CONSIDER AND POSSIBLY ADOPT
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN
AGREEMENT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES WITH
SOLANO COUNTY AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAME
June 17, 2025
Key Topics
• Police Officer staffing shortage
• Engagement with Solano County
• Proposed agreement for law enforcement services
• Additional considerations
– City settlement agreement with CalDOJ
– City labor negotiations responsibilities
– City indemnification and insurance
– Impact on public safety in Vallejo
– Operational challenges
Police Officer Staffing Shortage
• Police Department sworn staffing emergency
– Sworn staffing declined precipitously from 2021 through 2023 – In March 2023, 67 total officers, 36 patrol
– Emergency proclaimed July 2023
• Department collapsed certain functions to assign staff to patrol • Lengthy response times to calls for service
Police Officer Staffing Shortage (cont’d)
• 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 June 2025, 82 total officers
• Department/City pursuing additional steps
– Recruitment and retention program
– Expanding City’s retired annuitant program
– Private security guards through Public Works
Engagement with Solano County
• 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 Engagement with Solano County (cont’d)
• On April 8, 2025, the City Council directed City staff to budget $11.2M for an agreement with Solano County
• On May 6, 2025, the Solano County Board of Supervisors authorized County staff to continue to engage in dialog with the City of Vallejo regarding a potential agreement
– The Board of Supervisors established a deadline of June 24, 2025 for an agreement, approved by the Vallejo City Council, to be presented to the Supervisors for action
• On May 14, 2025, the County shared the first draft of the agreement with the City
• The agreement that City and County staff have negotiated is now ready for City Council consideration
Proposed Agreement for Law Enforcement
Services
• Sheriff’s Office will provide municipal police services in Vallejo Beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 from noon until midnight (12:00 – 24:00) seven days per week • 17 full time employees
– Lieutenant
– Two Sergeants
– 12 Deputies
– Two Dispatchers
• County will not perform traffic collision investigations or criminal investigations requiring specialized detectives or forensic investigative services
• Term of agreement is January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 Proposed Agreement for Law Enforcement
Services (cont’d)
• The estimated cost for the one year of service is $11,232,544 • 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)
Item Amount
Personnel (17 FTE) $5,831,905
Services and Supplies $403,411
Vehicles $1,276,674
Administrative Overhead $1,787,854
Insurance and Liability $1,932,700
Total $11,232,544
Proposed Agreement for Law Enforcement
Services (cont’d)
• At the conclusion of the contract, the County will transfer to City the vehicles and equipment purchased by City for County use • SO will select the personnel to perform the services
– If the City has a concern about assigned personnel, City and County will meet and confer
• City would indemnify the County for actions of SO personnel • Either party may terminate agreement with 90 days’ notice • City and County would engage in good faith negotiations to resolve any disagreement regarding the agreement
Proposed Agreement for Law Enforcement
Services (cont’d)
• Elements the City requested that are not included in the agreement – A paragraph stating that the County commits to engage in constitutional policing
– Reduced City indemnification obligation
– The City performing dispatch and records functions
– County contribution to Workers Compensation, 4850, and Industrial Disability Retirement (IDR) liability
– City input on initial assignment of personnel
– Confirming continued staffing of SO personnel in unincorporated area near Vallejo
Additional Considerations
• City settlement agreement with CalDOJ
– CalDOJ does not object to the agreement between the City and County • City labor negotiations responsibilities
– The City noticed, and where requested, met and conferred with City bargaining groups. The City has been meeting and conferring with bargaining groups regarding any potential impacts and will continue to do so as operational details become clearer and impacts are identified • City indemnification and insurance
– Some potential costs might arise from the agreement related to indemnification and insurance, which are difficult to estimate – City is seeking written coverage confirmation from excess insurance carrier
Additional Considerations (cont’d)
• Impact on public safety in Vallejo
– The Police Department expects that if the agreement is executed, response times to Priority One, Two, and Three events would be reduced by more than half in Beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 and by approximately 40% in Beats 5, 6, 7, and 8
– There would also be increased patrol visibility and proactive enforcement during the hours when the SO is active
• Operational challenges
– The City believes that it would be more efficient for the City to dispatch the deputies and maintain related records and looks forward to the possibility of discussing this matter further with the County Next Steps
• City staff is grateful to the Sheriff’s Office and other County staff for their hard work on this potential
collaboration
• City Council decision on whether to adopt a resolution approving an agreement with Solano County and
authorizing the City Manager to execute same
CONTACT(S)
Andrew Murray, City Manager
Jason Ta, Police Chief
Veronica Nebb, City Attorney