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