HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 - - Consider the Dissolution of the Airborne - 2/8/2011CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 8, 2011 ITEM NUMBER: 2
SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
DATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2011
FROM: CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT/ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
PRESENTATION BY: THOMAS R. HATCH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TIM STARN, ABLE COMMANDER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: THOMAS R. HATCH, 714 754-5288,
thatch&I-costa-mesa. ca. us
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council Budget Working Group is recommending that the City Council consider
the dissolution of the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) Program and is requesting that
the City Council direct staff to prepare a report for formal consideration at an upcoming
meeting of the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Costa Mesa has had helicopters since 1970. In 1996, Costa Mesa and
Newport Beach merged their individual helicopter programs into one and formed ABLE.
The first year of operation, each City saved $500,000. ABLE's success is derived from
cost sharing and vigilantly evaluating the operation for additional savings. ABLE serves
the City of Santa Ana by way of contract and each Member Agency receives $180,000
in revenue to offset their expenditures. The ABLE commander is a shared position that
is funded from the M & O Budget.
Annually, ABLE flies 1500 hours and handles 3000 calls for service. They are
instrumental in reducing the workload for ground officers on perimeters, area searches,
natural disasters, as well as reducing liability during pursuits and other dynamic events.
ABLE works with the Fire Departments through the use of infrared technology, downlink
of incidents and firefighting of vegetation fires. ABLE is a force multiplier that has
enhanced our law enforcement operations for many years.
ANALYSIS:
The City has a budget shortfall of approximately $1,400,000 for FY 2010-2011. On
several occasions, members of the City Council have communicated that the continued
use of fund balance is not fiscally appropriate and that reductions are necessary to
balance the budget. The City Council Budget Working Group and City staff has been
discussing and debating options to close the gap. Over the past several years when
budgets have been tight, both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa City Councils have
supported reductions in service levels to the ABLE Program. For FY 2010-2011, the
service hours were decreased from 3,000 to 1,500 flight hours per year. With the
continuing budget shortfalls, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff and Costa Mesa City
Manager Allan Roeder have informally discussed the option of the dissolution of the
Program and felt that it is an appropriate time for the City Councils of both communities to
formally consider this matter.
The Budget Working Group of Mayor Monahan and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer has
reviewed this option and are recommending to the full City Council the dissolution of the
ABLE Program. This report is being provided to the City Council for initial review at this
Study Session and if there is interest in formal consideration of this option, then staff will
formally notice the other partners in the Program and include a detailed staff report on an
upcoming City Council agenda.
Attachment A of this report is a memo from the Police Department that details the ABLE
Program and the process and issues that would be involved in its potential dissolution.
The memo includes information about issues related to the current contracts, impacts to all
partners including the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the hanger lease with
Signature Flight Support at the John Wayne Airport, cost considerations, personnel issues
and timelines.
Impact on Citv Personnel
The potential impact on Costa Mesa personnel would be based on the four (4) Costa
Mesa positions assigned to ABLE. This staffing is comprised of one (1) Police Helicopter
Sergeant and three (3) Police Helicopter Pilots.
In the event that Layoff Procedures are implemented due to the dissolution of ABLE, all
employees will be eligible to exercise their bumping rights. This will ultimately result in
other less senior/tenured sworn Police Officers being laid off. The Layoff Procedures
(CMPA MOU, Article 18, A.R. 2.26, and PR&R 14.5) state that employees with the least
City seniority will be laid off first.
Should the City Council give direction to bring this item forward at a future Council
meeting, the specific impacts of the bumping rights will be detailed as to the impacts to full
and part-time employees. In addition, the City will need to meet and confer with the Costa
Mesa Police Association.
FISCAL REVIEW:
The financial impact of eliminating or reducing ABLE services will depend on specific
direction provided by City Council in conjunction with the ABLE Board. However, as
stated in the attached memo from the Police Department, ABLE does have a total fund
balance of $3,113,300 in the Equipment Replacement Fund and $998,965 in the
General Fund. Should ABLE be dissolved, a portion of these assets, as well as the
proceeds from the sale of equipment, will be returned to the City.
The current projected impact of the ABLE program to the City's General Fund for FY 11-
12 is:
Salaries and Benefits $754,380 (1 Sergeant, 3 Pilots)
Maintenance and Operations $490,255 (same as FY 10-11)
Revenue from contract cities and
reimbursement of Sergeant salary ($392,545)
Net cost - $852,090
LEGAL REVIEW:
Preliminary legal review has been completed by the Attorney for the ABLE Board and no
significant legal issues were identified. If the City Council is supportive of a review by the
full City Council, then additional legal research and review would be necessary by the City
Attorney's Office.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council Budget Working Group is recommending that the City Council consider
the dissolution of the ABLE Program and is requesting that the City Council direct staff to
prepare a report for an upcoming meeting of the City Council.
Apr
THOMAS R. HATCH
Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS: A Memo From Police Department