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Home My WebLink About10/21/2008 04B Minutes 07-02-2008 Council Public Safety Committee Council" Q u6& Safety Committee. Cfiam6ers City Mall' July 2, 2008 MINUTES Council Members Present: Norm Johnson, Bill Lover and Rick Ensey Staff Present: Assistant City Manager Dave Zabell, Police Chief Sam Granato, Police Police Lieutenant Gary Belles, Fire Chief Charlie Hines, Deputy Fire Marshall Ron Melcher, Code Compliance Officer Royale Schneider, Assistant City Attorney Bronson Faul, Police Administrative Assistant Terri Greer The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnson at 2:00 p.m. I. Jail Cost Projections Belles provided a brief update of current jail population and cost projections. • There was a 22% increase in population in April. Lover inquired about the opening of the new pod in the juvenile detention center. Belles advised that although we have had juveniles housed there, the sentencing and restitution for juveniles are outside of the police department's control. II. North 1 Street Emphasis Belles reported the final statistics for the North 1st Street emphasis. As this area is comprised of businesses rather than residences, it was different than all of our previous emphasis patrols and lessons will be taken from this emphasis. Ill. WASPC Conference Granato reported that the WASPC Legislative Committee met on June 24 and put Random Drug Testing on their priority list. Placement on the priority list means that WASPC will provide logistical assistance and support, and will provide testimony on behalf of the lead agency, which in this case will be the Yakima Police Department. The issue was adopted by the committee and will be presented to the full membership in November at the Fall conference. IV. Amendment of section 15.25.060 of Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance to file criminal cases in the City of Yakima Municipal Court S Faul asked to not have any action taken on this issue at this time. He reported that the Planning Commission is doing a complete revision of their code which will be presented to the Council when it is finished. At that time, there will need to be council action taken in order to prosecute these cases in Municipal Court rather than District Court. V. Weedy Lots Schneider presented the problem of abatement of weedy lots. The abatement process takes 60 days. In 2007, there were 69 grass fire calls inside the Yakima City limits. This should be addressed as a public safety issue rather than a nuisance issue. Hines would like to see some type of enforcement during fire season that limits weed height or imposes a fine. Johnson wants to see an ordinance drafted to address the issue. Lover would like Code Enforcement to be able to fine violators. He will contact Jeff Cutter to see what can be drafted. Zabell asked what authority the Fire Department has if they identify a lot that is an immediate threat. All authority rests with Code Enforcement. Lover asked if it would be possible for the City to have hazardous lots mowed and then charge the property owner. Zabell advised that we had to make sure the City has the authority to do that, and stated the authority should change based on whether the issue was a fire hazard /public safety concern or a nuisance /unsightly lot concern. XIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:35. The next meeting will be scheduled when • needed. 4112 -i- Nor Johnson Public Safe ommittee Chair Minutes prepared by Terri Greer S