PURPOSE:

To request authorization to continue an agreement with the Los Angeles County Probation Department to provide a contract probation officer for the City of Burbank.

DISCUSSION:

The agreement with the county is for a one-year period and has been renewed annually since 1992.  Based on previous years� experience, we believe the extension of another year is in the best interest of the community.  This probation officer works directly with the Police Department Outreach Center and fulfills a number of community based needs, including targeting at-risk youth, providing intensive community-based supervision to juveniles on probation, and allowing our department a more timely method of dealing with juvenile detainees.  The probation officer�s detachment from a full county caseload enables him to quickly take action on anti-social behavior occurring in our local schools which although serious, fails to rise to the level of criminal behavior.  As a result, our gang intervention and prevention efforts are substantially more productive.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The annual cost of this program is approximately $120,000 and is split between the City and the County of Los Angeles.  The City�s portion has already been appropriated as part of the department�s FY 2004-05 budget.  We continue to feel this is an appropriate use of such funds, as the contract probation officer�s efforts have proven to be a strong tool to reduce gang activity, drug abuse, and juvenile related criminal activity.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended the Council authorize the Police Department and the County of Los Angeles Probation Department to extend the agreement for contract probation officer services into fiscal year 2004-05.

Staff recommends City Council adoption of a proposed resolution entitled:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF BURBANK FOR PROBATION OFFICER SERVICES.

THOMAS HOEFEL

Chief of Police

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