CITY COUNCIL: Resolution Authorizing Allocation & Expenditure of California Citizens' Option for Public Safety Grant Funds

Meeting Date: Sept. 1, 2009
Prepared by: Mike Calhoun, Police Commander

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the allocation and expenditure of the California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.

Description: State Senate Bill (SB 76) provides the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea a $100,000 allocation in grant funds under a public safety grant known as the California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS).

Overall Cost:
FY 10-11
City Funds: $ 6,454
Grant Funds: $ 100,000 (plus interest)

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends adoption of the proposed Resolution.

Important Considerations:
Adoption of the proposed Resolution would allow the funding of one police officer
position that will be assigned to front-line patrol. The grant officer position also would provide the ability to dedicate one existing officer to traffic safety education and enforcement.

Decision Record:
Resolution 2008-61, authorizing the FY 2008-09 expenditure for COPS funds for a police officer position, motorcycle officer stipend pay, and crime prevention.

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: GEORGE E.RAWSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MIKE CALHOUN, COMMANDER
MEL MUKAI, SERGEANT
DATE: AUGUST 17, 2009
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION AND EXPENDITURE OF THE CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) GRANT FUNDS FOR FY 2010-2011

DESCRIPTION:
Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the allocation and expenditure of the California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for fiscal year 2010-2011.

RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Adopt the Resolution.

BACKGROUND:
The Citizens’ Options for Public Safety (COPS) Program was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in July 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 may not 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 also must hold a public hearing, allow for public comment, and adopt the spending plan by Resolution. After City Council ratification, the Resolution is forwarded to the County of Monterey Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee (SLEOC), which reviews and certifies 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.
This year, the State of California has again approved the COPS grant funds for California law enforcement agencies. The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea will receive $100,000 as an entitlement grant, with no match required to receive these funds.
During the past eight years, the provision of $100,000 in grant funds was more than adequate to pay the salary and benefits of one Carmel police officer. The remaining balance was used to cover FLSA expenses related to the traffic safety (motorcycle) officer stipend pay, and other non-traffic crime prevention programs. In FY 2010-2011, however, the expenses of funding one police officer and traffic safety officer stipend pay will slightly exceed the $100,000 (plus interest) grant allocation, so it will be necessary to make a nominal general fund adjustment to make up the difference (see Fiscal Impact below).

STAFF REVIEW:
Staff recommends all $100,000 (plus interest) of grant funds be spent on the salary and benefits of one (1) existing full-time police officer for FY 2010-11. The forecasted amount for a FY 10-11 police officer is $103,154. Consequently, the remaining excess of salary/benefits ($3,154) plus the motor officer stipend pay ($3,300) must be funded from the FY 2010-11 General Fund.

FISCAL IMPACT:
Revenue up to $100,000 plus accrued interest. No match is required for receipt or
expenditure of this grant.

Revenue and Expenses will be incurred in FY 10-11 as follows:
Grant Revenue plus interest…………………..….….$ 100,000
(1) Officer Salary & Benefits estimate…………..….$ (103,154)
Motor Officer Stipend Pay……………………….......$ (3,300)
Estimated net cost to FY 10-11 General Fund............ $ ( 6,454)

SUMMARY:
Utilization of the grant funds, as proposed, ensures patrol staffing remains at a level sufficient to retain one patrol officer. It also allows the City to have another officer, who is dedicated to traffic safety education and enforcement.

Approval of the Resolution allows COPS grant funds to be expended in accordance with the requirements of the grant.

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2009-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF THE CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) GRANT FUNDS FOR FY 2010-2011

WHEREAS, pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 76, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea receives in FY 2010-2011 an allocation of $100,000 as a grant from the Citizen Option for Public Safety (COPS) from the State of California; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB 76) 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 Carmel Police Department has recommended a program to benefit front-line law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, the Monterey County SLEOC has the authority to review and approve the proposed spending plan conforms to State Law; and

WHEREAS, public safety will be enhanced by the program.

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

1. Declare that all Citizen’s Option for Public Safety (COPS) program funds will
be expended exclusively to provide front-line law enforcement services, to supplement existing services, and will not be used to supplant any existing
funding for law enforcement services provided by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

2. Authorize the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to accept FY 2010-11 COPS grant
funds to be transferred to the City General Fund account 01-87543 for Police
Department expenses related to funding one police officer position.

3. Spend grant funds on or before June 30, 2011.

4. Authorize Carmel’s FY 2010-11 Supplemental Law Enforcement Spending Plan, as proposed in the recitals above, to be submitted to the Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee for final approval.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this 1st day of September, 2009, by the following roll call vote:

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

SIGNED:

______________________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR

ATTEST:
___________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk