Title
Request to Convert 14 Temporary Full-Time Positions to Regular Full-Time Positions in the Office of Homeless Solutions and Create Four Positions for the Phoenix Police Department (Ordinance S-51282)
Description
This report provides recommendations to address homelessness, increase accountability and transparency, improve public safety, and address concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
Staff have identified several recommendations to support the City's efforts to address homelessness, increase accountability and transparency, improve public safety, and address concerns raised by the DOJ. These recommendations include:
- Creating a compliance analyst team in the Police Department.
- Continuing to address homelessness by converting positions in the Office of Homeless Solutions from temporary to ongoing, regular positions.
Police Department Compliance Analyst Team Recommendation
Staff is requesting the creation of four new positions within the Phoenix Police Department. The four new positions will include one Police Research Supervisor and three Police Research Analysts. The four positions will comprise the newly developed Compliance Analyst Team to support the continuous improvement efforts by the Police Department. This team will develop and study the compliance of reforms and updated policy implemented based on the DOJ's Recommended Remedial Measures and the associated project deliverable work plan. The ongoing annual costs of the four positions is approximately $500,000.
Homeless Solutions Staffing Recommendation
Staff is requesting the conversion of 14 temporary, full-time positions to ongoing status, including: eight Neighborhood Specialists, two Special Projects Administrators, one Project Manager, one Administrative Assistant II, one Accountant I and one Administrative Assistant I. These conversions will be effective immediately, however four positions (two Neighborhood Specialists, one Project Manager, and one Administrative Assistant II) will continue to be funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through June 30, 2025. These positions will be converted to ongoing General Fund positions as of July 1, 2025. The ongoing annual cost of the 14 positions is approximately $2 million.
Financial Impact
The total ongoing cost of staff's recommendations are approximately $2.5 million annually. Staff's recommendation to create four new positions within the Police Department has an ongoing annual cost of approximately $500,000. Staff recommendation to convert 14 positions to ongoing status is $2 million. The cost of these positions will be incorporated into the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, Deputy City Manager Gina Montes, the Police Department and the Office of Homeless Solutions.