Report Prepared by: Joe Weiss, Police Lieutenant, City of Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the City of Merced and Merced City School District (MCSD) for Police Services in the District’s Four (4) Middle Schools for a Term of Three Years at a Reimbursement Amount per Attached Agreement and Exhibit A
REPORT IN BRIEF
Requests council approval of a MOU between Merced City School District and the City of Merced to provide Police Services at the Districts four (4) middle schools for a term of three years for an amount stated on the MOU and Exhibit A attached.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Merced and Merced City School District to provide police services in the District’s four middle schools; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager to execute the agreement; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the appropriate budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Council Requested Projects - Middle School District - School Resource Officers.
DISCUSSION
Historically, the Merced Police Department has assigned officers to the four middle schools as School Resource Officers (SRO) on a full-time basis. The Merced City School District (MCSD) and the Merced Police Department have decided to continue to staff the middle schools with full-time School Resource Officers.
In the 2018-2019 school year the Merced City School District and the City of Merced negotiated an MOU to continue the School Resource Program. The school district would like to continue the SRO program and have signed a new MOU with the City of Merced.
Under the proposed three-year agreement, the Merced Police Department agrees to provide two (2) or more full-time School Resource Officers to implement the program.
Under the agreement, the City agrees to provide and pay the SRO’s salary and employment benefits in accordance with the applicable salary schedules and employment practices of the Merced Police Department which are in effect during the time of this Agreement. During the term of the Agreement, MCSD agrees to reimburse the City for 70% of the actual cost of each full-time SRO at step 5 of the City’s pay scale and any employment benefits in accordance with the applicable salary schedules and employment practices in place at the time of the agreement.
Pursuant to the agreement, the SRO’s will be assigned to Tenaya, Rivera, Hoover and Cruickshank Middle Schools. When school is in session, the SRO will work an equivalent of 40 hours per week. MCSD may request an SRO to work during the evening or weekends beyond the scheduled 40 hour work week (overtime). MCSD shall pay the City all costs that the City incurs in providing additional services.
The SRO’s will be assigned to work with school administrators, staff and students at the District’s middle schools. The objective is to promote and facilitate a safe learning environment for staff and students.
In addition to providing basic police services in the middle schools, implementing the School Resource Officer Program is one intervention strategy that has been effective in identifying at-risk youth and providing services that help the schools and the families of at-risk youth to establish and maintain acceptable standards of behavior in schools and in their neighborhoods.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Should two SRO positions be filled at the Sr. Police Officer level, the maximum amount to be reimbursed to the City would not exceed $257,165.44 and any overtime for the first year of the agreement. The reimbursement rate will be at 70% of City actual costs per a SRO plus any overtime.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Merced and the Merced City School District
2. Exhibit A