3. Staff Report-Police ContractSCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: February 4, 2015
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, Administrator
Re: Police Services Contract
Background:
The City has been contracting with Washington County Sheriff's Office for police services for a
number of years. A copy of the contract originally approved in 2000 is included in your packet.
This contract has been ongoing with annual cost updates provided during budget season.
Council member Schneider suggested looking into the need for the contract at the December
work session. Council members Lee and Ness agreed with him so the Sheriff's Office has been
invited to provide more information on the services they provide in the contract and how service
levels would be different if the contract was canceled. Sheriff Hutton and other members of his
staff will be at the February work session.
We also asked folks to vote in our Question of the Month on the City's website.
Currently Scandia contracts with Washington County through the Sheriffs Office for police
services. The contract includes the services of one deputy (40 hours/week). During the 2015
budgeting process, the Council began discussing the idea of canceling the contract. What
changes, if any, do you think should be made?
Results as of noon on January 30tn:
Keep Current Contract: 102 (one replied directly to the Pi Press)
Reduce contract to half deputy (20 hrs/week): 9
Cancel contract entirely, no further actions, Sheriffs office responds to high level crimes only:
200
Cancel contract entirely, Create City Police Department: 4
Other: 2
We saw a significant increase in the votes following the article in the Pioneer Press so it should
be made clear that votes can be coming from anywhere, including folks who don't live in
Scandia.
Issue:
Should any changes be made to the police services from Washington County?
Proposal Details:
After gathering information from the Sheriff and public, the Council should provide direction on
whether any changes are needed in police services. It was learned after the poll was posted that
reducing coverage to a part time deputy is not allowable given union criteria and other personnel
issues.
The Council can either decide to cancel the contract or continue with the current agreement. The
contract requires a 180 day notice to cancel.
If the Council decides to cancel the contract they should also determine who will respond to
complaints or what complaints the City will respond to so that residents can be informed.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2015 budget for police services is $120,679. Actual expenses are expected to be $110,795
due to the assignment of the new deputy. Staff provided this information to the Council before
the 2015 budget was adopted but the Council declined to make any changes pending the outcome
of this discussion.
If the contract is canceled, the police services actual expenses would be approximately $73,863
given that we are into the second month of the year already.