HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120802 public safety minutes 1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The August 2, 2012, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 8:08 a.m. by Councilman
Pope.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Bryan Pope, Councilman Bill Luebbert, and
Councilman Rick Prather.
Guests: Councilman Bob Scrivner, Councilman Bob Weber, City Administrator Nathan
Nickolaus, Fire Chief Bob Rennick, Police Chief Roger Schroeder, Police Captain
Bob Clark, Police Captain Bob Cynova, Matt Morasch with Public Works, Fire
Division Chief of Prevention Jason Turner, Cole County Emergency Management
Coordinator Bill Farr.
Councilman Pope asked for a motion to add “budget discussion” under Other Business.
Councilman Luebbert made the motion, Councilman Prather provided the second. Motion
passed.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes from the May 17, 2012, committee meeting were approved. All voted in favor.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
Outdoor Warning Sirens Update
Chief Schroeder stated the outdoor warning siren project, which has been in the planning stage
for several years, is now in the implementation stage. He deferred to Captain Cynova to give the
update. There are 12 outdoor warning sirens, two of which will be placed in their original sites.
All sirens will be placed on city-owned property or public right-of-way. The preparatory work is
being completed, and it is estimated the sirens will be activated by the first week in September.
Captain Cynova stated Cole County has offered to pay for two new sirens, one at Binder Lake
and one at Militia Drive. This would require approval by the City Council. Wardsville has also
expressed interest in a 50/50 sharing of a siren site that would cover the southern edge of
Jefferson City and North Wardsville. Russellville and Lohman are integrating their sirens into
the City system. Bill Farr stated there are options for siren tests such as a chime or voice
message. A voice broadcasts “warning” before the siren is activated. A voice will notify when
the emergency or test has been completed. In answer to an inquiry, Chief Schroeder stated a
system for phone notifications is still being pursued.
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New Fire Station #3 Design
Matt Morasch with Public Works Engineering Division gave a presentation of the layout of the
proposed new fire station. The City is performing duties as site engineers, and is currently
working with MoDOT concerning access to the building site. The building includes an auxiliary
9-1-1 center, which will be relocated from its present site at the Capital Mall. The building will
also incorporate “hardened” areas for the safety of emergency personnel during severe storms.
Chief Rennick advised Cole County had been offered a place to house an ambulance in the new
building, but has declined at this time. This space will be kept in the design for possible future
use and will be utilized for storage. Mr. Morasch gave an overview of the costs of the building.
Councilman Weber suggested there might be SEMA “safe shelter” grant money available.
Councilman Luebbert made a motion to move the new fire station building project onto the City
Council. Councilman Prather seconded the motion. Discussion was held regarding: amending
architectural contract because of the increased size of the building and hardened rooms , which
add complexity to the design and expanded scope of work; the architect’s fee; and the conference
room/living room area. City Administrator Nickolaus advised the City’s computer backup
would also be housed in one of the “hardened” areas at the new fire station. Councilman
Luebbert’s motion was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Overtime Needs within the Police Department
Councilman Pope advised he would like to blend the added item, “budget discussion”, with the
overtime needs of both the police department and the fire department. Chief Schroeder stated he
was asked to provide an estimated cost of staffing for special events. He distributed a list of the
events that were approved and/or held in 2011 and to date in 2012, along with the estimated costs
of overtime to staff these events. Tens of thousands of dollars are spent each year to staff special
events. It was Councilman Pope’s hope to spark discussion and/or subsequent changes in the
area of special events.
Chief Schroeder advised that $230,501, representing the requested 2 ½ percent in budget cuts for
fiscal year 2012-2013, primarily includes cuts in overtime. A discussion was held concerning the
department’s overtime budget which is, among many things, used to pay for officers who staff
special events, act as court bailiffs, and investigate crime scenes. Chief Schroeder stated that
officers cannot manage overtime in regard to crime investigations without compromising citizen
safety. He had previously capped compensatory time at 80 hours because it is less expensive for
the City to pay overtime than it was comp time, since comp time increases in value with each
salary increase. However, with cuts in overtime, the cap on comp time has been lifted. Chief
Schroeder advised 92.18 percent of the police department’s budget is personnel, and the police
service vehicle is personnel. He also advised that not all extra service to the community is
reflected in overtime pay as many of those hours are banked as comp time. The police
department works closely with other city departments, so any cuts impact those other
departments as well.
Councilman Pope had to excuse himself from the meeting, and Councilman Luebbert took over
the chair.
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Councilman Prather stated he would like a copy of the rules for comp time accumulation from
Human Resources. Chief Schroeder advised that FLSA identifies the parameters which depend
on the police department’s 14-day work cycle. Chief Rennick advised the Fire Department is on
a 27-day work cycle. The Fire Department does not offer comp time, only overtime. Their work
agreement is within Federal guidelines. Mr. Nickolaus stated the City can reimburse overtime
with pay or comp time. At the suggestion by Councilman Luebbert that organizers compensate
the City for special events, Mr. Nickolaus stated it was his opinion that the biggest problem was
for 5K events. They are numerous and are difficult to make safe.
Chief Rennick agreed that Chief Schroeder made valid points in regards to budget cuts. The Fire
Department also works with other departments in accomplishing a number of activities.
Regarding cuts to the Fire Department budget, they kept enough money to provide the basics and
desire for the funds cut to be restored to their budget.
Community Services Unit Proposed Changes
Chief Schroeder introduced Captain Bob Clark and Sergeant Pat McCutchen and asked Captain
Clark to talk about changes to the Community Services Unit. Captain Clark stated the DARE
program will be reorganized. Currently, DARE is taught in all 5th grade classes in the public
schools and in three parochial schools. Across the country, DARE is traditionally taught in 6 th
grade. Accordingly, the Jefferson City DARE program will be taught in the 6th grades at Thomas
Jefferson and Lewis and Clark middle schools beginning in 2013. There will be no DARE
classes taught this school year. Currently the department has two DARE officers, one of which
is deployed with the military. School Resource Officers will be cross-trained to teach DARE.
One of the SROs will be reassigned to the Jefferson City Academic Center, as they will be
adding students next year. The Jefferson City School District pays ½ of the SRO expense.
Captain Clark gave a brief description of the SRO’s daily duties. Chief Schroeder reiterated that
having SROs in the school relieves street officers from constantly being called to the schools to
resolve a diversity of problems.
Councilman Pope asked Captain Clark to prepare a one-page summary of the proposed changes
to include with the minutes from this meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
Adjourn
Councilman Prather made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Luebbert provided the second. The
meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.