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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.