Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/18/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4964) DOC ID: 4964
Updated: 7/12/2023 9:57 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM AGREEMENT – Authorize the City Manager or her Designee to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fremont Unified School District to Continue the School Resource Officer Program Contact Persons:
Name: Jared Morrison Sean Washington
Title: Special Operations Division
Lieutenant
Police Chief
Div/Dept: Police Department Police Department
Phone: (510) 790-6906 510-790-6969
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this staff report is to authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD). The purpose of the MOU is to continue the partnership of the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026. The program enhances school safety and helps to sustain a positive learning environment. The Police Department will continue to provide one police officer for each of the six FUSD high schools within the City of Fremont. FUSD will provide office space, furnishings and a telephone line for each officer. The cost of the program will be jointly shared by the City of Fremont and FUSD. On May 11, 2023, the SRO MOU was approved by the FUSD Board during their scheduled Board Meeting.
BACKGROUND: FUSD and the City of Fremont Police Department have a longstanding partnership focused on providing a safe and secure learning environment. Several decades ago, the SRO Program was established. In addition to providing a safe learning environment, the goal of the SRO Program is to provide valuable resources to school staff members, foster positive relationships with the youth in our community, and assist with developing strategies to resolve problems affecting youth. The SROs are available to respond to and assist at the junior high schools and elementary schools. Over the years, the value of the SRO Program has been demonstrated many times. SROs have provided safety training for school administrators, educated Patrol Officers on school related matters, responded to critical incidents at or around school campuses, provided security for school related special events (dances, athletic competitions, etc.), and engaged parents and members of the community by answering questions and providing learning seminars.
The continued mission of the SRO Program is to ensure a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and school administrators through a cooperative partnership with FUSD.
The primary duties of the SROs include:
• Liaison between the Police Department and the School District. • Investigate crimes that occur on school campuses.
• Deter criminal activity.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4964) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/12/2023 9:57 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 • Coordinate emergency medical response and/or provide basic life support when necessary.
• Coordinate patrol familiarization training to enhance patrol response to violent incidents.
• When requested by FUSD, attend administrative meetings and conferences. • Provide security for major sporting events, large functions, and graduation events as outlined in the City of Fremont / Fremont Unified School District MOU. • When requested by FUSD, conduct classroom instruction on prevention and education on appropriate subjects to high school students, faculty, and staff, in accordance with the SRO and Department mission statements, utilizing approved lesson plans.
• Take appropriate action for any on-campus situations requiring police attention. • Act as a liaison and resource between the law enforcement community, other governmental agencies, and the school.
• Maintain availability to all students and staff in the schools via office phone, e-mail, or other electronic medium.
• Inform the school administration of current student criminal involvement and criminal trends that may impact the safe environment of the school, as needed. • Perform preventive patrol for students en route to and from school. Attention will be directed to observations pertinent to the safety and well-being of children.
SRO’s receive training from a California Police Officer Standard and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved training course as soon as practicable upon appointment. Crisis Intervention Training (C.I.T.) or its equivalent (response to persons suffering from mental health crisis) will be provided to all SROs. Every SRO will attend the Basic SRO forty-hour course hosted by the National Association of School Resource Officers. Additional job-related training will be provided as needed.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The SRO Program continues to be mutually beneficial for the City of Fremont Police Department and FUSD. Police officers working with youth allow for enhanced communication, understanding and cooperation among school administrators, the police, students and members of the community.
The purpose of the MOU is to continue the SRO Program, which enhances the safe and positive learning environment within FUSD through the assignment of a Fremont Police Officer to the secondary school campuses. The MOU contains the following provisions:
• FUSD and FPD will meet and confer on a regular basis regarding the ongoing performance of the SRO program. An officer’s duty performance is considered prior to appointment;
• SROs will be selected by supervisors and managers of the Police Department’s SRO program, with input from a designated FUSD representative who will be part of the selection panel in an advisory capacity;
Council Staff Report (ID # 4964) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/12/2023 9:57 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 • Upon receipt of any complaint that could adversely affect the ability of an SRO to properly conduct his or her duties as an SRO, the Chief of Police or designee will review the complaint to determine if any immediate personnel action must be taken.
Information provided to the Superintendent regarding the complaint will be in accordance with sections 832.5 and 832.7 of the California Penal Code, and with the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act;
• FUSD shall have the right to request, after consultation and collaboration with FPD, that an SRO be removed from their specific assignment; and • Annual performance evaluations will be conducted by SRO supervisors and managers. School administrators may submit comments to be included in the performance evaluations.
The term of the MOU shall begin July 1, 2023, and end on June 30, 2026. Either party may terminate the agreement at their own convenience upon 30-day notice to the other party.
FUSD will provide office space and furnishings, including an assigned telephone extension for each SRO.
On May 11, 2023, the SRO MOU was approved by the FUSD Board during their scheduled Board Meeting. The approved payment amounts have since been adjusted due to a change in SRO staffing, since payment amounts are based on actual salaries and related benefits/employer costs of each SRO. The new costs of the SRO services paid by FUSD are estimated to be $28,947 less than the amount approved by the FUSD Board during the May 11, 2023 board meeting and are outlined in the Fiscal Impact section below and in the attached draft MOU.
In addition to the MOU, guidelines for operations have been established in the SRO Handbook, which was created with input and cooperation between the Police Department and FUSD. The SROs will also adhere to FPD’s School Resource Officer Program Policy, all applicable laws and procedures.
FISCAL IMPACT: The agreement between FUSD and City of Fremont for the SRO Program will authorize the City to provide police officers at the local high schools. The cost of the program is to be jointly shared by the City and FUSD. FUSD will pay one-half of the annual operational costs of the provided SRO police officers’ salaries and benefits. The parties estimate the following costs based on current and forecasted wage increases for the next two years:
FY 2023/2024 FY 2024/2025 FY 2025/2026
City of Fremont $1,026,560 $1,077,888 $1,131,782 (Est. 5% Increase)
FUSD $1,026,560 $1,077,888 $1,131,782 (Est. 5% Increase)
In year one, the revenue amount will be $1,026,560. For Fiscal Year 2024/2025, the cost will increase based on previously negotiated wage increases to $1,077,888. For Fiscal Year 2025/2026, wages will depend on future labor negotiation outcomes and a 5% placeholder wage increase has been applied at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) Council Staff Report (ID # 4964) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/12/2023 9:57 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 4 in that it is not a project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
• MOU - SRO's_FUSD_City of Fremont 2023-26_DRAFT
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fremont Unified School District for the School Resource Officer Program.