DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Transportation Security Administration Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursable Agreement Program for Terminal Checkpoints at the San Antonio International Airport
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes participation in the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Reimbursable Agreement Program with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for law enforcement support (Airport Police Officers) at the San Antonio International Airport. As part of the program, the City provides law enforcement officers from Airport Police at each security checkpoint and receives reimbursement from TSA through a federal reimbursement grant. The City is requesting up to $513,038.00 annually from TSA for the salary and benefits of the hours Airport Police work to perform LEO services. The City’s participation in the current program’s timeline expires on December 31, 2019. This ordinance will authorize participation in the program beginning on January 1, 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
TSA officers are responsible for screening people and property and controlling entry and exit points in airports; but they are not law enforcement officers. The City and TSA have participated in the LEO Reimbursable Agreement Program since 2004 and is in the final fiscal year of the previous grant program authorized by City Council through Ordinance 2015-09-10-0774. Through this cooperative agreement, the City authorizes Airport Police Officers to provide law enforcement officer support at each security checkpoint at the airport and the TSA provides reimbursement for the salaries and benefits those officers worked during those hours.
ISSUE:
The City and TSA would like to continue participating in this program. The application will request reimbursement of up to $513,038.00 annually from the LEO program for 53 Airport Police Officers to rotate through shifts from two to four hours at a time. One officer will be assigned at a checkpoint point per shift. The hours of operation for the Terminal A checkpoint are from 3:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and for the Terminal B checkpoint from 3:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. These hours may be extended when flights are delayed. Overall, Airport Police officers provide approximately 12,775 hours annually for LEO duties.
City Council approval is required for participation of this program to receive the federal reimbursement grant.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could elect to discontinue participating in the program, which would result in the City not receiving any reimbursement from TSA for this work. Continued participation in this program has allowed the City to request reimbursement for the costs associated with assigning Airport Police Officers at the security checkpoints.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes participation in the Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursable Agreement Program with the Transportation Security Administration for law enforcement support at each passenger security screening checkpoint at the San Antonio International Airport.
As part of the agreement, the City is seeking up to $513,038.00 annually for three years, which would reimburse the City for the full salary and benefits of the hours worked Airport Police Officers.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of the participation in the LEO reimbursement agreement program with TSA at the San Antonio International Airport.