October 24, 2023
Agenda Item No. 11
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Joe Cartwright, Chief of Police - 949-644-3701, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Dave Miner, Deputy Chief, [email protected]
PHONE:
949-644-3750
TITLE:
School Resource Officer Program Agreement
ABSTRACT:
The Police Department requests City Council approval of a new School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD), a renewal of the existing terms, and deployment of three SROs.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and Approve the agreement between the City of Newport Beach and Newport-Mesa Unified School District to participate in the School Resource Officer Program, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of Newport Beach.
DISCUSSION:
On September 27, 1999, the City Council approved an agreement between the City of Newport Beach (City) and NMUSD to provide two, full-time police officers to work as SROs at the City’s two public high schools: Corona del Mar High School and Newport Harbor High School. The agreement also specified that the Corona del Mar High School SRO would provide similar services to Ensign Middle School. The original agreement term took effect on February 7, 2000 and expired on February 7, 2003. After it expired, the City approved annual amendments to the original agreement to continue the services of this program.
During the 2011 annual request for amendment by NMUSD, the City Attorney’s Office recommended creating a new agreement that more accurately described the services provided and the agreement was revised. Since the original agreement, some services have changed, including discontinuation of D.A.R.E. instruction at the two high schools and the assignment of the high school SROs to also service both middle schools. Ultimately, the Corona del Mar High School SRO was assigned to also service Corona del Mar Middle School and the Newport Harbor High School SRO was assigned to service both Newport Harbor High School and Ensign Middle School.
On June 12, 2018, the City Council approved the FY 2018-19 budget, which included the addition of a third SRO under the same terms as the two existing SROs, including equally shared funding with NMUSD. The SRO agreement including the third SRO has been renewed annually since 2018. The 2022-23 agreement expired on June 30, 2023. The proposed agreement with NMUSD is a renewal of the existing terms and deployments with the same three SROs and the language to allow a decrease in the funding provided by NMUSD during unplanned long-term school closures of more than 30 days. The proposed agreement allows the Police Department to assign one SRO to Newport Harbor High School, one SRO to Corona del Mar High School and Corona del Mar Middle School and one SRO to cover the high schools when the designated high school SRO is not on duty. The “cover SRO” is based at Ensign Middle School and also serves NMUSD elementary schools within the City as needed. These SRO assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
The goal of the SRO program is to work collaboratively within the school community to provide safe learning environments, foster positive relationships with students, educators, parents and community members, and to develop strategies to resolve problems that affect our youth, so that they can reach their full potential. The role of the SRO includes promoting a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The adopted budget includes sufficient funding for this agreement. Per the agreement, the full salary and benefits for three School Resource Officers (police officers) will be funded equally through the Police Department’s budget (50 percent) and the NMUSD (50 percent). Funding for the three police officers is included in the Police Department’s FY 2023-24 budget, as are revenues from the NMUSD in the amount of $283,598. The expenses will be charged to salary and benefits accounts in the Police Department, Detective Division (Organization Code 01035355).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – Agreement and Benefit Analysis
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School Resource Officer Program Agreement
October 24, 2023
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