City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: SIXTH AMENDED AVIATION PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CORONA IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $120,000 FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024 - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve the Sixth Amended Aviation Program Agreement with the City of Corona to provide as-needed emergency air support services to the City of Corona for a one-year term for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 for a total amount of $120,000 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the same amount.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Sixth Amended Aviation Program Agreement between the City of Riverside and the City of Corona for a one-year term for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 for a total amount of $120,000; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues in the General Fund, Aviation Miscellaneous Revenue account in the amount of $120,000 and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $120,000 to Helicopter Maintenance and Repair account; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the necessary contract documents with the City of corona including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Police Department (RPD) Aviation Unit provides aerial support for ground operations in observing, preventing, and interdicting criminal activity. Due to the costs associated with continuous maintenance and replacement of parts that have reached their runtime hours, the RPD needed to limit the airtime for the airships. Therefore, in 2014, RPD explored alternate funding sources to complement the aviation budget for fuel and maintenance/ repair costs and negotiated an agreement with the City of Corona. In June 2014, the RPD entered into an agreement with Corona to provide air support services in the amount of $399,291.91 annually.
In 2017, the RPD entered into the Second Amendment to the Helicopter Program Agreement to continue providing air support services in the amount of $399,291.91 annually.
On July 10, 2018, the City Council approved the Third Amended Aviation Program Agreement with the City of Corona to provide as-needed emergency air support services to the City of Corona for a two-year term for the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020 for $100,000 per fiscal year, for a total amount of $200,000.
The Corona Police Department declined the use of air support services from the RPD for fiscal year 2020/21.
On September 7, 2021, the City Council approved the Fourth Amended Aviation Program Agreement with the City of Corona to provide as-needed emergency air support services to the City of Corona for a one-year term for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 for a total amount of $120,000 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the same amount.
On October 4, 2022, the City Council approved the Fifth Amended Aviation Program Agreement with the City of Corona to provide as-needed emergency air support services to Corona for a one-year term for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for 120 flight hours in a total amount of $120,000 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the same amount.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Corona contacted the RPD to negotiate the use of air support services for fiscal year 2023/24. The RPD worked with the Corona Police Department to identify solutions to assist the City of Corona with air support services and negotiated an appropriate rate.
The proposed Sixth Amended Aviation Program Agreement with the City of Corona will provide as-needed emergency response support for 70 flight hours for fiscal year 2023/24 in the total amount of $120,000.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal number 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 – This Agreement supports the RPD Aviation Units primary purpose to provide aerial support for ground operations in observing, preventing, and interdicting criminal activity. Collaboration with the City of Corona expands this purpose to further ensure community well-being and build community trust.
Equity – RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside with support of the Aviation Unit. Collaborating with the City of Corona provides the Department the ability to patrol beyond the City borders to further support safety within the region.
Fiscal Responsibility – RPD financial resources will not be used to fund this Agreement. The City of Corona will reimburse the RPD for 70 flight hours at a rate of $1,714.28 per hour for full cost recovery as determined by a recent cost analysis.
Innovation – The Agreement with the City of Corona allows RPD to be resourceful in meeting the community's needs by expanding the Aviation Unit outside the City borders through a collaborative partnership.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Providing services to the City of Corona allows the RPD to expand the reach of the Aviation Unit without compromising the needs of the City of Riverside while continuing to preserve the financial stability of the Aviation Unit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The net fiscal impact of this action is $0. Upon Council approval, the following increases in revenue and appropriations will be recorded, each in the amount of $120,000 for Fiscal Year 2023/24, as listed in the table below:
Fund
Program/Account Name
Account
Amount
Revenue
General Fund
Police Aviation Unit – Misc. Revenue
3120000-374200
$120,000
Expenditures
General Fund
Police Aviation Unit – Non-Stock Inventory
3120000-424210
$120,000
Prepared by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Financial Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Sixth Amended Aviation Program Agreement Between the City of Riverside and the City of Corona 6th Amended Aviation Program Agreement with City of Corona hPage 5