Item 8-A
City Council Meeting 9-7-99 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: An Ordinance to Allow Public Safety Dispatchers to Participate in the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program
Introduction
At its meeting on May 25, 1999, the City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance authorizing Public Safety Dispatchers in the Police Department to participate in the training provided under the auspices of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. The attached ordinance responds to that direction.
Discussion
The State requires any city which opts to utilize POST training to adopt an ordinance accepting the requirements of Penal Code Sections 13510(c) and 13512. Those sections require adherence to POST standards for recruitment and training and cooperation with any POST inquiry as to compliance. The attached ordinance, which was requested by the Santa Monica Police Department, fulfills that requirement as to the City
=s Public Safety Dispatchers.Budget/Financial Impacts
The Police Department estimates that this Ordinance would cost an average of $2,000 per year; those funds are available in the operating budget of the Police Department. In addition, POST will reimburse a portion of the City
=s costs to train Public Safety Dispatchers, although it is impossible to determine how much reimbursement monies will be received each year.Recommendation
Staff recommends that the accompanying ordinance be introduced for first reading.
PREPARED BY:
Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
Claudia Thompson, Legal Administrative Staff Assistant