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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/18/2008 04B Minutes 03-05-2008 Council Public Safety Committee 0 Yakima C Council S itt Meeting . Counci Pub& Safety Committee • City Manager's Conference mom City Mad March 5, 2008 MINUTES Council Members Present: Bill Lover, David Edier, Norm Johnson Staff Present: City Manager Dick Zais, Police Chief Sam Granato, Police Lieutenant Gary Belles, Assistant City Attorney Cynthia Martinez, Fire Chief Charlie Hines, Finance Director Rita Anson, Financial Services Manager Cindy Epperson, Judge Kelly OIweII, Court Services Manager Linda Hagert, Police Administrative Assistant Terri Greer The meeting was called to order at 2:04 p.m. I. Review of Committee Assignments III Per the Committee's direction at the February 6, 2008 meeting, a report was prepared by staff regarding the current status of Public Safety Committee priorities and assignments. The list was reviewed by City Manager Dick Zais. a. Safe Communities Action Plan City Manager Zais gave a brief history of the Safe Communities Action Plan and funding sources that had been identified to fund the Safe Communities Action Plan. The voter's defeat of Proposition 1 precluded the plan from being fully implemented. Council earmarked the funds from the Library Annexation to partially implement the Safe Communities Action Plan. The previous Public Safety Committee spent several months identifying possible funding sources and holding public hearings regarding the feasibility of to those funding sources. In the end, only two funding sources were identified as viable, the Library Annexation funds and Annexation revenues. Approximately $750,000 - $775,000 was made available through these two sources and was used to hire 7 additional police officers, a Crime Free Rental Housing clerk, a crime analyst and technology and vehicles for a new proactive enforcement team. It is still the goal to implement the full plan, which would require III an additional $2,800,000. This would cover current costs, however, it is important to consider that any funding source must be sustainable and grow with costs (labor, fuel, etc.) Chief Granato provided an update on the emphasis patrols that had been conducted in 2006 and 2007. In 2007 there was an approximately 17.5% reduction in crime from 2006, much of this impact was as a result of the emphasis patrols. Federal funds have been obtained to contact 4 additional emphasis patrols in 2008. The Police Department is also working to get the Proactive Enforcement Unit fully staffed and operational by this summer, which will be supplemented with overtime enforcements funded by the federal financial awards. City Manager Zais added that the City is still awaiting the Bureau of Justice federal contracts in order to implement the financial awards. Cynthia Martinez updated the committee on the purchase of the Prosecutors Case Management System. Currently the County is working toward a county -wide consolidated Case Manage System. The County's Request for Proposal will go out at the end of this month. Once they have completed their process, the City will be able to procure a Case Management System that will work with the County's system. Linda Hagert updated the committee on the additions to the Municipal Court staff as a result of the Safe Communities Action Plan. One court clerk has been hired and the commissioner position has been filled 1 /2 time since February 1. They have been able to absorb the increase in filings created by the increase in police officers. b. Gang Bill The Gang bill is still alive in the legislature but is going through some significant revisions in the area of civil injunctions — current language would require the city to provide an attorney for the gang member listed in the injunction. This is unusual for any civil proceeding. The bar has been set very high for civil injunctions. There has been some funding attached to this bill. c. Pursuing State and Federal Legislation and Resources that Enhance Community Safety. It was noted that the Eluding Bill that Chief Granato and Mayor Edler have worked to support will likely come out for a vote later this week. • • d. LEMAP Report The Loaned Executive Manager Assistance Program was conducted by the WASPC LEMAP group to provide a fair review of the Police Department, set a baseline of current operations and assist in setting strategic goals. e. Hiring of Deputy Police Chief The Deputy Police Chief position was funded through general fund sources for the 2 half of 2008. Regional recruitment will begin soon. f. Random Drug Testing A brief report of proposed strategic planning was distributed to the committee. This item should be discussed in a dedicated meeting of the Public Safety Committee. g. Police /Corrections Facility Expansion. Three Requests for Qualification have been received for jail expansion and a Westside precinct. Mayor Edler stated for the record that he does not support the jail expansion portion of this proposal. h. Consolidated Countywide RMS System Rita Debord briefed the committee on the regional task force that has been working towards a consolidated police records, mobile data reporting, jail, CAD and prosecutors system. .3% Sales Tax This has been a vital revenue source that will be put to the voters again either late 2008 or 2009. The City has a good record to present to the voters to support the continuation of this sales tax. j. Curfew Ordinance Cynthia Martinez advised that a blanket, city wide curfew would not be legally defensible, however, if there are statistics to show specific juvenile crime or problems in particular areas, a curfew could be enacted in those locations and could be enforced. Mayor Edler suggested eliminating this assignment as the proposed gang legislation would address most issues a curfew would be targeting. Chief Granato stated that this underscores the need for a good RMS system to be able to obtain the statistics necessary to show the need for such legislation. It was MOVED by Councilman Lover and SECONDED by Mayor Edler to remove this item from the committee assignment list. Motions PASSED unanimously. k. Car Prowl Emphasis Patrol by Downtown Ambassador Program The issues of car prowl have been discussed with the Convention Bureau and the Hotel /Motel Association. A partnership with the Downtown Ambassador Program would enhance security. The committee would like to have surveillance of trouble spots enhanced as well. Red Light Camera Photo Enforcement It was MOVED by Mayor Edler and SECONDED by Councilman Lover to remove this item from the assignment list. The motion PASSED unanimously. m. Fire Department Staffing /Facilities /Apparatus Chief Hines addressed funding issues with Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funds. REET funds can't be used to purchase apparatus, but can be used for facilities. n. Consider Submitting EMS Levy Adjustment for Voter Approval Chief Hines advised the committee that by converting the county EMS levy, currently at $.25, to a city EMS levy at $.50, 10 additional firefighters could be funded and it would facilitate a Paramedic Engine Program, enabling the department to have two paramedics on every call. o. Automatic Aid Agreements Chief Hines briefed the committee on current and pending automated aid agreements between the Yakima Fire Department and other fire agencies. P. Review Opportunities for City /County or Fire Department Consolidation of Building and Fire Code Enforcement and Responsibilities This issue needs to be addressed with the members of the business community involved in construction and real estate. An exploratory meeting is being set for this month. Mayor Edler thanked the staff for their reports. The committee elected to continue to address the following assignments: • Next steps for Safe Communities Action Plan • Random Drug Testing Strategy 4110 • Police /Corrections Facilities Expansion Study • .3% Sales Tax Reauthorization by Voters • Pursue Car -Prowl Emphasis Patrol by Downtown Ambassadors Program • Develop Financing Plan for Fire Department Staffing, Capital Facility and Apparatus needs • Consider Submitting EMS Levy Adjustment for Voter Approval The following assignments were directed back to staff to handle and report back to the committee, with the understanding that some of the issues may need to be vetted back through the committee and full council: • Gang Bill Legislation • Pursue State and Federal Legislation and Resources that Enhance Community Safety • LEMAP Study • Hiring of Deputy Police Chief • Implement Consolidated Countywide Public Safety/91 1 Communications /Records /Data Management System • Pursue /Finalize "Automatic Aid" Agreements between Fire Department and other agencies • Review Opportunities for City /County or Fire Department Consolidation of Building and Fire Code Enforcement and Responsibilities The following items were determined to not be a priority and removed from the assignment list: • Develop Legally Defensible Curfew Ordinance • Revisit Potential for Red Light Camera Intersection Photo Enforcement II. Discuss Emphasis Patrol on North 1 Street Councilman Johnson advised that the Council Oversight Committee had met with business people from the North 1 Street, who asked if the police department would consider conducting an emphasis patrol in their area to address some of the social issues (i.e., prostitution, narcotics). Lt. Gary Belles provided a report of crime statistics from the last emphasis patrol that bordered but did not incorporate the area of North 1 Street. The statistics show that the emphasis patrols did have a spill -over effect onto North 1 Street. It was suggested that future emphasis patrols conducted in the area have 1 day /week assigned to target North 1 Street specifically. • III. Update of Officer Darryl Henning Officer Henning was involved in traffic accident on his police motorcycle accident 9 p Y this morning. He suffered multiple broken bones but there appears to be no head trauma. He is at Yakima Regional Hospital. IV. Meeting Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 4:00. The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 2, 2008 in the Council Chambers to discuss Safe Communities Action Plan funding and the EMS levy. At ����� / � ., S / '0 � .L�ifYia�� Norm Johnson Public Safety C• - mittee Chair Minutes prepared by Terri Greer •