For City Council Meeting [January 8, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Ahmad R. Ansari, Interim City Administrator
Sean Grayson, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to Accept California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Allocation of 2018/2019 Funding and Adopt Budget Resolution No. 7447 Appropriating Funds in the Amount of $162,684.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
The County of San Bernardino Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector has allocated California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) funding to the City of Rialto Police Department.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Guidelines regulating the use of COPS funding specify that it must be used solely for front-line law enforcement services. Front-line police services are not specifically defined, but include anti-gang and other community enforcement programs. This allocation must supplement existing services and cannot be used to supplant any existing funding for police services.
Each county must create a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund Committee (SLESF) before applying for funds. California Department of Finance requires this committee to be comprised of the following officials: one Police Chief, the County Sheriff, the District Attorney, the County’s Executive Officer and one City Manager. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has already established an oversight committee by resolution.
The City of Rialto Police Department will use the allocation funding of $162,684 for technology, communication and needed equipment and services for frontline law enforcement personnel. The purchase of equipment and services will allow the department to improve its overall frontline efficiency, effectiveness and safety.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which as a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following:
1) Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy and procedure making.
2) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objects relating to public safety. The acceptance of this grant and future purchase of this technology and other related equipment is in consistent with meeting these objectives.
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
Policy 5-8 4: Initiate proactive crime suppression and prevention strategies throughout the community.
Goal 5-9: Reduce criminal street gang activity and discourage gang involvement in the City of Rialto.
Policy 5-9-1: Identify specific high-crime areas in the City and when feasible, create plans/strategies to improve these areas.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report and resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Staff recommends an increase of estimated revenues in the amount of $162,684 in the Citizens’ Options Public Safety Account No. 214-400-6978-7547, appropriate $100,000 in Account No. 214-500-6978-2021, and $62,684 in Account No. 214-500-6978-3030 for a total expenditure budget of $162,684 for the purchase of technology, communication, equipment and services for the police department.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This action does not impact the City’s Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not trigger a requirement for a business license.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Authorize the Police Department to accept the California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) allocation of 2018/2019 funds in the amount of $162,684.
• Approve the Budget Resolution.