West Hollywood is poised to renew its Municipal Law Enforcement Services Agreement (MLESA) with Los Angeles County, a process required every five years for cities contracting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) for law enforcement services.
This renewal, critical for sustaining public safety operations, is set to replace the current agreement that expires on June 30, 2024, with a new term starting on July 1, 2024, and concluding on June 30, 2029.
Negotiations for the upcoming MLESA have been underway over the past year, involving a subcommittee from the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA), which includes City Managers from several municipalities. City Manager David Wilson was a key participant in these negotiations.
Over the years, alongside the standard MLESAs, contract cities have engaged in three significant agreements with the County concerning liability and indemnification for the services provided. The 1977 Assumption of Liability created a fund by the County to handle liability costs associated with contracted services, a practice that was revised with the 1991 Joint Indemnity Agreement, which shifted liability and funding responsibilities to a Liability Trust Fund supported by the contract cities. Furthermore, the 2009 Special Indemnity Agreement adjusted these terms to equally split liabilities and funding for certain severe cases involving law enforcement personnel.
Despite some subcommittee-recommended changes being accepted, negotiations prior to the renewal deadline did not resolve all issues, particularly those pertaining to liability and indemnification. Future discussions aim to adjust the financial burden currently placed on the cities via the Liability Trust Fund by advocating for a more equitable sharing of financial exposure between the County and the contract cities.
The new agreement includes comprehensive details about the history and authority of contracting for law enforcement services, which has been a standard practice since 1954 when the City of Lakewood first contracted with the County. Currently, 42 cities in Los Angeles County utilize this model for primary and supplemental law enforcement services.
The agreement specifies that the County is to recover all direct costs incurred under the contract as mandated by the California Government Code, which excludes general government overheads. Additionally, it outlines how the City orders law enforcement resources annually through a Service Level Authorization, commonly referred to as the “575 form,” detailing the types and costs of resources provided.
Several notable changes in the upcoming MLESA are designed to enhance service delivery and fiscal management. These include setting specific performance metrics for different service units to improve accountability, extending terms for retaining vehicles to reduce recurrent costs, and enhancing management and transparency of city-owned equipment under County control.
The negotiations also address equipment replacement policies and continue discussions on indemnity terms to reflect the evolving needs and concerns regarding liability management. This acknowledges the ongoing need for a balanced approach to liability risks, especially considering the roles and responsibilities inherent in the law enforcement operations controlled by the County.
Boy oh boy! How we were SCAMMED out of having our OWN WHPD!!!
Don’t screw up this new contract. We need police not blue shirt observers.
At least the ones in blue shirts show up when do you ever get the Sherrifs to arrive within the hour. I already know what your gonna say which is well because they are defunded but not a single Sherrif lost their job when they said they were defunding the Sherrifs.
Very good news. Although a West Hollywood and Beverly Hills joint force would be best.
AGREED!
Let’s get this signed.