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Council approves police staffing study contract and grants for license-plate readers and auto-theft task force
Summary
The council awarded a contract for an outside police staffing study, and approved two state grant submissions that would expand license-plate reader coverage and fund an auto-theft task force and an officer position if awarded.
The San Marcos City Council on Tuesday authorized an outside staffing study for the police department and approved staff to pursue two state grant applications to fund license-plate-reader cameras and an auto-theft task force.
Council awarded a contract to Matrix Consulting Group for a departmental staffing study of the police department. City staff described the engagement as a five-month effort that will include community engagement, staff interviews and an operational review. The study will evaluate staffing, deployment and operations and return recommendations for organizational structure and resource allocation. The award was approved by the council.
Separately, the council authorized submission of two Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant applications: one smaller grant to support operation and maintenance of the city’s license-plate reader program (an application for $6,500), and a larger task-force grant to fund an auto-crimes unit that, if awarded, would add one sworn officer to the unit and fund nine additional license-plate readers (requested amount $177,401 with a local match of $36,585). City staff told council the grant window was open and staff had discussed timing with grant officers; council approved staff to submit and, if awarded, accept the grants.
Why it matters: The consultant study will be the first independent staffing review of the police department in recent years; the study’s recommendations could shape budget and hiring priorities. The grants would expand investigative capacity and automated plate-reader coverage; the auto-theft task-force grant includes an operations match that the city would need to fund if the grant is approved.
What’s next: The staffing study vendor will begin interviews and community outreach; staff will schedule the group’s public engagement events and return with a project schedule. Grant applications will be submitted; award decisions and any required local budget appropriations would return to council for acceptance and appropriation.
