HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSC minutes 3-23-17Council Public Safety Committee
March 23, 2017
MINUTES
Members:
Councilmember Carmen Mendez (chair)
Councilmember Kathy Coffey
Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez
Others:
Sarah Augustine, DRC Director
Melissa Hill, DRC Board of Directors
The meeting was called to order at 3:02 p.m.
Staff:
City Manager Cliff Moore
Capt. Jeff Schneider, Police
Deputy Chief Mark Soptich, Fire
Bronson Faul, Legal
Scott Schafer, Public Works
Randy Beehler, Community Relations
Terri Croft, Police
1. Approval of minutes of February 23, 2017
It was MOVED by Gutierrez to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2017 meeting
as presented. Motion was SECONDED by Coffey. Motion PASSED unanimously.
New Business
2. Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit
Schneider presented a proposed interlocal agreement between the Yakima Police
Department, the Washington State Patrol, and several local police agencies. The
agreement would form a unit to investigate significant incidences of officer involved use
of force. As Yakima Police Department is the largest agency in the area, we would
need to partner with multiple smaller agencies to conduct the investigations. This
agreement would keep agencies from investigating their own officers' use of force
incidents.
Coffey asked if the department was recommending the agreement go forward.
Schneider advised yes, that is the recommendation. The agreement is the best
scenario available to improve transparency in these major investigations. Coffey asked
if, as the largest agency in the area, this agreement would tax the resources of the
Yakima Police Department. Schneider did not believe it would cause any issues, as the
types of incidents to be investigated happen infrequently.
Mendez agreed that the agreement was good for transparency. She asked if the
Yakima Police Patrolmans Association (YPPA) supported the agreement. Schneider
replied that the union had not stated a position on the issue. He said that some
individual officers had expressed some nervousness because it was a new procedure,
however, ultimately, all the officer want is a quality investigation, which he believes this
agreement will provide. Mendez asked how long it would take to implement the
agreement. Schneider advised that it would be effective 90 days after all participating
agencies signed the agreement. Mendez inquired about funding for the program.
Schneider replied that there was no funding for the program. Mendez further asked
about money set aside for outside investigations. Schneider clarified that there are two
investigations that occur with a major use of force incident; the criminal investigation,
which this agreement covers, and the administrative investigation, which is conducted
by internal affairs. Mendez expressed the desire to continue the conversation of moving
to fully outside administrative investigations.
It was MOVED by Coffey and SECONDED by Gutierrez to forward the agreement to the
full council with a recommendation to accept. Motion PASSED unanimously. Item will
be placed on the April 4, 2017 council agenda.
Old Business
3. Welcoming City community conversation
Sarah Augustine, Director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas
Counties, and Melissa Hill, DRC Board of Directors, were welcomed to the meeting.
Augustine presented revised proposal for the DRC to facilitate a community
conversation regarding the welcoming city tensions. The proposal recommended a
meeting in each district and would shift the conversation away from a "yes or no" on the
welcoming city resolution and instead focus on the underlying stressors or tensions.
After the district meetings are held, an agenda would be built to bring to the council.
This process would create an opportunity for more open dialog rather than "open mike"
type statements.
Mendez stated that the committee members had met and reviewed the proposal.
Although they felt it was a great strategy, they did not feel that the city should be
responsible for the cost, especially at a time when the council is looking to cut costs.
She understands that community sponsors are being sought to cover the cost of the
proposal.
Coffey discussed an alternative, which would be similar to the DRC proposal but would
be held at the Convention Center with breakout discussion groups by city district at the
beginning of the meeting, and then having all the groups come together at the end of
the meeting for discussion.
Gutierrez stated that the current discussion is not advocating for a welcoming or
sanctuary city, but is for an inclusive public safety ordinance. She felt that when the
issue was the resolution, it was appropriate for community discussion. However, the
current issue is an ordinance, which is policy setting, and is a responsibility of the
council. She expressed concern over what the public discussion would cover and that
continuing discussion would put the validity of the ordinance at risk. She expressed
further uncertainty to the logistics of a community discussion regarding the ordinance.
Coffey stated that an ordinance is a law, and asked if ordinance was enacted and it is
interpreted that the police didn't follow the ordinance, what the ramifications would be.
Moore advised it would be similar to the current process for allegations of inappropriate
officer conduct. Allegations would be reviewed, investigated, and officers subject to
discipline if the allegation is sustained. There would not be criminal penalties for
violations. Coffey was concerned over some of the ordinance language that she felt
was open to interpretation. Schneider stated that the police department would want a
clearly worded ordinance.
Augustine advised that the DRC does not take a position in the matter and the forum
would not be a "debate" with facts presented. The forum would be a community
conversation.
Moore said that the focal point of the issue has changed. At the time of the initial DRC
proposal, the issue was a resolution that sparked discord in the community. The current
issue is a city ordinance, which is a city responsibility, and it is difficult to ask the
community for funding a discussion of something that is a city responsibility.
There was additional discussion regarding the perception of the community on the
issue, the need to be cautious and realistic regarding federal funding, and the need to
refine the language of the ordinance. Augustine added that conflict comes from people
having different interests and different points of view. Resolution comes from the
opportunity to hear the differing viewpoints. She did not feel the underlying root of the
concerns would go away any time soon.
Moore advised he would discuss the issue with each council member in his one-on-one
meetings with them to find out what direction they would like to see the council and staff
take.
Other Business
4a. Homeless Encampment
Moore reviewed the opening of the homeless camp near the Wastewater facility. The
camp had 52 people signed in on its opening night. The camp appears to be well
organized and is working through some minor issues. Moore has met with the
Greenway and Arboretum boards. A business outreach group has addressed concerns
immediately.
Mendez asked if the City was accounting for in-kind funds. Moore advised that the City
is billing for some items, such as the installation of a pole for power. Mendez stated she
would like to see any services the city provides tracked. She asked about the maximum
capacity of the camp, as she understood it to be 50 people. Moore advised that was
correct, and if there continue to be more people than the maximum capacity, a lease
modification proposal may need to be brought forward.
4b. Student Paper
Coffey inquired if the other committee members had read the study by Lea Kronenberg.
Ms. Kronenberg is a graduate student at Evergreen College who wrote an analysis of
gang issues in Yakima. The other committee members had not fully reviewed the
paper. Coffey felt it was important to consider how to support the police and also
support and guide youth in the community.
5. Audience participation
There was no audience participation
6. Information items
There were no information items
7. Recap of future agenda items
Debrief of Kronenberg report
Update on homicides
Briefing on robberies
8. Good of the order
Coffey asked what suggestions Schneider would have for the direction of the Public
Safety Committee. Schneider advised that strong families deter most crime and
anything that can be done to support strong families would help. There was further
discussion on the benefits of community policing.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m.