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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-04-29 minutes 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.