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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSC Minutes 3-24-16 approvedCouncil Public Safety Committee March 24, 2016 MINUTES Members: Councilmember Kathy Coffey (chair) Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez Councilmember Carmen Mendez The meeting was called to order at 3:04 p.m. Staff: Jeff Cutter, Interim City Manager Chief Dominic Rizzi, Police Chief Bob Stewart, Fire Prncari itnr (vnthia Martina? I anal Helen Harvey, Legal Terri Croft, Police Mutual Aid Agreement between YPD and City of Cleveland Rizzi provided an overview of the request from the City of Cleveland for mutual aid during the Republican National Convention. The benefits to the Yakima Police Department are gaining training and exposure to managing large events and crowd control. All costs are reimbursed, including any overtime to backfill for officers attending. Gutierrez inquired how many officers would be sent. Rizzi advised 10 officers total, not all from the patrol division, would be attending for 5-6 day, including travel days. The City of Yakima would not be left short -covered during this time. Mendez recommended the agreement be forwarded to the full council with the support of the committee. • Budget Restraints impacting YPD Rizzi reported that the Police Department has been working with the interim city manager to address any budget issues the department is having, but overall the department is doing well operating within the current budget constraints. There will be some details to work out when a new city manager is hired. Gutierrez asked if the Public Information Officer position was providing any visible differences. Rizzi explained that the PIO position does more than just issue press releases. The PIO is actively involved in community outreach, such as the Coffee with a Cop and Roll Call Cookout events. He also handles all of the department's social media outreach, which is creating overwhelming positive feedback within the community. A recent post of YPD command staff with a prayer blanket that was to be sent to a police officer shot in the line of duty (who was originally from Yakima) received over 38,000 positive hits and responses. An integral part of the PIO job is to enhance the image of the PD and we are seeing those results. • GFI Status Rizzi reported that his understanding was that the GFI was disbanded when Perry Tarrant resigned. All police department involvement with the program was terminated when Tarrant was brought in as GFI Manager. Contracts were approved under GFI in 2015 with YPAL and People for People. Those programs are continuing, however there is no one person assigned to coordinate the efforts. Rizzi advised the programs are still viable, but not under the GFI heading. The agencies are still delivering their reports with invoicing, which are going directly to Finance. Martinez volunteered to coordinate having representatives from YPAL and People for People at the next Public Safety Committee meeting to address the committee. • Update on Homeless Policy Rizzi presented the police department's approach to homeless issues. Homelessness in and of itself is not illegal, however, it does tend to lead to illegal activity such as littering, trespassing, etc. The police department becomes involved when illegal activity occurs. Officer do attempt to connect homeless persons with resources when appropriate, such as drug and alcohol treatment or mental health services. Coffey stated that there is a perception among downtown business owners and managers that homelessness is increasing downtown, and everyone is searching for the answers to address the issue. Rizzi brought up that the bicycle patrol last summer had a tremendous impact on complaints of homeless activity, as the officers had the opportunity to get to know the individuals, the areas they frequented, etc., and were able to get many homeless people connected with resources. He hopes to have the downtown bicycle patrol again this summer and is looking into a long term downtown foot/bike patrol officer on a permanent basis. Gutierrez asked if the bicycle officers received specialized training to deal with mental illness, drug addiction, etc. Rizzi advised that all officers are trained in these areas, but they may not use the information they learn on a regular basis. Since the bicycle officers were using the skills and knowledge on a daily basis, they became very adept with their interactions with homeless persons. Cutter noted that this is an issue with many facets and will continue to be addressed on several fronts. • Neighborhood Policing Coffey stated that she would like to begin a conversation within the committee about neighborhood policing and how we can further outreach efforts despite budget constraints. Rizzi advised that there are "criminal subcultures" within the community that will continue to conduct criminal activity, but that does not diminish responsibility of the police to serve all residents. Sir Robert Peele stated, "The police are the public, and the public are the police. The police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the intent of the community welfare." The police can only be successful in addressing issue with the cooperation of the public. Police lost their interaction with the public in the 1960's when they were transitioned from foot beats to cars. We are now trying to transition back to regain the community interaction. The benefits of this interaction are not just for the community members, but for the police officers as well, who begin to change their perception of the community and see the positive and not merely the negative. This conversation will be continued in the upcoming Public Safety Committee meetings. Rizzi distributed police training information to the committee members for their information. • Fire personnel issues Stewart reported that 4 new fire fighters would be hired and beginning the 8 -week academy on April 1. Due to retirements and transfers, the fire code inspection compliment has gone from 3 code inspection officers to 1. Human Resources is working to fill those vacations. There will be several fire promotions April 1. • Fire apparatus update The engine and ladder truck is under construction — construction time is 1 year. The apparatus should be received around December. Fire district 11 has contributed $7500 toward the purchase of a water tender. Chief Soptich is looking at a tender unit in Texas that may serve the department purposes. • Good of the order It was noted that the committee would like to have a complete packet one week prior to the meeting. Mendez requested minutes from the last 3-4 Public Safety Committee meetings be included in the next packet. Mendez asked if the police department was assisting with the Bernie Sanders visit. Rizzi advised that there was a large contingency of officers who was working with the secret service on this visit. It was MOVED by Mendez and SECONDED by Gutierrez to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Approved: