CITY COUNCIL: Resolution Accepting California Citizens' Option for Public Safety (COPS) Grant Funds

Meeting Date: September 9, 2008
Prepared by: George E. Rawson

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution to accept the Fiscal Year 2008-09 California
Ctizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) Grant funds and approve the
proposed spending plan.

Description: The 2008-09 COPS program is an entitlement grant that provides the
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea up to $100,000 in funds to pay for one (1) police officer and related front-line law enforcement services. Pursuant to legal requirements, a spending plan must be approved and submitted to the County of Monterey Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee (SLEOC) for final certification.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: $0
Grant Funds: $100,000 plus accrued interest

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the adoption of the proposed spending plan
for the COPS grant fund of Fiscal Year 2008-09.

Important Considerations: Adoption of the proposed resolution allows the Police Department to continue expending COPS grant funds in accordance with legal requirements and promotion of public safety.

Decision Record: Resolution 2007-58, approving the COPS spending plan in the previous fiscal year.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MEL MUKAI, SERGEANT
GEORGE E.RAWSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DATE: AUGUST 25, 2008
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2008-09 CALIFORNIA’S CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) GRANT FUNDS AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN

RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Adopt the Resolution.

BACKGROUND:
The Citizens’ Options for Public Safety (COPS) Program was signed into law by
Governor Gray Davis on July 6, 2000. The COPS program established a "Supplemental
Law Enforcement Special Fund (SLESF)”, which annually allocates entitlement grants to
cities and counties to augment public safety. The grant amounts vary based on
population. Historically, smaller communities such as Carmel-by-the-Sea receive a
minimum fixed amount of $100,000.

COPS funds cannot be remitted until certain processes are completed as required by
Government Code § 30061 – 30065. These statutes require the Director of Public Safety
to propose a spending plan and submit it to City Council for review. The Council is
required to hold a public hearing, allow for public comment, and adopt the spending plan by Resolution. After ratification by the City Council, the Resolution is forwarded to the County of Monterey Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee (SLEOC), which will review and certify that the spending plan complies with the above referenced Government code requirements. SLESF funds are restricted to front-line municipal police services and must supplement, not supplant, current front-line law enforcement services. Funds must be encumbered or spent within the two-year grant cycle. Any unspent funds must be remanded back to the state via the county auditor’s office.

It is anticipated the State of California will again approve the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for FY 08-09. The state legislature has not yet adopted the final budget, but it probable that the minimum awards for smaller communities will remain at or very close $100,000. It is possible that COPS funding levels for larger agencies will be reduced, due to the state’s fiscal crisis. Many police departments use the grant funds to pay for additional sworn police personnel. For the past five years, Carmel-by-the-Sea has used most of its COPS grant funds to pay salary and benefits of one police officer, with the residual funds used to pay for crime prevention strategies.

STAFF REVIEW:
Staff recommends the COPS grant funds be allocated to continue funding the salary and
benefits of one (1) full-time police officer for FY 2009-10. The grant-funded police
officer position supports the department’s ability to maintain and schedule adequate
patrol staffing levels and prevents an already excessive overtime budget from further
increases. The grant-funded police officer position also enables the Police Department to dedicate one officer to traffic enforcement duties, whenever staffing permits. The department has received many citizen requests demanding increased efforts to enforce traffic regulations. The COPS grant enables the Police Department to field a motorcycle officer, who can more effectively address citizen’s complaints about traffic safety.

The balance of the grant funds will be committed to other crime prevention purposes as specified in Attachment “A.” All grant monies must be expended by June 30, 2010 or
will be forfeited back to the State of California.

FISCAL IMPACT:
Revenue up to $100,000 plus accrued interest. No match is required for receipt or
expenditure of this grant. All grant proceeds, including interest, will be deposited with the City and will be expended in accordance to grant regulations.

SUMMARY:
Utilization of the grant funds will be a benefit to the community and Police Department by enhancing police operations. Approving this resolution allows the Police Department to expend COPS grant funds in accordance with the requirements of the grant in order to achieve the highest commitment of service to the community.


ATTACHMENT “A”FY 08-09 COPS GRANT SPENDING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS
1) Continued funding of one (1) additional police officer position:
Continue to fund one (1) full-time police officer position to supplement FY 08-09 general fund authorized positions. As has been the case in previous years, this will be a “contract” position, subject to the continuation of COPS grant funding.
Sub-total: $ 88,974

2) Specialized crime prevention and suppression programs:
Continue funding of expenditures for equipment purchase for the Volunteer Citizens
Assistance Program (VCAP), and/or funding towards proactive crime prevention programs, technology, and other special projects to support front line law enforcement activity as needed.
Sub-total: $7,726

3) Specialized assignment:
Funding of expenditures associated with the Traffic (Motorcycle) Officer’s position.
Sub-total: $ 3,300
GRAND TOTAL COST ALL PROGRAMS: $100,000*
*Actual amounts for these categories may vary, but in any case the total expenditures will not exceed the $100,000.00 grand total of the COPS grant itself, plus accrued interest.
These funds will be received in FY 08-09 and may be expended in FY 08-09, and FY 09-
10; all funds must be spent by June 30, 2010.


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2008-09 CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) GRANT FUNDS AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN

WHEREAS, pursuant to pending budget action by the California legislature, the City
of Carmel-by-the-Sea will receive in FY 08-09 up to $100,000 as a grant from the Citizen Option for Public Safety (COPS) from the State of California; and

WHEREAS, the Government Code prohibits the County Auditor from transferring monies to a recipient agency until the county Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight
Committee (SLEOC) certifies receipt of an expenditure plan approved by the governing board of the agency pursuant to a public hearing; and

WHEREAS, the Director of Public Safety has recommended a program that benefits
front-line law enforcement and said program is outlined in Attachment “A,” which is hereby incorporated by reference into this Resolution; and

WHEREAS, front line public safety will be enhanced by the program.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:

1. Authorize acceptance of FY 2008-09 COPS grant funds to be transferred to the
City General Fund Account # 87543 for Police Department expenditures.

2. Approve Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds and accrued
interest will be expended as outlined in Attachment “A” to this Resolution, on or
before June 30, 2010.

3. Declare COPS grant funds will be used to provide front line law enforcement
services, to supplement existing services, and not be used to supplant any existing
funding for law enforcement services provided by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

4. Declare that the Supplemental Law Enforcement Spending Plan for Carmel-by-the-
Sea’s Police Department set forth in the recitals above is hereby accepted and approved for submission to the Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this 9th day of September 2008, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

SIGNED:

___________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk

ATTEST:

______________________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR