Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee Memorandum
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND YOUTH DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2025
COMMITTEE
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD SERVICES AND COST SHARING OPTIONS WITH RIVERSIDE AND ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS ISSUE:
Receive an update on the school crossing guard service program and provide input on the cost sharing options with Riverside and Alvord Unified School Districts.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee receive an update on the school crossing guard service program and provide input on the cost sharing options with Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) and Alvord Unified School District (AUSD).
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 2014, the Public Works Department was responsible for staffing and managing the City’s crossing guard program. On April 15, 2014, the City Council approved a five-year contract with All City Management Services, Inc. (ACMS), which expired on June 30, 2019. The City funded crossing guard services at 100% through June 30, 2019.
On May 14, 2019, staff introduced a new contract proposal for crossing guard services for a five-year term with an option to extend an additional two-year term in an amount not to exceed $4,966,041.60. In response to budgetary constraints, the City Council rejected the proposed contract and directed staff to explore cost-sharing models with both AUSD and RUSD.
On July 16, 2019, staff presented the City Council with a cost sharing plan phased in over a five-year period. At that time the City Council directed staff to work with the school districts to move to a 50/50 cost sharing model within two but no more than three years maximum.
On August 22, 2019, RUSD’s Board of Education Finance Subcommittee recommended support of the proposed costs sharing model which was approved by RUSD’s board on September 3, 2019. AUSD staff also recommended support of the cost sharing model to their Board which was heard at the September 19, 2019 AUSD Board meeting.
On September 24, 2019, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the reimbursement of crossing guard services with RUSD and AUSD for a five-year term through June 30, 2024.
On February 27, 2024, Council approved the Second Amendment to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement for Crossing Guard Program Management Services with ACMS, to add twelve (12) guard locations at AUSD and 1 guard location at RUSD location through June 30, 2024, approved the First Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding between the AUSD to add 12 additional guard sites at a 100% reimbursement to the City of Riverside for the addition of the new guard sites of Crossing Guard Services, and authorized to pay $13,500 for Crossing Guard Services for the St. Catherine of Alexandria site at Arlington and Brockton for the remainder of the 2023/24 school year. This MOU change allowed AUSD to leverage the City of Riverside’s lower pricing for crossing guard services.
On June 18, 2024, Council approved the Third Amendment to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with ACMS, for Crossing Guard Program Management Services, to add seven (7) additional guard locations for a total of 84 guard locations through June 30, 2026, approved the First Amendment to MOU between RUSD to add six (6) additional guard locations in their district through June 30, 2025, approved the Third Amendment to the MOU between the AUSD for to add one (1) additional guard location in their district through June 30, 2025, and approved the MOU between the St. Catherine of Alexandria School for 100% reimbursement of Crossing Guard Services through June 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with AUSD and RUSD are set to expire on June 30, 2025, and the Agreement with ACMS is currently in its sixth year and is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Currently, the City funds the originally contracted schools at 50%. Crossing guard services for newly contracted schools are being fully reimbursed by the respective school districts. Table 1 outlines the existing reimbursement schedule for the original school sites and those additional sites amended into the agreement.
Table 1 – Current Reimbursement Schedule
District
Agreement Term
Number of Schools
Percentage Split
City / District
AUSD
Included in original agreement
15 50% / 50%
Additional School Sites
13*
0% / 100%
RUSD
Included in original agreement
49 50% / 50%
Additional School Sites
6**
0% / 100%
St. Catherine’s
Removed from RUSD***
1 0% / 100%
*Schools are in City & County limits.
**Schools are in County limits.
*** Private school
Cost Sharing Options
During previous Council discussions related to Crossing Guard MOU amendments, the subject of continued adjustment to the cost sharing model was raised. In response to prior feedback, staff developed Table 2 which outlines several cost-sharing options for the Committee’s consideration. Staff recommend the consideration of increasing the school district contributions for the original 64 schools by 5% each year over a five-year term, beginning in FY 2025/26, with the goal of reaching a 75% (School) / 25% (City) contribution split in 5 years. The proposed reimbursement schedule is listed in Table 2 – Option C. Under the recommended scenario, the cost for new crossing guard (not counting the reassignment of an existing guard) would be fully borne by the respective school districts.
A secondary consideration is for the City to maintain the existing Crossing Guard cost-sharing model for the next 5 years as listed in Table 2 – Option B.
On January 28, 2025, the City Manager and the Public Works Department met with representatives from RUSD and AUSD. During discussions, RUSD shared that they would like to add three crossing guard locations to the new school site at Casa Blanca Elementary with the request to pay no more than 50% as listed in Table 2 – Option D below, as the new school is within the City limits. This decision would set precedence for any additional sites, as Eastside Elementary will also require crossing guards and it is expected to open in 2027.
Lastly, the City could discontinue the program funding as listed in Table 2 – Option A as the crossing guard contract with ACMS is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2026.
Table 2 – Proposed Reimbursement Schedule
Options
City Share
District Share
A – No City contribution
All Years
0%
100%
B – Continue existing cost share model (50/50 split of 64 locations) All Years
Original Schools
Additional Schools
50%
0%
50%
100%
C – Gradual reduction in City contribution (from 45% of original schools to 25%) [Recommended] Year 7
45%
55%
Year 8
40%
60%
Year 9
35%
65%
Year 10
30%
70%
Year 11
25%
75%
D – RUSD Preference - Existing cost share model (50/50 split of 64 locations plus any location in RUSD City limits) All Years
Original Schools
Additional City Schools
Additional County Schools
50%
50%
0%
50%
50%
100%
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.3 –Strengthen neighborhood identifies and improve community health and the physical environment through amenities and programs that foster an increased sense of community and enhanced feelings of pride and belonging citywide; and Goal 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement and build public trust. It also supports Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government and aligns with Goal 5.4 – Achieve and maintain financial health by addressing gaps between revenues and expenditures and aligning resources with strategic priorities to yield the greatest impact.
Furthermore, this Project aligns with each of the Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – Parents, caregivers, and students alike appreciate the service of crossing guards within Riverside neighborhoods.
Equity – The Crossing Guard Program will benefit the entire community, especially students who are reliant on active transportation to reach their school site.
Fiscal Responsibility – This proposal exemplifies the partnership between the Public Works Department, RUSD, AUSD, and St. Catherine of Alexandria and demonstrates responsible management of the City’s financial resources to provide quality public services and ensure partnering school districts achieve cost savings through our competitive pricing.
Innovation – This item is neutral in this area.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Maintaining service agreements allows the City of Riverside to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future and ensures the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Fiscal Impact will be determined by the Option selected. The following table reflects estimated costs for the City and each school district for the Options outlined previously.
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
%
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
2029/30
OPTION A
City
0 $0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Discontinue contribution
AUSD
100
$617,792
$679,571
$713,550
$749,227
$786,689
RUSD
100
$1,213,520
$1,334,872
$1,401,616
$1,471,696
$1,545,281
St. Catherine
100
$22,064
$24,270
$25,484
$26,758
$28,096
OPTION B
City
50 $706,048
$776,653
$815,485
$856,230
$899,073
Continue existing cost share model
§ Schools pay 50% for 64 locations &
RUSD pays 100% for 6
AUSD pays 100% for 13
Private pays 100% for 1
§ City pays 50% of 64 locations
AUSD
50 $165,480
$182,028
$191,129
$200,686
$210,720
100
$286,832
$315,515
$331,291
$347,856
$365,248
RUSD
50 $540,568
$594,625
$624,356
$655,574
$688,353
100
$132,384
$145,622
$152,904
$160,549
$168,576
St. Catherine
100
$22,064
$24,270
$25,484
$26,758
$28,096
OPTION C
City
45-25
$635,443
$621,322
$570,840
$513,756
$449,536
Gradual increase in school contribution
§ Schools pay up to 75% [Recommended]
AUSD
55-75
$182,028
$218,434
$248,468
$280,960
$316,080
100
$286,832
$315,515
$331,291
$347,856
$365,248
RUSD
55-75
$594,625
$713,550
$811,663
$917,803
$1,032,529
100
$132,384
$145,622
$152,904
$160,549
$168,576
St. Catherine
100
$22,064
$24,270
$25,484
$26,758
$28,096
Total Annual Program Cost
Figures may be rounded
$1,853,376
$2,038,714
$2,140,649
$2,247,682
$2,360,066
OPTION D
City
50 $739,144
$813,059
$853,711
$896,367
$941,217
RUSD Preference
§ Schools pay 50% for 67 City locations &
RUSD pays 100% for 6
AUSD pays 100% for 13
Private pays 100% for 1
§ City pays 50% of 67 locations
AUSD
50 $165,480
$182,028
$191,129
$200,686
$210,720
100
$286,832
$315,515
$331,291
$347,856
$365,248
RUSD
50 $540,568
$594,625
$624,356
$655,574
$688,353
100
$165,480
$182,028
$191,129
$200,686
$210,720
St. Catherine
100
$22,064
$24,270
$25,484
$26,758
$28,096
Total Annual Program Cost
Figures may be rounded
$1,919,568.00
$2,111,524.80
$2,217,101.04
$2,327,956.09
$2,444,353.90
**Option D adds 3 schools if approved by Council
Once an option is selected and meetings with the respective school districts are concluded, Public Works will present the agreed proposal to the City Council for approval.
Prepared by: Diana Palatto, Principal Management Analyst Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director Certified as to
Availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachment: Presentation
Crossing Guard Services Program ● Page 2