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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09232003 - SD.4 TO.. ,: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ►µ Contra F;OM: Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff Coroner Costa DATE: September 2, 2003 �;'• { untv SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Training Center SPECIFIC REQUESTS)OR RECOMMENDATION(s)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: 1. ACCEPT information on the status of the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Training Center. 2. AUTHORIZE appropriation adjustment to transfer funds from the Sheriff's Office capital account to eliminate the deficit in the Law Enforcement Training Center enterprise fund. 3. DIRECT the Sheriff to provide a report in 18 months to the Board on the status of the Law Enforcement Training Center. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Transfer of$1,218,714 from capital acquisition account to the Law Enforcement Training Center enterprise fund. BACKGROUND: From 1974 through 2001, training for law enforcement officers in Contra Costa County was certified and managed through Los Medanos Community College. During the last several years, increasing complaints were heard from local law enforcement officials regarding the adequacy and responsiveness of the training. In 2001, an independent committee, appointed by the Sheriff, recommended that the Sheriff and Chiefs of Police become more involved in the operation and management of the training process. The accepted plan transferred operational control and management to the Office of the Sheriff, with Los Medanos committed to providing administrative and educational oversight, as well as continued FTES funding. In 2001, the Board of Supervisors gave approval for the Sheriff to assume res ibility for the training. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: [�}`''f�ES SIGNATURE: [-RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BO COMMITTEE C1 PROVE ❑ OTHER SIGNATURE(S):' -w �-V—1 ACTION OF B ' ON Lp artier 23, 2.003 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED [E OTHER ® and MEC`i"ID THE Sheriff to provide a report in 18 n mths to the Board of Supervisors on the status of the Law Eafor�t Training Canter to include the status of the Law Enforcenmt Training Enterprise Fond. VOTE I HERESY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND X UNANIMOUS{ABSENT Norte ) ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. AYES: NOES: ASSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED -----� September 23, 2003 Contact: JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: By: ° S Deputy fie 7 MATE: '" September 3, 2003 SV8JEC< % Law Enforcement Training Center Page 2 < An Enterprise Fund was established for the Law Enforcement Training Center to isolate expenditures and revenues from the General Fund. With a great deal of assistance and cooperation from the City of Pittsburg, the building and grounds improvements were begun at the site for the new Training Center at the Marina. The Office of the Sheriff assumed responsibility for law enforcement training on January 7, 2002, and moved into the remodeled facility in August, 2002. There are two elements to the training responsibility, each captured in a separate account in the Enterprise Fund. The "basic academy" is certified to provide entry- level training, mandated by POST, to all new and prospective peace officers through an intensive 26 week long format. The second distinct program is conducted for current law enforcement personnel. Much of this training is mandated by POST. Known as "in-service" training, it includes training in a variety of specialized fields such as accident investigation, terrorism, child abduction and civil process, as well as more generic, mandated courses such as basic supervision and dispatcher training. Classes range from one day to two weeks in length. If we did not provide this training through the Training Center, we would incur additional cost associated with Sending staff to other centers for the training. The Sheriff inherited a training program that was rapidly failing, both operationally and economically. Los Medanos has been operating the training program at a significant loss for several years, a fact that was difficult to uncover during the transition phase. Much of the early efforts of Sheriff's staff centered around acquiring and improving a new site for the Training Center, negotiating contracts with the college for administrative support, dealing with leases and equipment purchases, and working with POST to ensure proper certification of the basic academy and training courses. In essence, the first year of operation was Spent "keeping the doors open" and learning how to manage and operate a Training Center. An initial budget deficit to the Enterprise Fund was planned and expected, based on the costs required to start-up the Training Center. As the building improvements progressed, the cost/revenue figures indicated that the initial deficit would be greater than anticipated. The deficit after the first 15 months of operation resulted from (1) higher than expected building and grounds improvements; (2) payment of instructors at their previous rates, prior to negotiating lower rates: (3) a lack of marketing of the Training Center offerings as well as a period of time to review which course offerings would be Successful; and, finally, (4) the financial decision by Los Medanos in late 2002 that the college would be unable to fund the LETC programs for the remainder of FY 2002-03 (adding approximately $300,000 to the deficit). Internally, the Training Center has taken steps to address the above issues and operate the programs in the most efficient manner possible. Every in-service class offered is now examined as a separate budget entity, with particular attention to the fee structure, optimum attendance levels, and minimum enrollments required to avoid cancellation. Additionally, the center staff is working hard on producing classes for the general public and business entities (Safety, loss prevention, risk assessment). These classes are not POST certified and the Sheriff is able to charge a fee which allows for a better cost/revenue ratio. Several partnerships with businesses have been fostered which will allow for marketing and advertising. Our third internal adjustment involves making every effort to reduce basic academy expenditures, by maximizing "on-loan" instructors. The efficiency of the Training Center has greatly benefited from the professional preparation of a business plan, completed and forwarded to the County Administrator in July of 2003. The plan has focused attention on marketing and profitability. Based on the plan, the LETC instituted and implemented new processes to both manage spending levels and to increase revenue. Strict controls have been employed to. reduce the cost of program delivery through reduced instructor pay rates; increased in-kind instructions; close monitoring of projected attendance for individual classes to maximize revenue generation; increased hours and tuition for the basic academy; and the initial stage development of new in-service training programs that are not bound by POST guidelines. The introduction of non-POST courses means that a more realistic tuition schedule can be established for these programs. DATE: September 3,2003 ✓ {: SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Training Center page 3 ''` Perhaps the greatest accomplishment toward profitability is the conclusion that was reached by the POST audit team on their recent survey of the LETC, which produced outstanding reviews for the basic academy. "The Test proficiency Report states the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office Academy test results show that student learning has increased substantially since the new (LETC) certification was granted". Under the section entitled "Exemplary Aspects of the Program", the review applauds "[T]he dedication of the staff and their commitment to recruit success, and the outstanding relationship the academy has with law enforcement agencies in the county including a committee from the County Chief's Association and County training managers association." That review, coupled with increased participant satisfaction for in- service programs, and continued partnership with the Chiefs will establish the LETC as the training center of choice from not only the law enforcement population of Contra Costa County, but also those of surrounding counties. A Homeland Security grant will bring first-responder training to the LETC. This will further establish the reputation of the LETC as an agency designated to promote programs of educational significance. The record enrollment in the current academy is indicative that the Training Center is moving forward and we remain optimistic that the small loss projected for the first year in the business plan will be lower than originally projected. We may even produce a small profit. To eliminate the current deficit in the enterprise fund, the Sheriff's Office will transfer funding from a capital acquisition account. For any future deficit, the Sheriff would like to transfer any fund balance from his operating budget first and then transfer funding from a capital acquisition account second. Furthermore, it is the Sheriff's intent that any funding used to eliminate or avoid a deficit in the Training Center enterprise fund be repaid as the enterprise fund is able.