REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approval of Budget Modification No. 4 in the Amount of $55,000 for the North County Gun Buyback Program
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office approached the Department of Public Safety about coordinating efforts for a North County Gun Buyback Program. The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Santa Clara, Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto Police Departments will be hosting a North County Gun Buyback event on September 29 in Sunnyvale.
A gun buyback program provides residents the opportunity to voluntarily turn in firearms to law enforcement agencies, no questions asked, and receive some form of compensation in return.
The Department of Public Safety estimates a budget of $55,000 is needed for the event. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is contributing $25,000 to the program and the Department of Public Safety is requesting additional funding in the amount of $30,000 to further support these efforts. Should the City receive additional contributions, the City Manager will accept these funds under the City Manager’s authority to accept donations up to $100,000 where there is no local match (which is being appropriated with this report) or ongoing expenses.
EXISTING POLICY
Community Vision Goal IV Safe and Healthy Community: To maintain Sunnyvale’s traditional high level of public health and safety, so all residents, employees and visitors feel safe at all times and in all places in the City.
General Plan Goal SN-3 Safe and Secure City: Ensure a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community by providing effective public safety response and prevention and education services.
Council Policy 7.1.5 Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships: The city manager may accept or reject donations, contributions and sponsorships, both solicited and unsolicited, of money, equipment and in-kind contributions to City Departments or the City in general up to $100,000, so long as they do not require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses not already planned in the City’s Resource Allocation Plan. Donated funds will be expended for the specific purpose as agreed upon with the donor or for general purposes, as one-time supplements to the department’s operating budget. Donations of equipment will be considered based on program outcomes, department goals and needs, maintenance costs and replacement costs.
Pursuant to Sunnyvale Charter Section 1305, at any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by affirmative votes of at least four members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
DISCUSSION
The overall goal of a gun buyback program is to reduce the number of gun deaths and injuries in a community. The key objectives are to:
1. Reduce the availability of guns in a community;
2. Provide an opportunity for safe disposal of firearms; and
3. Mobilize communities, raising awareness and shifting culture.
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is one of five municipal law enforcement agencies that have agreed to participate in the North County Gun Buyback event scheduled for September 29, 8:00 a.m. to noon, at the Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale. The Department of Public Safety will serve as the lead agency responsible for coordinating efforts with the Santa Clara, Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto Police Departments; including but not limited to, outreach, staffing and security, and storing and destroying guns. The program will pay $100 for each pistol, handgun, rifle, or shotgun, and $200 for each assault type weapon. Gun owners can bring firearms to the event and law enforcement officers will secure them. All firearms collected will be destroyed.
Planning is well underway with participating agencies, the Department of Finance, and the pastor of the church. Two meetings have occurred and the development of the operations and the media and informational outreach plans are currently in progress.
FISCAL IMPACT
Although the details of the event are still evolving, the Department of Public Safety estimates a budget of $55,000 is needed. This is based on staff research on gun buyback events conducted by other local jurisdictions such as the City of San José Police Department and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Their program budgets were $50,000 and $40,000 respectively. The Department of Public Safety will use funds to pay for guns and for costs associated with the storage and destruction of the guns.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is contributing $25,000 and partnering law enforcement agencies have been invited to make a financial contribution. While the funds from the partner agencies have not been confirmed at this time, the Department of Public Safety is requesting $30,000 from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the North County Gun Buyback event. As there is no additional match required, should the City receive additional contributions from other partners, the City Manager will accept these funds under the City Manager’s authority to accept donations up to $100,000 where there is no local match (which is being appropriated with this report as discussed below) or ongoing expenses.
Budget Modification No. 4 has been prepared to appropriate $55,000 to the new project: FY 2018/19 Gun Buyback Program. The Budget Modification as stated appropriates funding from the Budget Stabilization Fund. Council could also elect to appropriate from its Service Level Set Aside, which has a current balance of $100,000. The Council Service Level Set Aside is an annual $100,000 appropriation for Council’s use at its discretion for unplanned projects, services, or other initiatives that come up over the course of the fiscal year.
Budget Modification No. 4
FY 2018/19
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
General Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office |
$0 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reserves |
|
|
|
|
Budget Stabilization Fund |
$32,792,690 |
($30,000) |
$32,762,690 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
New Project: FY 2018/19 North County Gun Buyback Program |
$0 |
$55,000 |
$55,000 |
Additional revenues may be received after the approval of this budget modification. Staff will accept these funds under the City Manager’s authority to accept donations up to $100,000 where there is no local match (which is being appropriated above) or ongoing expenses.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve Budget Modification No. 4 in the Amount of $55,000 with Sunnyvale’s share of $30,000 funded from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the North County Gun Buyback Program.
2. Approve Budget Modification No. 4 in the Amount of $55,000 with Sunnyvale’s share of $30,000 funded from the Council Service Level Set-Aside for the North County Gun Buyback Program.
3. Other Action as Directed by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve Budget Modification No. 4 in the Amount of $55,000 and Appropriate $30,000 from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the North County Gun Buyback Program.
Staff
Prepared by: Nancy M. Thome, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Phan S. Ngo, Director of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager