07052022 Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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File Number: 22-427 most challenging times in San Leandro’s history. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that it is extremely costly to recruit and train new police department staff. Indeed, on average, the typical cost to recruit and train a new police officer is approximately $88,000. As a result, finding ways to retain existing seasoned and experienced staff provides a financial benefit to the City as well. To address this issue, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Police Chief hosted a roundtable forum with a cross-section of sworn personnel in May, 2022. The City Manager and Police Chief subsequently met individually with all sworn employees from the department during the month of June. These listening sessions provided an opportunity for Police staff to share their candid thoughts about working for the City, and to offer their ideas about how to make things better. Some of the potential solutions that were identified by Police staff during the meetings included: ·A desire for department staff to be recognized for their contributions and sacrifices for the San Leandro community. Such support was desired both through monetary compensation as well as via public recognition from City leaders. Recognition could be conveyed via various channels, including through social media, online forums, and public meetings; and ·Expanded tuition reimbursement opportunities; and ·Replacement of police vehicles that have exceeded their intended lifespan. To help achieve these outcomes, the staff developed two proposed approaches that are recommended for City Council discussion and authorization: 1) A comprehensive social media campaign with videos of City Council Members and members of SLPD, Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD), and Human Services staff to highlight the work being done to keep the community and public safe. Related initiatives are now under development, including public service messages. 2) A Resiliency and Retention program to offer one-time incentive payments to select staff using salary savings from the SLPD’s existing adopted FY 2022-2023 operating budget, which would not require any additional appropriations. Analysis If adopted by the City Council, the attached Resolution would authorize the City Manager to execute Side Letters of Agreement with relevant labor bargaining groups representing all sworn SLPD staff including police officers and managers, as well as public safety dispatchers. It is presently envisioned that those side letters would facilitate one-time payments of funds to such police department personnel to incentivize their retention and resiliency as San Leandro employees. Funding for this series of one-time payments would be derived exclusively from the salary savings being generated by existing departmental vacancies. As a result, additional appropriations would not be required. Furthermore, these payments would be explicitly one-time in nature, and would not be eligible to be counted towards employees’ CalPERS pension calculations. Employees would also retain the option to have the funds distributed directly into Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 6/28/2022