HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07252006 - C.70 8_...L
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM: Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff
0. Costa
C
DATE: July 18, 2006
o u my
SUBJECT: Housing Facility for Lateral Deputy Sheriffs 0
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
1. RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE the Sheriff, or designee, to explore real estate in the County
available for use as multiple housing for newly hired lateral Deputy Sheriffs, and to RETURN
to the Board with further details to include possible facility cost estimates, on-going
operational costs, criteria for eligibility, and long-term impacts to the County such as
retirement and post-employment benefits.
11. FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
Ill. BACKGROUND:
The high cost of housing in Contra Costa County has strongly impacted the Sheriffs
recruiting efforts. The Office currently has eighty sworn vacancies, the highest vacancy rate
in its history. Substantial overtime is being authorized and required in order to fulfill our
mission. Recruiting efforts have been significantly intensified. We have repeatedly
observed, however, that lateral applicants, who are otherwise very interested in this agency,
are forced to go elsewhere due to the cost of housing. The Sheriff is of the view that the
compensation package offered by the County is very attractive to lateral applicants who are
presently employed at lower-paying agencies elsewhere in the State. Should the County be
able to offer a workable solution to this housing problem, these lateral applicants will find
our employment offer very attractive. In the event a facility is [eased or purchased, newly-
hired lateral Deputies would be able, by way of example, to live there four days a week
(working four 10-hour days), while being able to live in their own homes (several counties
away) during the remainder of the week. The problem of recruiting lateral applicants into
communities with high housing prices isn't unique to Contra Costa County. Numerous
Sheriffs and Police Departments are facing the same issues and have adopted various
housing incentives in order to attract top-quality Deputy applicants.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: El YES SIGNATURE:
Er/RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 0 RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
[-APPROVE F1 OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOA Z ON
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER 171
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT rer 1 ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AYES: NOES: ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED
— -a 4
Contact: Lt Dennis Kahane 335-1537 JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: Office of the Sheriff
CAO-Justice System Administration
Y: Deputy
v
IV. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
There is no way to diminish the negative impact of unaffordable housing prices on our ability
to recruit lateral Deputies. We must find a "work around" for this problem or we will likely fall
short of our recruiting goals, thus jeopardizing our ability to provide expeditious, first-rate
service to our communities.