HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSC minutes 01-26-17Council Public Safety Committee
January 26, 2017
MINUTES
Members:
Councilmember Carmen Mendez (chair)
Councilmember Kathy Coffey
Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m.
Staff:
City Manager Cliff Moore
Chief Dominic Rizzi, Police
Chief Bob Stewart, Fire
Scott Schafer, Public Works
Cynthia Mart
inez, Prosecutor
Bronson Faul, Legal
Jeannett Mora, Police Services Mgr.
Brad Coughenour, SunComm
Terri Croft, Police
• Approval of minutes of December 1, 2016
It was MOVED. by Gutierrez to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2016 meeting
as presented. Motion was SECONDED by Coffey. Motion PASSED unanimously.
New Business
• Police Fees
Mora advised the Police Department is presenting an updated to their fee schedule.
Several items are related to services that the Police Department no longer provides.
Faul noted that most of the fees are set by statute and RCW.
It was MOVED by Coff
ey to move to the full council with a recommendation by the
committee to approve. Motion was SECONDED by Gutierrez. Motion PASSED
unanimously.
• SAFER Grant
Stewart presented an update on the SAFER grant. In the last grant cycle, the grant
covered 100% of firefighter costs, however, the new grant cycle requires some cost
sharing. The timing of the SAFER grant ties in nicely with the negotiations for the Union
Gap fire service contract. When the initial contract was drafted with Union Gap, 9 Union
Gap firefighters were brought over to the Yakima Fire Department, However, 9
firefighters is not sufficient to create a fully operational unit. This shortage has created
an impact on the fire department's overtime. The Fire Department intends to negotiate
three additional firefighter positions into the Union Gap service agreement. The
revenue from Union Gap for the additional firefighter positions would be used to offset
the cost sharing requirements of the SAFER grant. The Fire Department is looking for
direction from the committee on if they should proceed with the application process.
Mendez asked if the Fire Department would continue negotiations with Union Gap for
the three additional firefighters even if the grant was not received. Stewart advised they
would.
Gutierrez asked if adding the three firefighters would take the department to the 90
authorized positions. Stewart advised that it would increase the authorized compliment
to 93 firefighters. Stewart also advised of upcoming retirements and the amount of time
it takes to recruit, hire, and train new firefighters. Stewart explained that the overtime
impact of not having a full operational unit was not to address large events, it is to keep
minimum/adequate staffing levels.
It was MOVED by Coffey and SECONDED by Gutierrez to move the item to the full
council with a recommendation of the committee to approve. Motion PASSED
unanimously.
Old Business
• Private Ambulance Dispatch Fees
Stewart reported that after the council meeting addressing the ambulance dispatch fee
proposal, he and Coughenour agreed to meet with representatives of the ambulance
companies and EMS. In that meeting, it was determined that the ambulance companies
are not completely opposed to paying a fee, however, they do not transport on every
call they are dispatched to, and do not have any means to recoup their fees. The item
will be discussed with the EMS and Fire Chiefs' boards to prepare a counter proposal,
and staff will meet with the ambulance companies again in March. Stewart also advised
there was a possibility of direct payment from the EMS levy to SunComm. Coughenour
stated that part of the issue was that the dispatch service is a county -wide service, but
expenditures are covered by the City of Yakima.
Coffey agreed that the overages were resting on the City of Yakima and the underlying
issue was that of fairness. Gutierrez advised that she had spoken with Councilman
.over and he had many questions and concerns, and asked if there would be any
opportunity to address those questions. A study session is scheduled for April for this
issue. Coffev reauested that Councilman Lover's auestions be submitted to staff in
advance so they could have the answers prepared for the study session. There was
clarification as to some of the topics presented at the council meeting that are not
relevant to the fee proposal.
• Domestic Violence
Mendez noted that domestic violence appears to be more prevalent in our city than in
other cities and asked what measures the police department was taking to address
domestic violence.
Rizzi advised that the role of the police department was to make arrests in DV cases,
refer the cases for prosecution, and identify trends. He noted that treatment is a social
issue and is not within the purview of law enforcement. Rizzi stated that there can be
difficulties in providing information to service providers due to privacy issues. Martinez
added that DV cases are prosecuted in municipal court, making up 20-25% of the case
load. She noted that DV cases are the most time and labor intensive cases to
prosecute.
Gutierrez asked how Yakima could incorporate a system to prosecute offenders when
there is a non-cooperative witness. She also asked how additional training could be
obtained for prosecutors. Martinez advised that they do prosecute cases with non-
cooperative witnesses, and hope to host a training in Yakima to improve that process.
She also stated that they Legal Department sends one prosecutor each year to the DV
Symposium at Seattle University. The limitation on training is due to a limited training
budget. The cost for one prosecutor to attend is approximately $1000, most of which
are travel expenses.
Coffey asked if the YWCA might co-sponsor the training. She inquired about the PSAs
regarding DV, stating that she had not seen or heard any follow up on them. Moore
advised he would get a report from Beehler on when the PSAs ran. Coffey advised she
would like to see a full, well-rounded media campaign and business plan to address
domestic violence.
There was discussion of a possible work group with the police chief, city prosecutor,
victim/witness assistance program, YWCA, and other partners to coordinate current
efforts. Staff will review the need for a work group.
This item will remain on the February agenda.
Other Business
• Welcoming City Resolution
NCBC recommended to move the Welcoming City topic to the Public Safety Committee
for further discussion, in order to include input from the police chief. Mendez did not
feel there was enough time to discuss the issue in the present meeting and requested it
be put on the February Public Safety Committee agenda. Gutierrez supported this
request and Coffey opposed it, believing the topic was politicized and further discussion
was not necessary.
Discussion will be limited to the proposed resolution. The committee requested Rizzi
prepare information on the police department's current practices, and identify pros and
cons to the resolution.
Mendez requested that the Dispute Resolution Center have a representative present at
the next meeting and that it be held in Council Chambers to allow for community input.
Recap of Upcoming Agenda
Agenda items for February 23, 2017:
• Domestic Violence PSA campaign status
• Discussion of Domestic Violence Work Group
• Welcoming City resolution
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
Approved: