CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: August 3, 2026
100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-3323 – (925) 671-5270 www.phillca.gov
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. __-26 ACCEPTING FUNDS AND
AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES FROM THE CALIFORNIA
SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT
(SLESA)
SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this item is to accept fiscal year 2026-27 grant funds and authorize the recommended use of grant funds from the California Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA), formerly known as “Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF).
DISCUSSION
Background
In 1996, California state legislation (AB 3229) created the Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) program allocating $100,000 to eligible local governments yearly for front line law enforcement services.
These funds are distributed through SLESA. The funds cannot be used to supplant resources but instead must be used to supplement existing resources or funding. SLESA funds can be used for salaries, services, supplies, equipment, and administrative overhead. SLESA funds cannot be diverted into an entity’s general fund and must be used for the aforementioned front line law enforcement services. The size of the total award to each recipient is proportionate to population with the minimum award for all entities set at $100,000 yearly.
The award to Pleasant Hill for the 2026-27 fiscal year is $201,536.61. Enabling legislation specifies a city council must appropriate funds as specified in the written request of the entity’s chief of police. Funds are distributed from the State to the County, which then distributes the funds to the City.
Analysis
The Police Department proposes use of $155,000 in SLESA funds in fiscal year 2026-27 to fund the following items:
2 Automated License Plate Reader
Expansion of the current Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program. ALPR captures digital images of vehicle license plates as they pass the reader camera. Any license plate matched to a license plate in the system’s database is reported in real time to law enforcement. This information enables officers to act based on the type of data received. ALPR systems are very effective in locating and recovering stolen vehicles, alerting law enforcement officers to vehicles wanted in connection with other crimes, and obtaining investigative data that assist law enforcement in investigating and solving criminal cases. This technology is one of many programs designed to keep the City of Pleasant Hill safe and prevent property crimes.
In addition, the City of Pleasant Hill is home to many retail establishments that could be targets for organized retail theft and other crimes. It is imperative that the Police Department leverage additional resources to supplement our current community-oriented policing model with a technology driven policy approach to reducing crime and solving investigations. The use of live stream pan/tilt/zoom video cameras in fixed locations has provided greater deterrence, coverage, and more detailed information for law enforcement to handle active incidents, prevent crime, increase public safety, and solve cases. In addition, this added technology can be utilized to assess and respond to traffic related issues and accidents. It can also be used as a component of the City’s Emergency Operation Center.
The police department requests a commitment of $40,000 from SLESA funds for the purchase of ALPR equipment.
Dispatch Supervisor Position
Until 2019, the supervision of the professional staff in the Support Services Division fell to a single civilian supervisor, but because of the ongoing changes and significantly increased work requirements, it was no longer feasible to have a single supervisor oversee the numerous employees and job functions. Consequently, this led to a reorganization of the Services Division and the recommendation for a new Dispatch Supervisor position. The police department requests a commitment of $30,000 from SLESA funds to offset the cost for this position.
Organizational Wellness
Organizational and employee wellness is an important component of any successful police organization.
While the city has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place, police department employees found it difficult to secure timely therapy services through the EAP. The Police Department requests a commitment of $25,000 from SLESA funds to cover the continued use of a designated police department therapist.
Unmanned Aerial Systems
The advancement in technology of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) has rapidly evolved, creating many potential uses by local law enforcement agencies. Current UAS public safety uses include hazmat spills, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), search and rescue missions, investigating and documenting crime 3 scenes, barricaded suspect surveillance, active shooters, execution of search warrants, disaster response and recovery, training, and assistance requests from local and state fire authorities.
The purpose of a UAS program is to increase public and first responder safety and provide a higher level of police service to the community. Our UAS program has been in operation since 2021, with dozens of successful deployments each year. The success of the program has warranted the addition of four new UAS team members. The addition of new operators will require training and updated equipment for use by the team.
The Police Department requests the commitment of $15,000 to pay for the purchase of additional equipment, training, and maintenance of our existing UAS inventory.
Training Equipment
The effective training of sworn staff is an important component in improving the safety of the community, officers, and suspects during arrests and other high-risk incidents.
The Police Department requests a commitment of $10,000 from SLESA funds for the purchase of new and additional equipment to aid in delivering realistic training to police personnel.
Police Department Sign and Electronic Message Board
During the completion of the Civic Drive and Taylor Boulevard intersection upgrade project, the old and deteriorated Police Department sign structure had to be removed. The Police Department needs a new sign structure with an electronic message board. A new electronic message board, like the one in front of City Hall, will allow the City and the Police Department to communicate notifications and public outreach information more effectively to the general public. The proposed electronic message sign will replace the existing A-frame signs currently used for public noticing purposes at the Police Department. The Police Department requests a commitment of $35,000 from SLESA funds to cover half the cost of an electronic message board.
FISCAL IMPACT
No general fund fiscal impact is anticipated. By statute, funds from SLESA may not be combined with general fund accounts. The use and administration of SLESA grant funds require minimal staff time to manage. The Finance Department has confirmed funds exist in the SLESA account to cover all recommended expenditures.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
4 RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Move to adopt the proposed resolution accepting the grant and the proposed use of funds.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
Council could direct staff to not accept the grant or revise the list of recommended items.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Prepared by: Brian Leonard, Operations Division Lieutenant Reviewed by: Scott Vermillion, Chief of Police
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager