The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/15/2014 - RESOLUTION 2014-060 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGERAgenda Item 15 Item # 15 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 15, 2014 City Council STAFF Jim Byrne, Police Lieutenant SUBJECT Resolution 2014-060 Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement With the Poudre School District R-1 for the School Resource Officer Program. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to authorize the Mayor to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Poudre School District R-1 (District) and the City of Fort Collins, on behalf of Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) which updates, replaces and supersedes the previous IGA and continues the School Resource Officer Program. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The previous IGA between the City and the District had not been updated since 2004. Both FCPS and PSD agree that the program has been very successful, and wanted to focus on updating language to conform with current practices. The operational foundations of the program are basically unchanged, with the successful model of SRO/Principal partnership remaining intact. Staffing selection, training, and supervision of the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program remains within the purview of FCPS with input from PSD. At the request of PSD, the program was increased by one SRO in 2014. This increase allowed for a SRO to be assigned to each high school and middle school in the district. Coverage of elementary schools is provided by SROs assigned to middle schools. The program now has eleven SROs and one sergeant. Any future growth will likely require an additional police supervisor for the program. In 2014 FCPS and PSD staff teamed up to provide training for over 130 school administrators in response to critical incidents. The very successful training was developed and coordinated through the SRO staff and is expected to be the foundation for annual training between FCPS and PSD staff. For the last five years, SROs have averaged writing over 600 police reports annually. They are also formally involved in mentoring partnerships, community outreach programs, crisis intervention, safety assessments, and staff trainings. The current partner-based relationship used by FCPS and PSD to manage the SRO program is recognized by others as a model for other agencies and districts. The Intergovernmental Agreement was vetted by City staff, including the City Attorney’s Office. It was approved unanimously by the PSD School Board on June 10, 2014. Agenda Item 15 Item # 15 Page 2 FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS Funding for the operation of the SRO program is currently based on the base operating costs for each officer and the supervisor. The rate is based on 225 operating days of the program, with SRO officers being solely dedicated to FCPS operations for about 5 weeks during the summer of each year. For the agreed upon 225 operating days that the officers are dedicated to SRO duties, PSD and FCPS split the basic operating costs 50/50. The new contract allows for PSD to pay FCPS on a quarterly basis for services provided in the previous quarter. This is a change from the 2004 IGA in which PSD paid annually for services to be provided in the upcoming year. Such change was requested by PSD for business purposes and does not impact FCPS operations or budgeting. In the event that an SRO position is vacated, and FCPS is unable to immediately fill the vacancy, the amount paid by PSD will be pro-rated. The amount owed is subject to change annually, depending on FCPS personnel costs, and both parties agree to update numbers annually to allow for those changes. For the current 2014/2015 year the cost per officer is $124,572, and the cost for the sergeant is $146,687. Allowing for the 225 contractual days equates to PSD paying FCPS approximately $57,653 annually per SRO and $66,291 for the sergeant. The Resolution authorizes the City Manager to enter into up to four, one-year extensions to the term of the Agreement, which extensions may include such modifications and additions as the City Manager determines necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or further the purpose of the Resolution. Although the contract language has changed a little to accommodate current business practices, the functionality and financial contribution shared by PSD and FCPS remains consistent with past agreements and practices. - 1 - RESOLUTION 2014-060 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1 FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM WHEREAS, effective July 6, 2004, the Poudre School District R-1 (the “District”) and the City entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (the “2004 IGA”) for The School Resource Officer Program (the “Program”); and WHEREAS, the goals of the program are to: 1. Provide a safe learning environment and help reduce school violence; 2. Improve school law enforcement collaboration; and 3. Improve perceptions and relations between students, staff and law enforcement officials; and WHEREAS, the District and the City both recognize that over the years, the program has provided outstanding benefits for the citizens of the City, the District and particularly for the students of the District’s schools located within the City; and WHEREAS, the parties agree that it is in the best interests of the District, the City and the citizens of the City for the District and the City to continue with the program; and WHEREAS, the parties recommend updating the Agreement to conform to current practices and to allow for pay on a quarterly basis as set forth in the proposed “Agreement Between the Poudre School District R-1 and the City of Fort Collins for the School Resource Officer Program” which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (the “Agreement”); and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the District and the City that the Agreement replace and supersede in all respects the 2004 IGA; and WHEREAS, the term of the Agreement is for a period of one-year; and WHEREAS, the District and the City may wish to amend the Agreement in the future to address among other things, changes in current practices, funding and/or the addition of new positions, or to extend the term of the Agreement with or without amendments for up to four additional one-year terms. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” together with such modifications and - 2 - additions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or further the purposes of this Resolution. Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into up to four, one- year extensions to the term of the Agreement, which extensions may include such modifications and additions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or further the purpose of this Resolution, including updated dollar amounts to reflect changes in related salaries, staff time and the number of positions funded. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 15th day of July, A.D. 2014. _________________________________ Mayor Pro Tem ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk EXHIBIT A