COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE:

 

 

    04   /   01   /  2002

 

 

SUBJECT:    Final Reading 2002-O-066

 

Authorizing the City Manager to amend Ordinance 2001-O-284.   The City of Laredo’s FY2001-2002 annual budget will be amended in the amount of $943,408 to fund the COPS in Schools Program, and amended by creating 14 Full Time Equivalent police officer positions under the COPS in Schools Program.  The U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) Program awarded funding to the City of Laredo for the purpose of hiring 14 new School Resource Officers (SRO) for a period of three years.    The 14 police officer positions will be transferred to the City’s general fund account (101-2310) upon the termination of the grant.

 

INITIATED BY:                                                STAFF SOURCE:

Larry Dovalina,                                                Agustin Dovalina,III                                         

City Manager                                                   Chief of Police                                                 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:

City Council approved Public Hearing/ Introductory Ordinance on March 25, 2002.

 

ACTION PROPOSED:

City Council approve Ordinance to amend the City’s budget.

 

BACKGROUND: 

 The Laredo Independent School District (LISD) consists of thirty (30) schools with an approximate student enrollment of 25,000.  For the 2000-2001 school year, LISD recorded the bulk of its criminal activity and other delinquent behavior stemming from its three high schools and four middle schools.  Of major concern has been the increasing number of school violence and drug use incidents.  Organized criminal activity has played a major role in corrupting school aged children by recruiting them to sell controlled substances on school grounds.

Under the COPS in Schools, the Laredo Police Department will hire 14 additional School Resource Officers to implement community policing strategies to reduce school violence, drug/alcohol use and improve the quality of life on school grounds.

 

FINANCIAL:                               Budget                        Budget Amendment              Proposed Budget

Revenues:

Dept. of Justice/COPS-Schools                 0                             $1,750,000                            $1,750,000

Resource Officers                           $1,423,727                        $  (806,592)                           $   617,135

  Reimbursements/other                 $1,423,727                         $   943,408                            $2,367,135

 

Exenditures:

COPS-SCHOOL Resource

Officers                                                       0                             $1,750,000                            $1,750,000

Reserve Appropriation                     $1,750,000                        $ (806,692)                           $1,457,669

                                                         $2,264,261                        $  943,408                            $3,207,669         

              

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

 

 

STAFF:

 Recommends that Council approve this Ordinance.

 

 

Ordinance    2002-O-066

 

Authorizing the City Manager to amend Ordinance 2001-O-284.   The City of Laredo’s FY2001-2002 annual budget will be amended in the amount of $943,408 to fund the COPS in Schools Program, and amended by creating 14 Full Time Equivalent police officer positions under the COPS in Schools Program.  The U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) Program awarded funding to the City of Laredo for the purpose of hiring 14 new School Resource Officers (SRO) for a period of three years.    The 14 police officer positions will be transferred to the City’s general fund account (101-2310) upon the termination of the grant.

                                            

Whereas,   the City Council previously adopted the budget for fiscal year 2001-2002; and

 

            Whereas,  the Police Chief recommends that City Council authorize the hiring of 14 police officer cadets and that the City of Laredo create these positions under the COPS in Schools (SRO) Program; and

               

Whereas,  the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Service will be designating $1,750,000 and the City of Laredo will be designating $516,950 in matching funds; and

 

Whereas,  funding for this project will be used to hire 14 additional School Resource Officers; and     

 

             Whereas,  the City Council finds that such acceptance should be made and will be beneficial to the City.   

                                                         

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

 

Section 1:  The City Manager is hereby authorized to create 14 Full Time Equivalent police officer cadet positions to be hired under the COPS in Schools Program. 

 

Section 2:  The City Manager is hereby authorized to transfer all 14 police officer positions to the City’s general fund account (101-2310) upon the termination of this grant, and that the FTE’s in the 101-2310 be increased by the 14 police officers positions. 

 

Section 3:  It authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to achieve said grant and to effectuate its terms.  

 

Section 4:  The City Manager is hereby authorized to amend Ordinance 2001-O-284 by appropriating $943,408 to fund the Laredo Police Department COPS in Schools Program.  

 

 

 

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS THE _______ DAY OF _________________, 2002.

 

 

 

 

_______________________

ELIZABETH G. FLORES

MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

_______________________

JAIME FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY