Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve and authorize Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sheriff’s Office and the Sacramento County Office of Education for the provision of supplemental law enforcement services for the Sly Park Environmental Education Center in the amount of $20,000 effective upon execution until June 30, 2027.
FUNDING: Revenue from Inter-County Agreement.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) operates the Sly Park Environmental Education Center (Sly Park) in El Dorado County, providing outdoor science learning experiences within the El Dorado National Forest to thousands of elementary school students annually. Students attend Sly Park for weeklong or weekend programs, creating unique safety considerations for both participants and staff due to the facility’s location, residential nature, and the presence of large groups of minors.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining a safe environment for all attendees, SCOE has requested supplemental law enforcement services from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office has committed to:
- Responding to calls regarding safety concerns at Sly Park.
- Actively investigating and resolving violations of the law, on or off campus, particularly incidents that jeopardize individual safety.
- Informing Sly Park administration of criminal activity that could reasonably be expected to impact Sly Park operations and student safety.
For these services, the Sheriff’s Office will be reimbursed in the amount of $10,000 for each annual school year.
California Government Code § 53069.8 authorizes boards of supervisors to contract, on behalf of the sheriff, to provide supplemental law enforcement services under specified circumstances, including to:
- Private individuals or entities for special events or occasional occurrences.
- Private nonprofit corporations receiving public funding for low-income housing.
- Private entities at critical facilities on an occasional or ongoing basis.
- Private schools, private colleges, or private universities on an occasional or ongoing basis.
Additionally, California Government Code § 6502 allows two public agencies to enter into agreements to jointly exercise powers common to both parties. This includes agreements where a sheriff’s office provides supplemental law enforcement services to another public entity, such as a school district.
This agreement between SCOE and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office aligns with these provisions, ensuring a consistent and collaborative approach to maintaining safety at Sly Park while providing SCOE with the benefit of dedicated law enforcement support.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board does not approve this agreement, the Sheriff’s Office will not be able to provide the requested supplemental law enforcement services to Sly Park. In that case, SCOE would be responsible for arranging its own safety and security measures for the facility. This could result in delayed law enforcement response to incidents due to reliance on general patrol coverage rather than dedicated supplemental services, a reduced ability to proactively address safety concerns in a residential outdoor setting with large groups of minors, and potential gaps in communication and coordination between Sly Park staff and law enforcement regarding criminal activity that could impact the facility. The absence of this agreement would also increase the risk to the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors during both routine operations and emergency situations, and could hinder the ability to respond quickly and effectively to incidents.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
12/05/2023 Legistar file 23-2029
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the MOU.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This MOU will generate $10,000 per fiscal year in revenue from SCOE.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please return a fully executed MOU to the Sheriff's Office for distribution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz