Step 1 and going to Step 3. The “yearly” amount shown in the chart are a simple average per year cost breakdown and a more detailed budget will be created and presented showing the exact portions of the costs should we advance in the process and recommend acceptance to Council at that time. We believe the match cost estimates are accurate based on the information we have at this time. Item 5l. F 2024-25 PD Grant Applications Page 3 3) If successful, would the grant provide $244,460 over three years, but commit the city to $557,677 over the same period and then we would assume the full costs of the new officers after the three-year period, correct? If awarded and accepted, the COPS grant could provide up to a 75% (or a maximum of $125,000 per position spanning a period of three years) and a diminishing i portion of officer salary over a three-year period, at which time the City would agree to an ongoing cost to fully fund the positions for those officers hired. The breakdown shown in the chart is an estimated cost share based on the information provided from the COPS grant and our internal personnel costs. i Per the Grant guidelines, grantees must assume a progressively larger share of the cost of the grant with local funds over the 3-year period, which in turn results in a decrease in Federal funds each year.