City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 15, 2022 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: GRANT AWARD FROM STATE OF CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY STATE PROGRAM 2021 IN THE AMOUNT OF $737,327.04 PLUS INTEREST – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Accept the grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program 2021 in the amount of $737,327.04.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept the grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety program 2021 in the amount of $737,327.04 into the Special Deposits Fund, Police State COPS Funding Program; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the CFO, or his designee, to record an increase in revenues and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $737,327.04 plus projected interest, to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund 215, Police State Cops Funding Program; and Authorize the City Manager or designee, on behalf of the City, to execute all necessary documents, including making non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
In 1996, Assembly Bill 3229 established the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program. This program allows eligible counties and cities to receive a proportionate share of COPS funds based on population estimates determined by the California Department of Finance. The funds are distributed to the counties who then set up a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) and appropriate funds to the various cities.
The Riverside Police Department was notified on September 14, 2020 of an award of grant funds in the estimated amount of $498,493 from the County of Riverside’s SLESF Fiscal Year 2020-21 allocation. Allocations shown on the attachment are estimates and may be slightly different from the final allocations made by the State of Controller’s Office. Actual funds distributed to the Department were in the amount of $431,826.36. Then, in October of 2021, the City was awarded an additional $305,500.68 from the County of Riverside’s SLESF Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a total amount of $737,327.04.
This is the 25th year that the City has received this funding. This funding is intended to fill the need for additional resources at the local level for law enforcement services in accordance with Government Code Section 30061. Use of these funds is limited to frontline municipal police services and can only be used to supplement, not supplant, existing funding.
As required by statute, the City must establish its own SLESF to prevent funds received from being intermingled with any other funds in the City Treasury. In April 2002, Senate Bill 823 amended Government Code Sections 30061 and 30063 to require that the City Council appropriate existing and anticipated monies exclusively to fund frontline municipal police services, in accordance with requests by the Chief of Police. Grant accounting for expenditures and revenues may still be subject to review or audit by the State of California or the County of Riverside.
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department will use the grant award to continue funding civilian staff to assist customers, coordinate Police programs and process Police reports, thereby providing frontline Police services. These positions also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of officers in the field. The use of civilian support staff is an allowable expenditure under the grant.
The Police Department will use the remaining grant funds to purchase equipment and vehicles. These funds must be expended by June 30, 2022.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The proposed grant funds will allow the Police Department to purchase the items and services needed for the Department to serve the public interest, benefit the City’s diverse populations, and result in greater public good.
Equity – The proposed grant funds will allow the Police Department to purchase the items and services needed to continue to provide public safety services and ensure every member of the community has equal access to share in the benefits.
Fiscal Responsibility – The proposed grant funds will be used to purchase the items and services summarized in this report which will be made in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Police and will be managed responsibly. The funding source is a non-General Fund source.
Innovation – The proposed grant funds will be used to make purchases that will assist the Police Department in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed grant funds provide the Police Department with a way to fund needed services and items without using General Funds. This allows the Department to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $737,327.04. No matching funds are required. Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenues in the amount of $737,327.04, plus interest, will be recorded to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, State COPS Grant program revenue account 9345200-374510 and appropriate expenditures in the same amount to account 9345200-440210.
Prepared by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
Availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Lea Deesing, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
County of Riverside Allocation of Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Subaccount for COPS and JJCPA 2020-2021 Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Growth Special Account – Front-line Law Enforcement City Allocations State COPS Grant Supplemental Appropriation 2021 - Page 2