For many years, the Department had one full-time CSO assigned to the NTU to handle vehicle abatement and other unit-related duties as assigned. This position was funded by OCTA, but that funding stream ended in 2013 and no one has been specifically assigned to handle vehicle abatement since that time, due to budget limitations. As a result, sworn officers have been routinely diverted from their primary law enforcement duties to handle vehicle abatement tasks.

Public Works is responsible for managing the parking citation contesting program and is the primary contact for issues related to parking citations. The City has a structured parking control system in place, which includes electronic devices to issue citations, a fee schedule for the various types of citations, and Public Works handles collecting fees and citations disputes.

With the addition of two new Community Service Officers, it is anticipated the volume of citations needing to be processed and/or possibly being contested will significantly increase. This increase would exceed current Public Works staffing capabilities, as the current Parking Citation Coordinator is a part-time employee who is limited to 1,000 hours per fiscal year. 

Illegal parking, the city’s RV ordinance, and abandoned vehicles have been identified by community members and business owners, as quality-of-life issues that the city needs to address, and the Police Department agrees.  In one year, the Department received more than 3,000 calls from the public related to abandoned and/or illegally parked vehicles, representing four (4) percent of total calls for service.  Without the needed support provided by a CSO, the impact to the time spent by sworn officers handling parking issues is approximately 260 hours per year.

The Department has determined that the community would be best served by reestablishing the vehicle abatement program supported by the addition of two full-time CSO's.  These CSO positions will require contact with the general public, the ability to deal courteously and effectively with others, and represent the City in a positive manner. These positions are distinguished from other law enforcement classifications by their emphasis on enforcing parking regulations, handling vehicle abatement, and assisting the NTU with the various community/city events held throughout the year.

The Police Department has a current active list of candidates to fill these two CSO positions, which avoids the need to conduct a recruitment and testing process to fill these positions.  With the addition of two new CSO positions, an increased workload related to administration of citation processing is anticipated. The Public Works Department oversees the administration of citation processing, and will need an additional position for the increased volume of work.  To that end, Public Works requests the addition of one (1) full-time Senior Program Specialist position that would be responsible for the administration of citation processing.  

Anticipated approximate one-time and ongoing General Fund costs for the enhanced program are as follows:

• (2) fully outfitted vehicles for CSOs @ $46,816 ea. = $93,632 (one-time)
• Annual fleet costs for (2) vehicles @ $24,000 ea. = $48,000 (ongoing)
• Uniforms/equipment for (2) CSOs @ $12,000 ea. = $24,000 (one-time)
• Salary/benefits for (2) H-step CSOs @ $109,344 = $218,688 (ongoing)
• E-citation device rental; (2) @ $1,200/yr. = $4,800 (ongoing)
• Salary/benefits for (1) H-step Senior Program Specialist= $148,838 (ongoing)

Total approximate one-time costs:     $117,632

Total approximate ongoing costs:      $420,326

Total approximate first year cost:       $537,958

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Appropriate funds from the General Fund for one-time and ongoing costs for two (2) full-time Community Service Officers, and purchase their required uniforms and equipment;

• Appropriate funds from General Fund for the purchase and annual maintenance costs of two (2) fully outfitted vehicles to be used by the Community Service Officers, who will be assigned to the Police Department’s Neighborhood Traffic Unit; and

• Appropriate funds from General Fund for one (1) full-time Senior Program Specialist position assigned to Public Works; and

• Adopt a Resolution adding two new Community Service Officer positions and one new Senior Program Specialist position.

By:  Patrick Gildea, Lieutenant