HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12161986 - 2.15 a_ 4:;
TO '.: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
F
Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
FROM : Contra
December 4, 1986 Costa
°ATE; County
SUBJECT; Financing Police Service in the Unincorporated Area
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
BACKGROUND
On September 22 , 1986 , you considered a report from the Finance
Committee regarding how to finance police service in the
unincorporated area, particularly in Oakley, Bethel Island and
West Pittsburg. You directed the Sheriff ' s Office, Community
Development Department, County Counsel and me to do the
following:
1 . Define appropriate "subzones" for County Service Area P-6;
2 . Define a proposed "base level" of police service in the
unincorporated area; and
3 . Study the feasibility of contracting out police services
with cities for certain unincorporated areas.
Since that time considerable research and discussion has taken
place leading to the following recommendations to consider
creation of "Special Tax Area" (STA) to finance additional police
service in the unincorporated area.
Special Tax Areas
A "Special Tax Area" (STA) , pursuant to Government Code 53978(a) ,
can be created by an Ordinance adopted by the Board of
Supervisors and can encompass any unincorporated territory
including a new subdivision. Although such STA' s could be
utilized in any unincorporated area, it seems particularly well
suited to providing additional police services in the Oakley,
Bethel Island, Byron or West Pittsburg areas.
The intent would be to establish STA' s coterminous with new
subdivisions and require a special tax approval in the STA as a
condition of a new subdivision. Because the vote would be by the
developer prior to buildout, the developer could insure that the
condition is fulfilled.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; YES SIGNATURE' `
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON December 16 , 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER XX
REFERRED to the Country Administrator and Sheriff for further
review and report to the Board .
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ------ ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES'. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: County Administrator ATTESTED December 16, 1986
Sheriff-Coroner - - - ----
PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Chuck Daleck
5001 Blum Road SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Martinez , CA 9 +553
M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY
-2-
The estimated parcel tax in an STA would be $125-$150 per year.
The proceeds of the tax would be "earmarked" for police service
in the STA, and adjacent areas would receive an "incidental"
benefit. Until an additional patrol deputy can be funded out of
STA proceeds, the proceeds would be used for services within the
"beat area" to benefit the STA subdivisions there. Such services
as crime prevention and advice on site improvements would be
provided to STA subdivisions. With additional patrol strength,
the size of the patrol "beats" could decrease, thus improving
response time.
If an STA area annexed to a city or if there were an
incorporation, the STA would dissolve by operation of law.
Definition of Base Level of Service
Defining a "base level" of service for police service in the
unincorporated area is much more difficult than in dense urban
areas. Sheriff ' s patrol "beats" are usually large; diverse; and
cover varying service needs compared to city police "beats" which
are smaller, and more densely populated. Establishing "base
level" in the unincorporated area would reduce the flexibility of
the Board of Supervisors in financing other essential public
services since the county could be held to the standards of the
base level regardless of change in the County' s financial
condition.
Contracting with Cities
Our study effort leads to the belief that this concept is neither
feasible nor desirable for several reasons:
1 . Most large unincorporated areas adjacent to cities can be
expected to be annexed in the future. Police service would
thus be provided by the city without contract.
2 . Cities in Contra Costa County have shown little interest in
providing service beyond their own boundaries even to a
contiguous city.
3 . This arrangement would not be cost effective because the
County would continue paying the cost for the existing beat
deputies and the contracted service unless a large
unincorporated area or several small areas were totally
removed from the beat.