Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Belvedere council weighs hiring an officer or pilot contract with Tiburon to fill police staffing gaps
Summary
Facing continuing officer shortages and rising overtime, council debated two staff‑recommended options — hiring an additional full‑time officer (multi‑year cost) or piloting overnight coverage with Tiburon Police — and directed staff to pursue community engagement and meet‑and‑confer steps while resolving the immediate staffing shortfall.
City staff presented two paths to address a longstanding shortfall in Belvedere Police Department staffing: (1) authorize hiring one additional full‑time officer to return to pre‑2020 staffing levels (staff estimated a fully loaded first‑year cost in the low six figures) or (2) pursue a one‑year pilot agreement with Tiburon Police Department for overnight coverage (midnight–6 a.m.) at an estimated annual cost of about $109,500, which staff said could be partially offset by reduced overtime and premiums.
City Manager Robert framed the options as complementary short‑ and long‑term steps to improve resiliency. “We are hoping to receive some direction from the council this evening on how to approach this issue,” he said, describing timelines, estimated costs and the need for a meet‑and‑confer with the officers’ union before implementing a shared‑service model.
Police leadership and the Belvedere Police Officers Association urged full staffing. Sergeant Jeremy Clark, speaking as POA president, said morale and training opportunities have suffered under prolonged understaffing and urged the council to prioritize hiring so officers can complete required and enhanced training. Several residents said local policing and fast response times are a quality‑of‑life priority; one resident noted a recent rapid response to a late‑night collision as evidence of the department’s value.
Council members asked staff to pursue both tracks: continue efforts to clarify the status of the officer on extended medical leave (and, if necessary, prepare a plan to replace that position) while beginning good‑faith consultations with Tiburon and the POA about a narrowly scoped pilot for overnight coverage with clear performance clauses and an off‑ramp. Staff was asked to return with a timeline, more detailed cost estimates and community‑facing data on call types and timing to inform public workshops before any final contract.
No permanent outsourcing decision was made; the council prioritized immediate relief for officers and more analysis and public engagement before final approval.
