UPDATE AND DIRECTION ON THE SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE AGREEMENTMarch 6, 2025 Background –Staffing Emergency•Police Department sworn staffing emergency–Sworn staffing declined precipitously from 2021 through 2023–In March 2023, 67 total officers, 36 patrol (132 budgeted)–Emergency proclaimed July 2023•Department collapsed certain functions to assign staff to patrol•Lengthy response times to calls for service Background –Recruitment and Multiplier Strategies •Department implemented steps to increase staffing and tools–VPOA successor MOU in November 2023–Change to Police Officer minimum qualifications–Expanded use of technology–CHP traffic enforcement and reckless driving support–Civilianization–In March 2025, 78 total officers, 38 patrol (137 budgeted)•Department considering or pursuing additional steps–Recruitment and retention program–Expanding City’s retired annuitant program–Private security guards Background –Police Officer Hiring Timeline•Lengthy process to hire new officers–New recruit (18 months)•Application•Physical and written exam•Interview•Background•Academy•Field training–Laterals (9 months)•Application•Physical and written exam•Interview•Background•Field training Sheriff’s Office Contract•Department asked regional policing agencies about staffing support in August 2023–Solano County Sheriff’s Office (SO) indicated openness–Dialog delayed until adoption of VPOA successor MOU in November 2023–SO shared basic proposal in February 2024–Senator Dodd introduced legislation authorizing exceedance of CalPERS 960 hour limit for retired annuitants•SB 1379, signed by Governor September 2024, sunsets January 1, 2027–County shared updated term sheet on December 19, 2024 Sheriff’s Office Contract (cont’d)•December 2024 Term Sheet–Provide municipal police services–17 full time employees•Lieutenant•Two Sergeants•12 Deputies•One Dispatcher–Swing shift (12:00 –24:00), seven days per week–Assigned to specified beats–Generally, deputies perform the same functions that Vallejo Police Department officers perform (except traffic enforcement), although normally do not respond to the same number of violent incidents Sheriff’s Office Contract (cont’d)•December 2024 Term Sheet–City will indemnify County–SO will select staff–SO staff will follow County/SO policies and procedures–Attorney General must determine that settlement agreement with CalDOJ is not applicable to SO staff–County/SO bargaining units must agree Sheriff’s Office Contract (cont’d)•December 2024 Term Sheet–Budget –In addition to contract cost, City would incur any costs needed to indemnify the SO for any incidents involving SO staff (discovery, defense, and potential settlement/judgment)•City staff is working to estimate this cost Item AmountPersonnel (17 FTE)$5,831,905Services and Supplies$403,411Vehicles$1,276,674Administrative Overhead$1,787,854Insurance and Liability$1,932,700Total $11,232,544 Sheriff’s Office Contract (cont’d)•Vallejo Police Department is assessing the degree to which the SO contract would improve response times/public safety•County would like a City commitment to funding the agreement before proceeding to develop the detailed contract itself•The term sheet has not yet been approved by the Board of Supervisors•A realistic start date for SO services, given the need to negotiate the contract and upstaff, might be January 1, 2026 (SB 1379 sunsets January 1, 2027) Next Steps•City staff seeks Council direction on whether and how to continue analyzing and working toward an agreement–Further analyze and propose funding mechanism?–Gain better understanding of proposed budget?–Further analyze indemnification and risk management costs?–Estimate the public safety impact of agreement?–Analyze and propose process for addressing City’s employee bargaining responsibilities?–Facilitate CalDOJ’s review and potential approval of agreement (per SO’s requirement)?–Direction on other terms?
CONTACT(S)
Andrew Murray, City ManagerJason Ta, Police ChiefVeronica Nebb, City Attorney