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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120419 public safety minutes 1 Public Safety Committee Meeting Call to Order The April 19, 2012, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 7:35 a.m. by Councilman Pope. Attendance Present: Committee Members: Councilman Bryan Pope, Councilman Bill Luebbert, Councilman Rick Prather, Councilman Rich Mihalevich, and Councilman Larry Henry. Guests: City Administrator Nathan Nickolaus, Fire Chief Bob Rennick, Police Chief Roger Schroeder, City Counselor Drew Hilpert and County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Farr. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the March 29, 2012, committee meeting were approved. All voted in favor. Chairman Councilman Pope welcomed the new council members of the Public Safety Committee. He stated that this committee gave council members the opportunity to participate in the protection and safety of their neighbors and the community at large. The committee moves very deliberately. As a point of reference for the new members, a Citizen Survey was conducted in April 2010. This document will be helpful to them in the areas of public safety involving the Police and Fire Departments, Animal Control, and emergency preparedness. Councilman Pope referenced pages pertaining to the strong satisfaction of the citizens surveyed regarding public safety. He expressed his desire that the conduct of the committee be less formal and contain free dialogue with open discussion. Discussion of Agenda Items OLD BUSINESS Fire Department Improvement Plan Councilman Luebbert made a motion to open the topic of the Fire Department improvement plan for discussion. Councilman Prather seconded the motion. Motion approved. Councilman Pope advised on March 8, 2012, the Public Safety Committee voted to advance the Fire Department Improvement Plan (proposed sales tax) to the full City Council. At the time, Councilmen Harvey and Koon thought it best that the new council members be involved, the item was placed on the informal calendar, where it eventually died. Councilman Pope, responding to objections of the proposal expressed b y council members, drafted changes to the 2 proposal. The provision that a higher portion of sales tax funds would be devoted to the Police Department has been eliminated. A sunset period of January 2013 to December 2027 has been added. Councilman Pope stated the committee would entertain any situational objections to the proposed sales tax. Although public safety issues are initially discussed in the committee meetings, the full council is always given a chance to approve any proposals. City Counselor Hilpert explained that tax money earmarked for the Fire Department Improvement Plan must be spent on the Fire Department. General fund money that may have been spent on the Fire Department could then be spent in other areas or departments. Councilman Pope advised this City Council would not be committing future councils to a spending regimen. Spending issues would be decided on a year-to-year basis. City Counselor Hilpert and Finance Director Schlueter stated that placing the sales tax on the August ballot is advantageous as it falls during the budget process, will decide between a sales or property tax for the City, and the levy setting is due in August. Chief Rennick advised the firefighters would like to see the sales tax on the August ballot. The committee held discussion on the validity and/or necessity of conducting a citizen petition to determine support for the sales tax. Councilman Pope asked for a role call to end the discussion on the sales tax issue: Councilman Pope, Aye; Councilman Luebbert, Aye; Councilman Henry, Aye; Councilman Mihalevich, Aye; Councilman Prather, Aye. Councilman Pope asked for a role call vote regarding whether to move the sales tax issue onto the full council: Councilman Pope, Aye; Councilman Luebbert, Aye; Councilman Henry, Aye; Councilman Mihalevich, Aye; Councilman Prather, Aye. Councilman Pope advised the sales tax issue will be on the agenda for the May 7 council meeting. NEW BUSINESS Council Luebbert inquired if the new outdoor warning sirens are capable of issuing vocal warnings. Chief Schroeder advised the system is capable of issuing predesigned voice messages or very specific directed voice messages to the public. Chief Schroeder added that voice warnings could target specific sub-sections of the City. Councilman Pope asked Chief Rennick and Chief Schroeder to prepare a program to introduce and acclimate the new committee members to their respective departments. He would like the 3 committee to have a “crash course” in public safety and tour facilities. The committee members will be polled to set a date, and the Chiefs will be notified. The Public Safety Committee meeting scheduled for May 3 is cancelled. OTHER BUSINESS None. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.