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

Meeting Date: October 5, 2010
Prepared by: Sgt. Mel Mukai

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 2011-2012.

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). The total cost for one police officer position, including
salary and benefits, exceeds the grant allocation. Consequently, the officer’s annual
compensation must be funded in part by local funds.

Overall Cost:
FY 11-12
City Funds: $ 8,525 or less
Grant Funds: $ 100,000 (plus interest)

Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends adoption of the proposed Resolution.

Important Considerations:
Adoption of the proposed Resolution allows the funding of one police officer position that will be assigned to front-line patrol.

Decision Record:
Resolution 2009-61 approved by Council on September 1, 2009, authorizing the FY 2010-11 expenditure for COPS funds for one police officer position.

Reviewed by:

_________________________________ _____________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MEL MUKAI, SERGEANT
MIKE CALHOUN, COMMANDER
GEORGE E. RAWSON, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2011-12 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 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.

It is anticipated the State of California will again approve the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant funds for FY 11-12. The state legislature has not yet adopted the final budget, but it is probable that the minimum awards for smaller communities will remain at or very close to $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 2011-12 which is projected to be $108,525. Because this cost exceeds the grant allocation, the city must contribute local funds, estimated to be $8,525 minus the accrued interest.

Refer to Attachment “A” for summary of cost information.

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.

FISCAL IMPACT:
Revenue up to $100,000 plus accrued interest. No match is required for receipt or expenditure of this grant, but City funds in the amount of $8,525 will be budgeted in FY 11-12 to ensure one police officer position is sufficiently funded. 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 11-12 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 11-12 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.
Grant funds……………………. $ 100,000 plus interest
City funds not to exceed………. $ 8,525
Total project funds…………… $ 108,525*
*All funds must be spent by June 30, 2012.
35
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2010-
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 2011-2012
________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 76, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
receives in FY 2011-2012 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, BE IT 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 as described in Attachment “A”, for the exclusive purpose of
providing provide front-line law enforcement services, supplementing 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 2011-12 COPS grant
funds to be transferred to the City General Fund account 01-87543 for Police
Department expenses related to funding one police officer.
3. Spend grant funds on or before June 30, 2012.
4. Authorize Carmel’s FY 2011-12 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 5th day of October, 2010, by the following roll call vote:

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

SIGNED:

______________________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR

ATTEST:

___________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk