Title
PRESENTATION OF CITY OF CHULA VISTA PUBLIC SAFETY STAFFING STRATEGIES REPORT INCLUDING REVENUE OPTIONS AND PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY RESULTS
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council accept the report and provide direction to staff.
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SUMMARY
Staff presented the City of Chula Vista Public Safety Staffing Report at the September 26, 2017 City Council meeting. This was in response to a City Council request at the June 6, 2017 Council Meeting for the City Manager 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.”
At the September 26 meeting, the City Council directed the City Manager to conduct a public opinion survey, inform the community about public safety staffing issues presented, and return to Council with options to address staffing issues, including funding options.
The Public Safety Staffing Report assesses 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 provides the foundation for developing the attached Public Safety Staffing Strategies. The Staffing Strategies include:
• Staffing allocations for CVPD and CVFD to provide critical services
• Estimated costs for phasing of staffing
• Assessment of potential funding sources
• Overview of results of a public opinion survey
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.
Included in the fiscal year 2017-18 adopted budget was the addition of five police officers and was amended to include 12 firefighters 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.
At the September 26 meeting, the City Council directed the City Manager to conduct a public opinion survey, inform the community about public safety staffing issues presented, and return to Council with options to address staffing issues, including funding options.
Since the September meeting, communications staff has informed the Chula Vista community about public safety staffing issues in a variety of media including: the Community Connection newsletter; press releases, public and media outreach; and social media. Additionally, CVFD and CVPD representatives have attended community meetings and discussed these public safety staffing issues.
Staff from Fire, Police, Administration and Finance Departments collaborated to develop the initial Public Safety Staffing Report and the attached Public Safety Staffing Strategies report to provide information for Council to consider regarding public safety staffing concerns.
Public Safety Advisory Committee
To support this effort and 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 has met four times to provide input as the Public Safety Staffing Report and Public Safety Staffing Strategies documents were developed. In addition, committee members have participated in “ride alongs” with police and fire department personnel.
The PSAC provided input at meetings and in writing since the first meeting on August 10. This input and feedback has been considered as part of the development of each of the staffing documents. Initial comments were presented at the September 26 City Council meeting. At the December 7 PSAC meeting, staff solicited additional feedback on public safety staffing issues and funding options. Below are results from exercises conducted with the PSAC on December 7. The group was invited to provide feedback regarding their priorities for city services and on funding options.
Public Safety Advisory Committee Feedback Exercise
PSAC members were provided six dots and asked to allocate the dots to their highest
priority service(s). They could allocate the dots to one or more services. Results are sorted
|
City Services |
Priorities |
|
Hire additional police officers and increase the number of neighborhood police patrols |
18 |
|
Provide police services, including crime prevention and investigations |
11 |
|
Increase the number of school safety officers to keep schools safe and prevent gang activity |
10 |
|
Provide services for youth and teens to keep them off the streets and away from drugs and gangs |
9 |
|
Hire additional firefighters and increase the number of fire emergency response units |
8 |
|
Address the homeless problem |
8 |
|
Provide quick responses to 9-1-1 emergencies |
7 |
|
Reduce gang activity and drug-related crimes |
6 |
|
Keep public areas clean and free of graffiti |
6 |
|
Promote economic development to stimulate the local economy |
6 |
|
Provide fire protection and paramedic services |
4 |
|
Maintain and protect natural open space areas |
2 |
|
Improve wildfire response and prevention |
1 |
|
Provide services to seniors |
0 |
Public Safety Advisory Committee Feedback Exercise
PSAC members were provided three dots and asked to allocate the dots to their recommended
funding option(s) They could allocate the dots to one or more options. Results are sorted.
|
Recommended Funding Options |
Priorities |
|
Sales Tax |
19 |
|
Transient Occupancy Tax |
13 |
|
Public Safety Community Facilities District |
8 |
|
Public Safety Fees and Fee Increases |
4 |
|
Property (Parcel) Tax |
4 |
The PSAC members agreed to individually provide feedback to the City Council at the December 19 meeting or by contacting Mayor and/or City Council members.
Public Opinion Survey
In October 2017, the City of Chula Vista engaged TrueNorth Research to conduct a public opinion survey to identify resident priorities regarding public safety and public services and to secure input on a potential sales tax to fund critical city services to address public safety staffing, 9-1-1 emergency response, homeless outreach, and other public services. Survey results and findings will be presented at the City Council meeting by the TrueNorth Research team.
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 Plan supports all City Strategic Goals.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts related to presenting the Public Safety Staffing Strategies report as it is informational only.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts related to presenting the Public Safety Staffing Strategies report as it is informational only. The following is a summary of the critical needs as discussed in the Public Safety Staffing Strategies report.
Police Critical Needs
The estimated cost of the Police Departments critical needs is estimated at $9.2 million in fiscal year 2021 and growing to $16.4 million in fiscal year 2029 due to increasing pension and health care costs. The following critical items are included in the costing.
Police Department Staffing Needs
The Public Safety Staffing Strategies does not take into account equipment cost estimates or staffing needs of the support departments, which would include the City Attorney’s request for a prosecution unit. These items will be included once direction is provided regarding the various revenue options.
Fire Department Critical Needs
The estimated cost of the Fire Departments critical needs is estimated at $11.2 million in fiscal year 2021 and growing to $26.9 million in fiscal year 2029 due to increasing pension and health care costs. The following critical items are included in the costing.
Fire Department Staffing Needs
The Public Safety Staffing Strategies does not take into account equipment cost estimates or staffing needs of the support departments, which would include the City Attorney’s request for a prosecution unit. These items will be included once direction is provided regarding the various revenue options.
LONG TERM FISCAL IMPACT
As reflected in the 10-year financial forecast report, presented to the City Council on March 2, 2017, May 23, 2017 and September 26, 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 recommend making budgetary cuts to the various departments as those reductions may be needed to balance the existing budget. Therefore, staff anticipates that requests discussed in the Public Safety Staffing Strategies report will require seeking a new source of revenue.
The table above displays the updated financial projections for fiscal years 2019 through 2022. A more detailed table that includes all ten years is provided in the 1st Quarterly Financial Update report presented to the City Council on November 7, 2017. Beginning next fiscal year, the projection is that revenue will not be sufficient to cover the City’s operating expenditures resulting in a $6.4 million deficit. Left unchecked, the deficit is projected to grow to $19.9 million by 2022.
The most significant drivers for the long-term growth in the City’s expenditures are the increase in public safety costs and the increasing costs associated with public employee salaries and benefits. The forecast assumes adding five police officers per year and adding 12 firefighters for the Millenia and Bayfront fire stations each. The forecast does not account for the remaining critical needs discussed in this report. The budget deficit would be significantly greater if they were added to the forecast.
ATTACHMENT
City of Chula Vista Public Safety Staffing Strategies report
Staff Contacts: Maria Kachadoorian, Assistant City Manager; Fritz Reber, Police Captain; Harry Muns, Deputy Fire Chief.