HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-09 City Council Item No. 9CITY OF i~q
LADE LSINOR-E
D REA
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT A. BRADY
CITY MANAGER
DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2010
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF `CITIZENS ACTIVITY TEAMS' VOLUNTEER
PROGRAM
Background
Mayor Pro Tern Bhutta has been working with staff to expand volunteer involvement at
the City, particularly in ways that can increase public safety and promote civic pride.
The program model is called "Citizens Activity Teams," or C.A.T., a systems approach
to the use of community volunteers for special activities and services that can:
a. Expand the ability of the City to respond to the public safety needs of its citizens
and businesses without adding to the cost of existing public safety services;
b. Protect our physical environment, including neighborhoods, businesses, open
spaces and the Lake, by enlisting citizens to help watch out for vandalism,
graffiti, illegal dumping and related activity;
c. Help keep our City clean and beautiful by assisting with neighborhood and public
beautification projects, Citywide cleanups and watershed protection campaigns;
d. Strengthen community wellbeing and trust through highly visible crime prevention
activities, such as a Citizens Patrol;
e. Effectively engage volunteers to meet the City's mission, vision and values.
The 'Citizens Activity Teams' model encompasses existing City volunteer programs,
such as Citizen Corps, while affording new service opportunities, such as Citizens
Patrol and others.
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City Volunteer Policy
February 9, 2010
Page 2
Discussion
In January, the City Council approved a comprehensive volunteer policy, which is the
result of both Mayor Pro Tern Bhutta's advocacy on volunteerism, and the Joint Powers
Insurance Agency's recommendation that member cities have such a policy in place.
The 'Citizens Activity Teams' model builds on the new volunteer policy and successful
City volunteer programs, such as Citizen Corps. The result is more efficient use of
existing resources to leverage new services that volunteers will be equipped to provide.
The primary goal is to recruit and train volunteers to meet specialized needs in four core
areas:
O. AREA
OVERSIGHT
O.
1. City Services Support
City Departments:
. Mail delivery between
-Public Works
City facilities
-Parks & Recreation
. Light clerical
-Engineering
. Reception desk
-Community Development
. On site work
-City Manager's Office
assignments:
-Administrative Services
o Shop/Yard
o Senior Center
o Community Center
o Lake facilities
2. Patrol Support
LEPD/Public Safety
. Citizens Patrol
Advisory Commission
. Business Patrol
• Shoreline Patrol
Note: a PSAC Citizens
. Graffiti Patrol
Patrol subcommittee was
. Vacation home check
recently set up to develop
. Illegal sign removal
program recommendations
3. Event Support
City & event co-sponsors
. Parking/Traffic Control
Event Outreach
• Event Assistance
4. Emergency Support
Citizen Corps Council
. Citizen Corps
• CERT training
• Neighborhood Watch
Proposed work scope and related activities
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City Volunteer Policy
February 9, 2010
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A secondary goal is organizing and managing each team using volunteer
administrators, similar to the organizational model used by the Lake Elsinore Citizen
Corps. The advantage of recruiting volunteer program administrators is harnessing the
energy and skills of volunteers without straining existing staff resources for support.
Fiscal Impact
No new City or LEPD staffing is proposed. The $6,000 estimated annual cost to
implement 'Citizens Activity Teams', includes Live Scan background screening,
equipment costs and training in each core area, as summarized below:
CORE AREA
PROGRAM LEAD
EST. COST PER YR.
1. City Support
7.777p-en din a proval)
$500.00
2. Patrol Support
Citizens Patrol (PSAC
$5,000.00
recommendation pending)
sa 50% rant eligible
3. Event Support
C.A.T. (pending approval)
$500.00
4. Emergency Support
Citizen Corps (existing)
(1)
Sub Total
$ 6,000.00
Grant offset (2)
$ (2,500.00) (2)
TOTAL
$ 3,500.00 net cost
RECOMMENDED FY 2010-2011 BUDGET AMOUNT: $6,000
as budget laceholder for proposed Citizen Activity Teams
NOTES:
1) Citizen Corps is currently included in the FY 2009-2010 budget at $10,000.
Citizen Corps was 83% grant reimbursed in FY 2009-2010. Citizen Corps annual
budget is $10,000 and is a recurring expense, less grant reimbursement.
2) Estimate only. Grant eligibility and reimbursement assumes funding would be
available from OES, Supplemental Law Enforcement grant funds, or others.
Recommendation
Approve moving forward with the 'Citizens Activity Teams' volunteer program and
included program budget request in the draft FY 2010-2011 budget.
Prepared by: Mark E. Dennis *0~
Information/Communications Manager
Approved by: Robert A. Brady~p~
City Manager gq~~''UU
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