Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for Fiscal Year 2025.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) for law enforcement services at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
• The Interlocal Agreement with the PCSO ensures full-time law enforcement officer (LEO) coverage at PIE, with 12 LEOs providing 24-hour coverage 7 days a week.
• A new Transportation Security Administration unfunded federal mandate called the Aviation Worker Screening Program is being implemented that requires airports to implement airport-performed physical screening of aviation worker employees that have unescorted access to restricted areas.
• The cost of the 12 LEO’s salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, and equipment is $1,952,490.00 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This is a 20.3% increase over the FY24 Interlocal Agreement total cost of $1,622,688.00.
• The cost of the new 6 Airport Security Specialists is $451,038.00, an additional cost that was not included in the FY24 Interlocal Agreement.
• The total cost of the FY25 Interlocal Agreement is $2,403,528.00, which is a 48.1% increase over the total of the FY24 Agreement, which was $1,622,688.00.
• Funding for this Interlocal Agreement is included in the FY25 Proposed Operating Budget of the Airport in the Airport Revenue and Operating Fund.
Approve the Interlocal Agreement in the amount of $2,403,528.00 for a 1-year term commencing October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Summary:
This agreement provides 12 deputy sheriffs who are assigned on a full-time basis to PIE, with said deputies scheduled so at least two (2) deputies are on shift covering 24 hours per day, seven (7) days a week, and who shall be continuously present on PIE’s property. The TSA federal mandate requires that the County hire 6 new Airport Security Specialists, and because of the additional 6 employees, a PCSO Sergeant will also be located at PIE.
The one-year term in the amount of $2,403,528.00 will commence October 1, 2024, and remain in effect through September 30, 2025, with the intent to renew annually thereafter. This one-year cost represents a 48.12% increase over FY24, because of the Aviation Worker Screening program that is a TSA mandate for all commercial-service airports.
Background Information:
In October 2005, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved an Interlocal Agreement with the PCSO for law enforcement services for five (5) one-year terms. The first term commenced October 1, 2005 and remained in effect through September 30, 2006. It was renewed on an annual basis for the term of the agreement and expired September 30, 2010. The Board has approved annual Interlocal Agreements for the period of October 1 through September 30, from FY11 through FY24. On June 30, 2017, an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement, effective June 1, 2017, was approved increasing the deputies scheduled on duty from one (1) to two (2) deputies per shift; increasing the total number of deputies assigned to PIE from seven (7) to 12. The number of deputies scheduled on duty at PIE has remained constant since FY17.
Fiscal Impact:
Total contract amount is $2,403,528.00 and includes LEO’s salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, equipment, a new Sergeant, and 6 new Airport Security Specialists. This cost is consistent with the FY25 Proposed Operating Budget for both PIE (expenditures) and PCSO (revenues). This cost represents a $780,840.00, or 48.1% increase over FY24’s Interlocal Agreement cost of $1,622,688.00. No negative budgetary impacts are anticipated.
The FY25 Budget Request has a Decision Package for the Aviation Worker Screening Mandate that was approved by the County Administrator.
The current PCSO Interlocal Agreement is included in the FY24 Adopted budget.
This agreement is included in the FY25 Proposed Budget. The annual amount to be spent on the agreement is 48.1% higher than the previous year due to contractual increases (20.3%) and the cost of additional Airport Security Specialists (27.8%).
Staff Member Responsible:
Thomas R. Jewsbury, Director, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
Partners:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Attachments:
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY25
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY24