Agenda Item Wording:
title
Approval of MOU with Visalia Unified School District for youth service officers assigned to school campuses - Authorize the City Manager to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement between the City of Visalia and Visalia Unified School District for Visalia Police Department Youth Services Officers assigned as campus officers at VUSD middle school and high school campuses for fiscal year 2026/27 & 2027/28.
body
Agenda Date: 06/01/2026
Prepared by:
Chief of Police Jason Salazar, 713- 4215, jason.salazar@visalia.gov;
Captain Andrew Swarthout, 713-4035, andrew.swarthout@visalia.gov;
Lieutenant Celeste Sanchez, 713-4154, celeste.sanchez@visalia.gov;
Financial Analyst Liz Ybarra, 713-4250, liz.ybarra@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement between the City of Visalia and Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) for 10 Visalia Police Department Youth Services Officers (YSOs) assigned as campus officers at VUSD middle school and high school campuses. The MOU is effective from 7/1/2026 to 6/30/2028.
Summary:
The Visalia Police Department and VUSD mutually agree to maintain YSOs on VUSD campuses from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, for the purpose of providing police presence, services, support, directions to students and VUSD staff, and providing criminal or juvenile investigative services during the school years.
The goal of the YSO program is to improve the attendance, grades, and behavior of the students at the campuses who have demonstrated problems at school, home, and in the community; to enhance campus and public safety; and to develop positive police-youth relationships.
Background Discussion:
Visalia Police YSOs will remain on the campuses of the following five (5) District High Schools: Golden West High School, El Diamante High School, Mt. Whitney High School, Redwood High School, Sequoia High School; as well as five (5) of the District’s Middle Schools: Divisadero, La Joya, Valley Oak, Ridgeview, and Green Acres. The YSO assigned to Sequoia High School will also be assigned to provide police presence and services to Creekside Community School. This represents a total of 10 YSOs assigned to VUSD schools.
A Visalia Police Sergeant will continue to manage and supervise all YSOs in their day-to-day duties. This position is fully funded by the City of Visalia and is housed at the Visalia Police Department headquarters.
Each YSO will work on their assigned campus throughout the school year in a collaborative manner with the site administrators and staff, maintaining the highest level of visibility possible. YSOs will utilize intervention, prevention, or suppression skills with the students who are involved in criminal activity or need special attention, counseling, or enforcement. They will continue to conduct investigations of criminal or juvenile related cases, where the victim, witness, or suspect attends the school of the YSOs assignment, whether the case is an onsite case or a case which was assigned as a follow-up investigation. They will also continue to provide input and guidance on how to respond to bomb threats, active shooter situations, or other situations that could lead to a lockdown at the school sites and appropriate VUSD personnel.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
The City of Visalia will fund one-half (1/2) of the cost associated with the 10 YSO positions, including salaries, benefits, vehicle maintenance, and estimated overtime for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 school years. This expenditure is appropriated during the biennial budget process.
The City of Visalia will provide a Police Sergeant to function as the full time YSO Supervisor and will fund all salary, benefits, and equipment costs of the position.
The cost breakdown for the YSO Program for each agency is as follows:
|
|
FY 2026-27 |
FY 2027-28 |
Total |
|
City of Visalia |
$1,365,256 |
$1,409,050 |
$2,774,306 |
|
VUSD (10) ½ of S&B, OT, Fuel |
$1,080,328 |
$1,114,959 |
$2,195,287 |
|
Program Total |
$2,445,584 |
$2,524,009 |
$4,969,593 |
|
|
FY 2026-27 |
FY 2027-28 |
Total |
|
One (1) Supervisor, rank of Sergeant; all Salary & Benefits |
$284,928 |
$294,091 |
$579,019 |
|
Ten (10) YSOs, Police Officer Rank; Salary & Benefits, Fuel & Estimated OT |
$2,160,656 |
$2,229,918 |
$4,390,574 |
|
Program Total |
$2,445,584 |
$2,524,009 |
$4,969,593 |
Prior Council Action: None.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement between the City of Visalia and Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) for Visalia Police Department Youth Services Officers (YSOs) assigned as campus officers at VUSD middle school and high school campuses for fiscal year 2026/27 & 207/28.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 06/01/2026
Attachments: MOU
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
|
☐ Economic Vitality |
☒  Organizational Excellence |
☒ Fiscal Strength |
☐  Infrastructure & Growth |
☒  Quality of Life |