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HomeMy WebLinkAbout111518 PSC minutesCouncil Public Safety Committee 2nd Floor Conference Room City Hall November 15, 2018 3:00 p.m. Members: Staff: Others: Councilmember Gutierrez Cliff Moore, City Manager Luz Bazan Gutierrez Councilmember White (alt) Jay Seely, Police Captain Nick Sloan Aaron Markham, Fire Chief Joe Caruso, Code Administration Manager Brett Sheffield, Chief Engineer Cynthia Martinez, City Prosecutor Chad Stephens, Police Lieutenant Hallie Meyers, Police Recruiting Officer Terri Croft, Police Executive Minutes Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. 1. September 27, 2018 minutes It was MOVED by White and SECONDED by Gutierrez to accept the minutes as presented. The minutes were approved unanimously. 2. Department reports a. Fire Department i. September fire activity report Markham provided a monthly report of calls for service and fire inspections. Gutierrez inquired if the rate of 200 fire inspections per month was typical. Markham advised it was. There was further discussion regarding who conducts fire inspections for Union Gap, with Markham reporting that our staff conducts those as part of the contract with Union Gap. White inquired about arson investigators. Markham advised that he has an investigator available on each shift that can make preliminary determinations, but no longer has anyone who can conduct the in- depth investigations, as that person retired. There was discussion regarding how arson investigations are conducted, including Yakima Police Detectives conducting any criminal investigations. Markham's goal is to have continuing education for his employees to get a certified inspector. Gutierrez expressed her concerns with the progress of arson investigations, understanding the lack of evidence and FTE to conduct the investigation. She asked if all resources had been exhausted to reduce arson. Seely advised that patrols can be restructured with the proper analysis of arson crimes. Gutierrez asked if the cost to certify an investigator is within the current budget or would it be over? Markham advised that the training and association memberships are free, but there is an expense in proctoring the certification test. Gutierrez requested that the arson topic remain a standing item on the committee agenda. b. Police Department i. Community Policing Report Seely reported that the department plans to implement permanent beat assignments in January. These assignments will last for one year, with an expectation that the officer will get to know his/her beat, the problem areas, and engage the community. The officer will be expected to attend community events and programs. There was discussion regarding how to let the community know who their beat officers were and engage with them. The committee requested Interim Chief Jones present this issue to the full council in December or January. Gutierrez asked if the school district could communicate the opportunities for interaction with the beat officers. Moore advised he would add this to his letter to the school district regarding Safe Routes to Schools. Seely noted that officers have been interacting with students by having breakfast or lunch with them. ii. Designated Crisis Responder program Stephens provided a short history of the DCR program and its funding through the Trueblood grant. DCRs ride with the officer on patrol and are able to conduct evaluations of people in crisis in the field rather than officers having to wait for a DCR response. The program is helping with deferrals. Stephens added that Comprehensive Health Care had provided de-escalation training to all YPD officers. The committee would like to see ways for this program to continue after the Trueblood funding ends. iii. Police Recruiting Meyers reported she had been assigned to the recruiting position since April and has been traveling the state and adjoining states, attending general and military career fairs. White inquired about non- traditional options such as volunteers or security firms. Seely advised that there is high liability in these options. c. Legal i. DV Response survey ii. Martinez presented the comparison between the City of Yakima response to the model response. There is some grant funding available, however we do not currently receive funding. Martinez will look at grant funding if it is decided to move to a Community Crisis Response Team format. Martinez advised that most of the elements are already in place in our area, they are just not coordinated. There was discussion about having the domestic violence advocate function as the coordinator for the CCRT. Gutierrez would like to present the inventory to the full council but would like to focus some of the points. The item will remain on the agenda for the December meeting to discuss ideas to overlap coordination and advocacy, what agencies would be invited to participate, and support and direction for the CCRT. d. Public Works i. Safe Routes to Schools Sheffield presented the Safe Routes to Schools report. He advised staff is reviewing the school districts concerns and is working to turn them into actionable goals. The committee inquired if the school district had surveyed the families. Sheffield advised there was some surveying that needed to be done as part of the grant application, and Moore stated he would include that in his letter to the school district. The committee would like to see the program not just focus on sidewalks, but incorporating other safety measures. White would like to see the projects prioritized by the current "danger" level of the area. 3. New Business None 4. Other business a. 1st Street curb cuts Gutierrez asked if the curb cuts for police vehicles on N. 1st Street had been completed. Sheffield advised they were being incorporated into Phase 2. 5. Recap of future agenda items Arson investigations Domestic Violence survey Continuing discussion of Public Safety Forums The two topics proposed by Councilmember Funk, Public Safety Leadership and Drivers on Yakima School District property, were to be moved to the December meeting. After discussion, the committee members present did not want to continue discussion on these matters. Moore noted that the Public Safety Leadership topic was proposed by Councilmember Funk at the June 19th full council meeting and died for lack of a second. It was MOVED by Gutierrez and SECONDED by White to remove these two items from the December agenda. Motion PASSED unanimously. 6. Audience participation Nick Sloan spoke of the importance of the fire department public education captain position and asked for the council to reconsider eliminating the position. 7. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m. Dulce Gutierrez; Chair