City Council Agenda Report
August 20, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Ozzie Ramos, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT RENEWAL Background:
The current Municipal Law Enforcement Services Agreement (MLESA) between Norwalk and the County of Los Angeles (LACO) expired on June 30, 2024. A five-year agreement between the City and LACO has been prepared for City Council’s review and approval. The term of the contract will commence on July 1, 2024, and expire on June 30, 2029.
The rates for law enforcement services are provided by the County of Los Angeles Auditor- Controller on an annual basis. Rates are determined based on the fully burdened cost of deploying patrol units including variables such as salary, benefits, equipment (vehicles, radios, maintenance, etc.), management overhead, vacation and sick relief, Detective services, Dispatch and front desk personnel, station Jailer services and civilian positions.
This year, a subcommittee of California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) City Managers was formed to draft revisions to the MLESA. Comments were solicited from all contract cities.
The CCCA subcommittee worked closely with the Sheriff’s Department Contract Law Enforcement Bureau to develop new language in the MLESA to describe how resource deployment will be addressed.
The following list summarizes the changes to the MESLA for 2024-2029:
•Section 3.3 – The following language was added to address deployment deficiencies, accurately track contract minutes on a monthly basis and by service type, rather than the current method of compiling all contract minutes into just one bucket of total contract minutes, while still maintaining 98% service compliance.
City Council August 20, 2024
Municipal Law Enforcement Services Agreement Page No. 2 9 7
4 o“If monthly service compliance falls below ninety-eight percent (98%) for each service unit type, then the Sheriff's Department Station Captain shall meet with the City to discuss compliance and identify a plan for resolution.” •Section 3.9 – The following language was added to establish a more transparent process for retaining service vehicles when there are changes in the number of actual service units in the City.
o“When a contracted service unit, requiring the procurement of a vehicle at the onset of service, is deleted from the Service Level Authorization (SH-AD-575), and the City reinstates said service unit within a 24-month period, the City will not be required to procure a vehicle.”
•Section 4.2.3 – The following language was added to define the process and mechanism for the transfer of City property to the County, and the accounting of City property used by the County.
o“When a contracted service unit, requiring the procurement of a vehicle at the onset of service, is deleted from the Service Level Authorization (SH-AD-575), and the City reinstates said service unit within a 24-month period, the City will not be required to procure a vehicle.”
•Attachment C, Public Safety Equipment Use Requirements, Section 3.9 – The following language was added to clarify equipment replacement protocols, procedures, and timelines after extended maintenance and repair.
o“Any Equipment requiring maintenance and repair by the County for any extended length of time, as determined by the Sheriff's Department's Communications and Fleet Management Bureau, will make best efforts to provide a temporary replacement piece of Equipment if such extended time exceeds or is projected to exceed sixty (60) calendar days.”
Section 5. 4: – This section has not been resolved; however, negotiations will be continuing for up to nine months regarding liability/indemnity issues. This agreement provides a 9-month period for our contract cities and the County to work in good faith to negotiate key issues related to liability.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24, the total expenditures for general law enforcement services amounted to $17,300,000.
Fiscal Impact:
The cost for general law enforcement services for FY 2024/25 is $16,526,620 and $1,904,810 for Liability Trust Fund costs for a total of $18,431,430. The cost for contract services increased by approximately 3.09% compared to FY 2023/24. Lastly, an additional $23,286 included in this City Council August 20, 2024
Municipal Law Enforcement Services Agreement Page No. 3 9 7
4 MLESA contract is for the annual equipment leasing and maintenance costs for Sheriff equipment utilized in Public Safety vehicles. This amount is included in the FY 2024/25 budget and is 100% funded by several Justice Assistance grants.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
Strategic Goal No. 2 “Work in partnership with our community to achieve a safe and livable neighborhood”
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council approve the agreement with the County of Los Angeles for Municipal Law Enforcement Services for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029, in the amount of $18,431,430 for Fiscal Year 2024/25, with adjustments for subsequent fiscal years based on negotiated rate changes and costs associated with law enforcement services; and authorizes the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
Municipal Law Enforcement Services Agreement 2024 through 2029