REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PACO BALDERRAMA, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: MINDY CASTO, Deputy Chief
Police Department, Support Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fresno Police Department Student Resource Officer (SRO) program.
1. Authorize the Chief of Police to enter into an agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) to provide one Police Officer (Student Resource Officer) at .95 FTE, one sergeant at .15 FTE, one patrol vehicle lease cost, and administrative fees totaling $213,609 for one year, the officer will be housed at Violet Heintz Educational Academy.
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 13th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2023-185 appropriating $190,800 to fund one (1) FTE Police Officer (Student Resource Officer) for the FCSS contract, one patrol vehicle lease cost, and administrative fees. (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
3. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 3rd Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution (PAR) No. 2023-184, adding one FTE Police Officer position to the Fresno Police Department, assigned to the Violet Heintz Educational Academy. (Subject to Mayor's Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize and approve an agreement with the FCSS for the Fresno Police Department to provide one full time Police Officer position, to be assigned as a Student Resource Officer (SRO) at the Violet Heintz Educational Academy. Staff recommends that Council adopt the 13th Amendment to the AAR No. 2023-185 to appropriate the cost for adding one Police Officer, one patrol vehicle, and administrative costs for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) Agreement, retroactively effective August 15, 2023. Finally, staff recommends the Council’s adoption of the 3rd Amendment to (PAR) No. 2023-184, adding one full time Police Officer (SRO) position to the Fresno Police Department, effective September 28, 2023.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council approval is being sought to authorize the City of Fresno Chief of Police, or designee, to execute an agreement with FCSS to allow the police department to obtain reimbursement for one Police Officer and one Sergeant assigned to the district high school as SROs. The terms of the contract reimburse 95% of the Police Officer’s and 15% of the Sergeant’s wages. Assigned vehicles are reimbursed at 100%. The total amount to be reimbursed by the Superintendent of Schools would be $213,609.
Upon approval of this agreement and when factoring in a recent contract with the Fresno Unified School District, this Sergeant’s position would be 65% funded. It is our plan to have the remaining 35% of this Sergeant position covered when our current contract with the Central Unified School District re-opens in July 2024. Additionally, with this agreement, one additional Police Officer position is needed to fulfill the requirements of the contract. The PAR adjustment is only to add one full time Police Officer position.
The above proposal and PAR Amendment would ensure that the Police Department has the staffing to appropriately fulfill the requirements of the contracts without negatively impacting the daily service requirements of the residents of Fresno.
BACKGROUND
For more than 20 years, the Fresno Police Department has closely worked with various school districts throughout the city. These relationships have proven that students can build trust and relationships with law enforcement officials, where officers participate in mentoring, counseling, and restorative justice practices at school sites. The SRO Unit has quickly become integral to the day-to-day operations of our educational system.
Pre-pandemic, FCSS had an SRO assigned to the Violet Heintz Educational Academy. Due to school site closures during the pandemic, FCSS decided not to continue the contract. As students have returned to in-person instruction, FCSS wishes to reinstitute an SRO at their school site. The success of the SRO Unit has led to an expansion into the Sanger Unified School District and Central Unified School District.
The SRO Unit will soon cover 4 of the 5 school districts in the City of Fresno. The SROs engage with students and staff all year long and have worked hand in hand with administrators to create various programs such as the First Responder Camp, HERo Camps, and Youth Advisory Board, to name a few. These programs directly benefit the students.
This contract follows negotiations where both FCSS and the City of Fresno have mutually agreed upon a contract that will allow for the addition of one full time Police Officer position assigned as an SRO to the Violet Heintz Educational Academy. The Police Officer's primary functions are to provide student and staff security at the school site and build trust and partnerships with the students, staff, and their families. The PAR adjustment is only to add one full time Police Officer position. If approved, the Fresno Police Department would expand the success of the SRO Unit into 4 of the 5 of the City’s school districts. This agreement would expand the SRO Unit to 34 school sites, with 33 SROs covering the sites.
Due to the expansion, it was necessary to assign an existing Sergeant to help supervise the SROs. Through an addendum to an existing contract, Fresno Unified School District agreed to fund 50 percent of an existing Sergeant position to help with supervision over the SRO Unit. This contract with FCSS would contribute 15 percent to this Sergeant position’s salary. This contract represents the City of Fresno's best interests and the best interests of the high school's students and staff being served.
There is no requirement to meet and confer with bargaining units over this PAR amendment as this is only increasing the number of employees in existing classifications.
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved the proposed 3rd Amendment to PAR No. 2023-184 and the attached agreements.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this contract does not involve competitive bidding.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is minimal fiscal impact on the department as the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools will reimburse the department for personnel and vehicles assigned to the school site.
The total agreed reimbursement from FCSS would be $213,609. This includes 95% ($170,550) of the Police Officer’s salary. The City of Fresno would be responsible for covering the remaining 5% ($8,976). FCSS also pays for 15% ($31,909) of the Sergeant’s salary, one vehicle lease and maintenance ($10,800), and an administrative fee ($350). The PAR adjustment is only for the Police Officer position, not the additional Sergeant.
Upon approval of this agreement and when factoring in a recent contract with the Fresno Unified School District, this Sergeant’s position would be 65% funded. It is our plan to have the remaining 35% of this position covered when our current contract with the Central Unified School District re-opens in July 2024.
Attachments:
FCSS Agreement August 2023
13th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2023-185
3rd Amendment to PAR No. 2023-184