FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 1, 2023
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Agreements with School Districts For Law Enforcement Services
Description:
The City Council will consider authorizing the City of Santa Maria to enter into agreements for Law Enforcement services between the Santa Maria Police Department and Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District and future agreements for law enforcement services between the Santa Maria Police Department and local school districts.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adopt a Resolution approving two agreements for law enforcement services between the Santa Maria Police Department and the Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District; and
2. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City of Santa Maria to enter into future agreements for law enforcement services between the Santa Maria Police Department and local school districts.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) has provided School Resource Officers to school districts since 1997 when the first Challenge Grant was implemented to address truancy and juvenile offenders. Since that time School Resource Officers have been deployed to school districts on a regular basis. S tarting with agreements for services in 2014, funding has been provided by the districts to cover the costs of law enforcement services in partnership with the SMPD. Under the most recent agreement, SMPD provided up to five School Resource Officer positions at one point. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing staffing crisis, SMPD was forced to place these services on hold in December of 2021, as the staff was needed to support operations in other areas.
The department continued to work with the districts to p rovide supplemental law enforcement services on an as -needed basis for extracurricular activities if staffing was available.
2 SMPD and the districts realize the importance of providing and maintaining a safe campus environment free from drugs, violence, gang activity, truancy, and trespassing by non - students. SMPD is now in the process of re-building the School Resource Officer Program and can commit to two High School Resource Officer positions allocated to Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District (SMJUHSD) due to vigorous recruitment and retention efforts. Additional School Resource Officer positions may be added at the request of the districts and availability of staffing within the SMPD.
DISCUSSION:
The agreements will allow the City to re-establish School Resource Officers on campuses and provide additional law enforcement services to the districts that will meet the needs of both parties.
The agreement s outline the City’s and the districts’ responsibilities, annual costs, indemnification requirements, and termination provisions.
Alternative(s)
The alternative would be to not enter into agreements with the school districts to provide law enforcement services, resulting in the elimination of the School Resource Officer program.
Fiscal Considerations
The terms of the agreements will reimburse the City for the services provided.
The service expectations and formula costs will be reviewed annually by the Chief of Police and the respective school boards, with recommended adjustments submitted to each respective governing board for approval as part of the annual budget process.
The cost for City -provided services is based on the minimum service levels desired by the districts. Additionally, the SMJUHSD also agrees to pay all overtime costs associated with events outside the scope of the regular school day.
Impact to the Community
In addition to maintaining effective emergency response to the schools, the SMPD views the agreements as a valuable opportunity to continue to provide increased services to school districts. The districts will benefit from an established police presence resulting in shorter response times, as well as the partnership established by the agreements.
Other Agency Review
Upon the Mayor’s execution of the SMJUHSD agreement on behalf of the City of Santa Maria, the agreement will be presented to the SMJUHSD School Board for approval and will become effective prior to the first day of school for the calendar year of 2023-2024.
Future agreements will be presented to the respective districts’ boards for approval prior to the City’s execution of the agreement.
3 ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: SMJUHSD Law Enforcement Services Agreement 2023-27 Attachment B: SMJUHSD Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Agreement 2023-27