Millbrae Signs Agreement to Outsource Police

Millbrae entered into a binding contract on Tuesday with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to outsource its police department starting in February 2012. 

The City Council was divided 3-2 on whether to approve the contract, with council members Paul Seto and Nadia Holober arguing that some issues were still un-negotiated.  

“For the past few council meetings, we’ve heard different information,” Seto said in regards to the fluctuating savings costs in the sheriff’s proposal. “This is not something that has been vetted correctly. ”

The sheriff’s proposal is now expected to save about $1.5 million for the next fiscal year. As of , the amount was about $400,000 less. The additional savings are due to costs that are not allocated to the Millbrae police budget, according to a report by Millbrae Police Commander Mark Raffaelli and City Attorney Joan Cassman. For example, about $120,000 in attorney’s fees associated with police matters and about $150,000 in workers’ compensation payments.

Seto and Holober pointed to the new findings as grounds for further clarification before entering into a contract. Additionally, they called attention to some of the unknown aspects of the deal, such as the value of the Millbrae Police Department’s assets, which include police vehicles and weapons.

The deal moved forward though because other council members said the city needed to act swiftly.

“We’ve done our best to preserve our police department, and maintaing the officers that we already have,” said Councilwoman Gina Papan. “But time is not a luxury here.”

The sheriff would hire all Millbrae officers and some of them would continue to patrol Millbrae streets, while the rest would be assigned to the county jail. However, the sheriff has pledge to hold those vacant positions only temporarily.

Regardless, some residents argued this deal was being pushed through hastily.

“If we conducted business this way in the private sector, and did deals with this many open deal points still to be done, we wouldn't be doing very well,” said Millbrae resident . 

Presumably, to solidify the deal, the council voted on the matter just an hour before two newly elected council members were sworn in.

“I don’t see why we can’t wait for the next council to see if they come up with the same decision,” Seto said.

Both Robert Gottschalk and Wayne Lee campaigned on a platform to save the police department, and the outsourcing agreement would likely not have passed with their votes. 

“We have no chief, we’re critically understaffed,” Papan said. “The sheriff’s office will not hold the positions unless we reach an agreement now, and it’s irresponsible for us not to act now.”

The city will make an initial payment of $767,360 to the sheriff’s office and another payment in April 2012. 

Click here to read more about the police outsourcing.