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08 Staff Report.SLESF 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: 01/21/2025 ITEM NO: 8 DATE: January 9, 2025 TO: Mayor and Town Council FROM: Chris Constantin, Town Manager SUBJECT: Accept Grant Funding From the Town’s Citizens Option for Public Safety/Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (COPS/SLESF) and Authorize Revenue and Expenditure Allocation to the Grant Program “4818” for Fiscal Year 2024/25 RECOMMENDATION: Accept grant funding from the Town’s Citizens Option for Public Safety/Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (COPS/SLESF) and authorize revenue and expenditure allocation to the Grant Program “4818” for Fiscal Year 2024/25. BACKGROUND: In 1996, California legislation (Assembly Bill 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 local Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF). State General Fund distribution to local law enforcement agencies is specifically intended for “front-line municipal police services.” COPS funds must be spent on personnel, equipment, or supplies and are not approved for public safety capital improvement or construction projects. Other COPS funds requirements and restrictions include: • COPS funds shall be used to supplement, not supplant existing funding for law enforcement services. • COPS funds will be accounted for separately from other department funding. • The Town Council shall approve the appropriation of COPS funds which authorizes that such funds can be expended by staff. In addition, pursuant to AB 3229, the City of Monte Sereno also receives a share of the state PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Accept grant funding from the Town’s Citizens Option for Public Safety/Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (COPS/SLESF) and authorize revenue and expenditure allocation for Fiscal Year 2024/25 DATE: January 9, 2025 SLESF funds ($100,000). The City of Monte Sereno is required by contractual agreement for law enforcement services to transfer those funds to the Town of Los Gatos within 30 days of receipt of the monies from the State of California. The contract stipulates that the Los Gatos- Monte Sereno Police Department will provide additional hours of traffic enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno in exchange for its portion of SLESF funds. DISCUSSION: This report recommends the use of SLESF funds continue in the spirit of the COPS program. Staff recommends FY 2024/25 approval and allocation of SLESF funds to Grant Program “4818.” The department intends to utilize the funding for the following purposes: • $100,000 of SLESF funds are intended to provide supplementing training for frontline law enforcement officers: A portion of the funds will be used to enhance the training of police officers who are directly involved in day-to-day law enforcement activities. The remaining funds will be directed to purchasing equipment for technology integration specific to crime prevention and investigation: This includes software, applications, and possibly subscription services that enhance operational efficiency, improve communication, and enable enhanced data analysis, crime deterrent measures, or case management. The goal is to leverage equipment integration of modern technology that can improve public safety and overall service delivery. • $100,000 of SLESF funds will be directed toward the contractually required traffic enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno FISCAL IMPACT: If Council approves the proposed recommendation, the Town will continue to receive a combined total of $200,000 in SLESF funding. Per contract stipulation with the City of Monte Sereno, $100,000 of SLESF funds will be directed toward additional traffic enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno. The remaining $100,000 of Town SLESF funds will be redirected toward frontline police operations and services as described above. The allocation of SLESF funds will be maintained in an annual grant program in the FY 2024/25 Police Department Operating Budget with a corresponding revenue and expenditure line to manage the funds. This ensures the funds are appropriately tracked, with the revenue deposited into the COPS/SLESF grant program. The current grant program allocates an annual minimum of $100,000 for front-line law enforcement operations. PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Accept grant funding from the Town’s Citizens Option for Public Safety/Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (COPS/SLESF) and authorize revenue and expenditure allocation for Fiscal Year 2024/25 DATE: January 9, 2025 After the initial disbursement of funds to participating jurisdictions, any additional growth funds are distributed by the County of Santa Clara to participating jurisdictions. The Town has an unencumbered carryover balance of additional growth disbursement payments of approximately $86,158 from FY 2023/24, which must be expended within two fiscal years. The funds are currently in Pass-Through Program “4999” but will be reclassified into Grant Program “4818”. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.