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PRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA PUBLIC SAFETY STAFFING REPORT
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council hear the report and provide direction.
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SUMMARY
At the June 6, 2017 Council Meeting, the City Manager was directed to “report back to the City Council within 120 days with a plan to address the chronic understaffing of the Police and Fire Departments, with such plan considering all options, including: (i) alternative service models that may improve effectiveness and reduce costs; and (ii) potential funding sources.”
In order to provide the opportunity for community input, the City Manager formed the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). The committee includes Chula Vista residents, business owners, and community leaders. The committee worked with staff liaisons from Fire, Police, Administration and Finance Departments to secure public input that would assist in creating a Public Safety Staffing Report.
The Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) and Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) collaborated to assess factors affecting public safety, including:
• Community and stakeholder feedback/input on priorities for delivery of public safety services
• Short and long-term staffing level standards for CVPD and CVFD
• Response times for Priority 1 and Priority 2 emergency Calls for CVPD
• Response times with properly equipped and staffed fire and medical units for CVFD
• Consideration of alternate public safety service delivery models
• Accounting for growth - 5-year, 10-year and build-out projection models
• Fiscal forecasts and impacts
The Public Safety Staffing Report, which is an attachment to this report, continues to be a work in progress. Further refinement of recommendations and fiscal impacts will be assessed after receiving Council direction and feedback.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
Public Safety, which includes police and fire services, is a top priority in the City of Chula Vista. As part of the fiscal year 2017-18 adopted budget, the City allocated 65% of discretionary revenues to the Police and Fire Departments combined. The allocation includes the 5 new police officer positions added as part of the fiscal year 2017-18 adopted budget.
Recently, the City also approved adding 12 firefighters in the current fiscal year. Taking into account the additional 12 firefighters and the support staff in Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, City Attorney and Public Works the actual allocation of the General Fund for public safety services, including support services, is likely closer to 80%.
Some of the services provided by the support departments to public safety include payroll processing, deferred compensation, financial analysis, procurement, budgetary support, recruitment, employee benefits, workers compensation, employee performance, labor negotiations, public safety IT systems support, legal services, contractual oversight, risk management and facilities and equipment maintenance. The public safety staffing report does not take into account any additional positions in the support departments that will be necessary to support increases in public safety staffing.
General Fund Personnel Net Cost
The Public Safety Staffing Report provides an assessment of historical and current staffing levels for Chula Vista Fire Department and Chula Vista Police Department and outlines possible alternative service models.
The City Manager formed a Public Safety Advisory Committee composed of community stakeholders including representatives from City Boards/Commissions, labor groups, school districts, and local business, community and civic groups. The PSAC met on August 10 and 31, 2017. In the first meeting, staff presented an overview of current staffing levels, public safety funding, as well as the City’s five-year budget forecast. A Q&A session followed providing the committee members the opportunity to ask questions regarding public safety services, budgetary constraints as well as to communicate any recommendations they would like considered. At the August 31 meeting, PSAC members broke into two groups for a roundtable discussion about Fire and Police services and priorities in Chula Vista. The intent of the breakout group sessions was to provide a forum for PSAC members to provide input on their experiences with public safety and their priorities for public safety services. The feedback provided input in the development of the Public Safety Staffing report. City staff will continue engaging with the PSAC as needed based on City Council feedback and direction.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The Public Safety Staffing Report supports all City Strategic Goals.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The City added 5 police officers and 12 firefighters that were approved in the current fiscal year with an ongoing net impact of $3.1 million annually. The firefighter positions are partially offset through a SAFER grant for three years beginning in FY 2017-18. There are no fiscal impacts related to presenting the Public Safety Staffing Report as it is informational only.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
As reflected in the 10-year financial forecast report, presented to the City Council on March 2, 2017 and May 23, 2017, the City is anticipating significant budgetary challenges due primarily to increasing pension costs. City staff will continue to work with the various departments on developing budget balancing proposals in order to avoid layoffs and service level impacts. As a result, staff does not anticipate that requests discussed in the Public Safety Staffing report can be funded without a new source of revenue or significant budgetary cuts in the remaining departments.
Long Term Financial Plan Forecast Summary
FY2018 - FY2022
Long Term Financial Plan Forecast Summary
FY2023 - FY2027
Note: The Long Term Financial Plan Forecast Report presented to City Council can be found at www.chulavistaca.gov/budget <http://www.chulavistaca.gov/budget>. The forecast does not include any additional costs associated with the recommendations identified in the Public Safety Staffing report.
The forecast presented above does assume the addition of 5 new police officers per year over the next 10 years and the addition of Fire personnel for the opening of the Millenia and Bayfront Fire Stations. The forecast does not include any additional costs associated with the recommendations identified in the Public Safety Staffing report.
Police Department Recommendations: The Public Safety Staffing Report for the Police Department identifies the need for 43 additional police officers and 19 civilian positions in the “Catch Up” phase which would move the City from the lowest sworn staffed department in the county (.86 per capita) in line with the next lowest sworn-staffed department in the county (1.01 per capita). Preliminary estimated annual costs is $10.3 million. As discussed in the report, the Keeping Up and Moving Forward phases would require an additional 76 police officers and 30 additional civilian staff. The total estimated annual cost at full implementation would be $29.4 million annually. These estimates do not include costs for additional equipment and capital.
Fire Department Recommendations: The Public Safety Staffing report for the Fire Department identifies recommendations which include implementing 4.0 staffing citywide, additions of medical squad units, and staffing for new fire stations opening on the Bayfront and Millenia. Preliminary estimated cost for these recommendations are $17.9 million annually. These estimates do not include cost for additional equipment or capital.
In addition, staff from Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, City Attorney and Public Works Departments provide significant support to public safety. This report does not take into account any additional positions in these departments that will be necessary to support increases in public safety staffing.
Any additional costs beyond fiscal year 2019 will be calculated once additional information and City Council direction is received.
ATTACHMENTS
Chula Vista Public Safety Staffing Report
Staff Contacts: Maria Kachadoorian, Assistant City Manager; Vern Sallee, Police Captain; Harry Muns, Deputy Fire Chief.