Title
Staff Report for a Resolution to Appropriate Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (“Frontline”) Funds in the Amount of $211,000 for Police Equipment and Projects in 2017-2018
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SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution to appropriate Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (SLESF) funds from fund balance to purchase necessary police equipment and fund projects in Fiscal Year 2017-18.
BACKGROUND
Every year, the Police Department receives approximately $150,000 in state grant funding specifically designated for frontline law enforcement activities and equipment. In addition, the Police Department did not spend all of its FY2016-17 grant funding and must do so by the end of Fiscal Year 2017-18. The Police Department provides below certain equipment and employee wellness projects it seeks to fund with money from the SLESF Fund Balance and monies granted to the department this fiscal year. The projects below all comply with the grant requirements related to the use of these special funds.
Equipment Funding
1. $50,000 to replace bullet-resistant vests nearing the end of their usefulness;
2. $25,000 to purchase storage containers that will properly secure all patrol firearms near the SLPD Range;
3. $15,000 for K9 unit expenses, including possible replacement of a K9, POST K9 handler training, and related patrol K9 equipment;
$90,000 Equipment-related appropriation requested
Technology Funding
1. $60,000 to develop a software solution to replace an existing stand-alone records search program connected to the current Police computer system--New World Systems;
2. $30,000 for miscellaneous technology costs and upgrades, including digital storage upgrades to the SLPD Jail van video camera system, software maintenance renewals, and cellular phone hardware and associated data plan costs for Tactical Dispatch;
$90,000 Technology-related appropriation requested
Employee Wellness Funding
1. $25,000 to implement a pilot fitness testing and health promotion program that includes exercise coaching and nutrition guidance to help officers manage stress and encourage healthy lifestyle choices;
2. $6,000 for professional development to send Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CISM) team members to the COPS National Conference on Law Enforcement Wellness and Trauma in Texas;
$31,000 Employee Wellness appropriation requested
Analysis
This appropriation of funds will supply sworn police officers with the equipment, supplies, and services necessary for advancing public safety in San Leandro. Such funds are not currently budgeted in the General Fund operating budget of the Police Department in Fiscal Year 2017-18.
The Police Department recognizes the need for officer mental and physical wellness. The department has 10% of its sworn workforce currently on a worker’s compensation related injury. These sidelined officers directly impact staffing and service delivery levels, which has an adverse impact on employee morale. Police Administration believes implementing a wellness program designed specifically to address these types of job-related injuries will have two distinct benefits: 1) proactive injury prevention and education; and 2) positive impacts on officer morale. The department also intends to send at least four officers to a conference focused on wellness and job-related trauma for frontline personnel. The staff attending the conference will bring the lessons learned back with them to enhance the CISM team’s knowledge related to handling stress, especially from critical events.
The Police Department has an on-going need for storage of digital evidence that staff did not anticipate. The SLPD Jail van needs to increase storage capacity to ensure footage is not deleted due to storage limitations.
The Police Department plans to deliver deeper analysis of crime trends and performance metrics this year. The Police Department has a stand-alone software program that allows investigators, managers, and other staff to search police records. That software program will no longer work properly or may stop functioning entirely at the next system upgrade scheduled for December 2017. This technology currently serves as the database foundation of all crime and intelligence analysis and business analytics. Funding this project will help to advance City Council Goal “B” by warehousing raw data to be made available for a citywide analytics dashboard. The department will bring the final project proposal to the City Council for approval, especially given the project’s funding may include federal grant money as well. Appropriating this funding now will begin the procurement process to search out possible vendors that satisfy stakeholder needs.
Not funding these projects will jeopardize operational continuity for the Police Department and place a burden on the General Fund this budget cycle and the next.
Fiscal Impact and Budget Authority
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund with this request. These are restricted funds with specific legal requirements for appropriation. The Police Department is required to spend the money in a way that advances public safety. These projects all comply with that funding requirement.
The Police Department requests a total appropriation of $211,000 from SLESF (“Frontline”) Fund Balance into the following accounts:
1. $85,000 into account #150-21-011-5120 (records software, wellness)
2. $50,000 into account #150-21-011-6270 (vests)
3. $40,000 into account #150-21-011-6290 (container, K9 unit)
4. $30,000 into account #150-21-011-5890 (Jail van)
5. $6,000 into account #150-21-011-5510 (CISM)
This appropriation will provide the Police Department with the funding needed to complete these projects as planned in Fiscal Year 2017-18.
PREPARED BY: Scott Koll, Police Business Manager