Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-15:  A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving a renewal of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Flagstaff Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety for the GIITEM State Gang Task Force.
 

1. Read Resolution No. 2025-15 by title only
2. City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2025-15 by title only (if approved above)
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-15

Approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement ("IGA") between the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety ("DPS"), and the City regarding the State Gang Task Force will permit the Flagstaff Police Department to participate in the Task Force.  The duration of the IGA shall be the fiscal year, July 1st through June 30th, beginning July 1, 2025, and shall renew annually on July 1st for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years.

Under the terms of the proposed IGA, the Flagstaff Police Department would assign two (2) AZ P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement officers to the DPS State Gang Task Force, on a full-time basis.  The officers assigned to the State Gang Task Force are permitted to work outside of their regular jurisdictional boundaries to focus their efforts on gang-related and violent offender enforcement and community education.  DPS will, in turn, agree to reimburse the Flagstaff Police Department seventy-five percent (75%) of the payroll expense of the officer, related to their assignment, and up to eight (8) hours of overtime each month.

The Flagstaff Police Department's staffing budget allows for 119 sworn police officers with two of those positions reserved for placement into the State Gang Task Force.  Due to staffing levels in previous years, these positions have remained vacant to cover the core patrol services to the city.  The Flagstaff Police Department has increased its staffing levels in 2024 and 2025 and is ready to fill the two vacant Task Force positions starting in the Spring and Summer of 2025. 

 

Project Name: IGA Between the State of Arizona, Arizona DPS, and the Flagstaff Police Department
Total Budget: $230,434 for two officer positions
Account Number Budgeted: GL 001-04-061-6090-2
Grant Funded: $172,826
Funding Source: State of Arizona reimbursement of 75% of two officer salaries and related benefits and 100% for overtime on a monthly basis

 

This will not have any impact on policy.

Council has approved prior IGA's with the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety, for Flagstaff Police Department Officers to participate in the State Gang Task Force.

The Council can elect not to have the Police Department participate in the State Gang Task Force and rely exclusively on Police Department and other community-based efforts.  There has been a resurgence of juvenile gang violence in our neighborhoods which has contributed to the spike in violent crime and graffiti to our infrastructure.  

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to participate in the State Gang Task Force whose mission is to identify, interdict, and prevent gang-related activity in the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County.  In addition to proactive uniformed investigations, the unit participates in anti-gang education, as well as community-oriented policing projects and attendance at neighborhood association meetings. The Police Department has had as many as two officers assigned to the task force in previous years. 

Safe & Healthy Communication: Provide public safety services with resources, staff, and training responsive to the community's needs.

Inclusive & Engaged Community: Enhance the City's involvement in community, education, and regional partnerships to strengthen the level of public trust.

Goal PF.3. Provide high-quality emergency response and public safety services including law enforcement, fire, medical, and ambulance transport service. 

There is no impact to the Carbon Neutrality Plan.

There is no connection to the 10-Year Housing Plan. 

The Flagstaff Police Department strives to reduce crime and victimization.  Our community has seen a resurgence of juvenile gang violence in our neighborhoods, and this specialized gang unit will be able to identify gang members, work with youth for alternatives to gang violence, and provide community education on gang trends.  Our hope and desire is to curb gang activity in the community.