09 Staff Report.SLESF
PREPARED BY: Peter Decena
Chief of Police
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: 11/03/2020
ITEM NO: 9
DATE: October 29, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt A Resolution (Attachment 1) Accepting Funds From the California
Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund (SLESF) of Which $100,000 Will
be Directed to Purchase Equipment and Technology and $100,000 Will be
Directed Toward the Contractually Required Traffic Enforcement Within the
City Limits of Monte Sereno; and Authorize an Expenditure Budget
Adjustment in the Amount of $100,000 From Available Capital/Special
Projects Reserve.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) accepting funds from the California Supplemental Law
Enforcement Service Fund (SLESF) of which $100,000 will be directed to purchase equipment
and technology and $100,000 will be directed toward the contractually required traffic
enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno; and authorize an expenditure budget
adjustment in the amount of $100,000 from available Capital/Special Projects Reserve.
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 Supplemental Local
Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF). State General Fund distribution to local law
enforcement agencies are 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.
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SUBJECT: Adopt a resolution authorizing the continued use of Supplemental Local Law
Enforcement Services Funds
DATE: October 29, 2020
BACKGROUND (continued):
Other COPS funds requirements and restrictions include:
• COPS funds shall be used to supplement, not supplant existing funding for law
enforcement services.
• COPS funds shall be deposited into a separate fund, not intermingled with other
monies.
• The Town Council shall approve the appropriation of COPS funds pursuant to a
recommendation by the Chief of Police.
• Each county shall establish a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund for
deposit of State COPS funds and distribution to municipalities.
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 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 an additional 416 hours of traffic enforcement within
the city limits of Monte Sereno in exchange for its portion of SLESF funds.
The total of $200,000 in SLESF funds ($100,000 from each jurisdiction) has historically been
used to supplement the salary, equipment, and training costs of the Town’s only two traffic
enforcement motorcycle Officers. Despite this, there is no mandated appropriation of these
funds towards the two motorcycle officers.
DISCUSSION:
In the FY 2020/21 budget, a total of $200,000 in SLESF funds were directed to be allocated to
supplement the salary of two traffic enforcement motorcycle officers. The Monte Sereno share
of the SLESF monies ($100,000) is contractually obligated to fund 416 hours of traffic
enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno.
This report recommends the use of the Los Gatos SLESF funds that is different from previous
years and more consistent with the spirit of the COPS program. Property crime comprises a
large percentage of overall crime in Los Gatos. The Police Department is looking at innovative,
technology-based means of preventing and solving these types of crimes without increasing
sworn staffing levels. The Police Department proposes utilizing the Los Gatos portion
($100,000) of SLESF funds in Fiscal Year 2020/21 to identify and implement equipment and
technology that will assist Patrol Officers in property crime prevention.
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SUBJECT: Adopt a resolution authorizing the continued use of Supplemental Local Law
Enforcement Services Funds
DATE: October 29, 2020
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution (Attachment 1) to use of SLESF funds as follows:
• $100,000 of SLESF funds will be directed to purchase equipment and technology that
will assist Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Officers in the prevention of property crime.
• $100,000 of SLESF funds will be directed toward the contractually required traffic
enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno.
ALTERNATIVE:
Alternatively, the Council can continue to use SLESF funds in the same manner as FY 2019/20,
supplementing funding for two full-time motorcycle traffic officers. 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 the approximately $400,000 expense associated with both
motorcycle Officers. If this is the preference of the Council, it should adopt the Resolution
contained in Attachment 2.
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 continue being directed toward additional traffic
enforcement within the city limits of Monte Sereno. The remaining $100,000 of Town SLESF
funds will be redirected toward the purchase of equipment and technology that will assist Los
Gatos-Monte Sereno Patrol Officers in the prevention of property crime.
It should be noted that while the redirected funds to enhance property crime prevention would
mitigate the need for additional sworn personnel, a $100,000 expenditure budget adjustment
from available Capital/Special Projects Reserve is needed to maintain the motorcycle unit
program at its current staffing level as identified in the adopted FY 2020/21 Operating Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Resolution authorizing use of SLESF funds (staff recommendation)
2. Resolution authoring use of SLESF funds (alternative)