Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2016-176 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE AUTHORIZED STAFFING LEVEL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFLECT THE ADDITION OF 2.0 POLICE SERGEANT POSITIONS AND THE ELIMINATION OF 2.0 POLICE AGENT POSITIONS
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
Body
SUMMARY
The Police Department is requesting to add two Police Sergeant positions and eliminate two Police Agent positions in its authorized staffing level. This request meets the current staffing needs of the Patrol Division, and results in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund.
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.
Body
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
The Chula Vista Police Department consists of 227 authorized sworn officers, 145 of whom serve in the Patrol Division. The Patrol Division is the largest division of the police department and patrol officers serve as the first responders to police calls for service. The Patrol Division has six teams, each with two sergeants for a total of 12 patrol sergeants. The ideal staffing ratio, or span of control, based on national standards and best policing practices is 1 sergeant to every 5-7 officers (1:5-7). This ratio affords supervisors a manageable span of control to monitor their officers’ activity and ensure successful call resolution. Patrol sergeants serve a critical function as they have direct oversight and supervision of the department’s first responders. This oversight includes shift scheduling, monitoring calls for service, supervising tactical responses, report review and handling citizen complaints, to name just a few. As CVPD’s staffing has improved, CVPD’s supervisory span of control has widened, thereby increasing the workload of its patrol sergeants. The majority (8) of CVPD’s patrol sergeants supervise 9 officers and one sergeant supervises 10 officers. This wide span of control makes the patrol sergeant’s job more difficult and increases liability and the risk of poor service, officer misconduct and citizen complaints. Adding supervisory resources to the patrol division will mitigate some of these potential problems by increasing supervisory oversight in the most dynamic division of the Police Department.
As part of the Department’s Strategic Plan initiatives, the Police Department recently concluded a patrol sergeant workload study. Among the suggestions brought forth in the workload study was a request to lessen the burden on patrol sergeants by reducing the span of control to make it more manageable. The sergeant workload study also identified an issue with an excessive amount of overtime in the patrol division due to supervisory and managerial minimum staffing overtime. In short, because there are always minimum staffing requirements for patrol sergeants and Watch Commanders, there is consistent back fill overtime. The Police Department analyzed overtime usage and has determined that significant overtime savings can be realized by adding 2 Police Sergeants to the patrol division funded via projected overtime savings realized by adding additional sergeants to the two largest patrol teams. The Police Department is proposing to create these 2 patrol sergeant positions by promoting 2 Police Agents. The Police Agent positions will not be backfilled and the overtime offset will be used to fund the increased costs of the supervisors. There will be no increase in overall Police Department sworn staffing and the fiscal difference will be offset by reduced overtime costs.
These requests result in no net staffing change to the current authorized level of the Police Department, along with no net fiscal impact to the General Fund. The additional salaries and benefits of two Police Sergeant positions compared to two Police Agent positions will be completely offset by anticipated overtime cost savings of adding two Patrol Sergeant positions. The table below outlines the proposed staffing changes:
|
Position |
Current Authorized |
Proposed Change |
Updated Staffing |
|
Police Agent |
50 |
-2 |
48 |
|
Police Sergeant |
24 |
2 |
26 |
|
TOTAL STAFFING |
74 |
0 |
74 |
Because there is no fiscal impact for the proposed staffing changes, no additional appropriations are requested.
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 addition of the two Police Sergeant positions and elimination of two Police Agent positions supports the goal of Operational Excellence by improving direct supervision, addressing complaints and improving customer service.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the addition of two Police Sergeant positions and elimination of two Police Agent positions in the authorized staffing level of the Police Department. The additional salaries and benefits of two Police Sergeant positions compared to two Police Agent positions (approximately $40,000) will be completely offset by anticipated minimum staff overtime cost savings of adding two Patrol Sergeant positions. The requested staffing changes have no net fiscal impact and no additional appropriations are required.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The addition of two Police Sergeant positions and elimination of two Police Agent positions will be included in the proposed fiscal year 2017/2018 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Captain Vern Sallee, Police Department