Yorba Linda signs second five-year contract with Sheriff's Department; school district buys cameras

A new five-year policing contract with the county Sheriff's Department has been approved by Yorba Linda's City Council on a 4-0 vote, and a bid award for new security cameras at the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district's comprehensive high schools has been approved by trustees on a 5-0 vote.

The new sheriff's contract is the second five-year pact signed with the county since the council voted 3-2 in 2012 to end a 42-year arrangement with the Brea Police Department for law enforcement services.

That split tally came at the end of the city's longest-ever council meeting, totaling some nine hours over two days. The 3 a.m. vote pitted John Anderson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing, who favored a sheriff's contract, against opponents Tom Lindsey and Jim Winder.

Total cost for services for the first year of the contract beginning July 1 will be $11.3 million, an increase of $638,055, or 5.98 percent, over the current year, according to a report by Assistant City Manager Dave Christian. The increase is due mainly to higher salary and benefit costs.

Increases in contracts for the sheriff's other contracting agencies, including 12 other cities, are averaging 5.87 percent, Christian noted. Interestingly, contract cost for the final year of the Brea agreement was $11.4 million.

The new contract incorporates all provisions in the previous pact, including 10 amendments dealing with staffing and annual costs added since the original agreement was signed. No staffing or service level changes are included in the new contract.

Most of the contract cost comes from providing patrol and traffic services: $1.26 million for four patrol sergeants, $5.4 million for 21 patrol deputies and close to $800,000 for three motorcycle deputies.

Leadership costs include $367,637 for a lieutenant; $157,591 for a half-time administrative sergeant; and $152,285 for a half-time investigative sergeant.

Other staffing includes $811,476 for three investigators; $118,520 for an investigative assistant; $514,898 for two community support deputies; $257,449 for a school resource deputy; $225,620 for two parking and traffic enforcement officers; $99,362 for a crime prevention specialist; and $50,000 for extra help “as needed.”

In addition, the city's portion of 12.9 staff positions shared with other jurisdictions totals $211,237 and includes deputies working in traffic and auto theft details.

The lowest and most responsive of five bids for the school security cameras was from Anaheim-based Enterprise Security for equipment, software and installation of turn-key systems at Yorba Linda, Esperanza, El Dorado and Valencia high schools at a cost not to exceed $335,000.

Each system “allows school staff to monitor visitors entering the school site, allows for more stringent access controls and provides an additional level of security,” Don Rosales, the district's purchasing director, stated in a report to trustees.