ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel with a Request to Approve an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Between the CITY OF PEORIA and PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 150 and to Authorize the City to Apply for the Addition of Five Officer Positions in the Next COPS GRANT Funding Period.
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BACKGROUND: The Peoria Police Department began providing policing services at District 150 high schools in the spring semester of the 2013-2014 school year. That arrangement ended in June and since then, the City and District 150 have been working to craft an agreement that would provide a similar level of service in the coming 2014-2015 school year and beyond. Attached is the agreement that has been negotiated between the City and District 150 administration. If approved, the Peoria Police Department will assign one officer each to the four District 150 high schools (Central, Manual, Richwoods and Woodruff Career Technical Center). This will require the creation of a five-officer unit within the Department, with the fifth officer being available to cover time-off, court appearances, etc. The Agreement would go into effect August 14, 2014 and extend through the last day of the 2017-2018 school year.
These police officers remain employees of the City. They will cooperate and coordinate their activities with the School Principal, District Safety Administrator, and District Safety Officers. Per the Agreement, police officer duties do not extend to enforcing school rules.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: District 150 will pay the City $47.01 per hour per officer for each hour worked. The City will not increase its authorized strength of sworn personnel for the 2014-2015 school year. However, the City is anticipating another round of federal COPS funding will be announced and open later this Fall. The COPS program provides three years of funding, with a local match, to add police officers with the caveat that the City must retain the officers for a fourth year at its exclusive cost. It would be the City's intention to apply for five additional officers under this grant. If awarded, the addition of five positions would secure the Agreement through its end in 2018. If the award is not made, the City would have the option to terminate the Agreement.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Not applicable.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: District 150 will have City police officers working in District 150 schools to promote the safety and welfare of the students.
IMPACT IF DENIED: District 150 will utilize their own employees to promote safety and welfare of the students. City police will need to respond to schools to handle criminal matters.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Not applicable.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reduce crime.
2. Improve District 150.
DEPARTMENT: Legal