Council authorizes LA County Sheriff service levels and receives public safety division update

Rancho Palos Verdes — The City Council authorized the city manager to execute the FY 2026-27 service level form with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that confirms the city's current patrol staffing and service minutes and received a fourth‑quarter update on the city's Public Safety Division.

Staff said the city's regional cost‑share arrangement places Rancho Palos Verdes responsible for roughly 68 percent of the contract cost, and that the FY 2026-27 increase is about 3.6 percent. "Despite the cost increase, the city will continue receiving the same level of service as the prior fiscal year," staff said, describing about 56 patrol deputies assigned to provide 24/7 coverage and additional resources including detectives, SAT (surveillance and apprehension) teams and traffic deputies.

Public Safety staff summarized accomplishments by the city's non‑sworn public safety liaisons (PSLs), who conduct directed patrols, support neighborhood watch, assist in traffic observations and help coordinate multi‑agency responses to events. The PSLs are undergoing field training and are expected to be fully signed off in about six weeks; staff also described plans for a regional cost‑share drone program budgeted at $55,000 for disaster response and situational awareness.

The council approved the staff recommendation and the '575' form by roll call. Council members asked about overtime spending (about $40,000 spent to date, with $70,000 budgeted) and training timelines for PSLs; staff described current and planned uses for overtime and training completion timelines.

Next steps: City manager will execute the '575' form and staff will continue implementation of the Public Safety Division's patrol and community outreach programs, return with a recommendation and MOU on the regional drone program, and present quarterly updates.