CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTIETH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-13-217 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Don Harris
RESOLUTION
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Calling For A Comparative Survey Of The Salaries And Staffing Levels Of Albuquerque Police Department Officers And The Officers Of Other Local And Regional Law Enforcement Agencies And Designating Funds To Be Used To Contract With A Firm For Completion Of The Survey (Harris)
body
CALLING FOR A COMPARATIVE SURVEY OF THE SALARIES AND STAFFING LEVELS OF ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AND THE OFFICERS OF OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND DESIGNATING FUNDS TO BE USED TO CONTRACT WITH A FIRM FOR COMPLETION OF THE SURVEY.
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque has as one of its goals to enhance local law enforcement efforts thereby providing for the public safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has as one of its goals to employ 1,100 sworn officers and has not reached this goal within the last 5 years; and
WHEREAS, officer retirement eligibility and changes to the New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) benefits will affect APD's ability to retain officers; and
WHEREAS, new officer recruitment has become increasingly difficult as evidenced in smaller cadet classes; and
WHEREAS, therefore, the City wishes to determine whether its complete officer compensation package is competitive with other law enforcement agencies within the state and region; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to assess how the quality of life measures of the City, such as environmental, physical and mental health, education, recreation and social indicators, compare with those of other cities within the state and region.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The City Human Resources Department will complete a comparative survey of police officer salaries using a tiered approach. The survey will compare the staffing levels and the officer compensation package of APD to: (1) those of law enforcement agencies in similar sized cities throughout the southwest region of the United States, (2) those of other cities in New Mexico, and (3) those with shared jurisdiction with APD, such as the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and the New Mexico State Police Department. The survey shall include comparisons of base salary, retirement benefits, and other fringe benefits, as well as comparisons of the quality of life measures for the respective cities, such as environmental, physical and mental health, education, recreation and social indicators. A report on the findings of the survey will be submitted to the Mayor and City Council by the end of the second quarter of FY/14.
Section 2. An amount not to exceed $20,000 is hereby designated within the Council Projects activity to be used by the Human Resources Department for the purpose of contracting with a qualified consulting firm for the completion of this survey. The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into a contract to accomplish the purposes of this resolution.
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