Sheriff reports calls rise; council approves five‑year law enforcement contract amid vehicle‑cost jump

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department told the Villa Park City Council that calls for service rose sharply month‑to‑month, and council members used the departmental report to press for education and targeted enforcement of a recently enacted e‑bike ordinance.

At the meeting, the sheriff’s representative said “Overall, our call for service have gone up considerably. We up we went up 68 calls for service over the last month.” The representative said the city recorded one crime against a person (a domestic‑violence incident) during the reporting period and that property crimes and suspicious‑activity reports were steady or down slightly.

Councilwoman Miles asked whether deputies were enforcing the e‑bike ordinance, which took effect after its second reading in April. The sheriff’s representative said deputies are aware of the ordinance but the department has not pursued extensive proactive enforcement yet because stopping juveniles risks chase incidents; the department will pursue an enforcement plan that includes school outreach.

City Manager Steve Franks briefed the council on a proposed new five‑year contract for sheriff services. Franks said the contract as presented represents a 6.75% increase over the prior contract while preserving current levels of service, and he attributed most of the rise to transportation/vehicle costs, which the sheriff’s office estimated are up more than 60%.

“We did our due diligence and didn't just accept an over 60% increase on that,” Franks said, describing discussions with captain Sotelo and sheriff administrative staff who provided odometer readings and cost‑per‑mile details.

Council voted 5‑0 to approve the new contract. Councilmembers asked staff to track enforcement activity tied to the e‑bike ordinance so the council can evaluate effectiveness.

Key figures and items discussed: the sheriff’s report covered April 21–May 25 (the presenter noted 284 total calls for service citywide in the period), one injury traffic accident, 18 moving violations and 30 parking citations. Council discussion emphasized education at Villa Park High School and selective enforcement in areas with repeated complaints.

Why it matters: the contract secures police patrols, a school‑resource presence and motor patrols for the coming years; the reported rise in calls and the e‑bike concerns highlight enforcement and public‑safety tradeoffs as deputies balance proactive action with safety risks.

What’s next: staff will monitor enforcement of the e‑bike ordinance and provide updates; the city will implement the terms of the new contract and track mileage/transportation costs as part of annual cost updates.