sr-112580-5fSanta Monica, California, November 20,_1980
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Council Member Scott's Police Services Ballot Measure
~30~. ~ ~ 190
Introduction
Council Member Scott is proposing a ballot measure raising taxes to cover
costs of improved police services. The following provides cost information
for improved public safety program service levels, considers an alternate .
source of funds and recommends a ballot measure to override the Gann limit.
Background
~~ '.. _
The Council has expressed continuing
tern over Santa Monica's crime
situation. Additional personnel and equipment have been included by the
Council in each of the recent Police Department annual budgets. Both the
Council and staff recognized these incremental increases were not the total
answer to crime in our community
complex as the solutions.
The causes of crime are as varied and
On several occasions, it has been stated that if our revenue picture were
not clouded by recent ballot measures it would be desirable to substantially
increase the number of officers and employees in the police department.
Mr. Scott's ballot proposal would raise revenues for improved service levels
by increasing taxes in areas benefiting from the improved service. Other
revenue sources are also available.
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MOV 2 5 1950
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T0: Mayor and City Council
-2-
November 20, 1980
Attached is a copy of a report prepared by Chief Keane at my direction,
making specific recommendations for increased police service levels.
They include a phased program which would be implemented over a thirty
month period and would include a robbery suppression team, a burglary
suppression. team, expanded surveillance capacity and the initiation of
regular foot patrols in high activity areas. tdith a phased approach, the
Council could evaluate each annual program change in light of our changing
revenue picture and changes in the nature of our crime situation. When
fully implemented, this program is expected to cost slightly more than three
million dollars annually.
The problem is how do we pay for the significant increase in costs? In
view of past voter reaction, the prospect of increased taxes does not seem
a viable funding source. The most likely source of funds the City might
logically pursue is increased lease revenues. Staff estimates the area adjacent
to the airport office park development north of the runway, would generate
between three and four million dollars lease revenue to the City annually.
The amount obviously would depend on numerous factors such as the number of
acres developed, the lease terms and the type and density of development
permitted. The airport economic study, due to be printed next week, will
give the Council more complete information in that regard.
"T0: Mayor and City Cour 1 November 20, 1980
-3-
Regardless of the source of funds, i.e. increased taxes or lease revenues,
voter approval of a budget limit override question could be placed on the
April ballot. If no increase in taxes were involved, the question would
require a simple majority of those voting for approval. A similar override
would probably be required in 1984 as there is a four" year sunset provision
on overrides in the Oann Limit Initiative.
Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance which would place on the April ballot an appropriation override
for the purpose of allowing increases in public safety program expenditures
in excess of those increases provided by Article XIII B of the State Constitution
for a period of four years. Further, the ordinance is to be presented for
consideration at the next regular Council meeting.
CKM:dvl
Attachment
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TO: City Council ND~! 1 '! 4950
FROM: Perry Scott
SUBJECT: Police Services Ballot Measure
`4 ~ ~~ '~ ~ :98®
Proposition 13 and the Gann Initiative impose either income and appropriation Iimitationsor
both. Any significant increase in the level of expenditures for police services will occasion
either a reduction in other city services or be the result of a special tax authorization. We
are not currently budgeting or spending anywhere near a reasonable amount to maintain our
streets, for example, and the deferred costs can be reckoned in millions of dollars.
Although police services and results are favorable by any general comparison, crime is a
volatile issue which permits political exploitation by either individuals or groups who can
finance a newsletter or advertising campaign. The simple facts that the increase in crime
rates have the most significant and direct relationship to economic conditions and aquarter-
century of blaming society for criminal conduct (accompanied by a reduction in penalties
for such conduct) seems to be immaterial.
A good example is the continuing campaign to increase patrol levels which is offered as a
solution to burglaries and drunks. The public drunks are currently, for all practical purposes,
beyond the reach of the law and I do not know of any responsible law enforcement official who
believes increased patrols will reduce burglaries. The essential ingredient of current Chamber
of Commerce advertising campaign (field duty officer strength) is just plain false and known to
be false by the Chairman of the Committee sponsoring the ads. The total performance is either
a political gimmick or a blatant attempt to raid the city treasury for a Downtown Mercantile
Patrol at public expense.
Currently, the patrol frequency or density in the Central Business District is 3 times that for
Ocean Park, 5+ times that of the Central Corridor, and 6 times that of the single family areas
in Sunset Park and North of Montana. The patrol assignment for each patrol area is at a
uniform level throughout a 24 hour period. The relationship between patrol areas is as follows:
Patrol Area Description Square Miles
Centro) Business District ~3 0.313
Ocean Park District ~2 0.944
North of Montana, West of 14th 1.394
Central-East of Lincoln, #6 1,650
SM Blvd-Pico
Southside-East of Lincoln, #7 1.818
South of Pico
North of Montana, East #5 1.882
of 14th
Total City - 8 square miles (See Exhibit)
ND~ 2 5 19,~;D
Relative Patrol Freauencv
Standard or 100°Jo level
33% of CBD level
22% of CBD level
19% of CBD level
17°Jo of CBD level
17% of CBD level
'OV ? 1 1980
Nevertheless, any area which believes increased patrols are the answer (and is willing to finance
the additional cost) should be provided a vehicle which will permit the increase to occur. The
Gann Initiative, after notice and a public hearing, authorizes ballot measures to increase appro-
priation limits for a period of 4 years when approved by the voters.
Therefore it is suggested that a ballot measure to prepared which will authorize increased levels
of police service within any or all the present patrol districts (and an additional tax to fund the
cost of such increased services) for a period of 4 years. Increased levels of police service shall
be defined as patrol units (officers and equipment) above the present level including such special
services as parking structure guards.
It is also suggested that notice and a public hearing be authorized now based on the City Attor-
ney's estimate of the time required for preparation of the ballot proposal and the documents
required to schedule such election concurrently with the April) 1981 regular municipal election.
~~
eery Cott
November 10, 1980
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