REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 22, 2018
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: LYDIA CARRASCO, Deputy Chief
Patrol Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to adding a Student Resource Officer to the Police Department assigned to Duncan Polytechnic High School within the Fresno Unified School District (Council District 4)
1. ***RESOLUTION - 55th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $61,000 for one additional Student Resource Officer for the Fresno Unified School District at Duncan Polytechnic High School. (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 4th Amendment to Resolution No. 2017-166 entitled “A Resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno establishing the number of positions authorized in the various departments and offices of the City for Fiscal Year 2018” (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council adopt the 55th amendment to the AAR No. 2017-165 appropriating $61,000 for the addition of one Student Resource Officer (SRO) for the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) augmenting the Department’s SRO program. This would necessitate Council’s adoption of the 4th Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution (“PAR”) No. 2017-166, adding one Police Officer position to the Fresno Police Department, retroactively effective January 1, 2018.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On July 1, 2015, the Student Resource Officer contract between the City of Fresno and the FUSD was approved with a new pay schedule and SRO school assignments. Due to long term absences and a shortage of SROs not all positions were filled. This issue has since been resolved and FUSD will fund an additional SRO at Duncan Polytechnic High School. Funding for this position is included in the current contract with FUSD; however an additional officer position along with appropriations will need to be added to the Department’s PAR and General Fund budget. The SROs provide a high visible police presence on high school campuses to promote safety.
BACKGROUND
In August of 1993, the Police Department and FUSD established a Memorandum Of Understanding to have a Student Resource Officer Program at local area High Schools. The success of the Student Resource Officer Program showed that students can build trust relationships with law enforcement officials where officers participate in mentoring, counseling and restorative justice practices at school sites.
The focus area of this partnership is improving safety for children attending each high school in the City of Fresno. These areas contain predominantly non-owner occupancies, with many of the residents living below the poverty level. Common risk factors include lack of education, uninvolved parents, missing economic opportunities, and an overall void in resources, which create a fertile field for gang membership and drug involvement in and around many of these school sites.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form the proposed Fourth Amendment to PAR No. 2017-166.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS:
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE:
Local Preference was not considered because accepting funding from the State does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FUSD will reimburse the general fund on a quarterly basis according to the current contract for Student Resource Officer costs. Future costs for the SRO at Duncan Polytechnic High School will be incorporated in future budgets based on contractual obligations.
Attachments: 55th Amendment to AAR No. 2017-165
4th Amendment to PAR No. 2017-166