5.2. SR 03-22-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . This past winter, the city was advised that the School District is looking at other alternatives to meet its police liaison needs. In this regard, the School District was considering approaching the county to provide liaison services to the district at no charge. The county is currently providing this service to the junior high in Zimmerman. The school liaison program was a topic of discussion at the most recent city/school joint meeting and the city/county joint meeting. Accordingly, everyone should be familiar with this issue. The Police Department has a strong desire to retain this program in the Elk River schools, as it is believed that there is a tremendous spin- off benefit throughout the community as the school contacts provide the officers with a great deal of assistance in dealing with all types of crime issues. A committee was set up to review the school/city liaison situation. The results of two meetings is that: based on a percentage of dollars available through the crime levy, and based on a percentage of the secondary students in Elk River, the School Board has approved allocating $43,000 to the liaison program in Elk River. The goal of both the city and the School District is to establish this understanding for a five year term, and have it set up by percentage in case the student ratio changes or the crime levy formula changes. (In these cases then the dollar amount will automatically be adjusted.) This is not exactly what the city had hoped for 18 months ago when we were discussing the D.A.R.E. program, but I certainly understand the changing situation in the School District and the School Board's position regarding liaison services. I also clearly understand the Police Department's position regarding this program, and I support that position. Even though the proposal is $27,000 less from what is in the 1999 budget, and even though there are limits to what is available in the D.A.R.E. reserve to help finance the liaison program, I am nonetheless recommending approval of the school's offer. In this regard, in the 2000 budget, alternative revenue sources will have to be identified to help fund this program, and there will need to be some "belt tightening" in the Police Department budget (i.e.: conferences, replacement of equipment, new requests). Recommendation It is recommended that the city enter into a five year agreement by way of a letter of understanding to accept approximately $43,000 from the School District for the school liaison program, and to have the funding based on a percentage of available dollars and percentage of secondary students in the community.