Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130530 public safety packetNOTICE OF MEETING AND TENTATIVE AGENDAi City of Jefferson Public Safety Committee Thursday, May 30, 2013 Immediately Following the 7:30 a.m. Brown Bagel Meeting City Hall, 320 E. McCarty, Boone-Bancroft Room TENTATIVE AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – a. April 15, 2013 Meeting b. May 2, 2013 Meeting 3. OLD BUSINESS 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Snow Priority and Emergency Area Routes (Britt Smith) b. Vacation of Chestnut Street (City Counselor Drew Hilpert) c. Door to Door Sales Qualifications (City Counselor Drew Hilpert) d. Application for 2013 Justice Assistance (JAG) Program Grant (Chief Schroeder) e. Bid 2674 – Patrol Vehicle Equipment (Chief Schroeder) f. Outdoor Warning Sirens (Emergency Management Coordinator Farr) 5. OTHER BUSINESS 6. ADJOURN NOTES i Individuals should contact the ADA Coordinator at (573) 634-6570 to request accommodations or alternative formats as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please allow three business days to process the request. Minutes of Meeting Jefferson City Public Safety Committee Monday, April 15, 2013 Immediately following 6:00 PM City Council Meeting City Hall - 320 E. McCarty Street City Council Chambers Mayor Eric Struemph asked Councilman Rick Prather to convene the meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Members of the Committee present: Present: Graham, Henry, Hussey, Mihalevich and Prather Absent: None Councilman Prather convened the meeting at 9:00 P.M., and opened the floor for nominations of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Chairman - Councilman Rick Mihalevich nominated Councilman Rick Prather as Chairman. There being no further nominations made, Councilman Prather was elected unanimously. Vice-Chairman – Councilman Rick Mihalevich nominated Councilman Larry Henry as Vice-Chairman. There being no further nominations made, Councilman Henry was elected unanimously. There being no further business brought before the Committee at this time, a motion was made by Councilman Rick Mihalevich for adjournment, seconded by Councilman Larry Henry, and approved unanimously at 9:00 P.M. 1 Public Safety Committee Meeting Call to Order The May 2, 2013, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 8:35 a.m. by Councilman Prather. Attendance Present: Committee Members: Councilman Rick Prather, Councilman Larry Henry, Councilman Carlos Graham, Councilman Rick Mihalevich Absent: Councilman Ken Hussey Guests: City Administrator Nathan Nickolaus, Interim Finance Director Bill Betts, City Counselor Drew Hilpert, Assistant City Counselor Jeremy Cover, Police Chief Roger Schroeder, Interim Fire Chief Jason Turner, Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Farr, City Prosecutor Brian Stumpe, Police Lieutenant Steve Weaver, Police Lieutenant Dave Williams, and Police Sergeant Joseph Matherne Approval of Minutes Councilman Mihalevich made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2013, committee meeting. Councilman Graham seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Discussion of Agenda Items OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS SWAT Vehicle Chief Schroeder stated that approximately two years ago after Sales Tax F was passed, the City committed $1.35 million to the police department for the purchase of equipment. The SWAT vehicle is a priority and will be the first requested purchase. Chief Schroeder introduced Lt. Steve Weaver who gave an explanation of the need for the vehicle. The “Bearcat” is a fully armored SWAT vehicle. The department currently has a 1985 “Peacekeeper” that is not large enough to transport the entire SWAT team, not bulletproof, and is virtually inoperable. The department’s Emergency Response Vehicle could transport the SWAT team in an emergency situation, but is designed as a mobile command post. The Bearcat is the same vehicle used in Boston after the marathon bombing. The vehicle is bulletproof and could be used to rescue an injured citizen or downed officer. Chief Schroeder noted the department’s SWAT team is highly trained and it is comforting to the public to have the SWAT team available. Lt. Weaver noted in 2012 the SWAT team served 44 narcotics search warrants and responded to 4 instances of barricaded subjects, in addition to 2 other uses and needs. The JCPD SWAT team is also the emergency response team for the Callaway County nuclear power plant and Cole County Hazmat Team. The total cost of the vehicle is $246,000, and $250,000 from Sales Tax F funds has been set aside this year for the police department. At the request of Councilman Graham, City Administrator Nickolaus will forward the sales tax spending plan to him for his review. After the SWAT vehicle purchase has been approved by the full City Council, it will take approximately six months to build, followed by an on-site inspection. Councilman Mihalevich made a motion to move the purchase of the SWAT vehicle on to the City Council. Councilman Graham seconded the motion. Motion approved. Drug Enforcement Chief Schroeder introduced Sergeant Joseph Matherne who commands the Community Action Team (C.A.T.). Chief Schroeder stated Sgt. Matherne has done an extraordinary job with the team in building bridges to the community. Sgt. Matherne stated the Heroin Overdose Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) campaign and the department’s narcotics officers have been instrumental in heroin enforcement. The C.A.T. Team has investigated 29 heroin cases in 2013. Their investigative efforts in 2012 are leading to the current enforcement cases. Reduction of heroin has declined in the Jefferson City area. Overdoses and deaths have dropped dramatically since the program’s inception. The C.A.T. Team’s primary goal is to keep heroin off the street and to stem its sale. Last year the H.O.P.E. campaign was launched in six public forums to introduce the program. Sgt. Matherne stated after that initial push, it became more productive to talk with civic organizations and at conferences about the program. Education is at the core of their efforts. Chief Schroeder stated that Coach Marshall, whose son died of a heroin overdose, has been at the core of the heroin education efforts as have other volunteers. There is a heroin hotline, 635- HOPE, available to the public. The councilmen each commended Sgt. Matherne and the C.A.T. Team for their enforcement efforts, and on behalf of the committee, Councilman Prather asked for periodic updates. Proposed Changes to Police Personnel Board Rules and Regulations Assistant City Counselor Cover advised the proposed changes to the Police Personnel Board rules and regulations would make those rules consistent with the changes to the City Code approved by the City Council. The proposed changes were approved by the Police Personnel Board in February, and the next step is for City Council approval. Councilman Mihalevich made a motion to move the proposed changes onto the City Council. Councilman Henry seconded the motion. Motion approved. Minimum Fines City Counselor Hilpert advised City Prosecutor Stumpe had recently suggested an increase in fines. The proposed increases represent an approximate 3 percent increase to the minimum fines, excluding parking. The judge has the discretion to set the level of fines, and can impose a fine above the minimum. Prosecutor Stumpe advised the proposed minimum fines are more in line with the cost of enforcement and with fines imposed by other communities. Councilman 3 Mihalevich advised the City needs to be cognizant that it does not expend more to enforce the fines than what the City collects. Chief Schroeder added that the primary objective in imposing fines is a safety issue. The police do not give tickets to generate revenue, but to promote adherence to laws and increase safety. Raising minimum fines is a deterrent factor. City Administrator Nickolaus stated that although he is supportive of the proposed ordinance change, Jefferson City has more minimum fines than other cities in Missouri. In the future he would like to eliminate some of the minimum fines and let the judge impose fines he/she deems appropriate. Councilman Henry made a motion to move the proposed changes to the minimum fines onto the City Council. Councilman Mihalevich seconded the motion. Motion approved. New World Systems Support Agreement Interim Finance Director Betts advised Jefferson City and the Cole County Sheriff’s Department utilize the same New World software. The Sheriff’s Department has no information technology services support of their own. This Agreement states the City can provide IT support to the Sheriff’s Department when they need assistance with New World. As far as data sharing, it is a benefit to foster this working relationship. The Agreement provides for Cole County to pay $28,678 to the City for services rendered, with a yearly increase of 3 percent. The County has approved the Agreement. Councilman Mihalevich made a motion to move the Agreement on to the City Council for approval. Councilman Henry seconded the motion. Motion approved. Fire Department Promotional Ordinance Interim Fire Chief Turner stated the current ordinance addressing the promotional process was passed in 1994 and is being rewritten due to changes and growth within the department. He and representatives of the fire union have drafted a revised ordinance which will be sent to the law department next week for review. He intends to present the changes to the Public Safety Committee at their next meeting. Snow Routes Britt Smith was not present and the item was tabled. OTHER BUSINESS Fellowship Councilman Graham recognized Lt. Dave Williams and welcomed him back from his six -month ATF Police Executive Fellowship Program training in Washington, D.C. Lt. Williams was the only law enforcement officer in the United States selected for this fellowship. Lt. Williams gave a brief overview of the program. His goal, at the Jefferson City Police Department, is to utilize the knowledge he gained. There is an ATF office in Jefferson City comprised of three agents. The closest field office is in Kansas City. 4 Outdoor Sirens Emergency Management Coordinator Farr advised he is waiting on dry weather to complete the installation of the remaining four outdoor warning sirens in Cole County. Adjourn Councilman Graham made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Henry seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m.