City audits police contract, explores alternatives
One of the best expenditures in tough economic times is to hire an expert to see if you’re getting the best bang for your budgetary buck—and that’s what Yorba Linda has decided to do in regards to the police services contract with Brea, first adopted in 1970.
The City Council voted to spend up to $43,000 for a comprehensive study and audit of the Law Enforcement Services Agreement with Brea and an assessment of alternatives for providing police services in the city.
A report from the Rocklin, California-based Ralph Andersen and Associates is expected in October. Yorba Linda spends about one-third of city revenues—some $10 million of the $30 million budget—on the Brea contract.
Alternatives to the Brea contract include forming a Yorba Linda department, contracting with the county Sheriff’s Department or a different city and forming a joint powers pact with other cities similar to the agreement establishing the 22-city Fire Authority in 1995.
Cities mentioned in the Andersen proposal as possibilities for joining a joint police agency are Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda. The Sheriff’s Department policed Yorba Linda through 1970 and currently contracts with 12 cities.
The report will evaluate forming a Yorba Linda-only department, determine the number of sworn officers, support and management staff needed to meet the city’s enforcement workload and calculate required capital outlay and other expenditures.
Yorba Linda and Brea are in the second year of the a five-year contract negotiated by two former council members: Keri Wilson, a retired 20-year La Habra police officer, and Allen Castellano, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy.
“The service provided by Brea to Yorba Linda should be tested and evaluated based on objective, measurable criteria, using workload-based data,” the Andersen firm stated, noting costs increase annually for the same level of service “at a time when economic pressures are causing most cities to find ways to cut costs.”
The city’s only other independent evaluation and audit was conducted in 1993, with subsequent councils continuing to renew the now-39-year-old pact.
Voting for the study were John Anderson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing, with Jan Horton and Winder opposed.
A FINAL NOTE
Council will continue with the two-year-old barking dog ordinance for another year at an extra cost of about $10,000, with Winder impressed with recent clearances of complaints.
Interestingly, a past recommendation by interim City Manager Bill Kelly to rescind the ordinance was missing from his latest report, and he merely asked for council direction.
The City Council voted to spend up to $43,000 for a comprehensive study and audit of the Law Enforcement Services Agreement with Brea and an assessment of alternatives for providing police services in the city.
A report from the Rocklin, California-based Ralph Andersen and Associates is expected in October. Yorba Linda spends about one-third of city revenues—some $10 million of the $30 million budget—on the Brea contract.
Alternatives to the Brea contract include forming a Yorba Linda department, contracting with the county Sheriff’s Department or a different city and forming a joint powers pact with other cities similar to the agreement establishing the 22-city Fire Authority in 1995.
Cities mentioned in the Andersen proposal as possibilities for joining a joint police agency are Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda. The Sheriff’s Department policed Yorba Linda through 1970 and currently contracts with 12 cities.
The report will evaluate forming a Yorba Linda-only department, determine the number of sworn officers, support and management staff needed to meet the city’s enforcement workload and calculate required capital outlay and other expenditures.
Yorba Linda and Brea are in the second year of the a five-year contract negotiated by two former council members: Keri Wilson, a retired 20-year La Habra police officer, and Allen Castellano, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy.
“The service provided by Brea to Yorba Linda should be tested and evaluated based on objective, measurable criteria, using workload-based data,” the Andersen firm stated, noting costs increase annually for the same level of service “at a time when economic pressures are causing most cities to find ways to cut costs.”
The city’s only other independent evaluation and audit was conducted in 1993, with subsequent councils continuing to renew the now-39-year-old pact.
Voting for the study were John Anderson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing, with Jan Horton and Winder opposed.
A FINAL NOTE
Council will continue with the two-year-old barking dog ordinance for another year at an extra cost of about $10,000, with Winder impressed with recent clearances of complaints.
Interestingly, a past recommendation by interim City Manager Bill Kelly to rescind the ordinance was missing from his latest report, and he merely asked for council direction.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 AM
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