Sheriff’s Office set to take over Millbrae police
Millbrae’s Police Department is set to close in early March when the Sheriff’s Office takes over after the City Council approved transfer agreements Tuesday evening.
In November, the City Council voted to contract for services provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. On Tuesday, the council approved two transfer agreements to make it happen — an agreement with the Millbrae Police Officers’ Association and one with the county about property. The goal is for the county to officially take over service at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 5.
Councilwoman Nadia Holober was the lone dissenting vote for the transfer of assets. She said she opposed the drop in service the new contract would bring to the city. Vice Mayor Gina Papan disagreed noting the city had previously understaffed the department.
Contracting with the county for police services will save Millbrae an estimate $1.693 million in the first year. Those savings will increase in future years over the five-year contract.
The city’s current annual budget for the department is $4.258 million. When the budget is changed to include vehicles, safety equipment, overhead costs and other costs, the annual budget is raised to $7.27 million. The sheriff’s proposal of $4.56 million includes Millbrae’s own police chief and offers jobs for most employees currently in the department.
Millbrae will be given credit for some equipment while charged for others. Ultimately, the difference is an additional cost to Millbrae of $26,808, Police Chief Mark Raffaelli wrote in a staff report.
Under the agreement with the police officers, employees will receive a one-time $700 allowance for uniforms and an offer of six-month severance pay, about $48,907.30 per employee, for those who are not hired by the county, according to a staff report by City Manager Marcia Raines. The agreement also outlines how vacation, seniority and compensatory time off will be handled.
At the same meeting, Millbrae approved a second reading of its single-use bag ban.
Under the rule, which goes into effect Sept. 1, single-use carryout bags cannot be used in grocery stores and retail businesses. Around 50 businesses will be affected. The ban was tweaked a bit to bar businesses from being exempted until rules about such a process are created.