AGENDA ITEM NO. 10
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
DATE: November 15, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF EXPENDITURES OF FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 SUPPLEMENTAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT FUNDS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve using Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Account (SLESA) funds totaling $167,180 for the frontline law enforcement equipment and supply items.
BACKGROUND:
The Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA) is a State allocation which, according to California Government Code Section 30061 and 30062, must be used "exclusively to fund frontline municipal police services, in accordance with written requests submitted by the Chief of Police." These funds cannot be used to replace or "supplant existing funding for law enforcement services," but must instead supplement local funds. This funding was formerly called the Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund (SLESF), but was renamed SLESA as part of the realignment program for law enforcement that was enacted along with the State of California 2011 Budget Act.
DISCUSSION:
In its entirety, West Covina's FY 2022-23 SLESA allocation totals an estimated $167,180. Anticipating the receipt of these funds, which is distributed monthly, the Police Department prioritized a list of unbudgeted needs, as follows:
. Bulletproof Vests: Within the next year, a small number of the standard bulletproof vests, worn by Patrol Officers each day, will need purchasing for newly hired Officers, or will reach their manufacturer's warranty end date, and will need replacing for veteran Officers. New vests over the next year will total an estimated $20,000.
. Other Equipment Items: Equipment items including traffic enforcement items, communications gear items, and weapons components for SWAT are needed, totaling an estimated $80,000. . Supplies and Services: A range of items, totaling an estimated $67,180 are needed for front line law enforcement operations, as follows:
. GPS based surveillance services used by the Special Enforcement Team to track narcotics suspects;
. Specialized ammunition and tactical supplies for the SWAT Team; . Batteries and accessories for SWAT robots and drones;
. Emergency response gear and police supplies supporting front line law enforcement.
Prepared by: Alex B. Houston, Police Administrative Services Manager Additional Approval: Richard Bell, Chief of Police
Additional Approval: Stephanie Sikkema, Finance Director Fiscal Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
Using the State SLESA funds for the frontline law enforcement items described above is in keeping with the legislatively dictated requirements associated with this funding source. Estimated SLESA expenditure and revenue amounts were previously budgeted in Fund 155, so there is no impact to the General Fund.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Protect Public Safety