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Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a new agreement between the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Unified School District to staff School Resource Officers (SROs) for an amount not to exceed $724,000, with a net cost to the City’s General Fund estimated to be $122,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is seeking to enter into a new agreement with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) for the period of September 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, for the upcoming school year.
LBUSD will reimburse the City for the Police Department’s costs, including indirect costs, to a limit of its available funding, which is approximately $602,000. Up to five (5) Police Officers will be available throughout the term of this agreement on Tuesday through Friday, except on days when students are not present. Said officers will be assigned to LBUSD’s high school campuses. The cost of this service will be split between the City and LBUSD; LBUSD will incur approximately 83 percent of the cost and the City’s share is estimated to be 17 percent, or $122,000.
SROs provide LBUSD with an additional resource to reduce and prevent student-related problems. The LBPD began the program in 1999 as a preventive measure following the Columbine incident. Since its inception, LBUSD officials believe the high schools are safer and benefit from a low crime rate because of this partnership, which serves to meet the City Council's stated priority to further reduce crime, particularly violent crime.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary Anderson on June 28, 2011 and by Budget and Performance Management Budget Officer, Victoria Bell on June 27, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested for August 2, 2011 in order to have a new agreement in place before the start of the school year.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of services provided under this agreement is approximately $724,000. ...
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