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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-209 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $70,000 FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE POLICE GRANT FUND FOR REGIONAL REALIGNMENT RESPONSE EFFORTS (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
In 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Assembly Bill (AB) 109 and AB 117, historic legislation to enable California to close the revolving door of low-level inmates cycling in and out of state prisons. This legislation provided funding to counties to develop and implement a targeted, proactive, intelligence-based approach to control and counteract the risks associated with realigned offenders released in San Diego County. Amendment No. 3 provides additional funding to continue regional realignment response efforts delineated within AB 109.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity, Accepting and Appropriating Funds for Realignment Response Efforts, is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378(b)(4) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it is a government fiscal activity; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
In 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Assembly Bill (AB) 109 and AB 117, historic legislation to enable California to close the revolving door of low-level inmates cycling in and out of state prisons. It is the cornerstone of California’s solution to the U.S. Supreme Court order to reduce the number of inmates in the state’s 33 prisons to 137.5 percent of original design capacity. The intent of the realignment response efforts is to encourage counties to develop and implement evidence-based practices and alternatives to incarceration to limit future crimes and reduce victimization.
Under the Assembly Bill (AB) 109 and AB 117, newly-convicted low-level offenders without current or prior serious or violent offenses stay in county jail to serve their sentence. This has reduced the annual state prison admissions to less than 35,000 a year. Prior to Realignment, there were approximately 55,000 to 65,000 new admissions from county courts to state prison. Overall, the diversion of low-level offenders and parole violators to county jail instead of state prison has resulted in a population decrease of about 28,000 (-17%).
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department has been designated as the fiscal agent of Regional Realignment Response (R3) funds for the San Diego County region. A Memorandum of Agreement between the County of San Diego and participating cities in the county has been created to outline the disbursement of R3 funds. The City of Chula Vista was originally allocated $75,507 of R3 funding. Amendment No. 2 to the agreement increased the funding by $16,000, which was approved by City Council on April 14, 2015. The City was recently notified of Amendment No. 3 to the R3 agreement, which would increase funding by another $70,000, resulting in an overall allocation of $161,507. The Police Department will continue to use R3 funding for overtime operations to conduct regional compliance checks on probationers within the county.
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 18705.2(a)(1) 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. Funds received for realignment response efforts support the goal of Strong and Secure Neighborhoods by providing additional law enforcement presence in the community.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in a one-time appropriation of $70,000 to personnel services of the Police Grant Fund. The funding from the County of San Diego will completely offset these costs, resulting in no net fiscal impact to the Police Grants Fund. There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this action.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Joseph Walker