REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Update to the Status of Department of Public Safety Recruitment and Staffing and Approval of Budget Modification No. 28
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is facing several staffing challenges that this report seeks to address. Additionally, the City Council has expressed interest in an update on current recruitment actions and plans for accelerating hiring. Staff is recommending action on three separate but related issues associated with the recruitment and training of Public Safety Officers (PSOs) which include adding three additional authorized positions, accelerating recruitment funding, and adding a Public Safety Specialist to recruitment staff to support accelerated recruitment activities.
Changing conditions and increases in demands for service are prompting DPS to request an increase of its authorized sworn positions from 198 to 201. The north side of Sunnyvale has been increasing in density due to new development, with new commercial development increasing the daytime population and corresponding demand for DPS services. The additional positions are to address the need to staff a new fire ladder truck that is being funded by the Jay Paul Company, along with the construction of a new Fire Station 5. Both the new fire station and the new ladder truck are being funded as part of the Moffett Place project. The new fire station is anticipated to open in December of 2015 and will serve the north area of Sunnyvale.
In order to bring on additional staff, as well as fill a higher than expected number of vacancies, Staff is also requesting approval of Budget Modification No. 28 to accelerate funding for Public Safety Officer recruitment activities. Currently 188 of 198 sworn positions are filled. Vacancies are occurring for essentially three reasons. First, retirements and other separations are happening at an elevated level. Second, the Department added three new positions, inc...
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