Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Heather St. John
Senior Administrative Analyst
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 12/17/2019
ITEM NO: 9
DATE: December 4, 2019
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a resolution authorizing the continued use of Supplemental Local Law
Enforcement Services Funds (SLESF) to provide funding for two full-time
Police Officers assigned as motorcycle traffic officers.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the continued use of Supplemental Local Law Enforcement
Services Funds (SLESF) to provide funding for two full-time Police Officers assigned as
motorcycle traffic officers.
BACKGROUND:
In 1996, California legislation (AB 3229) created the Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS)
program allocating $100,000,000 to local governments yearly for front -line law enforcement.
These funds are to be distributed through an established Supplemental Local Law Enforcement
Services Fund (SLESF). The SLESF is maintained by the County of Santa Clara and payments are
distributed to participating cities on a quarterly basis.
The funds cannot be used to supplant resources but instead must be used to supplement
existing resources and can only be used for front-line law enforcement services. The Police
Department’s proposed use of these funds in the fiscal year 2019/20 is to continue to
supplement funding for one of two motorcycle officer positions which has been done for the
past several years.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to AB 3229 the City of Monte Sereno also receives a share of the state SLESF funds
($100,000). The City of Monte Sereno is required by contractual agreement for law
enforcement services to grant those funds to the Town of Los Gatos within 30 days of receipt
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SUBJECT: Adopt a resolution authorizing the continued use of Supplemental Local Law
Enforcement Services Funds
DATE: December 4, 2019
DISCUSSION (continued):
of the monies from the State of California. The Los Gatos Police Department provides
additional traffic enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno in exchange for its SLESF
funds. A combined total of $200,000 in SLESF ($100,000 from each jurisdiction) would be used
to supplement the salary, equipment, and training costs of approximately $400,000 for both
motorcycle Officers.
The Department’s traffic motor units provide services to both jurisdictions through:
• Specialized traffic enforcement and accident investigation
• Consistency of effort between patrol personnel and traffic personnel
• Coordination of targeted traffic enforcement including the ability to quickly and flexibly
respond to traffic concerns
• Rapid response to dangerous conditions or accidents
• Coordination of service addressing traffic impacts affecting both communities
• Personal connection between individual Officers and the individual communities the
Department serves
These two motorcycle assignments are staffed by sworn personnel on a four-year rotational
basis.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the continued use of SLESF to supplement funding for two full -time
motorcycle traffic officers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
With Council approval of the proposed resolution, the County will disburse $25,000 to each
jurisdiction in quarterly payments over the next fiscal year. The Town will receive a combined
total of $200,000 in SLESF funding to supplement costs associated with the motorcycle Officers.
This revenue was budgeted within the FY 2019/20 operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Resolution authorizing use of SLESF