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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2000, 4 - 2000 STATE BUDGET GRANT FUNDS mft council " 6-11 -00 AD ac En as Report 4� CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: James M. Gardiner, Chief of PoliceC171NG Prepared By: Kerri Rosenblum, Communications Manager SUBJECT: 2000 STATE BUDGET GRANT FUNDS CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. Adopt a resolution approving an expenditure of $100,000 from the State COPS grant to fund the annual salary and benefits for a Communications Technician position costing $46,400 and allocate the remaining $53,600 toward the continued funding of a Field Services Technician position. 2. Authorize the Director of Finance to make revenue and appropriation changes for 2000-01 consistent with this approval. DISCUSSION Background As part of the FY 2000-01 State Budget, AB 1913 was enacted to continue funding for the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) program. Under this program, funding is allocated to local law enforcement for the delivery of services. These funds must be used to augment local law enforcement services and may not be used to supplant existing funding for such services. As in the past, the declared intent of the Governor and Legislature is to continue COPS as a multi- year program, however, a new appropriation program will be required each succeeding fiscal year. The law requires that these funds be appropriated pursuant to a written request from the Chief of Police. The Council must consider this request separate and apart from the proposed law enforcement allocations in the General Fund. Additionally, the City must establish a separate interest-bearing fund to record the receipt and expenditures of monies received pursuant to the program. The legislation also calls for a public hearing to consider the request from the Chief of Police. Under AB 1913, the City's allocation was $100,000, which has already been received by our Finance Department. In the budget message, Governor Davis stated that the intended use of COPS funding is the addition of front line personnel, preferably sworn officers. This emphasis was recently reinforced by legislative bulletins from the California League of Cities. In order to support the addition of these personnel, both the Governor and legislative leaders stated their intent to provide each city with a minimum of $100,000 per year over a four-year period. As drafted, however, this will require a new appropriation each succeeding year. 4-1 2000 State Budget Grant Funds Page 2 Proposed Funding 1. Hire an additional Communications Technician Based on a yearlong evaluation of the Department's personnel needs, we have determined that the most critical personnel deficit is in the Emergency Dispatch Center. Communication Technicians provide direct service to the public and front line field personnel. While dispatch staffing has not increased since 1989, the volume of work done by Communications Technicians continues to increase. Currently, each month Communications Technicians handle an average of 1,500 calls from 911, 10,100 non-emergency telephone calls and 30,300 radio transactions. This high call volume is due to the following factors. 1. Between 1991 and 1999, the Fire Department calls for service rose from 2,374 to 3,591. This is primarily due to the increasing age of our population and contract services with Cal Poly. During this same period, the Police Department calls for service rose from 25,360 to 28,014. 2. Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) is providing a higher level of service to citizens. However, it takes dedicated time on the phone and mandated time for training to remain certified. 3. The Communications unit has become so technically advanced with computer systems for information and resources that it is difficult for anyone other than a fully trained certified Communication Technician to "fill in" when there is a need. 4. In order to ensure a sufficient level of service to the public and field units, it is more cost effective to hire a new position versus the current method of overtime. This should result in a savings of approximately$20,000 in current overtime costs. 5. Cell phones have proven to increase the number of calls to the center. 6. The annexations are difficult to deal with as both field personnel and Communications Technicians struggle to insure the correct agency is assigned to the expanding area. There are future annexations that will continue to influence this workload. Adding the recommended position will ensure customer service for both the public and front line police and fire personnel. Calls from citizens will be handled more effectively, alleviating the constant need to put them on hold. Officers will receive information returns faster allowing for pending calls to be dispatched more quickly. Additional personnel will allow better focus to the police and fire units in the field, thereby increasing their safety. 2. Continue funding one Field Services Technician Position. The Council originally approved funding for this position through the State COPS grant money in February 1998 as part of the 1997-98 mid-year budget review. The Council renewed funding for this position from this source in September 1999. The position had been recommended in the POST audit of the Department in 1995. This Field Services Technician position performs the duties of the "property officer" and has significantly improved the evidence and property management function of the Department. 4-2 2000 State Budget Grant Funds Page 3 Conclusion This State grant will allow the City to initially offset the cost of providing critically needed dispatch personnel who provide direct front line services to police and fire personnel and the public we serve. With the recommended action, the City will gain valuable public safety resources and will demonstrate our commitment to the intent of the grant legislation. CONCURRENCES Based on the workload and demonstrated needs, the Fire Chief concurs with this recommendation. FISCAL IMPACT In the Long-Term. As long as the State continues its commitment to funding the COPS program, there should not be any adverse fiscal impact on the General Fund in adding the Communications Technician position. It is the stated intent of the Governor and Legislature is to provide at least another three years of funding. However, if no other allocations are forthcoming in subsequent State budgets, then additional General fund commitments would be necessary to maintain these positions. In evaluating the risk of this occurring, it is important to note that adding this position is the Police Chief's highest staffing priority. As such, the use of these grant funds allows us to offset at least the initial costs—even if not indefinitely—of a needed public safety position. In the Short-Term. Because of timing issues in hiring the new Communications Technician position, not all of the new costs ($46,600) or offsetting cost reductions ($20,000 for overtime savings) will occur in this fiscal year. Additionally, based on our commitment to use these funds in the past for the Field Services Technician position and assurances from the State that funding would be renewed, we included a revenue projection of $96,200 in the 2000-01 budget. With Council approval of this resolution and the additional Communications Technician position, Finance will work with the Police Department in finalizing revenue and expenditure changes for 2000-01 and carryover impact into 2001-02. However, at least for the first full year (which will span two fiscal years), there will not be a net impact on the General Fund. ATTACHMENT Resolution approving expenditure of$100,000 from the State for public safety personnel 4-3 RESOLUTION NO. (2000. Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO APPROVING AN EXPENDITURE OF $100,000 FROM THE 2000-01 STATE BUDGET TO ASSIST IN FUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL WHEREAS, the adoption of the 2000-01 State budget, the legislature passed AB 1913 which established the Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Fund; and WHEREAS, AB 1913 appropriated $100 million to supplement local law enforcement budgets; and WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has received $100,000 from the 2000-01 California State budget as granted under AB 1913; and WHEREAS, the funds may be applied to projects and front line municipal police services; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on October 17, 2000, to receive public input on the recommendations for the use of these funds; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo approves the expenditure of $100,000 as received from the 2000-01 California State budget to assist in funding Public Safety equipment and personnel, and authorizes the City Administrative Officer to execute any grant related documents. Upon motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of ,2000. ATTEST: Lee Price,City Clerk Mayor Allen Settle APPROVED AS TO FORM: (� eilr � of G. orge n, ty Attorney 4-4