Consideration and Approval of Contract:  Data-Driven Staffing Analysis and Prospective Staffing Assessment Services 
 

Staff recommends contracting with PFM Group Consulting LLC to perform an independent staffing assessment of the Flagstaff Police Department. This evaluation will examine workload, staffing levels, deployment strategies, and organizational structure to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. The results will inform future budget planning, hiring strategies, and operational improvements, with a focus on aligning resources with community needs and best practices in modern policing.

Project Name: Comprehensive Staffing Assessment 
Cost: not to exceed $150,000
Account Number Budgeted: 001-04-061-0220-2-4290
FY Budgeted Amount: $150,000
Grant Funded: n/a
Funding Source: General Fund

n/a

a) Approve the contract as recommended.
This allows for timely initiation of the staffing assessment, providing objective, third-party analysis to support data-informed staffing decisions and long-term planning.
b) Request modifications to the scope or vendor selection.
Council may direct staff to renegotiate the contract terms, seek alternative consultants, or adjust the scope of work; however, this will delay the project timeline and may affect implementation of staffing improvements.

The Flagstaff Police Department has not undergone a comprehensive staffing analysis in over 10 years. Current staffing levels have been challenged by rising service demands, recruitment and retention difficulties, and increasing call complexity. An objective third-party assessment will provide data-driven recommendations to support responsible decision-making related to sworn and professional staff staffing levels, shift structures, and workload distribution.

Staff researched agency contracts to do a cooperative. PD staff selected PFM Group Consulting LLC based on experience conducting similar assessments for comparable agencies, qualifications, and project approach. The final report is anticipated to be completed within six to eight months and will be presented to the City Council and Police leadership for review and action planning.

Safe Community / Public Safety

The proposed contract for a Police Staffing Assessment supports the City’s Public Safety PBB priority by:

1. Ensuring appropriate and efficient staffing levels for core police services.

2. Aligning departmental budget with performance outcomes in public safety.

3. Providing data-based recommendations to guide strategic resource deployment in the community’s highest-priority area.

In essence, this staffing assessment supports the Regional Plan by:

• Strengthening public facility preparedness for police services.

• Ensuring alignment between service capacity and urban growth.

• Providing a data-backed foundation for integrated planning of safety and infrastructure.

By addressing these core elements, the assessment becomes a key tool in turning Regional Plan policies into actionable improvements in policing—and, by extension, community safety and well-being.

The Police Staffing Assessment fuels the City’s carbon neutrality efforts by:

• Reducing unnecessary vehicle usage and emissions through optimized patrol coverage.

• Advancing the city’s goal of lower VMT.

• Demonstrating how cross-departmental data-driven operations align with the Carbon Neutrality Plan’s framework and key policies.

The Police Staffing Assessment request indirectly supports the goals outlined in the City of Flagstaff’s 10-Year Housing Plan, particularly in areas where safe, stable communities and interdepartmental collaboration are essential for housing success.

The staffing assessment is directly tied to the Police Department’s internal plans by:

• Ensuring operations units (patrol, investigations, emergency services) are adequately funded and staffed relative to demand.

• Optimizing support systems (911, records, evidence) to maintain service reliability and efficiency.

• Enabling robust community policing and engagement, aligning with the department's mission and values.

• Providing the objective, data-informed analysis necessary to translate division-level goals into structured, actionable staffing improvements.