REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 16, 2018
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: DENNIS BRIDGES, Acting Deputy Chief
Patrol Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to adding a Student Resource Officer to the Police Department assigned to Central Unified School District
1. ***RESOLUTION - 3rd amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2018-157 appropriating $137,800 for one additional Student Resource Officer and annual costs for three patrol vehicles for the Central Unified School District. (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 1st Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution (PAR) No. 2018-158, adding one Police Officer position to the Fresno Police Department, retroactively effective August 1, 2018. (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
3. Authorize the Chief of Police to enter into an agreement with Central Unified School District to provide three student resource officers at 100 percent of actual officer’s cost and one sergeant at 10 percent of actual sergeant’s cost, plus administrative fees and the patrol vehicle lease costs of three patrol vehicles for an annual total of $433,447.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council adopt the 3rd amendment to the AAR No. 2018-157 appropriating $137,800 for the addition of one Student Resource Officer (SRO) and three patrol vehicles for the Central Unified School District (CUSD). Staff also recommends Council’s adoption of the 1st Amendment to the PAR No. 2018-158, adding one Police Officer position to the Fresno Police Department, retroactively effective August 1, 2018. Finally, staff recommends City Council authorize the Chief of Police to enter into an agreement with CUSD for this augmentation of the existing SRO program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The CUSD, in an effort to provide a safe learning environment for students attending district high schools and middle schools, has agreed to fund three SROs at 100 percent and one Sergeant at 10 percent of the Police Department’s actual rates from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021.
CUSD will fund $401,597 for three officers and 10 percent of a police sergeant plus $350.00 for administrative fees and $22,800 for the lease, operations and maintenance of three patrol vehicles. The total cost is $433,447. The remaining 90 percent of the police sergeant costs are paid by other contracted school districts.
BACKGROUND
In August of 1995 the Police Department and CUSD established a Memorandum of Understanding to have a SRO Program at local area High Schools. The success of the 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 three SROs will perform regular duty law enforcement services. Three SROs will be assigned to the district’s high school Central High East, located in Fresno. The second SRO will be assigned to Pathway Community Day School, Pershing Continuation High School and El Capital Middle School, all located in the City of Fresno. The third SRO will be assigned to Rio Vista Middle School and Glacier Point Middle School, located in the City of Fresno. Assignment is during the standard school year and normal hours of operation; subject to the availability of the SRO. For purposes of the attached agreement, “availability” shall be at the sole determination of the Chief of Police, or designated representative, taking into consideration any factors including, without limitation, health of officer, shortage of manpower, funding, and duty assignment of officer(s) to higher priority matters. However, in specific instances of the SRO taking personal leave or FPD approved law enforcement training; another available police officer will be assigned temporarily at the schools during such leave or training.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form the proposed First Amendment to PAR No. 2018-158.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS:
This is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (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
CUSD will fund 100 percent of the Fresno Police Department's operational costs for the period of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. Operational costs include the three police officers and 10 percent of one Sergeant, administrative fees, and the lease/operation/maintenance for three patrol vehicles.
Attachments:
CUSD Agreement
3rd Amendment to AAR No. 2018-157
1st Amendment to PAR No. 2018-158