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DATE: |
October 22, 2024 |
14 |
SUBJECT
Title
GENERAL SERVICES - APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE TO LEASE SPACE FOR SAN DIEGO LAW ENFORCEMENT COORDINATION CENTER (DISTRICT: 2)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center (SD-LECC) is a multi-agency facility that serves as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Investigative Support Center for both San Diego and Imperial Counties. SD-LECC also serves as the Regional Threat Assessment Center for San Diego and Imperial counties and is part of the California State Threat Assessment System. Due to SD-LECC’s governance structure and funding, a fiduciary is needed to enter into a lease agreement on their behalf. The Sheriff has agreed to act in this capacity and will be reimbursed by federal Homeland Security grant funds for all expenses associated with a new lease.
Law Enforcement Coordination Centers are staffed by many agencies who provide and share resources, expertise, and information with the goal of detecting, preventing, investigating and responding to criminal and terrorist activity. Located in states and large urban areas throughout the country, these centers are operated by state and local entities with support from federal partners. The San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center’s mission is to protect the people and infrastructure of San Diego and Imperial Counties from criminal activity, terrorism and hazards.
Today’s request is for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to approve, in principle, the lease of space for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center. Upon successful negotiation of the lease agreement, staff will return to the Board to request approval of the transaction.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed action is not an approval of a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(5) of the State CEQA guidelines.
2. Approve in principle the lease of approximately 15,000 square feet of office space in the central San Diego area for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center.
3. Authorize the Director, Department of General Services, to conduct a site search, negotiate a lease, and upon successful negotiations, return to the Board for approval of the lease agreement.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
It is anticipated that the proposed lease for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center will contribute positively to the community by limiting threats to the County through a multi-agency collaboration, which provides monitoring of potential threats 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Implementing effective sustainability objectives is crucial to ensuring safe and healthy communities and contributing to the overall success of the region. The approval in principle of a lease for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center is appropriate as it supports the County’s Strategic Initiative of Sustainability to ensure the capability to respond to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the requested approval, in principle, the lease of approximately 15,000 square feet of office space for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center. The lease costs resulting from this action will be determined during lease negotiations and will be provided when staff returns to the Board to request approval of a new lease agreement. Lease costs will be reimbursed by federal Homeland Security grant funds for all expenses associated with a new lease. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
The San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center (SD-LECC) is a multi-agency facility that serves as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center for the San Diego and Imperial County regions. The SD-LECC also serves as the Regional Threat Assessment Center and is part of the California State Threat Assessment System. SD-LECC operates as a collaborative partnership among federal, state and local law enforcement/public safety agencies focused on enhancing coordination, information sharing, regional preparedness, training and investigative support/analysis for first responders and other public and private partners in the region. The San Diego County Sheriff is an Executive Board member, and the Undersheriff is Chair of the LECC Executive Board. The Sheriff’s Office is the fiduciary lead for the multi-agency operation.
SD-LECC is fully funded by federal Homeland Security Grant and the HIDTA grants. The FBI has been providing FBI leased space to the SD-LECC for over ten years and this is no longer available. Due to SD-LECC’s governance structure and funding, a fiduciary is needed to enter into a lease agreement on their behalf. The Sheriff has agreed to act in this capacity and will be reimbursed by federal Homeland Security grants for all expenses associated with a new lease.
In 2023, the SD-LECC received over 1,800 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to national security and or mass casualty threats. Of the 1,800 SARs, over 500 were related to school threats involving mass casualty. A task force represented by one law enforcement sergeant, six law enforcement officers and one intelligence analyst monitor these threats 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Joint Terrorism Task Force with the FBI also monitors these threats through the SD-LECCs reporting system and investigates national security threats that meet the Nationwide SAR Initiative.
Today’s request is for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to approve, in principle, the lease of space for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center. Upon successful negotiation of the lease agreement, staff will return to the Board to request approval of the transaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ (Board) approval in principle to lease office space for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center in the central San Diego area is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act. The Board’s approval does not commit the County to a definite course of action with respect to any project. Once a property is identified for lease, staff will return to the Board with the appropriate environmental finding.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to approve the lease amendment for the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center supports the Community Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by providing services that support safe communities.
Respectfully submitted,
Ebony N. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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