HomeMy Public PortalAbout20141230 public safety minutes 1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The December 30, 2014, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 7:32 a.m. by
Councilman Mihalevich.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Rick Mihalevich, Councilman Ken Hussey,
Councilman Larry Henry, and Councilman Jim Branch.
Guests: City Administrator Steve Crowell, Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Police Chief Roger
Schroeder, City Counselor Drew Hilpert, Fire Division Chief Jason Turner, Police
Captain Eric Wilde, Police Fiscal Affairs Technician Lauren Maddox, Cole
County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Farr, Public Works Operations
Director Britt Smith, and Mike Olive for Checker Cab.
Approval of Minutes
Councilman Branch made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 25, 2014,
committee meeting. Councilman Henry seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Ride Share
Councilman Mihalevich advised there is a bill before the City Council next Monday regarding
the issue of ride share. City Counselor Hilpert gave a brief history of the ordinance pertaining to
the operation of taxi cabs. In order for a company to operate a taxi cab service, a Certificate of
Need must be obtained. Currently, there is only one cab service in Jefferson City. Ride sharing
services operate from computer/cell phone applications. The ride is requested and the customer
makes payment over the phone. No cash is exchanged. The company sends the rider a picture of
the driver and the cost of the service. Counselor Hilpert advised this new type of service does not
fit into the Certificate of Need category. Two options would be to either tweak the ordinance to
include this new type of service, or eliminate the Certificate of Need. Uber is the company
providing the majority of the ride share service. It was noted that the company has not yet
provided service in Jefferson City.
When solicited for comment, Chief Schroeder stated his chief concern was safety. There are no
parameters concerning the safety of the vehicle, safety of the driver, or insurance for the vehicle.
Without establishing reasonable assurances that citizens are reasonably safe, Chief Schroeder
advised he could not support the proposal. The ride share service should be regulated as a taxi
2
cab service. Chief Schroeder advised that 14 states and the District of Columbia have issued
alerts regarding problems encountered with this type of ride share service.
Mike Olive, representing Checker Cab, stated he would like the ride share companies to meet the
same guidelines as taxi cabs are required.
After considerable discussion, the committee agreed to table the issue until more information is
gathered. Counselor Hilpert was instructed to contact the company “Uber” and obtain
information regarding insurance of the vehicles, background checks on the drivers, etc.
Vehicle Bids
Chief Schroeder asked Fiscal Affairs Technician Maddox to present the vehicle bid information
to the committee. The department received three bids for police vehicles. The low bid was
received from Joe Machens Ford, Jefferson City. The department’s budget allowed for $240,000
to purchase nine vehicles; five marked and four unmarked. Nine older vehicles will be sold in a
sealed bid process. A sixth marked vehicle will be replaced due to a traffic crash which “totaled”
the patrol car. Insurance paid $20,500 with the remaining cost paid by the police “Operational
Supplies” line item. Costs of the new vehicles were provided to the committee. With no
questions from the committee, Councilman made a motion to forward the vehicle bid to the City
Council for approval. Councilman Henry seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Towing Contract
Chief Schroeder asked Captain Wilde to present the information on the towing contra ct. Captain
Wilde advised that bids were received from Broadway Wrecker and Tow Pro, LLC. After
committee review, the lowest/best bid proposal from Tow Pro is recommended. The bid includes
the towing of all city vehicles, 20-minute response time within the city limits, 40-minute
response time outside the city limits, and storage facilities. Tow Pro will pay the City $7,601 on
January 15th each year. The contract is for one year with the annual option to renew for five
years. Counselor Hilpert advised the money that Tow Pro will pay the City for the contract is
recouped from money collected from vehicle owners for storage. Councilman Henry made a
motion to forward the towing contract to the City Council for approval. Councilman Branch
seconded the motion. Motion approved.
FY2013 “Technical Rescue” Grant – Timeline for Purchase of Equipment
Chief Schofield updated the committee on the execution of the grant process. The FY2013
Technical Rescue grant, which was awarded in June 2014 and must be completed by Ju ne 2015,
consists of three phases. Phase 1: Conduct Trench/Excavation Technician Level Training for 28
fire department personnel was completed in November 2014. Phase 2: Research, select, specify,
and procure $157,000 in specialized technical equipment. This is in the process, and entails
constructing training props and securing logistical support for Structural Collapse Training.
Phase 3: Conduct 80 hours of Structural Collapse Training for up to 30 personnel, to be
completed in April 2015. Chief Schofield advised bids for the specialized technical equipment
went out on December 17th and are due on January 6, 2015. He anticipates presenting the bids to
the Finance Committee on January 8th and to the City Council on January 20th. At that time he
will ask to add the recommendation to the consent agenda. The training and new equipment will
create new capabilities for fire department personnel in structural collapse/heavy rescue
3
situations. Some of the new equipment will replace equipment that is currently used in day-to-
day operations.
Revision to Ordinance 11-3 Mayor’s Power During Emergency
Counselor Hilpert advised the revision to Ordinance 11-3 will give the Mayor the power to
authorize a “Hazardous Travel Advisory” in the event of a natural and/or manmade disaster. He
would have the power to close streets during situations such as a snow emergency. Councilman
Hussey made a motion to forward the revision onto the City Council for approval. Councilman
Branch seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Medical Bio Hazard Drill
Cole County Emergency Management Coordinator Farr advised a medical bio-hazard drill was
held on December 17th brought about by the Ebola outbreak in the United States, and a false
alarm in Jefferson City. The training keyed on the 911 Communications Center and protocol for
calls designated as “medical bio-hazard” calls, which include any communicable disease. Mr.
Farr stated that other Missouri counties look to Jefferson City to establish protocol. The police
department, fire department, EMS, area hospitals, Hazmat, and the Cole County Health
Department all participated in the drill. Lincoln University students filled the role of “patients”.
Mr. Farr advised the drill went very well and was a great work experience. The after-action
report brought out some hospital related issues that were noted.
Mr. Farr stated that the unified command center was handled very well during the NAACP State
Capitol Demonstration on December 5th. Both major events went very well.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chief Schroeder provided the committee with information regarding a $5,000 MoDOT grant
made available to the police department for overtime pay for work zone enforcement at the new
Lafayette interchange construction site. This grant will run through 2015, and possibly longer.
MoDOT has asked for special enforcement in February during bridge work. This is a no -match
grant. The police department was just recently notified of the grant, and Chief Schroeder would
like to present it to the City Council on Monday, January 5th. Councilman Hussey made a motion
to forward the grant onto the City Council for approval. Councilman Henry seconded the motion.
Motion approved.
Chief Schofield noted an article in the News Tribune regarding an incident last Saturday in
which firefighters delivered a baby in an emergency situation. The call came into Fire Station 1.
The situation highlights the EMS training utilized by the firefighters.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 a.m.
The next meeting, scheduled for January 27, 2015, will be held in the Multipurpose Room in the
Fire Administration Building.