1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: November 7, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Michael Albanese, Chief of Police
BY: Courtney Padgett, Police Administrator
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Funds from the State Citizen’s Option for Public Safety Program in the Amount of $269,080.36 and Amending the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget by Appropriating Funds
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE STATE CITIZEN’S OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY (COPS) PROGRAM, ACCEPTING $269,080.36 IN FUNDS, AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 20 22-23 BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
BACKGROUND
In 1996, the California State Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 3229 as part of the State budget package. This bill established the State Citizen’s Option for Public Safety (COPS) program that provides funding to local law enforcement agencies, with alloca tion based on population, for the purpose of ensuring public safety. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23, the City of Burbank (City) received $269,080.36 in funds to be used for this purpose. State COPS funds support the provision of frontline police services such as personnel, equipment, and crime prevention/anti-gang programs, and cannot be used to supplant the City’s current law enforcement funding. T his funding continues to help finance positions for the Community Resource Officer program within the Police Department’s (Department) Community Outreach and Personnel Services Bureau.
DISCUSSION
Community Resource Officers (CROs) are an integral part of the Department’s community outreach and engagement efforts. CROs facilitate various community events, such as the Community Academy , which is designed to provide an opportunity for POLICE
DEPARTMENT
2 community members to learn about the Department’s divisions and operations and the greater criminal justice system and processes . Over a nine- week period, this course familiarizes participants with the Department’s community policing philosophy, internal policies, and the guiding principles of law and ethi cal conduct governing the delivery of police services within our community. CROs also serve as mentors and instructors for the Youth Academy, an eight-session course designed to educate the community’s youth on how to prepare for a challenging career in law enforcement or other areas of public service. CROs participate in various speaking engagements at public and private community-based organizations, assist with public service announcements in conjunction with the City Public Information Officer or via the Department website, support the Department’s presence and reach using social media platforms, and facilitate a variety of community events, including National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop, and the Shop with a Cop holiday event . CROs also assist with administering the Department’s volunteer program, Burbank Police Explorer program, and Police Cadet program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of the COPS program allocation has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the proposed resolution will allow the City to appropriate revenues already received. These revenues cover approximately 5 7% of the costs for the Community Resource Officer positions. COPS funds are appropriated after the close of each FY to ensure all expenses and revenues are accounted for prior to finalizing the appropriation.
Staff recommends that Council approve an amendment to the FY 2022-23 Budget to accept funds from the COPS program and appropriate $269,080.36 from revenue account 121.PD000.48010.1039 (General City Grants, PD General, Other Intergovernmental Revenues, State AB3229 COPS) to expenditure account 121.PD91A.60004.0000.000000 (General City Grants, Grants - COPS, State Grant - Salaries).
CONCLUSION
These funds have been awarded to the City from the State to support the provision of law enforcement services.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Resolution