04-19-2011 - 2010-2011 Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fu - Item 6 (2).doc
City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager ITEM NO. 6
and City Council DATE April 19, 2011
FROM: Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: 2010-2011 SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FUND (SLESF) GRANT
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
Accept the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) grant, and appropriate the $135,755 grant from the fund balance of Fund 155 as follows:
$15,000 for supplemental overtime in 155.31.3110.5113
$29,630 into 155.31.3110.6120 for Graffiti Tracker service
$42,511 into 155.31.3110.6220 for other police supplies including surveillance items, Special Enforcement Team vehicle lights, vehicle conversion and warranty costs, computer items including
a laptop for emergency command operations, traffic enforcement items, and tactical enforcement items
$48,614 into 155.31.3110.7170 for two patrol vehicles
DISCUSSION:
The Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) is a State grant 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,” and cannot be used to replace or “supplant existing funding for law enforcement services.”
West Covina’s 2010-2011 SLESF grant, which is disbursed quarterly, totals $135,755. Anticipating the receipt of this grant, the Police Department prioritized a list of unbudgeted needs,
as follows:
Overtime for neighborhood crime control efforts and commercial enforcement:
Supplemental frontline overtime is needed to quickly respond to unplanned neighborhood crime and safety problems as they arise, and for targeting the City’s commercial areas.
Graffiti Tracker:
Funded since 2008 from SLESF grant funds, the Graffiti Tracker service improves the response to graffiti citywide. This sole source, comprehensive package combines digital photographs
marked with GPS locations, along with graffiti intelligence and analysis services. Graffiti Tracker helps keep track of the graffiti before it is removed and also aids in the prosecution
of graffiti vandals. Graffiti Tracker has proven to be a very valuable enforcement tool, directly improving the efficiency of the Graffiti Abatement Team (GAT) and reducing the incidents
of graffiti. Twelve days after purchasing the service, the Police Department made their first arrest by utilizing Graffiti Tracker. Overall, the Graffiti Abatement Team made 228
graffiti related arrests in 2007. That figure increased to 318 in 2008 (the year in which Graffiti Tracker was purchased), and to 326 arrests in 2009. In 2010, with a reduced workforce
due to budget cuts, the GAT team made 236 graffiti arrests. Since the GAT team began using Graffiti Tracker in 2008, the average number of monthly graffiti incidents has dropped drastically:
The total number of graffiti incidents fell from 17,176 in 2009 to 15,905 in 2010. But while graffiti is declining, the successful prosecutions of those arrested and the subsequent
court ordered restitutions awarded to the City are increasing. Graffiti Tracker’s ability to document and quickly analyze graffiti is critical part of this success. Renewing this
unique enforcement service would benefit the City greatly.
2 Patrol Vehicles:
Using a combination of non-General funds will allow the City to purchase eight (8) patrol vehicles identified for replacement, from Wondries Fleet Group of Alhambra per Los Angeles County
(Sheriff’s Department) RFB#IS-11200079—federal asset forfeiture (discussed in a separate agenda item) can purchase six (6) vehicles, while this SLESF grant can purchase the remaining
two (2) vehicles.
A Range of Frontline Supplies:
The remainder of the grant will be used for the following supply purchases: Conversion costs and extended warranties for the two Patrol vehicles mentioned above; properly outfitting
the vehicles used by the Special Enforcement Team with vehicle-mounted lighting; surveillance gear; traffic enforcement supplies, less-lethal weapons; tactical response equipment; and
computer items including a laptop for emergency command operations.
The SLESF grant is part of the State budget, which currently faces reductions that could have significant future consequences. Consequently, the prospect of receiving SLESF grants in
the future is extremely uncertain at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Using this $135,755 State SLESF grant for the items described above is in keeping with the grant’s legislatively dictated requirements and meets the Police Department’s frontline law
enforcement needs. New vehicles, with warranties and less maintenance costs than older vehicles will be incorporated into City maintenance operations. Without this grant, these unmet
service and equipment needs would become future Police Department budget requests, drawing on the City’s General Fund.
Prepared by: Alex B. Houston
Police Administrative Services Manager
Reviewed/Approved by:
___________________________
Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police Finance