ITEM: 12.1 ADMINISTRATION -Chris Olson, Safety Services Manager/Police Chief
TITLE
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SPRING LAKE PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR POLICE LIAISON SERVICES AND APPROVE THE SWORN OFFICER STRENGTH TO INCREASE FROM 59 TO 60 OFFICERS
BACKGROUND:
The Spring Lake Park School District is interested in obtaining police liaison services from the Blaine Police Department beginning this fall. The Spring Lake Park School District has over 5,300 students, with more than two-thirds of these students coming from the City of Blaine. There are over 1,700 students at the Westwood campus with more than 1,000 of those students at the Middle School.
The Blaine Police Department has been supplying school liaison services to the Anoka-Hennepin and the Centennial School Districts for a number of years. Not only does the liaison officer help establish a sense of security within the school, but there are numerous opportunities to interact with students, parents and staff; all with the goal of better communication and creation of positive relationships . This proactive approach to working with young people in our community, along with being a resource for the schools and the school districts, has been beneficial for all involved.
Currently, there is a yearly (school year) contract with each of the School Districts (Anoka-Hennepin and Centennial). These contracts are updated yearly, recognizing wage increases, if applicable, based upon Labor Agreement changes. While the liaison officer is at the school, the school districts are responsible for 100% of wages and benefits; the City is responsible for the times the officer is not at the school (summer/other student break times, vacation and other leave time, training time, etc.). The City supplies the vehicle, uniform and police equipment. The school district is responsible for supplying an office, computer and other related items. A contractual relationship for police liaison services between the City of Blaine and the Spring Lake Park School District would reflect the same requirements that currently exist with the other two school districts.
During student break times when the liaison officer is available for other police functions, the needs of the City of Blaine would help determine the best use of this individual; this would include a Council goal of more traffic enforcement, especially during summer months. Though a commitment from the Spring Lake Park School Board would need to be finalized, the belief is to start with a two-year contract (school years of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015) with the potential for on-going services.
The Spring Lake Park School District liaison position not currently funded in the 2013 City of Blaine General Fund Budget, but with a goal of beginning liaison services to the Spring Lake Park School District on/around September 1, 2013, the City of Blaine would be responsible for the costs from when the replacement officer starts (on/around June 1, 2013) until the start of the 2013/2014 school year with the school district being responsible for wages and benefits, as noted above, when the officer is at the school. Because of some vacant positions within the Police Department (all in various stages of being filled), the related savings will be more than adequate to fund the replacement officer of this liaison position for the remainder of 2013. Estimates for 2014 are revenue from the Spring Lake Park School District of approximately $65,000 and a cost to the City of Blaine of approximately $20,000 (the specific coverage dates with the school district has not been finalized and negotiations for the Patrol Labor Agreement for 2014 have not started).
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Spring Lake Park School District for police liaison services and approve for the sworn officer strength to increase from 59 to 60 officers.