that information, will develop a community renewal master plan.
“We’ve begun the process of identifying trees at the end of their life,” Polachek said.
Approximately 50 percent of calls to the Santa Monica Police Department are related to the homeless,according to Chief Tim Jackman. Councilmember Bobby Shriver, who has been outspoken on homeless issues, pointed out during the meeting that roughly half of the department’s $66 million budget, or $33 million, is being spent on homeless related calls.
The figure should indicate a fallacy in public perception that the homeless don’t cost local government any money, Shriver said, calling the belief “erroneous.”
One of the newest ventures that the SMPD is taking on is working with service provider West Coast Care, a firm contracted by the department since March.
The firm has in the past several months made over 1,500 contacts with the homeless and has been able to help 48 individuals find alternatives to living on the street — seven placed in long-term rehab; 34 returned to family or friends; and one who voluntarily went to an Orange County jail. The department plans to award a $250,000 contract to the firm in June.
“This is a unique operation,” Jackman said.
The upcoming budget provides funding for seven positions within public safety departments — four jailers and three fire-fighters.
Both departments requested additional personnel during a budget study session ear-lier this year. SMPD requested 45 new positions, while Santa Monica Fire Department asked for 22, both over the next five years.
The fire department also requested an administrative staff position but felt it was more pressing to hire the three firefighters, according to Chief Jim Hone.
“Due to the increases in other (areas), it seemed reasonable at this time to move that forward and see what the projection in next year’s budget is,” Hone said.
The jail positions were vital for the police department to stay in compliance with the state’s Correction Standards Authority, which requires a certain ratio of inmates to jailers.
The former city jail had a capacity of 82 inmates while the jail in the new public safety facility can accommodate 112 inmates.Jail staff has not increased since 1974, Jackman said.
The department’s jail staff is constrained because of state standards, which require inmates be checked on at least twice every 30 minutes. Opening cell doors also requires additional staff because of the configuration.
It is for this reason that Jackman expedited his request for additional jailers.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 23, 2008. Read the original PDF.