HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 173-19RESOLUTION NO. - 1 7 3- 19
A RESOLUTION GRANTING FUNDS TO THE KERN COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO REINSTATE THE COMMUNITY
PROSECUTION PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, on November 6, 2018, Measure N was passed by voters,
increasing the sales and use tax within the City of Bakersfield (herein City) from
7.25 to 8.25 percent; and
WHEREAS, the funding from Measure N is designed to go directly to the
City to address top community priorities, including enhancing public safety,
reducing homelessness and bolstering'economic development activities; and
WHEREAS, as part of Measure N, it is the intent of the City to add 100 sworn
police personnel over the next three years to improve response times, reduce
crime, and increase neighborhood police patrols; and
WHEREAS, it is expected that such an increase in sworn personnel will
increase the number of misdemeanor citations/arrests; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney's office operated a Community Prosecution
Program (herein Program) with the assistance from the Kern County District
Attorney's Office from 2005,t.hrough fiscal year 2011; and
WHEREAS, the purpose behind the Program was to provide additional
resources to prosecute various quality of life crimes, to preserve the safety and
integrity of Bakersfield's business community and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the Program resulted in consistent and diligent prosecution of
certain misdemeanor crimes, including but not limited to graffiti, petty theft,
selling alcohol to minors, being drunk in public, litter, street racing, and other
quality of life crimes; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Council for the City of Bakersfield to
reinstate the Program by devoting funds generated by Measure N to the Kern
County District's Attorney's office so that designated deputy district attorneys
can concentrate on the prosecution of quality of life crimes which Measure N
was designed to address and that if not handled, may destroy the quality of life
within our community; and
WHEREAS, this method is believed to be the most efficient use of resources
and will enable the immediate resurrection of the Community Prosecution
Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bakersfield as
follows:
ORIGMA!_
I . The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by
reference.
2. The City of Bakersfield hereby grants to the Kern County District
Attorney Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) for its immediate use to
prosecute misdemeanor citations/arrests which occur in the City of Bakersfield and
are anticipated to increase in light of the additional hiring of sworn Bakersfield
police personnel.
3. Said funds are a one-time payment subject to renewal in fiscal year
2020/2021 upon approval of the City Council.
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HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and
adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held
on NOV 0 6 2019 , by the following vote:
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ES' COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, GONZALES, WEIR, SMITH, FREEMAN, St H4V,4,N, PARLIER
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER NOY\4
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBER NDa.
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER Qkk\ % VOL4 —
APPROVED: NOV 0 6 2019
By Cz,
KAREN GOH
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA NNARO
CitVAtto y
Byw c
V GINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
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S:\COUNCIL\Resos\19-20\CommProsecution-FundstoDA.docx
J LIE DRIMAKIS, CMC
CITY CLERK AND EX OFFICIO of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
Page 2 of 2 Pages
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