EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 7, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Jeff Liu, Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing an Application to the U.S. Department of Justice for Participation in the FY 2022 Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing the East Palo Alto Police Department to submit an application applying for funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), for participation in the COPS Hiring FY 2022 program.
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
• Priority #1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness • Priority #2: Enhance Economic Vitality
• Priority #3: Increase Organizational Effectiveness and Efficiency • Priority #6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
The United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services is accepting applications for the 2022 COPS Hiring Program, designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Cities awarded the COPS grant have five (5) years to spend the grant money, giving us ample time to strengthen our current staffing level and hire the additional personnel subsidized by the grant.
Grant proposals are due by June 16, 2022.
Analysis
The COPS grant is designed to pay for 75% of the salary and benefits ($125,000 annual maximum per Officer) for new hires over a 3-year period, with the expectation that the city retains the positions for at least one year after completion of the grant.
If awarded, this grant would allow East Palo Alto to increase the number of sworn personnel from 36 to 40 and to create a Community Response Team dedicated to creatively addressing community concerns.
Fiscal Impact
If awarded, the City would be required to cover 25% of the total costs. Staff would return to the City Council in the future for final consideration of the City’s commitment, if awarded.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by positing the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo County Library at 2415 University Avenue.
Environmental
The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” pursuant to 15378(b) (4) as it is a fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment.
Attachments
1. Resolution