Agenda No. 4.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | June 20, 2023 |
| Department: | Police Department |
| Subject: | Resolution 23-R-53 - Consideration and/or action by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, approving a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cibolo for the sharing of services and financial obligation in the hiring of a Crime Victim Liaison to provide support and assistance needed for victims of crimes beyond the reasonable capabilities and resources that law enforcement may possess. (J.Lowery) |
BACKGROUND
The City of Schertz was engaged in an Interlocal Agreement regarding funding for a full time Crime Victims' Lialson with the City of Cibolo and the City of Live Oak for the performance of a Crime Victims' services employee that was employed by the City of Schertz, but provided shared said services to the Cities of Cibolo and Live Oak. The City of Live Oak exercised their right to cancel the agreement. The shared costs was based upon a total amount of $75,000.00 divided among the three entities for a total of $25,000.00 each. The City of Cibolo has agreed to split the $75,000.00 for a respective cost of $37,500.00 per entity. Thus requiring a new ILA between the City of Schertz and Cibolo.
GOAL
Provide citizens with the services of a Crime Victims' Liaison. The laws of Texas require and mandate that a victim, guardian of a victim or close relative of a deceased victim is entitled to specific rights with the criminal justice system. The support and assistance frequently needed in such instances is beyond the reasonable capabilities and resources that law enforcement alone may possess. The City of Schertz and the City of Cibolo agree that there are significant savings if the services of a crime victims' liaison of one entity will be for the joint use of all contracting entities on a cost sharing basis for the essential services of a Crime Victims' Lialson to increase efficiency and effectiveness of this governmental function.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT
Citizens will be provided necessary and immediate services of a Crime Victims' Liaison in protecting their statutory legal rights as a crime victim in connection with law enforcement and prosecution of certain crimes.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approval of the ILA will allow the City of Schertz and the City of Cibolo to continue providing Crime Victims' Liaison services to our collective citizens. The original ILA has been in place since 2015, and it included the City of Live Oak. The City of Live Oak has exercised their right to cancel the ILA thus requiring a new ILA between the City of Schertz and Cibolo. And both entities have agreed to split the previous costs borne by the City of Live Oak.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact will be an additional $12,500.00 to our revenue for the full-time Crime Victim Liaison. This is based upon the City of Cibolo splitting the $25,000.00 originally funded by the City of Live Oak.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the resolution and authorize the City Manager to execute the Crime Victims' Liaison ILA with the City of Cibolo.