The Public Safety Department is now completing the ninth year of an agreement with the County of Santa Clara to provide a full-time Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer assigned exclusively to Sunnyvale.

The attached Memorandum of Agreement was prepared by the Santa Clara County Counsel and approved by the City Attorney. Contingent on Council approval, it provides for the continuation of this service from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000.

It was staff’s intention to pursue a multi-year agreement with the Santa Clara County Probation Department for the provision of this service. However, the County Board of Supervisors had already approved a one-year agreement in April 1999. Beginning with FY 2000/2001, a multi-year arrangement will be pursued.

Staff recommends that Council approve the resolution, Appendix A, authorizing the City Manager to sign the attached agreement for the City of Sunnyvale.

Since 1990, Council has approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Sunnyvale and the County of Santa Clara Juvenile Probation Department. The agreement provided for the full-time assignment of a Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer to the Public Safety Department to work exclusively with Sunnyvale youth.

The on-site Juvenile Probation Officer is intended to enhance the Public Safety Department's Juvenile Diversion Program. The program provides both prevention and diversion activities for Sunnyvale youth.

Under the 1990/1991 fiscal year agreement, the City of Sunnyvale agreed to pay 45% of the salary and the fringe benefits of the assigned Juvenile Probation Officer, and 75% of the salary only for FY 91/92. In FY 92/93, the agreement called for Sunnyvale to pay for 90% of his/her salary. In FY 93/94, the City began paying 100% of salary for the probation officer. The Memorandum of Agreement for FY 99/00 calls for the City to continue paying 100% of the probation officer's salary.

The attached Memorandum of Agreement, Appendix B, will continue the current practice of the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department assigning a Deputy Probation Officer exclusively to Sunnyvale. The Deputy Probation Officer will continue to have an office in the Public Safety building and work closely with Public Safety Officers and Sunnyvale youth.

The new agreement was received from the County on 09/13/99 and is retroactive to 07/01/99. Under the terms of the new agreement, Sunnyvale will pay 100% of the salary of a Deputy Probation Officer (not to exceed $62,032 annually) and provide office space. The County of Santa Clara Probation Department will cover the cost of benefits for the Deputy Probation Officer, an amount not to exceed $19,348.

The assigned Deputy Probation Officer will continue to provide the following enhancements to the Juvenile Diversion Program:

1. Review Juvenile Contact Reports.
2. Interview appropriate juveniles and parents.
3. Conduct counseling sessions with youths and parents.
4. Make recommendations for appropriate diversion activities.
5. Assist in restitution to victims.
6. Develop additional diversion activities.
7. Act as an additional liaison with Sunnyvale schools.
8. Provide assistance to Patrol Officers, Neighborhood Resource Officers and Detectives regarding juvenile crime activities.
9. Provide training for Public Safety personnel as required or requested.

In the 98/99 fiscal year, the Deputy Probation Officer was involved in:

Public Safety staff believes that the addition of a full-time Deputy Probation Officer working exclusively in Sunnyvale has greatly enhanced Public Safety's juvenile programs and has had a very beneficial impact on Sunnyvale's youth.

Funds in the amount of $62,032.00 to cover the costs associated with this contract are included in the base budget for the Police Services Program (412).

Posting of the Council Agenda. Reports to Council are also available at the City Library and the City’s website.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:

Peter Gonda
Administrative Assistant, Department of Public Safety

Reviewed by:

Steve Pigott
Captain, Department of Public Safety

Reviewed by:

Brown D. Taylor
Interim Director, Department of Public Safety

Reviewed by:

Mary Bradley
Director of Finance

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Appendix A - Resolution
Appendix B - Memorandum of Agreement