PREPARED BY: SHAWN RAY DATE OF MEETING: 09/21/2020
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING THE SAN PABLO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE JUVENILE EDUCATION WELFARE LIAISON (J.E.W.L.) PROGRAM TO FURTHER SUPPORT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AT AN ANNUAL COST TO THE CITY OF APPROXIMATELY $362,000 PLUS EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Build A Healthy Community and Improve Public Safety are adopted policy items under the FY 2019-21 Council Priority Work Plan, effective March 1, 2019 and most recently amended on September 8, 2020.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project as defined by CEQA. Pursuant to Section 15001 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
BACKGROUND
San Pablo Police School Resource Officers
The San Pablo Police Department has assigned School Resource Officers to all schools within San Pablo for the past two decades. This includes six elementary schools and one middle school. Since 2010, these specially trained School Resource Officers have been a positive source of engagement and mentorship for the youth in San Pablo. The School Resource Officers also delivered the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T.) to sixth grade classes. G.R.E.A.T. is a nationally recognized set of lessons utilized by over 1400 communities that teaches life skills to include: anger management; problem solving; decision making; communication; peer pressure; developing mediation skills; and community involvement. The G.R.E.A.T. Program culminates in a Community Awards Dinner recognizing outstanding achievement from students in the class. There is also an annual two-week Summer G.R.E.A.T. Program in which a group of students attend classroom and outdoor activities with Police Department staff which concludes with a three-day overnight camping trip. The School Resource Officer program has received overwhelming support with consistent recognition as a positive influence from students, school faculty, and families throughout San Pablo.
In June 2020, the West Contra Costa County Unified School District notified all police agencies in West Contra Costa County of a policy change which prevents the School Resource Officer Program from continuing as it previously existed at local San Pablo schools. This was a universal WCCUSD Board policy change and was not targeted towards San Pablo school sites where school and City employees have worked together well on a number of programs, including the School Resource Officer program. Despite the policy changes, the San Pablo Police Department is committed to providing continued support and service to the youth in San Pablo through outreach, education, training, and mentorship.
Juvenile Education Welfare Liaison (J.E.W.L.)
The San Pablo Police Department proposes to continue prioritizing safety, education, principles of restorative justice, and mentorship through the J.E.W.L. Program. The specially trained School Resource Officers will be repurposed as J.E.W.L. Officers who will respond to any and all student-related incidents at school sites as needed. This includes issues surrounding truancy, fights, thefts, abuse, assault, mediations, lost property, welfare checks and any other requests for service from any of the seven schools located in the City of San Pablo. J.E.W.L. Officers will also respond to juvenile-related incidents within the City of San Pablo but outside school campuses. These calls could range from loitering, truancy, welfare checks and home visits, runaways, abuse, curfew violations or any other juvenile-related crimes or incidents throughout San Pablo.
In addition to calls for service, J.E.W.L. Officers would be responsible for continuing the tradition of teaching the G.R.E.A.T program at the San Pablo Community Center as an after-school program (expected to be virtual during COVID-19 restrictions). Delivery of this curriculum creates the opportunity to continue the annual Community Awards Dinner and the Summer G.R.E.A.T. Program. The continuance of the G.R.E.A.T. program would seamlessly fit with the ideals and values of the J.E.W.L. Program.
The J.E.W.L. Officers will be a visible resource working with Community Services staff from within the San Pablo Community Center. J.E.W.L. will also work in tandem with existing local youth activities’ leagues to establish new relationships to develop our youth and participate in events or any other resource that promotes health and welfare for the youth in our community. The primary goal for this collaborative effort is to reduce juvenile crime and improve the lives of our youth by providing positive outlets for expression, learning and character development.
Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Review
On September 2, 2020, the Public Safety Standing Committee (Cruz; Xavier) were presented the operational overview of the new J.E.W.L. program which replaces the current G.R.E.A.T. program for FY 2020/21, and going forward. The Standing Committee unanimously supported this operational program change following WCCUSD Board policy action in June 2020, and supported its continuation as a critically needed community policing program for local youth at local San Pablo schools, and recommended its full approval to the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The average cost of one officer to the City is approximately $181,000 per year. The City has dedicated Measure Q funding to one SRO position since 2012, which funding will continue until Measure Q expires in October 2022. On July 20, 2020, the City Council authorized Measure S to be placed on the November 2020 ballot to keep in place the revenue stream from Measure Q, which was approved by 74% of San Pablo voters in 2012.
Since 2014, the City has entered into a School Resource Officer funding agreement with WCCUSD to fund one fulltime position to be assigned to Helms Middle School. In FY 19/20, the agreement included $150,000 from WCCUSD to offset the $181,000 cost to the City for this position; this funding will no longer be provided. The City cost of two positions dedicated to J.E.W.L. will cost the City approximately $362,000 plus equipment and training. Absent any additional funding, both J.E.W.L. Officer positions would be absorbed within the existing FY 2020/21 Police Department budget.