REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Continuation of Supplement Law Enforcement Services (SLES) Funds and Approval of Budget Modification No. 19 to appropriate $99,069 in SLES funding to support costs for sworn staff regular and overtime costs and identified police services equipment
Report
BACKGROUND
Each year, the State Legislature appropriates money to Santa Clara County local law enforcement agencies for supplemental police funding. This funding is a continuation of the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services funding program (SLES) that was first provided in FY 1996/97 via Assembly Bill 3229 (AB 3229, Brulte). The use of the SLES funds is only for front-line municipal police services and should supplement, not supplant current front-line law enforcement services. Funds must be encumbered or spent within the two-year grant cycle. In previous years, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has used SLES allocations for the purchase of law enforcement equipment, to pay for sworn personnel costs or a combination of both. The distribution mechanism of funds is through the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program.
Changes to the administrative requirements of the COPS Program occurred late 2012 when Santa Clara County’s Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee (SLEOC) was disbanded. Recipient agencies are no longer required to submit year-end reports or submit minutes of their Council’s approval of their appropriations related to SLES allocations. FY 2012/13 marked the last year DPS was required to formulate a detailed spending plan to the SLEOC. At that time, the decision was also made to redirect SLES funds from equipment to personnel.
In FY 2015/16, City Council approved RTC No. 15-0193 appropriating SLES Funds to partially support one Public Safety Lieutenant position (a portion of the Street Crimes and Investigations Unit).
EXISTING POLICY
California Government Code Sections 30061 - 30065 govern these grants and their distribution. The provisions require each municipal law enforcement agency to submit a request to its governing body to formally appropriate SLES monies. Additionally, funds not expended in the appropriation year must be expended or encumbered no later than June 30 of the following fiscal year. Any unspent funds are to be remitted back to the State.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” with 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
SLES guidelines require a review of public safety need and that the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for a municipality, through Council, make a formal request for the application of SLES funding. The Director of Public Safety has reviewed the Department of Public Safety’s needs and requests to utilize SLES funds to support costs for a Public Safety Lieutenant in the Investigations Unit and sworn staff overtime costs for burglary suppression efforts. Additionally, a portion of the SLES funds is recommended to be used to purchase the following police equipment:
• Sage Launchers ($6,000): Sage launchers are “less lethal” firing weapons used to deter aggressive non-combatants. Three additional Sage weapons will be purchased for use by officers in Police Services. DPS currently has three Sage Guns included in the department’s equipment replacement schedule and the addition of three Sage weapons will expand the department’s response capabilities.
• Surveillance Equipment ($15,000): The surveillance van used by the Investigations Unit was last equipped with surveillance equipment in 2003. Funds will be used to upgrade the camera, operating and recording systems in the van. The current system requires that a detective be in the van to monitor and run surveillance equipment. Updated technology in the van will allow for remote access via mobile phone or computer and provide better quality camera and voice recordings.
• Enhanced Ballistic Protective Equipment (EBPE) ($35,000): The department currently has six EBPE (enhanced ballistic vests) available for officer use. Funds will be used to purchase 45 new vests, one for each of the law enforcement vehicles, to be used during any high risk situation. The EBPEs are worn over the standard issued ballistic vests and will provide responding officers additional protection from firearms and/or high powered rifles.
Budget Modification No. 19 is comprised of the following actions:
a) Appropriate FY 2015/16 SLES fund balance of $34,118.
In February 2016, City Council approved RTC No. 15-1093 appropriating SLES Funds to support partially one Public Safety Lieutenant (a portion of the Street Crimes and Investigations Unit Lieutenant). The full amount of SLES funding was not expended and these funds must be expended no later than June 30, 2016. As appropriations lapse at the end of the fiscal year, the FY 2015/16 funds fell to reserve and must be re-appropriated.
b) Increase the existing FY 2016/17 SLES appropriation by $64,951.
The City’s FY 2016/17 SLES allocation was initially estimated at $231,400. This amount was included and approved through the City’s annual budget process. The City’s actual allocation is $228,501, reflecting a decrease of $2,899. Additionally, the City received additional one-time funding in the amount of $67,850, reflecting a growth payment from the State that related to FY 2015/16.
c) Increase the FY 2016/17 SLES appropriation to the Department of Public Safety in the amount of $99,069, which is the net of the FY 2015/16 funds minus the reduced FY 2016/17 allocation.
FISCAL IMPACT
SLES funds will be used to support regular and overtime costs for a Public Safety Lieutenant currently assigned to the Investigations in the Community Crimes Unit (CCU) and sworn staff overtime costs for burglary suppression efforts. Any costs exceeding the SLES amount will be funded by the General Fund. Staff will seek additional grant funding if future replacement of the SAGE weapons and surveillance equipment is required. Funds for the 10-year replacement cycle of the EBPE will be incorporated into the department’s equipment replacement schedule. Budget Modification No. 19 has been prepared to appropriate SLES funds in the amount of $99,069.
Budget Modification No. 19
FY 2016/17
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Police Services Augmentation Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
FY 2016/17 SLES Funds |
$231,400 |
($2,899) |
$228,501 |
|
FY 2015/16 SLES Funds |
$0 |
$67,850 |
$67,850 |
|
Reserves |
|
|
|
|
FY 2015/16 SLES Fund Balance |
$34,118 |
($34,118) |
$0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
FY 2016/17 Program 471 - Police Services |
$231,400 |
$31,219 |
$262,619 |
|
New Project: FY 2016/17 Police Services Special Project (SLES) |
$0 |
$67,850 |
$67,850 |
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.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 19 to appropriate $99,069 in Supplemental Law Enforcement Services funding to support costs for sworn staff regular and overtime costs and identified police services equipment.
Staff
Prepared by: Nancy M. Thome, Sr. Management Analyst, Department of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Chief Frank J. Grgurina, Department of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Director, Department of Finance
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager