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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 COPS PROGRAM 09-16-96DATE: Inter-Com NO. 11 9-16-96 SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN'S OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) PROGRAM SUMMARY: RECOMMENDATIONS: I , That the City Council direct the Finance Director to establish a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF). . Set a public hearing for October 7, 1996 to consider the use of AB 3229 funds as recommended by the Police Department. FISCAL IMPACT: 48,039 Revenue BACKGROUND: Assembly Bill 3229 (Brulten) was enacted as a part of the State budget package. This Bill establishes a Citizen's Option for Public Safety (COPS). The COPS Program provides funding for local agencies for the purpose of ensuring public safety. COPS is a permanent ongoing program. It will, however, require new appropriations for continued funding each fiscal year. The State Controller allocates funds to each county by September 15, 1996. The funds in each county are to be allocated to the cities by October 15. It is required that each city establish a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) for deposit of the funds received from the county. The funds received are allocated on population. Seventy-five percent of the William A. Huston City Manager September 10, 1996 Page 2 total funds received by the county are allocated to the county and cities within the county for front-line municipal police services. These funds must supplement and not ~supplant existing funding. Front-line law enforcement services include anti-gang and community crime prevention programs. The Police Department proposes to utilize these Grant monies to fund an ongoing community crime prevention program focusing on anti-gang activities. This would consist of a unit composed of one sergeant and two police officers funded under this Grant. This would permanently fund what is currently our temporary gang unit. One year's initial cost for this sergeant and two officers is approximately $210,000. Additional monies are expected from a Law Enforcement Block Grant Program in the amount of $43,081. These' two Grants will pay approximately 90 percent of the personnel costs from eStablishing this unit. The City Council is to hold a Public Hearing in September of each year to consider requests for funding. These requests must be considered separately and apart from allocations from the City General Fund, i.e., the City budget process. W. DOUGLAS FRANKS Chief of Police WDF:FW:et