Report Prepared by: Matt Williams, Police Lieutenant, Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Agreement with Merced Lao Community Inc. for Police Services at the 2015 Hmong New Year Festival
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider authorizing an agreement for the Merced Police Department to provide security and crowd control services.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving an agreement in the amount of $4,000 with Merced Lao Community to provide security and crowd control services for the annual Hmong New Year Festival held at the Merced County Fairgrounds on December 18th, 19th and 20th 2015; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by City Council; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
The Hmong New Year Festival will be held in the City of Merced at the Merced County Fairgrounds.
Each year the Merced Police Department has provided security and crowd control for each day of this annual event.
Additionally, Merced Police Department personnel have carefully monitored and controlled the event over the years, and have been successful in providing a safe environment for those who attend.
This year’s event is scheduled for a three-day period, December 18th, 19th and 20th 2015.
The December 18th opening day celebration begins at 7:30 am and it ends at 5:00pm.
On December 19th activities begin at 09:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.
On the final day of the celebration, December 21st, activities begin at 09:00 a.m. and activities end at 12:00 a.m.
As in past years, a portion of the cost for police services provided during the event will be paid for by the Hmong New Year Committee. The Police Department will use a combination of on-duty and overtime personnel to staff the event.
The cost for the City of Merced Police Department to provide the security and crowd control services is approximately $17,885.88.
The Hmong New Year Committee will reimburse the City of Merced an amount not to exceed $4000.00 for the security and crowd control services provided during the New Year Celebration.
Police staffing for the event will be done in a manner so that providing the security and crowd control services for the Hmong New year will have a minimal impact on police response time and police service in the city.
History and Past Actions:
Prior to1995 the event was held in local parks and high schools located in Atwater and Winton.
However, due to youth gang crime and parking issues associated with hosting the event the Hmong New Year Committee moved the event to the Merced County Fairgrounds in 1995.
In the early years of the event, being hosted at the Merced County Fairgrounds, the police department assigned as many as 15 police officers to the event. This was in order to deal with fights and gang related problems that occurred during the event.
Over several years, the number of police officers assigned to the event has been reduced to approximately 7 officers each day.
As result of ongoing collaboration between the police department and the Hmong New Year Committee, over many years, the community has seen a reduction in gang and other crime related issues associated with the event.
Currently, the number of officers needed to staff the event is based on the ongoing collaboration with the Hmong New Year Committee, evaluation of event activities, the demographics of the event attendees, historical information related to efficient utilization of police resources to provide crowd control and based on the availability of other law enforcement and security services provided at the event.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2015 Agreement
2. 2015 Staffing
3. Hmong New Year Flyer