For City Council Meeting [October 26, 2021]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 7786 Amending the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year Budget Associated with the City’s 2021-2022 Allocation of $157,129 Through the California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Funding.
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 on a per capita basis in the amount of $157,129.
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 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 have already established an oversight committee by resolution.
The City of Rialto Police Department will use the funding allocation of $157,129 for technology, communication and needed equipment and services for frontline law enforcement personnel. The purchase of equipment and services will allow the department to enhance 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 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 supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The Rialto Police Department has been allocated $157,129 through the California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS). This allocation will increase revenue in the amount of $157,129 in the Citizens’ Option Public Safety Fund Account No. 214-400-6987-7547. Offsetting expenditures of the same amount will increase expenditures in the amount of $57,129 in Account No. 214-500-6987-2021, and $100,000 in Account No. 214-500-6987-3030 for the purchase of technology, communication equipment and services for the Police Department.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This report does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not trigger a requirement for a business license.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution amending the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year Budget associated with the City’s 2021-2022 allocation of $157,129 through the California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Funding.