HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-1994 City Council Minutes ,~, , MINUTES
SI~R~TOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME: Tuesday, July 12, 1994 - 7:30 p.m.
PLACE: City Hall Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale Ave.
T~PE: Adjourned Regular Meeting ~.: " '
1. Roll Call '~
Councilmembers Jacobs, Moran, Wolfe, and Mayor Burger were present at
7:32 p,m. Councilmember Tucker arrived later.
Staff members present were City Manager Peacock and Assistant to the
City Manager King.
Public Safety Commissioners present were Hugh Hexamer and Kenneth
Biester.
Also present, representing the Sheriff's Department, were Sheriff
Gillingham, Captain Wilson and Naomi Tsurumoto.
2. Report of City clerk on Posting of Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was
properly posted on July 8. The notice of adjournment from the July
6 Council meeting was properly posted on July 7.
3. Meeting with Sheriff Gillingham
A. Law Enforcement contract Costs
Sheriff Gillingham reviewed the proposed costs. Increases include
costs of PERS and deputy sheriff salary increases of 3%. Originally
overall cost was 8.74 %, but now it is calculated at 6.76% because of
a reduction ~PERS~costs.ff~:_ Nego~iations~i with the Deputy Sheriff
Association '~re ongoing. The contract expires later this year, and
negotiations are to start in three or four weeks. The effective date
of any increase would be August 29, 1994.
Other costs driving the increase include 30% increase in liability
insurance costs and a large increase in worker's compensation premiums.
Sheriff Gillingham says he told the City by letter last September that
certain costs. would go up in 1994-95.
Councilmember Moran asked how the City planned for that contingency.
City Manager Peacock replied that the 1993-94 budget document included
a projected 4% increase in the contract for 1994-95 without any
increase in services.
Councilmember Tucker questioned the increased cost for meals,
telephone, ar~_clothing. Some of this relates to the union contract.
Mayor Burger asked what is the status of booking fees. The Board of
Supervisors has yet to decide, but the worst case of $215 each is
programmed.
Councilmember Tucker asked about alternatives to School Resources
Officer since it costs $65 per hour for the deputy. Saratoga is the
only city which has a dedicated deputy. Projected cost is $93,643 for
nine months, a total of 1,440 hours. The Council felt this was very
expensive.
Sheriff Gillingham said there is another classification, law
enforcement technician, which could do this job at a cost of about
$66,000 a year vs. $93,000. The Public Safety Commission was
suggested to look into this alternative, which could save the City
about $27,000 a year.
Commissioner Hexamer lauded the School Resources Officer program and
its accomplishments. In the long term it attacks the major crime
problem of the city relating to youth.
Commissioner Biester recounted a change in attitude among kids at
City Council Minutes 2 July 12,
1994
Halloween, for example, over the past two years.
City Manager Peacock indicated he has asked the Sheriff to reconsider
some of the overhead costs assigned to the School Resources Officer
because is not performing some of the normal deputy functions.
B. Local Service and Enforcement Priorities
At the request of Councilmember Jacobs, Captain Wilson discussed what
are enforcement priorities for field personnel: mainly traffic, youth
crime, businesses, parking in the Village. An extensive discussion
followed regarding traffic enforcement problems and priorities. There
was consensus that speeding is the number one traffic problem for the
city to address.
Councilmember Jacobs asked what about use of the California Highway
Patrol after the freeway opens.
'Sheriff Gillingham said the City must have a significant specific
problem in order to get special use from the CHP.
Councilmember Moran asked what improvements could be made in law
enforcement over the next three to five years. Gillingham responded
that he would try to keep costs down by more civilianizing of jobs,
focus on education and prevention, heavier use of volunteers and
reserves.
Councilmember Tucker asked about Neighborhood Watch. Commissioner
Hexamer indicated it is in hibernation because of lack of interest on
the part of neighborhoods. There was a brief discussion of the problem
in one particular neighborhood and one family. This is an active
Neighborhood Watch area.
Mayor Burger wrapped up:
1. Tickets on moving violations - enforcement index.
2. Overhead costs to School Resource Officer.
3. Creation of dual purpose cars.
3.Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry R. P k
City Clerk