TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
FROM: Jennifer W. Shuler, County Attorney
DATE: May 5, 2025
SUBJECT: Resolution Merging Public Safety Coordinating Councils
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BACKGROUND
Indian River County currently has a Public Safety Coordinating Council, which is required by Fla. Stat. 951.26, whose principal statutory purpose is to assess the population status of all county detention or correctional facilities and to formulate recommendations to ensure they are not exceeded. In addition, Indian River County has a Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which is required by Fla. Stat. 394.657, whose principal statutory purpose is to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners how the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program may be best implemented in the community. There is significant overlap in the membership of these Councils.
Fla. Stat. 394.657 allows both Councils to merge and fulfill both statutory functions if the membership of the larger Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse is met. The County Attorney’s Office recommends that the County abolish the Public Safety Coordinating Council and merge its functions into the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which shall meet at least quarterly.
In addition to merging the Councils, our office further recommends that the Board formally add to the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse the duty to make recommendations to the Board for the use of funds received from opioid litigation and to receive reports from any formal/informal Opioid and Substance Use Task Force.
This resolution does the following things:
• Abolishes the Public Safety Coordinating Council.
• Merges the Public Safety Coordinating Council with the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
• Clarifies that the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse shall carry out the purposes of both Florida Statutes 951.26 and 394.657.
• Adds to the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse the additional duty of making recommendations to the Board for the use of funds received from opioid litigation and to receive reports from any formal/informal Opioid and Substance Use Task Force.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
In 1993, the Board formed the Public Safety Coordinating Council by Resolution 1993-220. In 2016, the Board formed the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse by Resolution 2016-101.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
The County Attorney’s Office recommends that the Board approve the attached Resolution.