HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2024-156 Resolution accepting and authorizing TSRP (Traffic Safety Resource Program)funding to add a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor position to the Legal Department RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-156
A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to pursue TSRP (Traffic Safety Resource
Program) funding to add a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor position to
the Legal Department.
WHEREAS, the Traffic Safety Resource Program (TSRP) in Washington is a valuable
resource for prosecutors, law enforcement, hearing examiners, and judges specializing in
impaired driving crimes; and
WHEREAS, since 2009, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission has funded the
Washington Traffic Safety Resource Program which funds Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors
strategically around the state; and
WHEREAS, TSRP and the City of Yakima Legal Department share a mutual interest in
placing/hosting a TSRP Resource Prosecutor in the City Legal Department Prosecution Division.
WHEREAS, the TSRP would reimburse the City of Yakima for the Resource Prosecutor
salary and benefit package and the City would provide office space, information technology, and
Human Resource support; and
WHEREAS, Council approval is needed to add the position, move forward with the hiring
process and contract with TSRP; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Manager is hereby authorized to add the Resource Prosecutor position to the
City Legal Department contingent upon TSRP funding, allow the Legal Department to select a
candidate, finalize a budget between the City and TSRP, and reduce the agreement to a formal
contract to be submitted to Council for consideration.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 20th day of August, 2024.
ATTEST: Patricia ypKlMq `����, Patricia yers, ayor
•
%* •SEAL
4L1A
osalinda Ibarra, City Clerk 1kh,SNING•
i4
_44iiilli
i,i
00
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 9.D.
For Meeting of: August 20, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Resolution accepting and authorizing TSRP (Traffic Safety Resource
Program)funding to add a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
position to the Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Fatal and serious traffic collisions are statistically up in the entire state and typically involve substance
abuse. The trends are especially alarming in Yakima County. The Traffic Safety Resource Program
(TSRP) is interested in funding City of Yakima participation in DUI Court and a TSRP Resource
Prosecutor position. Our office has discussed DUI Court in the past and has been interested, but due to
the cost and staff commitment, we did not have the resources to seriously consider participation.
DUI Court is a Yakima District Court program available to repeat DUI offenders. Participants plead up
front and receive intensive treatment and weekly monitoring for a five-year period. If successful, the
defendant receives a reduction of the charge and a firmly rooted new lifestyle. We do have a number of
offenders who would be eligible for the program. See statistic presentation attached.
Although TSRP is interested in funding our participation in DUI Court, which includes paying the judge,
public defender, cost of UA, probation, and the cost of the prosecutor. The prosecution division does not
have the personnel bandwidth to devote time to another program.
As a result, TSRP has offered to fund a Resource Prosecutor in the Legal Department. TSRP desires to
have a Central Washington presence and had funded a Resource Prosecutor at Yakima County for a
time. When Yakima County started to experience severe staffing shortages, they withdrew from the
program. TSRP has approached the City in the past about hosting this position, but City Legal lacked the
office space to house the Resource Prosecutor. The soon-to-start remodel of the Legal Department will
give us the space to accommodate the position.
A Resource Prosecutor is a prosecutor employed by the host agency (City of Yakima) that is fully funded
by TSRP (salary, benefits, equipment, and other costs). TSRP has been funding Resource Prosecutors
for the past 15 years in Washington State and they have never pulled funding for a Resource Prosecutor
position. The Resource Prosecutor is a resource for officers, prosecutors and judges. They conduct
training, provide technical assistance, create resource documents, and take on limited in house cases
and projects. In our case the resource prosecutor would staff the DUI court. Our traffic prosecutors
handle a large caseload and would welcome the limited help.
If the Council passes this resolution, the City will advertise the TSRP Resource Prosecutor position.
202
Once a candidate is identified, a budget and agreement between the Legal Department and TSRP would
be reduced to a formal contract for Council consideration. The City's commitment would be the office
space, information technology, and Human Resource support.
ITEM BUDGETED: Yes
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Safe and Healthy Yakima
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS:
Res-TSRP Funding_TSR Prosecutor.docx
DUI Court Analytics_Jun 2024.pdf
203