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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/18/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (11) DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2004 TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: POLICE CHIEF GARY JEANDRON AMENDMENT TO ALLOCATED POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION PLAN RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt the resolution approving amendment #9 to the Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan, to include the addition of two (2) Police Officers. SUMMARY The police department is expecting an increase in patrons in and around the new Spa Casino and needs to field two additional officers on bike patrol to ensure the safety of the public. As of January this year the State passed SB 621 allocating money from the Special Distribution Fund for local governments to use in mitigating impacts from Indian Gaming. It is anticipated that the City of Palm Springs will receive approximately $200,000. These funds would be used to pay the salaries and benefits of two additional police officers assigned to a new "Casino Beat". BACKGROUND Special Distribution Fund In 1999 twenty-eight tribal governments entered into compacts (agreements) with the State of California to conduct gaming. As part of the compact, tribes agreed to pay a percentage of slot machine proceeds into two separate funds that would be administered by the State. The funds were the Indian Revenue Sharing Fund and the Special Distribution Fund (SDF). The Special Distribution Fund (SDF) was designated to pay for the State Gambling Control Division, fund gambling addiction programs and provide money to local governments impacted by Indian gaming. On January 1, 2004, SB 621 passed allocating $25 million dollars from the Special Distribution Fund to the State Controller for disbursement to eligible local governments throughout the State. Of the $25 million dollars, it is anticipated that Riverside County will received approximately $10.6 million. 60% of the 10.6 million, or $6.36 million is dedicated to cities and unincorporated areas within Riverside County for nexus grants. A nexus grant means that local governments I in close proximity to an Indian casino will be entitled to the money and not subject to open competitive grant process. Based upon the formula, the City of Palm Springs will qualify for at least $200,000 in the nexus grant category. The remaining 40% or $4.24 million will follow a competitive grant process, which the City is also eligible to apply. The legislation and the language in the compacts require Tribal sponsorship for any grant and the money must be used to mitigate gaming impacts. Gaming Impacts In November of 2003, the Agua Caliente expanded and opened a new gaming casino in the downtown of Palm Springs. The police department anticipates a rise in crime, not because a casino in and of itself creates crime, but simply the new casino will draw more customers. More customers equates to likelihood of increase in crime. Currently the Spa Casino has its own private security force. The security guards are not armed or capable of putting a suspect into the justice system without the assistance of our police officers. Proposal The police department management staff developed a proposal to reduce the potential of crime in and around the Spa Casino. The proposal consists of dedicating two police officers as "Casino Officers". They will patrol a specified area in and around the downtown casino on bicycle, mimicking the downtown experience program. The Casino officers will report directly to the Downtown Experience Sergeant for directions and assignments. The downtown experience Commander and Sergeant will act as a liaison with the Casino staff, working closely with the Casino to develop mutually agreed upon goals and objectives. A major problem with the proposal was staffing. It takes approximately 10 months to fully train a police officer; six months in a police academy and at least four months of intense Field Training by a police trainer. In addition it takes time to recruit and test applicants. Even if the SDF money were approved to hire two police officers, it would take at least 10 months before our department could provide the officers. On December 2, 2003 City Manager Ready and I met with the Agua Caliente Tribal Council during their study session. We made the proposal and explained the problems. The City Manager and I asked the tribal council to consider advancing the city money to hire the officers so the police department could begin training them. The advancement of funds was based on the anticipated money from the Special Distribution Fund. The police department would submit a nexus grant to the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee with tribal support asking for the two officers. Once the city received the funding, the Agua Caliente would be reimbursed. The remaining funds would be used to pay for the officers. The Tribal Council agreed to advance the city four months of salary for two police officers and necessary equipment pending receipt of the SDF funds. On December 4, 2003, the Tribal Council formalized the concept during their tribal council meeting. FISCAL IMPACT The new revenue and new appropriations will be budgeted under the Safety Augmentation account. The Special Distribution Fund is a continuing source of revenue that the original twenty-eight gaming tribes must pay into per their compact. During the nexus grant application process, the Casino police officers would be identified as a continuing appropriation. The cost for two entry-level police officers including benefits is $180,000 per year. One time equipment costs are $9,060. Monthly continuing equipment costs are $816 per year. Gary J nei'r- n, Chief of Police Approved. City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution (Amending Budget) 2. Resolution (Amending Allocated Positions) REVIEWED BY DEPI OF FINANCE RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENT #9 TO THE ALLOCATED POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION PLAN, ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 20641. WHEREAS an Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan was adopted effective June 18, 2003, for the 2003-04 fiscal year by Resolution No. 20641; and WHEREAS the City Council desires to amend said Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan to include the addition of two (2) Police Officers. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, that the Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan for positions in the City Service for fiscal year 2003-2004 is hereby amended as follows: SECTION 1 Classification (Department) Range No. Added No. Deleted (Deletions) Additions Authorized Positions Police Officer PS45 2.00 2.00 Total authorized positions 2003-2004 Budget 442.75 Total (deletions) prior Amendments (3.00) Total additions prior Amendments 13.00 Total (deletions) this Amendment (0) Total additions this Amendment 2.00 Total authorized positions as amended 454.75 ADOPTED THIS day of 2004. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By CITY CLERK CITY MANAGER REVIEWED & APPROVED AS TO FORM o 6 RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE 2003-04 FISCAL YEAR. WHEREAS Resolution 20615 approving the budget for the fiscal year 2003-04 was adopted on June 4, 2003; and WHEREAS the City Manager has recommended, and the City Council desires to approve, certain amendments to said budget; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to record inter-fund cash transfers as required in accordance with this Resolution, and that Resolution 20615, adopting the budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year is hereby amended as follows SECTION 1. ADDITIONS Fund Activity Account Amount 121 3022 40000 $200,000 Safety Augmentation Casino Patrol Regular Employees Purpose To establish a cost center to track the expenses of two police officers assigned to patrol in the Casino area SECTION 2. SOURCE Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund Nexus Grant Fund Activity Account Amount 121 37105 $200,000 Safety Augmentation Contrib. From Non- Gov't Sources Adopted this day of , 2004, AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED AND APPROVED d'