Sponsor: Sheriff's Office
Title
title
Agreement with the City of Falcon Heights for Law Enforcement and Public Safety Services
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Approve the Law Enforcement Services Agreement with the city of Falcon Heights for law enforcement and public safety services for the one-year period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.
end
Background and Rationale
body
Since 1958, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office has entered into agreements with municipalities within Ramsey County that do not operate a police department for the provision of law enforcement and public safety services, including patrol, investigations, crime prevention, community outreach, and animal control. This method of contracting services provides many advantages, including cost savings by sharing personnel and resources. For over 60 years, this cooperative model has demonstrated how sharing services among municipalities can achieve effective, efficient, and economical law enforcement and public safety services.
The cities of Arden Hills, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and the Township of White Bear, also known as the “Contract Communities,” currently have agreements with the Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement and public safety services within the geographical boundaries of each municipality. The combined population of these cities is over 78,000 people, placing the Sheriff's Office in the top ten of police departments in the state in terms of population served. Geographically these communities encompass 54 square miles, or approximately one-third of the county.
The Sheriff’s Office has provided contract law enforcement and public safety services for the city of Falcon Heights since January 2018. In September 2020, the Sheriff’s Office raised concerns that the existing contract was not sustainable.
In March of 2023, the city of Falcon Heights and the Sheriff’s Office mutually agreed to not renew the agreement for law enforcement and public safety services, terminating the current contract effective December 31, 2023. The city of Falcon Heights spent 2023 exploring other options for law enforcement and public safety services, which included partnering with an agency geographically close to Falcon Heights.
Because the city of Falcon Heights provided multiple assurances that it would be contracting with a different law enforcement service provider starting in 2024, the Sheriff’s Office:
• Deferred hiring deputies to ensure no deputy or other employee would be laid off once the city of Falcon Heights was no longer a contract community on January 1, 2024.
• Worked with the Contract Communities to develop and adopt a 2024 Budget Estimate without the city of Falcon Heights. Each of the Contract Communities had to manage the cost increase associated with the departure of the city of Falcon Heights.
• Revised and adjusted staffing models for patrol, investigations, and other areas to best serve the Contract Communities.
On November 16, 2023, the city of Falcon Heights informed the Sheriff’s Office that despite their best efforts, the city was unable to find a law enforcement service provider for 2024. The city of Falcon Heights sent a formal request to the Sheriff’s Office for the continuation of law enforcement services on November 30, 2023. Upon receiving this request, the Sheriff’s Office has been working with the Deputy County Manager for Safety & Justice, County Attorney’s Office, Finance, and Risk Management to establish a contract for 2024. For the period of January 1, 2024, through the date of execution of the 2024 agreement, the terms and conditions of the contract previously approved by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners remain in effect (Resolution B2022-280).
The 2024 contract with the city of Falcon Heights includes many of the same terms and conditions of other agreements for contract law enforcement and public safety services, with some changes. Specifically, the 2024 contract with the city of Falcon Heights:
• Is independent from the other agreements with the Contract Communities.
• Requires the city to obtain a tort liability insurance policy in the amount of $4 million per occurrence by April 1, 2024.
• Is effective through December 31, 2024, with no options for renewal or extensions; and,
• Includes a payment of a premium to the county for the costs associated with general liability, professional liability, and automobile liability provided by the county’s self-insurance program.
Under this agreement, the primary cost driver is that overtime will be required to fill shifts as staffing models have already been developed without the city of Falcon Heights. Currently, there is not sufficient personnel to staff the city without the use of overtime on a regular basis. A Commander is assigned to serve as the city’s primary liaison, including scheduling, management, and supervision.
The Sheriff’s Office is recommending approval of this agreement to ensure continuation of law enforcement and public safety services for the city of Falcon Heights through December 31, 2024.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The combined population of the city of Falcon Heights is 5,300 people, which represents a diverse community. Once approved, this action continues to provide law enforcement and public safety services with a commitment to gender and racial equity. The Sheriff’s Office continues to advance racial equity through diverse hiring practices, training (including diversity, crisis intervention, de-escalation, mental health, and implicit basis), and service delivery. To promote transparency and accountability for all, in-car and body-worn cameras were implemented.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The Sheriff’s Office regularly meets with city of Falcon Heights staff. The Sheriff’s Office also attends city council meetings and workshops. Feedback is routinely provided regarding the provision of law enforcement and public safety services.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no impact to the county property tax levy as all of the costs associated with providing contract law enforcement and public safety services will be funded, and paid for, by the city of Falcon Heights, including salaries and benefits, equipment, and training during the term of this agreement. In addition, under this agreement, the city of Falcon Heights is required to obtain a $4 million liability insurance policy. This requirement will help protect the county's self-insurance fund in the event of a claim.
Last Previous Action
On December 13, 2022, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the city of Falcon Heights for Law Enforcement Services (Resolution B2022-280).
On December 21, 2021, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved agreements with the cities of Arden Hills, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and the Township of White Bear for Law Enforcement Services and an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office by 1.0 full-time equivalent Deputy Sheriff-Commander (Resolution B2021-292).
On December 17, 2019, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office for Contract Communities by 1.0 full-time equivalent Deputy Sheriff (Resolution B2019-307).
On November 6, 2018, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved agreements with the cities of Arden Hills, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and the Township of White Bear for Law Enforcement Services and an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office by 1.0 full-time equivalent Deputy Sheriff (Resolution B2018-284).
On November 21, 2017, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the city of Falcon Heights for law enforcement services (Resolution B2017-303).
Attachments
1. Agreement for Law Enforcement and Public Safety Services - City of Falcon Heights