2017-29802 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2017-29802
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, MODIFYING RESOLUTION NO. 2016-29285
WHICH AUTHORIZED THE REIMBURSEMENT OF TUITION FEES FOR
THE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL OF JUSTICE BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT
ACADEMY ("POLICE ACADEMY") FOR POTENTIAL TRAINEES
("RECRUITS") OF THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT; AND,
NOW, AUTHORIZING THE DIRECT PREPAYMENT TO THE POLICE
ACADEMY OF TUITION FEES AND COSTS FOR NEW RECRUITS, AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE REIMBURSEMENT TO
THOSE CURRENT RECRUITS OF THEIR TUITION FEES AND COSTS
PREVIOUSLY PAID TO THE POLICE ACADEMY.
WHEREAS, LTC 385-2015 notified the Mayor and City Commissioner of a pilot
recruiting program (the "Program") to be undertaken by the Miami Beach Police Department
("Police Department"), which involved attracting Police Department Recruits at least twenty-one
years of age, but not previously certified who also, prior to hiring, had been awarded a
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and
WHEREAS, the Program previously required Recruits to pay their own Police Academy
expenses, with the agreement that, upon successful completion, they would be offered
probationary employment as City of Miami Beach police officers and also be reimbursed their
Police Academy tuition fees; and
WHEREAS, these Recruits would not be City employees while in the Police Academy
and, therefore, would receive no salary or benefits until they were hired as probationary
employees following successful completion of the Police Academy; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution number 2016-29285,
which authorized the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute a contractual agreement with
Recruits participating in the Program, with said agreement detailing the contractual
contingencies to be satisfied by each Recruit prior to being reimbursed their Police Academy
tuition fees; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department is actively seeking more Recruits, but the Police
Department requires adjustments to the contractual agreement to attract more Recruits, the
primary adjustment being the prepayment by the City to the Police Academy, prior to each
Recruit attending the Police Academy, for tuition fees and other associated costs, estimated to
be approximately $8,000 per Recruit; and
WHEREAS, in the interests of fairness and equality, the Police Department will also
make immediate reimbursement of the Police Academy tuition fees and other associated costs
to those Recruits currently attending the Police Academy; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department is seeking to attract more highly qualified Recruits,
and these modifications to the contractual agreement will ultimately enhance the quality of
policing throughout the City of Miami Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT THE MAYOR AND
CITY COMMISSION HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK
TO EXECUTE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT AUTHORIZING THE PREPAYMENT
OF MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL OF JUSTICE BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
TUITION FEES AND COSTS FOR NEW MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECRUITS, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE REIMBURSEMENT
TO CURRENT MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT RECRUITS FOR THEIR
TUITION FEES AND COSTS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO THE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL
OF JUSTICE FOR THE BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.
PASSED and ADOPTED this ,X day of APRIL, 2017.
ATTEST BY:
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MAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 26, 2017
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, MODIFYING RESOLUTION NO. 2016-29285,
WHICH AUTHORIZED THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL
OF JUSTICE POLICE ACADEMY BASIC RECRUITMENT COURSE
TUITION FEES TO MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT POTENTIAL
TRAINEES UPON THEIR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE POLICE
ACADEMY AND VARIOUS OTHER CONTINGENCIES, AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE A NEW CONTRACTUAL
AGREEMENT, TO BE PREPARED BY THE CITYATTORNEY, THAT WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT FOR MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
POTENTIAL TRAINEES TO ATTEND THE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL OF
JUSTICE POLICE ACADEMY BASIC RECRUITMENT COURSE, AND
AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE REIMBURSEMENT TO CURRENT MIAMI
BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT POTENTIAL TRAINEES FOR THEIR
TUITION AND FEES ALREADY PAID TO THE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL OF
JUSTICE FOR THE POLICE ACADEMY BASIC RECRUITMENT COURSE.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
In September, 2015, the Commission was notified, through Letter To Commission 385-2015,
of a proposed pilot recruiting program to be undertaken by the Miami Beach Police Department
(MBPD). The pilot program involved recruiting non certified candidates of at least twenty-one
(21)years of age with a four-year college degree. It required candidates to pay their own police
academy expenses, with the agreement that upon successful completion they would be offered
probationary employment as police officers and be reimbursed their tuition and other associated
costs (approximately$8000 per student in total). In addition, candidates would receive no salary
or benefits until they were hired as probationary employees.
At the February 10, 2016, Commission meeting, the Mayor and City Commission adopted
Resolution 2016-29285 authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a contract, to be
prepared by the City Attorney, with potential recruits participating in the pilot program. The
subsequent pilot has been successful, however the MBPD has identified a substantial
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challenge in terms of competing with other police agencies in Florida, some of which hire
recruits and then send them to the police academy — this attracts the attention of potential
candidates as they are essentially`employed'whilst undertaking their learning. To overcome this
challenge, and to enable the MBPD to attract the best candidates, the MBPD would like to
execute a new contractual agreement to pay the police academy fees of potential recruits
(tuition, uniform etc.) `up front' i.e. immediately before potential recruits commence the police
academy. In addition, and in order to be fair and transparent, the MBPD wishes to immediately
reimburse potential recruits currently attending the police academy under the pilot scheme.
CONCLUSION
The changes to the reimbursement arrangements will significantly increase the potential pool of
applicants, thereby enabling the MBPD to select only the highest quality candidates.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Insist On Police Department Accountability And Skilled Management/ Leadership
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The cost to the MBPD of paying academy fees and associated costs for potential recruits at an
earlier stage will remain the same as the current agreement to reimburse the costs upon
completion of the academy. These costs are included within the current and future budgets as
detailed below. The budgeted total of$120,000 for two years will enable the pilot program to be
assessed as to its success i.e. the quality of candidates recruited.
Amount 1 $60,000 Account 1 011-1130-000312
Amount 2 $60,000 Account 2 011-1130-000312
Total $120,000
Legislative Tracking
Police
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