Agenda ReportFullerton City CouncilAgenda ReportFullerton City Council Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JULY 18, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: ROBERT DUNN, CHIEF OF POLICE
PREPARED BY: LAUREN PARKHOUSE, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST SUBJECT: POLICE DEPARTMENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIAN PILOT PROGRAM
SUMMARY
Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee has allocated $1,000,000 of County of Orange Board of Supervisor discretionary funds (ARPA funds) toward a two-year pilot program to employ two behavioral health clinicians in the Fullerton Police Department. The Police Chief and City Manager request City Council consideration to use these funds to initiate a Pilot Program.
RECOMMENDATION
Appropriate receipt and use of $1,000,000 to the Police Department in the Grant Fund (Fund 32).
Authorize the Administrative Services Director, or designee, to issue a $111,985 purchase order with National Auto Fleet Group for vehicles and upfitting and authorize change orders as necessary within program budget.
Approve addition of two full-time equivalent Police Behavioral Health Clinicians to Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Police Department Personnel Summary.
Authorize City Manager to sign agreement with the County of Orange for the pilot Police Behavioral Health Clinician Program.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The Police Chief has outlined the proposed Pilot Program. The Program may evolve some as it is fully developed for implementation likely in 2024.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Public Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $1,000,000, two-year funding from Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee’s County discretionary funds covers program costs, therefore, this program has no net impact to the General Fund (Fund 10).
DISCUSSION
Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee has agreed to award the City of Fullerton Police Department $1,000,000 of Supervisor’s discretionary fund for a two-year pilot program to add two licensed behavioral health clinicians to the Police Department. The Police Behavioral Health Clinician Program has clinicians respond to calls involving mental health crisis, domestic violence or juvenile delinquency either in lieu of or alongside police officers. These clinicians bring an expertise that enhances service to those experiencing the trauma and, in some cases, provide appropriate alternatives to incarceration. They can provide counseling, crisis response, mediation and referrals to community members as well as treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders, provide treatment plans and follow-up to evaluate their effectiveness. Additionally, clinicians could provide mental health training and consultation to police officers.
Having Police Behavioral Health Clinicians respond to non-criminal service calls allows officers to remain available for criminal calls and emergencies. This program provides a unique opportunity to enhance services while providing a platform to explore the addition of subject matter experts to law enforcement responses at a time when the Fullerton Police Department continues to face staffing challenges.
This item add would a new position to the Police Department and requires City Council approval to modify the FTE positions assigned to the Police Department in the FY 2023-24 budget as well as the job description for the classification update. Human Resources would submit a subsequent agenda item to request approval of a classification update for Police Behavioral Health Clinician.
The City would purchase two vehicles and equipment upfitting for the program from National Auto Fleet Group, procured through the Sourcewell national cooperative agreement number 091521-NAFG in accordance with the City’s purchasing policy and Fullerton Municipal Code 2.64. The vehicles would remain the property of the City of Fullerton at the end of the two-year pilot program.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – National Auto Fleet Group Quote
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Police Department Behavioral Health Clinician Pilot Program July 18, 2023 - Page 2