HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-06-29 packetNOTICE OF MEETING AND TENTATIVE AGENDAi
City of Jefferson Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
7:30 a.m.
2364 Hyde Park
Fire Department Training Facility
TENTATIVE AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3. OLD BUSINESS
4. NEW BUSINESS
a. Lincoln University Police Department (Councilman Schreiber)
b. Emergency Fuel Response (Councilman Spencer)
c. 911 Call Answering System (Chief Schroeder)
d. Drill Tower/Burn Building Review and Tour (Chief Schofield)
5. OTHER BUSINESS
a. Fire Department Update (Chief Schofield)
b. Police Department Update (Chief Schroeder)
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.
1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The April 29, 2021, Public Safety Committee meeting was convened at 7:30 a.m. by Councilman
Schreiber.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Mark Schreiber, Councilman Scott Spencer,
Councilman Derrick Spicer, Councilman Hank Vogt, and Councilwoman Laura
Ward.
Guests: Mayor Carrie Tergin, Councilman Mike Lester, City Administrator Steve
Crowell, City Attorney Ryan Moehlman, Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Police
Captain Deric Heislen, Jefferson Cit y Firefighters Local 671 President James
Noah, Assistant Fire Chief Matt Bowden, Planning and Protective Services
Director Sonny Sanders, Cole County Emergency Management Coordinator
Sierra Thomas, and Architects Alliance representatives Randy Allen and Cary
Gampher.
Introduction of New Committee Members
Councilman Schreiber welcomed Councilman Spencer and Councilman Spicer to the committee.
Introductions were made by all those present.
Approval of Minutes
Councilwoman Ward made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2021 meeting.
Councilman Vogt seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Councilwoman Ward made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2021 meeting.
Councilman Vogt seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Committee Meeting Date and Time
Councilman Schreiber asked if there were any objections to continuing the current date and time
of the monthly meeting. Having no objections, the meetings will remain on the last Thursday of
each month at 7:30 a.m.
2
Fire Station No 4 Remodel
Chief Schofield advised the discussion of upgrading/remodeling Fire Station 4 has been ongoing
since 2008. The building is reaching the 50-year mark. During an October 2019 Public Safety
Committee meeting, Chief Schofield was authorized to have a design proposal completed and
brought back to the Committee. The proposal is now ready for Committee consideration. Chief
Schofield provided an overview of the design plans. He introduced Cary Gampher and Randy
Allen with Architects Alliance who stated the plans were a combination of updating and
maintenance. Chief Schofield stated the current station is in a strategically good location. The
building of a new station is cost prohibitive, with significant site work required. The cost to
update the current station is $582,020.00. There is $348,252.27 savings from Fire Station 2 that
is available. City Administrator Crowell stated the remaining $259,799.93 is available from
remaining Sales Tax F money. Chief Schofield stated, if approved, the project is expected to be
completed by November 1, 2021. Mr. Campher and Mr. Allen advised this is a unique bidding
environment, with material and labor shortages and escalated material prices due to COVID.
Chief Schofield advised he was asking the Committee for guidance on the proposal. After
discussion by the Committee regarding updating and repair of the existing building versus a new
building (approximately $3 million), Councilwoman Ward made a motion to send the current
proposal to the full City Council for approval. Councilman Vogt seconded the motion. Motion
passed.
Fire Department Compression Study Presentation
James Noah, President of the Jefferson City Fire Fighters Local 671, gave a presentation to the
Committee. Included in the presentation were retention of experienced firefighters, compression
of salaries, lack of compensation packages, certifications obtained, the 2016 Austin Peters Study,
and an International Association of Fire Fighters base salary comparison study. The cities used
for comparison were Springfield, Columbia, Osage Beach and St. Joseph. Applications for
firefighter positions have declined and experienced firefighters have left for higher -paying
departments. Issues of salary compression/adjustments and compensation packages are of
particular concern. Mr. Noah stated the passage of the proposed Public Safety Tax is critical to
address these issues. He urged the committee members to talk with their constituents about the
importance of this tax.
OTHER BUSINESS
Fire Department Update
Chief Schofield advised 16 personnel were in the practical portion of their Spring core training.
Shelbyfest will be held May 5th and 6th. They will be at the Hyde Park Fire Training Center for
the autocross course.
Chief Schofield has filed for several competitive grants and awaiting response.
The Fire Department had an intern from State Fair Community College for six weeks.
Chief Schofield stated he agreed with Firefighter Noah that there is a very competitive
environment for hiring and retention.
3
Chief Schofield met with Jefferson City Airport stakeholders and users regarding a piece of
equipment kept at the airport. The piece of equipment is 30+ years old and was obtained as
surplus from the Columbia Regional Airport. The truck is in need of replacement, and Chief
Schofield is researching Federal infrastructure funds to offset the cost. Councilman Schreiber
stated it was important to have equipment available at the airport. The new piece of equipment
would enhance the Fire Department’s capability to respond to any emergency in that location or
the surrounding area
Councilwoman Ward asked about the department’s water rescue equipment. Chief Schofield
stated they are well positioned with boats, equipment and training. They will be able to
adequately respond to the Bicentennial Park once it is completed.
Police Department Updates
Captain Heislen advised the department has vacancies for four police officers, one part-time
property room technician and one part-time building maintenance worker. The Communications
Center is fully staffed. The department has recently hired officers from Los Angeles and New
York.
The SWAT team is in the advanced training that the City Council authorized this week and next
week. The instructors have been very complimentary of the department’s SWAT team members,
stating they are more advanced in training than most teams they encounter.
Portable radios have been ordered. The department is waiting on their receipt.
The selection process for sergeant has been completed. Captain Heislen will forward the results
to Chief Schroeder on Friday. The opening for the Community Services Unit supervisor, left
vacant with Sgt. Matherne’s retirement, has been posted.
Councilwoman Ward stated she noticed the community policing officers were back in the
neighborhoods. Abandoned vehicles were being towed again. Captain Heislen explained the
department had not discontinued community policing. During the staffing shortage, the CAT
Team officers has been assigned to the patrol section, while continuing to perform their
community policing duties. Once the department is fully staffed, the CAT Team will no longer
be needed to daily assist the patrol section.
Other Updates
Cole County Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas stated she had been busy with
COVID-19 issues and vaccinations. She has applied for a $28,000 grant for ballistic vests and
helmets. The grant awards will be announced in July or August.
Mayor Tergin advised there would be a virtual Storm Awareness Drill at 11:00 a.m. today. The
drill will provide information on what to do during an electrical power outage.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at the police department.
4
Adjourn
Councilwoman Ward made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Spicer seconded the motion.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:02 a.m.