Fiscal Note
Funds are available in the Contingent Reserve for this $57,500 appropriation to the Police Department. The current balance of the Contingent Reserve is $1,270,322. There is no impact on the tax levy or State Expenditure Restraint Program eligibility limits.
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Amending the 2012 Police Operating Budget by appropriating $57,500 from the Contingent Reserve and allocating $50,000 for overtime and associated benefits to allow for increased citywide safety initiatives, and $7,500 to purchase bicycles and equipment for increased police bicycle patrol in various neighborhoods.
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WHEREAS, the City of Madison has experienced a surge in violent behavior across various city neighborhoods, as well as in the greater State Street area during late night hours; and,
WHEREAS, this violent behavior includes more than 80 reports of shots fired incidents and 19 actual confirmed shots from March 1 through May 17; and,
WHEREAS, neighborhood residents and business leaders have expressed serious concern regarding public safety measures in their neighborhoods and the State Street area; and,
WHEREAS, the police are able to assemble resources to address the unpredictable neighborhood violence in conjunction with targeted deployment of officers during the hours most of these incidents occur; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor, neighborhood residents and public safety officials have identified a need for more immediate responses to these public concern in various neighborhoods as well as the greater State Street area; and,
WHEREAS, the 2008 Etico Staffing Study identified the use of overtime as a cost efficient means to address staffing needs related to spikes in calls for service during specific days and/or times; and,
WHEREAS, in the greater State Street area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 8pm and 4am workload often exceeds staffing capacity; and,
WHEREAS, when incidents occur that result in a need for staff that exceeds scheduled capacity, overtime will be utilized to allocate resources wherever needed in order to address the issues; and,
WHEREAS, increased visibility of uniformed police personnel is a key strategy in reducing fear and intimidation, and preventing ongoing criminal activity; and,
WHEREAS, utilization of bicycle officers has proved highly effective in increasing visibility and accessibility of police officers in various neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, in order to increase the availability of bicycles for use by officers, Trek has partnered with the Madison Police Department to provide 5 donated bicycles (which is in addition to the 10 bicycles they previously donated), with the agreement that the City will purchase 15 bicycles and equipment; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department continues to work with Alders, community stakeholders, individuals, and neighborhood resource teams to address the wide-range of issues that lead to the increase in violent behavior; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department will continue to monitor overtime and include information regarding problem initiatives as part of the regular quarterly overtime report, and this report will include information related to how the funds were utilized.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council appropriate $57,500 from the Contingent Reserve to the Madison Police Department to support neighborhood safety initiatives in the city of Madison.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Madison Police Department is authorized to accept a donation from Trek for 5 bicycles and to purchase 15 bicycles.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that these bicycles will be used to expand the Police Bike fleet in order to increase high visibility patrols and community engagement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Police Department 2012 Operating Budget will be amended to increase overtime $39,635 (GN01-51300-712100), to increase benefits associated with overtime $10,365 (GN01-52000-712100) and to increase general equipment supplies $7,500 (GN01-55210-712100).