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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 13035 (Grand Jury Response; School Resource Officers)RESOLUTION NO. 13035 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE 2009-2010 MARIN COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT ENTITLED "SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY." WHEREAS, pursuant to Penal Code section 933, a public agency which receives a Grand Jury Report addressing aspects of the public agency's operations, must comment on the Report's findings and recommendations contained in the Report in writing within ninety (90) days to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court with a copy to the Foreperson of the Grand Jury; and WHEREAS, Penal Code section 933 specifically requires that the "governing body" of the public agency provide said response and, in order to lawfully comply, the governing body must consider and adopt the response at a noticed public meeting pursuant to the Brown Act; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Rafael has received and reviewed the 2009-2010 Marin County Grand Jury Report, dated June 22, 2010, entitled "School Resource Officers: A Proactive Approach to School Safety", and has agendized it at this meeting for a response. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby: 1. Approves and authorizes the Mayor to execute the City's response to the Marin County Grand Jury's June 22, 2010 Report entitled "School Resource Officers: A Proactive Approach to School Safety", a copy of which response is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein. 2. Directs the City Clerk to forward the City's response to the Presiding Judge of the Marin County Superior Court and to the Foreperson of the Marin County Grand Jury. I, Esther Beirne, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council held on the 16`h day of August, 2010, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Levine & Mayor Boro NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT' FORM Report Title: School Resource Officers: A Proactive Approach to School Safety Report Date: June 22, 2010 Response By: City Council of the City of San Rafael Title: Mayor and City Council FINDINGS: • We agree with the findings numbered Fl, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8 (See Attachment A incorporated herein by reference.) • We disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered N/A RECOMMENDATIONS: • Recommendations numbered R1, R2 have been implemented. (Attach a summary describing the implemented actions.) (See Attachment A incorporated herein by reference.) • Recommendation munbered R3 has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. (Attach a timeframe for the implementation.) (See Attachment A incorporated herein by reference.) • Recommendations numbered N/A requires further analysis. • Recommendations numbered N/A will not be implemented because they are not warranted or are not reasonable. DATED: 2 u Signed: L '� BERB RO, Mayor ATTEST: Esther Beirne, City Clerk Number of paees attached: 3 EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHMENT "A" RESPONSE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO GRAND JURY REPORT "SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY" Findings: F1: The role of the School Resource Officer significantly differs from that of a patrol officer and requires specialized training. Response: Agree. The School Resource Officer position is unique because that officer deals with juvenile crimes in a different setting than a "normal" patrol officer. Some specialized training in interviewing, gangs, and juvenile law is necessary. F2. The School Resource Officer promotes a strong collaborative relationship between the schools and law enforcement that benefits the entire community. Response: Agree. Yes, the School Resource Officer position acts as a bridge between the schools and the police department. Having such a good working relationship allows clear communication and provides the atmosphere for both sides to be successful. This relationship benefits the entire community. F3. School Resource Officers help create a school environment where teachers feel safe to teach and students feel safe to learn. Response: Agree. The School Resource Officer position is a very visible law enforcement presence on campus. The mere presence of a uniformed officer on campus should make both teachers and students feel safe and allow them to maximize their learning potential. F4. School Resource Officers, along with families and school administrators, are a critical part of intervention to prevent unlawful or harmful behaviors. Response: Agree. Yes, School Resource Officers, families, and school administrators all play a role in keeping kids safe. It takes more than one person to prevent unlawful and harmful behavior. The School Resource Officer program brings together all parties listed and allows everyone to assist in intervening to prevent harmful or unlawful behavior. F5. For most communities, School Resource Officer funding is not assured beyond the 2010/2011 school year. Response: Agree. With shrinking budgets and resources, it would be impossible to guarantee funding to the San Rafael School Resource Officer position past this school year. However, the School Resource Officer is considered a core function of the San Rafael Police Department and at this time, there are no plans to eliminate the School Resource Officer position. F6. The costs of the School Resource Officer program are borne by the local police department and the Sheriff s Department with no financial contribution by the School Districts. Response: Agree. The City of San Rafael currently pays 100% of the funding for the San Rafael School Resource Officer position. F7. School Resource Officers are uniquely positioned to monitor and address gang and drug activity in Marin County Schools. Response: Agree. The School Resource Officer by the nature of the work is positioned to monitor both gang and drug activity in the schools. The relationship between the School Resource Officer and the students allows an information exchange that might not take place if the School Resource Officer position did not exist. Additionally, the School Resource Officer is able to see behavioral changes in students that may prove to be a result of drug use or gang activity. The School Resource Officer plays a valuable part in identifying and helping prevent future gang problems. F8. The loss of School Resource Officers will deprive youth of an important positive connection with law enforcement. Response: Agree. The School Resource Officer is the first point of contact with law enforcement for many San Rafael students. It is vital that the students have a positive connection with law enforcement, and many times that begins with the School Resource Officer. However, it should be noted that if the funding for the School Resource Officer were to disappear, the San Rafael Police Department would still strive to make that positive connection with the City's youth through other means. The San Rafael Police Department's Youth Services Bureau, along with the Marin County Sheriff, currently sponsors a summer camp for at - risk youth called, "Camp Chance." Law enforcement officers from both agencies spend a 2 week with Marin students, and the camp provides an excellent opportunity to make that positive connection with law enforcement. Recommendations: R1. The School Resource Officer programs should be retained in schools where they currently exist and established in districts where they do not exist. Response: Has been implemented. San Rafael's School Resource Officer program has a long-standing record of providing excellent service to San Rafael City Schools. As mentioned above, the City has no plans to eliminate the School Resource Officer program at this time. The School Resource Officer works with the high schools as well as the middle school in San Rafael's jurisdiction. R2. Marin County public entities [should] make the School Resource Officer program a budget priority. Response: Has been implemented. San Rafael's School Resource Officer program is an integral part of the City's Police Department. As mentioned above, there are no plans to eliminate the program at this time. R3. Marin County School communities [should] take the lead in working with their city councils and law enforcement to identify sustainable funding to maintain a sufficient number of School Resource Officers. Response: Agree. If approached, we would be happy to work with the schools to identify sustainable funding for the School Resource Officer program.