To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement with the Wiyot Tribe for Law Enforcement Services in the Amount of $170,000 Annually
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Sheriff to execute the Provision of Law Enforcement Services Agreement with the Wiyot Tribe for the period of Dec. 1, 2025 to Oct. 30, 2028 in the amount of $170,000 annually and pro-rated in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 (Attachment 1); and
2. Authorize the Sheriff to execute any and all subsequent amendments or extensions to the attached Agreement with Wiyot Tribe after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
In 2022, the Wiyot Tribe (Tribe) was the recipient of the Federal Department of Justice, Office of Violence against Women Grant. As a part of that Federal Grant, the Tribe received funding to hire a Law Enforcement Officer to assist with investigations regarding violence against women, enhance victim safety and develop education and prevention strategies. The Tribe engaged with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to provide law enforcement services to the Tribe, Eel River Valley, and including Tribal Land therein from 2022 through 2025. The Tribe has secured funding to enter into a new three-year agreement to continue these services from Dec. 1, 2025 to Oct. 30, 2028.
The basic level of services to be provided is forty (40) hours per week in four (4) ten (10) hour shifts Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 6:00pm. The law enforcement services to be provided are enforcement of state statutes; police protection of the type provided by the Sheriff; and to maintain a regular visible uniformed presence throughout the Tribal Land in the Eel River Valley. HCSO shall not be required to assume any enforcement duty or function inconsistent with those performed by HCSO under county Ordinances and the statutes of the State of California.
Accordingly, HCSO recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve, and authorize the Sheriff to execute the attached Agreement with the Tribe regarding law enforcement services. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the Sheriff to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached Agreement after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed law enforcement services.
The approval and authorization is being requested retroactively as there was a delay in acquiring the insurance endorsement and copy of the resolution resulting in the agreement coming to your Board after the effective date.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
1100-221200 Patrol, Revenue 800870 Charges for Services, Wiyot Tribe
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100-221200) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
FY27-28 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$99,167 |
$170,000 |
$170,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$99,167 |
$170,000 |
$170,000 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100-221200) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
FY27-28 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Fees/Other |
$99,167 |
$170,000 |
$170,000 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$99,167 |
$170,000 |
$170,000 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
This Agreement with the Wiyot Tribe has an initial three-year term with options to extend annually upon mutual agreement. The revenue is $170,000 per year for the initial three-year term. However, either party may terminate the agreement upon 60 days’ notice. The renewal agreement was anticipated in the FY 2025-26 adopted budget in Fund 1100, Budget Unit 221200 - Patrol.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no staffing impact.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Wiyot Tribe
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the agreement or allow the Sheriff to sign such agreements, however this alternative is not recommended as it will result in less law enforcement services in the Eel River Valley and the Wiyot Tribal lands located therein and will not allow HCSO to receive revenue for these services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Agreement with Wiyot Tribe
Attachment 2 - Resolution of the Wiyot Tribe No. 25-44, Authorization Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 9/27/2022
File No.: 22-1094