The City of Sparks Public Works Maintenance Division has utilized inmate labor provided by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office on a part-time, seasonal basis to augment maintenance activities for weed control in the city's medians, roadside areas, and city parks. Over the last year, Public Works utilized Inmate labor on a full-time basis to provide a variety of maintenance tasks throughout the City.

The attached Memorandum of Understanding provides the terms associated with securing a full-time inmate labor crew from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and provides for annual renewal. On October 9, 2017, the City Council approved the original MOU, AC-5414 (Attached).  On May 8, 2018, the Community Services Department provided written notice to the Washoe County Sheriff’s office requesting renewal of the MOU for fiscal year 2019 (Attached).

The MOU between the City of Sparks and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office provides the terms and conditions for providing full-time inmate labor to augment public works maintenance activities for weed control in the city's medians, roadside areas, city parks and other needs as they may occur throughout the year. The MOU provides the following key terms, summarized below: 

Duration: The MOU shall commence upon Sparks City Council approval and notification of funding from the City of Sparks to Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The MOU may renew each year upon written notice from the City of Sparks to Washoe County Sheriff’s Office on or about April 15 of each year. Either party may terminate its participation in this MOU with 90 days written notice. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office shall provide inmate labor for the work project commencing on July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

Project Description: The Sheriff’s Office will provide a dedicated crew consisting of at least one (1) Inmate Work Program Leader (IWPL) and at least three (3) to six (6) workers to be assigned to city projects. In case of an emergency including but not limited to fire, snow, extreme rain, crime, facility lockdown, or sick/vacation leave of the IWPL, the work crew may be pulled to assist Washoe County. The IWPL position is responsible for supervising inmate workers both inside and outside the detention facility. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office IWPL will be responsible for transporting members of the labor force to the job sites agreed upon by both parties.

Responsibilities: The Washoe County Sheriff's Office will provide vests, clothing, some tools, safety equipment and training to the work crew (gloves, safety equipment, rain gear, and boots).  Supplies for work assignments requiring large quantities of supplies, such as trash bags, dumpsters, special tools and/or equipment are to be provided by the City of Sparks.

Transportation: The participants will be picked up and returned to the designated location by a Sheriff’s Office IWPL according to a mutually agreed upon schedule. Unless otherwise approved, the Sheriff's Office crew will arrive no later than 6:30 a.m. to pick up community service workers/inmate workers. In the event the work crew will not be able to perform work assignment on a regularly scheduled day, the Sheriff's Office will notify the City of Sparks as soon as possible.  

Compensation to Washoe County:  The City of Sparks agrees to reimburse the Washoe County Sheriff's Office the cost of one full-time IWPL. The cost for fiscal year 2019 is $66,863.33. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will provide the City of Sparks costs for the full-time position of one IWPL on or before March 15 of each subsequent contract year. The City of Sparks will give notice of renewal or non-renewal within thirty days (30) of receiving the costs for the one IWPL.

1. Council may approve the Memorandum of Understanding.
2. Council may not approve the Memorandum of Understanding and provide direction to the City Manager.

I move to approve a renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (AC-5414) between the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the City of Sparks to provide full-time inmate labor to augment Public Works Maintenance in an amount not to exceed $66,863.33 for fiscal year 2019.