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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4: Request for Funds for Police Auditor Recruitment ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Request for Contingency Funds for Cost and Expenses Associated with Recruitment and Selection of a New Police Auditor and Approval of Brochure Meeting Date: October 13, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 4 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Alana Holmes www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5765 ISSUE STATEMENT This is a request to use funds from the General Fund contingency account for the costs and expenses associated with the recruitment and selection of a new Police Auditor. In addition, the council is asked to review and give final approval to the brochure for Police Auditor from Alliance Resource Consulting. BACKGROUND The position of Police Auditor has been vacant since August 22, 2008. In a council work session on September 24, 2008, the council passed a motion and hired Alliance Resource Consulting to assist with the recruitment and selection of a Police Auditor. The City is entering into a contract with the firm to provide these services. At this time, the recruiter has interviewed the Mayor and councilors individually, has met with a variety of stakeholders, and has attended a work session to review and revise a Police Auditor Brochure and to develop a timeline for the recruitment process. The amount of $50,000 is requested to cover the costs of the personnel service contract and associated expenses. The contract for services is in the amount of $25,000. The additional funds are requested to cover the costs of travel, food and lodging for the candidates (and spouse/significant other if requested), expenses for a formal paper background check, expenses for travel for a face-to-face background check, and any social events held for the candidates. This is the same amount that was requested and approved for the City Manager recruitment in FY08. At this time, related travel expenses are based upon estimates; should the total expenses be less, the funds can be returned to the General Fund contingency account. Should the expenses be more, it may be necessary to request additional funds. In the preparation and adoption of the FY09 budget no plans or provisions were made for the expenses associated with the recruitment of a Police Auditor, thus the need to request additional funds from the General Fund. At the council’s October 8, 2008, meeting, the council also directed that minor revisions be made to the Police Auditor brochure and that the council review and give final approval to the brochure on October 13. Attached is the updated brochure text. The council also directed that on October 20, the council will consider revisions and final approval to the Police Auditor position description, with councilors e- mailing out before the October 20 the revisions that they would like to see. The revisions to the position description discussed during the October 20 meeting will be incorporated into the final brochure developed by Alliance Resource Consulting. Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M081013\S0810134.doc RELATED CITY POLICIES This item is not directly related to a City policy. However, the hiring of a Police Auditor relates to the council values of a “Safe Community” and “Effective, Accountable Municipal Government.” COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may approve motion to authorize the expenditure of General Fund contingency, modify or reject the motion. The council may approve motion to approve the brochure, modify, or reject the motion. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends approval of the proposed motion. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to authorize the expenditure of funds from the General Fund contingency account for recruitment and selection of the Police Auditor, estimated to be approximately $50,000. Move to approve the updated Police Auditor brochure. ATTACHMENTS A. Brochure text FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Alana Holmes Telephone: 682-5765 Staff E-Mail: alana.m.holmes@ci.eugene.or.us Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M081013\S0810134.doc ATTACHMENT A THE COMMUNITY Home to 146,160 153,690 people, Eugene is Oregon’s third second largest city. The community covers 41.53 square miles, with the Willamette River running through the heart of the City and the McKenzie River joining the Willamette just north of town. The City is surrounded on three sides by hills, is midway between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, and offers residents an outstanding quality of life and a wide variety of recreational opportunities nearby, including rafting, fishing, golfing, hiking, skiing, and beachcombing. Eugene’s climate, with an average of 53 degrees, is one of the City’s attractive features. Eugene is well-known as the home of the University of Oregon. With 20,000 students and over 6,000 employees, the University plays a major role in the community, as does Lane Community College. The employment base has become increasingly dominated by services, trade, and government, and less reliant on the timber industry. Eugene has a well-educated labor force with nearly 35% of the adult population having completed four or more years of college. Eugene is a friendly, progressive community with residents who are active and concerned about quality of life issues. The University brings a more cosmopolitan feel to the community, and the collegiate teams have contributed excitement and pride on a regional basis. The City’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts, recognized as the finest facility of its type in the state, brings renowned entertainers to the community throughout the year. It is home to seven resident companies: Eugene Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and the internationally acclaimed Oregon Bach Festival. Many residents are health and fitness oriented, and Eugene was recently awarded the Olympic Trials for Track and Field in 2008. Overall, Eugene is an attractive community with quality schools, a beautiful environment, a temperate climate, and a diverse, dynamic culture. THE ORGANIZATION In 1944, the citizens of Eugene adopted a council/manager form of government. In this form of government, the City Council develops legislation and policies to direct the City. The City Manager, hired by the City Council, oversees City of Eugene personnel and operations and caries out the City Council’s direction. The Mayor serves as the City’s political head and chairperson of the eight-member Council. The Mayor, elected by the city at large on a nonpartisan ballot for a four-year term, is the formal representative of the City. The Mayor presides over City Council meetings, and votes in the case of a tie vote of Council members. The Mayor can veto any decision, but can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council. Councilors are elected by ward on a nonpartisan ballot to four-year staggered terms. Eugene has over 1,400 employees and a $450 million total budget. The City of Eugene provides services through six departments: • Central Services • Fire & Emergency Medical Services • Police • Library, Recreation and Cultural Services • Planning and Development • Public Works The Eugene Police Department The Eugene Police Department serves all city residents, as well as the region through it’s 9-1-1 Communications Center. The Department has over 300 employees and a budget of $36.3 million in FY2005. Approximately 180 sworn officers work in patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement and administrative positions, while 120 civilian employees work in records, communications, and administrative and support positions. These employees are distributed through the Department’s four divisions: Patrol and Special Operations, Investigations, Operations Support, and Technical Services. The majority of line employees are represented by the Eugene Police Employee Association (EPEA). In a typical day, Eugene police officers are dispatched to about 300 calls for service. THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM Eugene City Council recently adopted a hybrid oversight system that consists of both a full-time professionally-staffed Auditor’s office and a Civilian Review Board. The role of the Auditor’s office is to provide a neutral location to lodge complaints and to actively monitor on-going internal affairs investigations to ensure objective, thorough and high quality investigations. The Auditor identifies policy, practice and training concerns to promote organizational changes that improve police services to the community and reduce risk and liability to the City. In addition, a Civilian Review Board, consisting of five to seven community members, will oversee the work of the Auditor’s office. The role of the Review Board is to evaluate the case handling decisions and investigative recommendations for the Auditor’s office and, in situations that meet pre-established criteria, assess how complaints are being investigated and responded to. By involving community members in the review of complaints, the Council hopes to enhance the transparency and public understanding of incidents under investigation, and, over time, to increase the trust and credibility in the complaint process. More information on the system is available on the Police Commission page of the Eugene Police Department website. THE POLICE AUDITOR The Police Auditor is a newly created position that will be hired by and reports to the City Council, as established by the Eugene electorate through a revision to the City Charter on November 8, 2005. The Police Auditor provides independent, external oversight of investigations and complaints involving police department employees. The Auditor’s responsibilities include receiving complaints, monitoring or participating in internal investigations to ensure objective, thorough and high quality investigations, and preparing reports on complaint trends and police practices in general. S/he promotes organizational changes to improve police services and community relations by identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations regarding the complaint investigation process and policies, practices and training. The Auditor provides staff support to the Civilian Review Board appointed by the City Council. Two additional staff are proposed for the employed in the Auditor’s office. The Auditor’s first responsibility will be to develop policies and procedures for the operations of the Auditor’s office, and to assist the Council in the establishment of a Civilian Review Board. The Auditor’s office is responsible for….(Include elements of updated job description per Council Meeting on October 20, 2008.) THE IDEAL CANDIDATE This high-visibility position is characterized by the Auditor’s ability to provide fair and objective oversight of the police complaint process, build credibility among diverse audiences, and instill public confidence in the complaint system. The responsibilities of the Police Auditor are broad in scope and require the highest degree of professional, independent judgment, personal integrity, and accountability. The Auditor performs work that is highly complex, and often involves issues that are sensitive and confidential. The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics and abilities: • Model the highest standards of honesty and integrity. • Make sound and well-informed decisions affecting multiple stakeholders. • Commit to action when dealing with pressure and ambiguity of complex, controversial issues and situations. • Communicate effectively orally and in writing with a variety of cross-cultural audiences. • Creatively solve problems using superior analytical ability. • Respond in an objective, professional, and credible manner in highly-charged situations. • Apply impartiality and demonstrate fairness and diplomacy under the most difficult of circumstances. • Establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups. • Fluency in Spanish is desirable. The Council is seeking a candidate who is willing to make a long-term commitment to Eugene. Qualifications The Police Auditor must have five years of progressively responsible experience overseeing and performing administrative investigations and performing program development, analysis, and complex professional staff support, preferably in the public sector. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, human resources, criminal justice, or a related field is required. A Juris Doctorate from an accredited university is required. Additional Requirements Candidates for this position are subject to a background investigation. Candidates for this position may not have worked for the Eugene Police Department as an employee within the past twenty years. In addition, candidates should have no other prior relationship with the Department that might create actual or perceived bias for or against the Department or Eugene Police Officers. Candidates will be required to disclose prior employment, contracts, and affiliations with the Department. Compensation & Benefits The annual salary range for this position is $86,715-$108,056. Upon eligibility, the salary with the City’s contribution of the employee portion of retirement and 2% deferred compensation will be $93,652-$116,700. Upon eligibility, the City will contribute an employee contribution of 6%, as well as the employer contribution to a retirement program administered by the Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). In addition, the City will pay a 2% contribution to a deferred compensation program if the employee contributes at least 1%. The competitive benefit package includes: • Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance • Life and Long-term Disability insurances • Generous Vacation and Sick Leave • Ten Paid Holidays • Transportation and Cell Phone Allowance Application and Selection Process (updated per Alliance Resource Consulting standard language:) Candidates should apply for this position online by XXXX, 2008 and can find additional information at www.allianceresourceconsulting.com. Each candidate’s background will be evaluated on the basis of information submitted at the time of application to determine the level and scope of the candidate’s preparation for this position. The resume should include any additional information which the candidate wishes considered. Only the more qualified candidates, as determined by the screening process, will be invited to participate it the selection process. Candidate screening is scheduled to be completed by XXXXXXX. It is anticipated that final interviews will occur during the week of XXXXXX. Questions or inquiries may be directed to: Eric Middleton, Managing Partner Revlynn Lawson, Senior Manager ALLIANCE RESOURCE CONSULTING LLC One World Trade Center, Suite 115 Long Beach, CA 90831 Telephone (562) 901-0769 E-mail: apply@alliancerc.com The City of Eugene is committed to a work environment which values the cultural, educational, and life experience of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally competent service to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, the City continues to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Women, people with disabilities, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply. The City of Eugene complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any applicant with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request accommodation by contacting Becky Hopkins at (541) 682-5629. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the City of Eugene will request all eligible candidates who accept employment with the City to provide documentation to prove they are eligible for employment in the United States.