REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Shannon Buckley, Assistant City Manager
Date:June 10, 2025
Subject:Agreement with County of Riverside Sheriff's Department for Law Enforcement Services
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute an Agreement with the County of Riverside Sheriff's Department to perform law enforcement services per the fee and terms noted in the agreement in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
Background
For many years, the County of Riverside Sheriff's Department has provided the City of Lake Elsinore with law enforcement services. The existing five-year contract is ending June 30, 2025, and the proposed agreement renews for an additional five-year period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed the agreement. It is consistent with the previous contract and includes agreed-upon modifications to the contract concerning the patrol of the lake and Community Patrol Officers.
Since 2010, the City's overall daily patrol service hours for law enforcement have remained the same due to budget constraints and rising service costs. However, in recent years, the City has experienced an increase in quality of life concerns due to legislative changes that have limited law enforcement's ability to hold people in jail, resulting in a growing homeless population throughout California.
In October 2017, the City Council authorized an Amendment to the City's law enforcement agreement with the County of Riverside to expand our levels of services to include an additional Deputy Sheriff Community Patrol Officer to address a variety of issues related to improving safety and the overall quality of life in Lake Elsinore.
Law Enforcement Services
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In November 2020, Lake Elsinore voters approved Measure Z, effective April 1, 2021. Hiring additional law enforcement officers in the City is the direct result of Measure Z and our City's commitment to preserving the highest levels of public safety.
In May 2021, the City Council amended the contract to show that the City currently employs 44 sworn police officers. Positions include 1 Motorcycle Sergeant, 2 Special Enforcement Team Officers, 4 Motorcycle Officers, 1 Lake Patrol Officer, 2 Traffic Accident Investigation Officers, 1 Special Enforcement Officer Parks, 2 Community Patrol Officers, 6 Community Service Officer IIs, and 25 Patrol Officers (at 132 hours per day).
In June 2023, the City Council amended the contract again to show that the City currently employs 45 sworn police officers. Positions include 1 Motorcycle Sergeant, 3 Special Enforcement Team Officers, 4 Motorcycle Officers, 1 Lake Patrol Officer, 2 Traffic Accident Investigation Officers, 1 Special Enforcement Officer Parks, 2 Community Patrol Officers, 6 Community Service Officer IIs, and 25 Patrol Officers (at 132 hours per day).
In September 2024, the City Council amended the contract again to show the City currently employs 47 sworn police officers. Positions include 1 Motorcycle Sergeant, 3 Special Enforcement Team Officers, 4 Motorcycle Officers, 1 Lake Patrol Officer, 2 Traffic Accident Investigation Officers, 1 Special Enforcement Officer Parks, 3 Community Patrol Officers, 7 Community Service Officer IIs, and 25 Patrol Officers (at 132 hours per day).
Like many jurisdictions throughout the state, the City has had to find ways to address an increase in homeless activity that has subsequently led to increased citizen complaints and calls for code enforcement and law enforcement services. These calls for service include complaints regarding public feedings, panhandling/solicitation, thefts, assaults, trespassing, and debris located at homeless encampments. Addressing law enforcement needs is the first phase of appropriating Measure Z funding for this Fiscal Year. The County has provided the City with a schedule of contract staffing costs (Exhibit "A") to the Law Enforcement Agreement for City Council approval.
Discussion
The term of the proposed agreement will be from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, and it maintains all contracted services from the existing agreement but includes one (1) additional Motorcycle Officer.
The Cooperative Agreement requires the County to provide the City of Lake Elsinore with a full range of law enforcement protection services, including patrol of the lake and a Burglary, Robbery, and Suppression Team (BRST).
Formalization of this agreement is required every five years to renew the required contract appropriately. The County has provided the City with a schedule of contract staffing (Exhibit "A") to the Law Enforcement Agreement for City Council approval, which reflects the estimated staffing for the Fiscal Years 2025-26 through 2029-30.
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Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is approximately $21.6 million and will be reflected in the City's Annual Operating Budget during the agreement term. Any necessary changes for the fiscal year will be made as part of the mid-year review process.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Agreement
City Manager's Office