Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Appropriate $93,000 in Supplemental Law Enforcement Funds (“Frontline”) for Police Equipment and Projects in FY 2018-19
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution to appropriate Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (SLESF) funds from the fund balance in order to purchase necessary police equipment and fund projects in Fiscal Year 2018-19.
BACKGROUND
Every year, the Police Department receives approximately $150,000 in state grant funding specifically designated for frontline law enforcement activities and equipment. The Police Department provides below, certain equipment and employee wellness projects it seeks to fund with money from the SLESF Fund Balance. The projects below all comply with the grant requirements related to the use of these special funds.
Services Funding
1. $25,000 to continue the department’s wellness initiatives to help mitigate job-related injuries and promote healthier living;
2. $3,000 to send staff to the Crisis Intervention National Conference in Dallas, Texas;
3. $10,000 to send a Police Captain to the Cal-Chief’s Leadership Development course;
$38,000 Service-related appropriation requested
Supplies/Equipment Funding
1. $25,000 to purchase Patrol equipment and supplies, like vehicle immobilization equipment--“stop stick” devices--to better equip trained police officers;
2. $30,000 for replacement of equipment for the department’s Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) that has reached the end of its useful life, like telephonic and technical equipment used to dialogue with barricaded subjects;
$55,000 Supplies and Equipment appropriations 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. They are not currently budgeted in the General Fund operating budget of the Police Department in Fiscal Year 2018-19.
The Police Department recognizes the need for officer mental and physical wellness. The department has 12% of its sworn workforce currently on a worker’s compensation related injury. Such injuries directly impact staffing and service delivery levels. Police Administration believes continuing its wellness program designed specifically to address these types of job-related injuries will continue to foster: 1) proactive injury prevention and education; and 2) positive impacts on officer morale. The department also intends to send three officers to a conference focused on wellness and job-related trauma for frontline officer personnel. The staff attending the conference will bring the lessons learned back with them to further the CISM team’s knowledge when dealing with the stress of critical events.
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 $93,000 from SLESF (“Frontline”) Fund Balance into the following accounts:
1. $25,000 into account #150-21-011-5120 (wellness programming);
2. $13,000 into account #150-21-011-5510 (CISM; Cal-Chief’s SMIP);
3. $25,000 into account #150-21-011-6272 (Patrol equipment);
4. $30,000 into account #150-21-011-7410 (HNT);
This appropriation will provide the Police Department with the funding needed to complete these projects as planned in Fiscal Year 2018-19.
PREPARED BY: Scott Koll, Police Business Manager