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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/07/2009 04B Minutes 06-04-2009 Council Public Safety Committee Council Public Safety Committee CED Conference Room City Hall June 4, 2009 MINUTES Council Members Present: Maureen Adkison, Dave Edier and Sonia. Rodriguez Staff Present: City Manager Dick Zais, Fire Chief Charlie Hines, Police Chief Sam Granato, Police Captain Jeff Schneider, Refuse Manager Nancy Fortier, Assistant City Attorney Cynthia Martinez, Assistant City Attorney Anna McFaul, James Scott — Refuse, Archie Matthews - ONDS, Police Administrative Assistant Terri Greer Others present: Jack Maras, Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health. The meeting was called to order by Edier at 2:00 p.m. I. Selection of Committee Chair Edier nominated Adkison for committee chair, Rodriguez seconded the nomination. Adkison unanimously selected as committee chair. II. Crisis Intervention Team Jack Maras gave an overview of the Crisis Intervention Program. This program is used to divert non- violent mentally ill offenders out of the jail system and into a treatment program. The program is currently being funded by a SAMHSA grant, however that funding ends on July 1, 2009. CWCMH is requesting funding from the City to continue the program. Edier is in support of the program and moved to make a recommendation to the full council in support of the funding request. Zais advised that this needs to be done through the outside agency funding request process during the budget process, and recommended this issue be referred back to staff for further research. It has not been decided at this time if the program will end when the funding ends in July. III. Shopping Carts ordinance Fortier advised that abandoned shopping carts have become a problem in several areas. The carts block traffic, alleys, etc. and pose a hazard. Most stores are voluntarily compliant with retrieving their carts, however there are others that are not and that is the reason for the proposed legislation. Edier asked if other communities have implemented similar legislation, and Fortier advised several other cities have. The full ordinance was not produced in the agenda packet, however, it was moved by Edier and seconded by Adkison to forward the ordinance to the full council with a recommendation for approval. Motion passed unanimously. IV. Avoidance of Intersections Martinez advised that this legislation was drafted after a discussion with Sgt. Gary Jones, who receives complaints regarding motorists avoiding intersections by cutting through private parking lots or driveways. This ordinance is based on the Kent Municipal Code ordinance and many cities have similar ordinances. It was moved by Rodriguez and seconded by Edler to move the item to the full council with a recommendation for approval. Motion passed unanimously. V. Graffiti Issues Zais introduced this item as the result of a Council study session in 2008, during which time a list of projects, issues and recommendations was compiled. That list was divided among Council committees to research and report on enacting the recommendations. The Neighborhood Development Committee is ready to forward their report to the full Council, however, due to changes on the Public Safety Committee and several cancelled meetings, this committee has not been able to review the recommendations. Granato provided a report on several different strategies that are being used with success in other communities. He advised that the police are in a difficult position where they are expected to catch "taggers" and gang members who perpetrate graffiti crimes, however the perpetrators are difficult to catch and prosecute. The police department's Pro Active unit has done enforcement of the graffiti implement ordinance in local businesses, but Union Gap and Selah do not have similar ordinances, making it easy for taggers to get graffiti implements by going to those two cities. The police department has purchased several new graffiti cameras and graffiti stops in locations where the cameras are installed. Additionally, there is a company that will identify, upload and track graffiti crime, and can link cases together for prosecution. Matthews advised that his division spends approximately $90,000 - $95,000 to paint out graffiti. They utilize donated paint and primarily volunteer labor, but do not have enough full time employees to supervise the volunteers. Rodriguez asked if a graffiti hotline could be implemented. Granato advised that he would be approaching Crimestoppers to see if they could provide hotline support. This would require a change to the Crimestoppers charter, as their charter only allow them to provide rewards for felony crimes. Martinez provided a review of the three areas of the municipal code that deal with graffiti: restrictions on the sale of graffiti implements; removal of graffiti by convicted offenders, which is not enforced for the most part; and property owner's responsibility to remove graffiti on their property. The only recommended change to the code would be to create minimum mandatory penalties for graffiti in school zones. The committee advised they would like to see legislation on that recommendation. Edler will approach the mayor of Selah and Union Gap to encourage them to adopt legislation restricting the sale of graffiti implements similar to the Yakima ordinance. VI. Animal Husbandry Martinez provided a brief history of this issue, advising that due to the annexation of - rural areas, some provisions were made to "grandfather" in these areas to allow raising and slaughtering of livestock with limited exceptions. This was not included in the Urban Area Zoning Ordinance update. This legislation is a housekeeping measure to update the UAZO. It was moved by Edler and seconded by Rodriguez to forward the legislation to the full council with a recommendation for approval. Motion passed unanimously. VII. Other Business Edler briefed the new committee members on his philosophy for the committee, that being to discuss and vet public safety issues and move tho forward to the Council. He expressed his disappointment in how prior members of the committee had not supported issues that had been discussed in committee when they were brought to the full council. Some of these issues, such as the firefighter /paramedic program, were part of a long -term strategic plan of the fire department that had come out of the committee. Edler would like to strategize at a future meeting the strategic plan for public safety and how to move that forward. Rodriguez feels that meeting "as needed" will not help the committee deal with these issues and feels a regular meeting schedule needs to be set. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 3:45. Ma n Adkison Public Safety Committee Minutes prepared by Terri Greer