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Home My WebLink Aboutres2012-007 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2012 — 105 CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to: Originator: Brenner 2/28/2012 2/28/2012 Council Division Head: Dept.Head: ';!1'411■sr a,. av' I . Prosecutor: Purchasing/Budget: Executive: TITLE OF DOCUMENT: Resolution supporting the maintenance of funding for Sheriffs programs ATTACHMENTS: SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( ) NO SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date: SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public hearing,you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.) COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION: 2/28/2012: Council Amended & Approved 5-1-1, Mann opposed and Weimer abstained Res. 2012-007 Related County Contract#: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number: Res. 2012-007 Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/council. PROPOSED BY: BRENNER, KNUTZEN SPONSORED BY: CONSENT INTRODUCED: FEBRUARY 28, 2012 RESOLUTION NO. 2012-007 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MAINTENANCE OF STATE FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council received information from the Whatcom County Sheriff that funding for important safety and qualification programs for deputies, jail corrections deputies, juvenile detention officers, and deputy prosecuting attorneys is being considered for elimination and/or major cuts by the state legislature; and WHEREAS, these programs are essential for ensuring qualified deputies in Whatcom County; and WHEREAS, these programs ensure some of Whatcom County's most basic needs are met; and WHEREAS, elimination or major cuts in these funds will cause a dangerous situation in Whatcom County; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County deputies must be able to perform in very dangerous circumstances; and WHEREAS, elimination or major reductions in their training funds could put the Whatcom County deputies and members of the public at substantially more risk; and WHEREAS, the State requirements will not be eliminated, but the costs will be transferred to the County; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council believes the state has numerous other places it can cut that will not place peoples' lives in jeopardy; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that we strongly support the continuation of adequate state funding for the training of our Whatcom County deputies jail corrections deputies, juvenile detention officers, and deputy prosecuting attorneys. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the essential training programs the state has been necessarily funding for our Whatcom County deputies are included in Exhibit A to this resolution. \\13 1 giviAiitY1tpsoLvED that this resolution is addressed to the State legislators. ,FDl hiS 286 day of February , 2012. A " 'r OF Z • = WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL s�� . WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON or Dana :fnawn Davis C eer\k`of the Council Kathy Kershner, Council Chair APP: •VED AS TO FtytM: ivil Deputy Ae tor EXHIBIT A (RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS) AMONG THE REQUIRED TRAINING REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL BE UNFUNDED UNDER THE DRAFT BUDGET ARE: • BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY BASIC CORRECTIONS ACADEMY • JUVENILE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ACADEMY ALL OTHER CURRENTLY MANDATED TRAINING • PROSECUTING ATTORNEY TRAINING IMPORTANT POINTS: • SINCE 1974, THERE HAS BEEN AN ASSESSMENT ON TRAFFIC CITATIONS, WRITTEN BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, DEDICATED TO FUND THIS TRAINING (FORMERLY COLLECTED BY THE PSEA UNT:EL 2009). ALTHOUGH TIMES ARE TOUGH, THE DIVERSION OF THESE DEDICATED FUNDS SEVERS THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE USE OF THESE FUNDS AND IS :ENAPPROPRIATE AND PUTS THE ENTIRE TRAINING SYSTEM IN JEOPARDY • MANY AGENCIES MAY OPT NOT TO SEND NEW HIRES TO BASIC TRAINING SINCE THE TRAINING IS NOW A FULLY UNFUNDED MANDATE UNDER THE PROPOSAL. MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING WHATCOM COUNTY, HAVE ALREADY ENACTED BUDGETS AND THIS WILL BE AN UNBUDGETED EXPENSE FOR THEM. • AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEND OFFICERS TO OTHER IMPORTANT TRAINING MANDATED BY LEGISLATURE (MANDATED BY STATUTE TO INCLUDE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING, BIASED BASED POLICING, AND CHILD ABUSE TRAINING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO FUNDS IN THEIR BUDGETS TO PAY THESE COSTS). AS THIS TRAINING WAS MANDATED BY THE STATE AND THUS SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE STATE. • ALL OFFICERS IN WASHINGTON ARE CURRENTLY TRAINED TO THE SAME STANDARDS. THIS CHANGE WILL RESULT IN OFFICERS RECEIVING DIFFERENT TRAINING FOR THE SAME TASKS, PUTTING OFFICERS AND CITIZENS AT RISK. • THIS BUDGET CUTS 100% OF THE TRAINING FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS WHO PURSUE CASES ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. • THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION CURRENTLY CHARGES LOCAL AGENCIES FOR NON-MANDATED TRAINING. THE AGENCY HAS ALREADY MADE THE REQUIRED BUDGET REDUCTIONS. THE TRAFFIC TICKET ASSESSMENT HAS PAID FOR MANDATED TRAINING FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS AND THESE FUNDS ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED TODAY. THIS FUNDING RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE RETAINED.