HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/15/2010 04B-1 Minutes 05-19-2010 Council Public Safety Committee Council Public Safety Committee
• CED Conference Room
City Hall
May 19, 2010
MINUTES
Council Committee Members Present: Maureen Adkison, Kathy Coffey and Bill Lover
Staff present: Dick Zais, Mike Merryman, Tom Foley, Charlie Hines, Bob Stewart, Rita
DeBord, Cindy Epperson, Terri Croft.
Coffey called the meeting to order at 3:02.
Gang Free Initiative Update
A study session on the GFI was held May 11, 2010 and was moved forward by the
Council as presented.. On May 12, 2010 an insiders roundtable was taped and has
aired once. Ricardo Garcia commented to committee members that it would be
beneficial to get permission to air the roundtable on YPAC and have Spanish subtitles
added. GFI leaders met with the Yakima County Comprehensive Gang Youth Project,
and a later meeting will be set with the director of their Building the Bridges program.
That program may in incorporated into the GFI. There have been many calls and visits
el from people interested in the coordinator position or serving on the steering committee.
Currently their information is being collected using the Boards and Commissions
applications.
Adkison appreciated the update and commented on the memo addressing Sonia
Rodriguez's concerns. She noted that many of the suggestions have been
implemented by the GFI, but the information is not getting out to the public of what the
GFI is accomplishing.
Coffey stated that the informational flyers are almost ready, however, she would like to
see the new gang hotline number included on the flyers. The release date of the flyers
can be coordinated with the live date on the hotline.
Zais asked the committee how they wanted to proceed with the applications for the
steering committee. Coffey advised she would still like to see specific community
members approached for their input into the appointments to the steering committee.
The Public Safety Committee would like to check back in three weeks to determine the
next steps for the steering committee selection /finalization. The committee agreed to
have the identified members get involved now to keep the steering committee selection
process moving.
II. YPAL Update
Foley provided a report on the YPAL program, which is in actuality a sub- assignment of
® the Community Services division. His understanding was that there was a Council
inquiry if staff assigned to the YPAL program could be redirected to preventative patrol
for 20% of their time. Foley advised that Community Services is staffed by one full time
sergeant, one full time officer, and one full time support person. Additionally, there is a
support person attending to the Crime Free Rental Housing program, and a contract
coordinator for the Block Watch program that also work out of the YPAL building. The
staff in Community Services work on many different projects and frequently have to
adjust their work hours and days off. Staff could be redirected to preventative patrol,
however, it would mean that other Community Services functions would not be
completed. A Block Watch update report will be provided at the next meeting.
III. IPSS Update
DeBord advised the committee of an upcoming meeting on May 24, 2010 of all members
of the IPSS consortium to review the draft interlocal agreement. She provided an update
of costs for the system, and also secured and proposed funding sources. There will be
an increase in maintenance costs for some of the smaller agencies that will be losing
their County subsidy, as well as increased costs for the fire districts.
IV. Telephone System
The current city telephone system is outdated and has serious failure issues with recent
attempts to update it. A report from Communication Manager Wayne Wantland advised
that the system is beyond making proactive corrections and the system must be
replaced. Wantland has worked with Finance staff and a lease /purchase option can be
used to purchase the new telephone system. The total cost of the purchase would need
to be appropriated up front, but the payments would be spread over three years. Staff
recommended this appropriation be put on the next Council agenda. It was MOVED by
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Coffey and SECONDED by Adkison to put the appropriation for a lease /purchase of the
telephone system on the next Council agenda with the committee's recommendation.
Motion PASSED unanimously.
V. Fire Apparatus Needs
Fire Chief Hines, Deputy Fire Chief Stewart, City Manager Zais and Finance Manager
Epperson provided a report on the current fire apparatus conditions and needs. They
proposed a structured plan to phase in the purchase of 6 trucks over the next 10 years
and rotating those trucks through productive service years. Several revenue options
were presented. Staff advised the most likely funding method would be to issue a bond
and repay it. A property tax levy lid lift could provide an identified revenue for
repayment, or an operations and maintenance levy could be put on the ballot. Other
options are a utility tax rate increase or a non -voted G.O. bond.
It was recommended that this report be presented to the full council in a study session.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
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Kathy Coffey
Public Safety Committee
• Minutes prepared by Terri Croft