Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair and the Sheriff to sign Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement 23-LE-11051360-058 and Exhibits A & B (Operating and Financial Plan) to the Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement between the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service Eldorado National Forest, and the US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in the total amount of $37,000 to provide funding for the Sheriff’s patrol services on national forest system roads within the El Dorado County National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, as well as funding for Sheriff’s Office expenditures associated with the detection of locations and activities related to the illegal production and trafficking of controlled substances effective upon execution for a five-year term that ends on August 5, 2028; and
2) Authorize the Sheriff and the Undersheriff to execute on behalf of El Dorado County extensions and amendments to the Agreement and Operating and Financial Plans with the US Forest Service for the services, subject to approval by County Counsel.
FUNDING: United States Forest Service Funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement between the El Dorado County Sheriff and the United States Forest Service (USFS) outlines the general parameters of the working relationship between the two agencies for the enforcement of state and local laws in connection with activities on USFS lands and provide for reimbursement to the County for this effort.
Approval of this recommendation will allow the Sheriff’s Office to be reimbursed for services provided in accordance with Exhibits A and B upon approval by your Board through August 5, 2028. Specifically, patrol services provided during this period will be reimbursed based on Deputy and/or Sergeant time worked and mileage for patrol of USFS land up to the total amount of $12,000, $7,000 of that for El Dorado National Forest patrols and $5,000 for Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit patrols. Narcotics enforcement services will be reimbursed based on Deputy and/or Sergeant time worked, mileage, helicopter flight time, and supplies or equipment purchased in order to suppress manufacturing and trafficking of controlled substances on USFS lands up to the amount of $25,000.
In past years, the agreement with USFS was for a one-year term and contract negotiations and processing caused the agreement to be approved retroactively each year or have gaps in time where services could not be provided to USFS. This agreement now has a five-year term and USFS will notify the Sheriff’s Office each year of the annual not-to-exceed amount. This will help in ensuring continuity of services provided to USFS.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this agreement; however, this is a revenue generating agreement and promotes goodwill and collaboration with the USFS to patrol USFS lands.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
11/07/2017 Legistar Item 17-1191
05/08/2018 Legistar Item 18-0632
09/10/2019 Legistar Item 19-1265
04/14/2020 Legistar Item 20-0460
06/29/2021 Legistar Item 21-1027
05/24/2022 Legistar Item 22-0882
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel reviewed and approved Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No Change to Net County Cost. All costs to the Sheriff’s Office are reimbursed by the United States Forest Service.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please return one (1) signed original of the Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement and Exhibits A and B to the Sheriff’s Office for final execution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety. The agreement with USFS demonstrates the coordination amongst public safety service providers and the community to leverage resources, reduce service delivery constraints, and enhance public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz