To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: KEITH KAUFFMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
TITLE
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APPROVE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR COURT SECURITY SERVICES IN THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH FOR HOMELESS COURT FOR THE TERM BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026, UNLESS TERMINATED PRIOR BY EITHER PARTY.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of this agreement will allow the County of Los Angeles to continue to provide supplemental law enforcement services to the City of Redondo Beach in the form of Court security services, at the agreed upon services rates, to protect the health and welfare of Court patrons attending Homeless Court in the City of Redondo Beach. The initial agreement executed when Homeless Court was initiated is set to expire on June 30, 2021. Homeless Court is expected to continue for the foreseeable future (FY 21-22 at minimum) necessitating Court security services. The Homeless court is an extension of the Southwest Superior Court in the City of Torrance and has had the responsibility of hearing cases related to people experiencing homelessness. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is the designated law enforcement agency to provide security for the Judges, court staff, involved parties, and patrons entering and exiting any courthouse in Los Angeles County. Assigned Sheriff’s Department personnel will continue to work closely with the Redondo Beach Police Department, for any issues that occur at the location.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors provided funding to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments to administer Innovation Funds for Homeless Services in the South Bay. The City of Redondo Beach was the only jurisdiction awarded an Innovation grant to combat homelessness. A major component of the program is the once a month collaborative Homeless Court being hosted in the City of Redondo Beach in a secured open-air Police Department location. The Homeless Court Program offers an informal diversion program and services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and housing placement. COVID-19 has drastically disrupted the normal operations of the Redondo Beach Homeless Court, normally held in an interior courtroom of the Southwest Superior Court building. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the homeless population significantly increasing the danger to the transportation providers, community partners, attorneys, court staff, and Judges. This Agreement establishes the scope of services through the Sheriff’s Department to provide court security services. The term of this updated agreement is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026, unless terminated prior by either party. Although an exact determination for the length of time Homeless Court will continue to be conducted outdoor in Redondo Beach has not been established, the term of this agreement will preclude the need for recurring agreement amendments for up to the full five-year term of this agreement in the event that the Homeless Court program extends into future years beyond FY 21-22. The agreement also establishes the minimum required equipment for County personnel, confirms the personnel costs though the attached Supplemental law Enforcement Services Rates sheet (which are adjusted annually by Los Angeles County) and identifies supervisory responsibility and an indemnification clause. Homeless Court will continue to be hosted in the City of Redondo Beach. This open-air location eliminates the need to transport homeless defendants to and from court and service providers which reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission and increases attendance due to the convenient Redondo Beach location. There were nine sessions of Homeless court between August 2019 and July 2020 before shifting the location of Homeless court to Redondo Beach due to COVID-19. Since relocating, there have been eight outdoor sessions in Redondo Beach hearing an estimated 100 court cases.
COORDINATION
The Police Department coordinated this agreement with the City Attorney’s office and the County of Los Angeles.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no General Fund impact resulting from the approval of this Agreement. All costs related to the agreement will be funded through Grant funding. For the scheduled sessions of Homeless Court in FY 21-22 funds from the Los Angeles Authority Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program will be used. If the outdoor Homeless court is scheduled to continue in Redondo Beach into fiscal years beyond FY21-22, additional grant funding will be sought by the City Attorney’s office to fund the program for future years. The amount included in the Fiscal Impact section has been calculated using the anticipated County staffing of two Deputies and two LASD Security officers, per month, for Fiscal year 2021-22 at the updated rates.
Funding Expenditures
$10,848.96 CDBG Grant Funds $10,848.96 County of Los Angeles
Homeless Court Security
APPROVED BY:
Joe Hoefgen, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
Agreement with County of Los Angeles
FY 21-22 Supplemental Services Rate Sheet
Initial Agreement with County of Los Angeles