CC 2021-06-08_08f School Resource Officer Services_MOUMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MICHAEL T. MARTINEZ, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE ARROYO GRANDE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE LUCIA MAR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES
D ATE: JUNE 8, 2021
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide continuing School
Resource Officer coverage for the Lucia Mar Unified School District as set forth in the
MOU for the 2021/2022 school year.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The cost of the school Resource Officer position is approximately $150,000 for Fiscal
Year 2021-22. The proposed MOU shares the cost of the salary and benefits
associated with the officer between the City and Lucia Mar Unified School District
(LMUSD). The City will receive fifty percent (50%) of the cost from LMUSD, totaling
$75,000. These funds are included as estimated revenues in the City’s proposed FY
2021-22 Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council approve an MOU between the City of Arroyo
Grande and the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) to share the cost of salary
and benefits for one School Resource Officer (SRO) position in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-
22 and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the MOU.
BACKGROUND:
The Arroyo Grande Police Department (AGPD) has been providing School Resource
Officer (SRO) services to the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) since the early
1990’s. The SRO Program is a collaborative effort between the AGPD and the LMUSD
with the goal of reducing crime, drug abuse, and violence, and providing a safe school
environment. The SRO is a full-time police officer whose primary function is to address
law enforcement concerns at LMUSD’s respective schools that are located within the
City of Arroyo Grande. The AGPD and LMUSD work closely in selecting the SRO by
identifying specific traits that are essential to working in a school environment. The SRO
works closely with school officials and administrators to develop a positive relationship
Item 8.f. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE ARROYO GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE LUCIA MAR
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES
JUNE 8, 2021
PAGE 2
with the community, students, parents, and school officials. While the position is housed
at, and primarily assigned to, Arroyo Grande High School, the SRO is responsible for
responding to requests from Paulding Middle School and Ocean View and Harloe
Elementary schools.
One of the highlights of this program is the ability for the officer to provide counseling to
students on a formal and informal basis. The SRO regularly interacts with students on
campus from a variety of ages and backgrounds and is often viewed as a role model or
mentor. The SRO also provides opportunities to gather needed intelligence and forge
beneficial relationships with staff and students, all the while being a visible deterrent to
crime and other untoward behavior. Above and beyond providing timely intelligence,
the relationships that the SRO establishes with students are enduring beyond students’
graduation for personal and professional development.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
LMUSD has requested SRO services be provided for the 2021-2022 school year. The
term of the proposed MOU begins July 1, 2021, and ends June 30, 2022. This MOU is
reviewed annually. The use of an MOU is necessary to reconcile the LMUSD budgetary
fiscal year and the City’s budgetary fiscal year.
The SRO position has been in existence since the 1990’s, and staff believes this
program is extremely important to the City’s public safety services and should be
maintained. Given the City’s demographics, a substantial portion of public safety issues
are youth-related. If the position were not dedicated to schools, other Police Department
personnel would be required to respond to a large volume of school related calls for
service. Therefore, overall staffing needs would not necessarily be reduced without the
proposed SRO MOU and services.
In March 2020, the SRO position was modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the
introduction of a home school/distance learning model. During the pre-COVID-19 2019-
2020 school year, the SRO responded to 323 calls for service and completed 27 police
reports. In February 2021, LMUSD announced the return of a modified in-person
learning environment and AGPD dedicated an officer to the SRO position. AGPD has
developed guidelines for the SRO with a multifaceted approach to provide services
given the many health and safety requirements set forth by the State. LMUSD has
requested to partner with AGPD for another year of this program, supporting the need to
provide this valuable resource to students, staff, and the community.
Item 8.f. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE ARROYO GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE LUCIA MAR
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES
JUNE 8, 2021
PAGE 3
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for Council’s consideration:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Arroyo Grande
and the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) to share the cost of salary
and benefits for one School Resource Officer (SRO) position in Fiscal Year (FY)
2021-22;
2. Do not approve the proposed Memorandum of Understanding;
3. Provide other direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
LMUSD will help the City of Arroyo Grande continue enhanced school safety by sharing
fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the salary and benefits associated with the actual
officer assigned to the SRO position.
DISADVANTAGES:
Without the proposed MOU, it is likely that police personnel will be required to respond
to a large volume of school related calls for service without reimbursement from
LMUSD.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding
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Attachment 1
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