2017 2:00:00 PM

Monday, January 23, 2017 2:00 PM
Council Chambers, Legislative Bldg, 745 4th St., Sparks, NV

General Business: 9.3

Title: Consideration, possible approval of a Forensic Support Services Agreement for FY2016/2017 between the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the Sparks Police Department, and ratification of an expenditure in the amount of $389,500.

Petitioner/Presenter: Brian Allen, Chief of Police/Brian Allen, Chief of Police

Recommendation: Approve the Forensic Support Services Agreement between the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the Sparks Police Department and ratify the previously paid expenditure of $389,500.

Financial Impact: $389,500 has been budgeted for FY17 with an actual cost of the same amount.

Total Costs: $389,500.00

Fund: General Fund Account: 603120
Program: Detectives - Property & Evidence (091563)
Amount: $389,500.00 Budget Status: Over Budget (See Budget Correction Plan)

Budget Correction Plan:
$389,500 has been budgeted for FY17 with an actual cost of the same amount. This item has already been budgeted for and has been paid so the budget does not show available. I neglected to place this item on a council agenda previously. I recently discovered my error, and I've developed the belated agenda item.

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief:

The Sparks Police Department is requesting City Council approval to renew the annual Forensic Support Services Agreement with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. Staff also requests ratification of the previously paid $389,500 amount for this year’s services.

Background:

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division provides forensic services to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Division is a full-service forensic laboratory staffed by more than 40 individuals in sworn and civilian capacities. The Division provides investigative support with a full service crime unit. The scientific disciplines consist of DNA, Toxicology, Controlled Substances, Firearms and limited trace evidence analysis. The Breath Alcohol Section provides support for the Breath Alcohol instruments across Northern Nevada.

Analysis:

The Sparks Police Department contracts annually with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division for evidence collection and laboratory analysis for an array of services. These services are many times required as "call outs" from the Sparks Police Detective Division on a 24/7 basis. "Call outs" where the Forensic Science Division is commonly requested by Sparks Police Detectives include: Homicides, Sexual Assaults, Child Abuse or Child Death, Child Sexual Assault, Suspicious Deaths, Shootings, Stabbings, Officer Involved Shootings and Traffic Accidents with Significant Injury or Death. The agreement is for fiscal year 2016/2017 only in the amount of $389,500.

City staff inadvertently neglected to bring the agreement forward to the City Council before paying for the services. Therefore, staff also seeks City Council ratification for the previously paid $389,500 expenditure. Two internal errors made this possible. First, staff neglected to bring the agreement forward last summer for City Council consideration. Secondarily, staff mistakenly assumed the City had a multiple year agreement with Washoe County for these services and issued a purchase order for the contracted amount.

Alternatives:

The City Council could decline approving the agreement, but given that the services have already been paid for, such an action would be made without impact.

Recommended Motion:

I move to approve the Forensic Support Services Agreement with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and ratify the $389,500 expenditure for those services.

Attached Files:

Forensic Support Srvs Agrmnt FY17.pdf

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