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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-12-30 minutes 1 Public Safety Committee Meeting Call to Order The December 30, 2021, Public Safety Committee meeting was convened at 7:30 a.m. by Councilman Schreiber. Attendance Present: Committee Members: Councilman Mark Schreiber, Councilman Derrick Spicer, Councilman Hank Vogt, and Councilwoman Laura Ward. Councilman Scott Spencer joined the meeting virtually. Guests: Mayor Carrie Tergin (virtual), Councilman Mike Lester, Councilman Ron Fitzwater, City Administrator Steve Crowell, City Attorney Ryan Moehlman, Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Police Chief Roger Schroeder, Human Resources Director Gail Strope, Police Captain Eric Wilde, former Cole County Emergency Management Director Bill Farr, Cole County Emergency Management Director Nick Tietsort and Jan Schumaker. Approval of Minutes Councilwoman Ward made a motion to approve the September 30, 2021 minutes. Councilman Spicer seconded the motion. Minutes were approved. Discussion of Agenda Items OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Cole County Emergency Management/Police Department IPAWS Project Partnership Director Tietsort stated the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) enables non- voluntary alerts to the public. Messages may be distributed through cell phones, t.v., etc., to those not on the RAVE system, as well as through the RAVE system. IPAWS is acquired through a partnership with FEMA. Director Tietsort is asking FEMA to waive the $2,000 fee for the system. ARFF Truck Update Chief Schofield advised the fire department’s current Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) truck which was acquired second hand from Columbia is more than 30 years old. Chief Schofield has acquired approval from the Airport Advisory Committee to seek external funding, likely federal funding through MoDOT. The specialized truck can be used in the case of spilled hazardous materials, transport needs at the Jefferson City Airport and areas surrounding the airport, and has off-road capabilities. The truck will cost approximately $800,000-$900,000 in 2 today’s dollars. Also included in a separate request from public works are funds for a multi- purpose building in which the truck can be housed. Automatic Aid with Surrounding Fire Districts Chief Schofield advised he is seeking to establish automatic aid agreements with surrounding fire districts. He explained mutual aid enables the fire department to request assistance from neighboring fire departments after they assess the need, but the process is time consuming. Automatic aid is a more proactive approach in which predefined resources are dispatched immediately. Chief Schofield is seeking to establish a more formal arrangement with Cole County and Holt Summit fire districts for automatic aid. In addition to the availability of additional resources, automatic aid builds relationships between entities. Chief Schofield proposes to divide Jefferson City into four response zones. County fire would provide one truck with three people to assist when requested. In turn, JCFD would provide one truck and three people to assist when needed. The existence of the automatic aid could potentially improve the fire department’s ISO rating and make the entire system stronger City Attorney Moehlman advised it may take several months working with five fire entities to finalize the automatic aid agreement. Chief Schofield asked the committee for direction and, after discussion, the committee directed Chief Schofield to bring the issue back with additional information to the committee before presenting to the full City Council. Hiring Incentive Payments for Police Officers and Communications Operators Chief Schroeder updated the committee on the police department’s approximately 18 vacancies. The situation has become critical with 11 police officer, 4 communications operator, and 2 animal control officer vacancies. One police information clerk vacancy has been filled and there’s indication a former animal control officer may be returning. The department has faced a balancing act of avoiding an overreaction while at the same time not underreacting to this growing and critical problem. The loss of personnel and the inability to recruit replacements is a national issue. Chief Schroeder stated other law enforcement departments are offering incentive plans to assist with recruitment, and he is proposing to offer incentives. Captain Wilde, with input from Chief Schroeder, City Administrator Crowell, City Attorney Moehlman and Human Resources Director Strope, has devised an incentive plan. Chief Schroeder asked Captain Wilde to talk about the hiring incentive plan as well as the next two agenda items. Captain Wilde advised it takes approximately a year for a newly-hired officer to complete training. There are eight command officers that are or will be eligible to retire in the next year. Officers in specialty units have been filling in on patrol squads; however, communications operators do not have that flexibility. Captain Wilde discussed unexpended funds in personnel services due to vacancy savings. The plan proposes to reinvest these funds to offer tiered incentives. Hiring incentives would include $10,000 for a P.O.S.T. licensed officer. An unlicensed officer who will attend the Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) would receive $5,000. Tuition for LETI is $5,000. New communications operators would also receive $5,000. One half of the incentive would be paid upon appointment, and the remaining half at the end of the employee’s introductory period. Employees who refer a police officer or communications operator would receive a $500 referral bonus when that officer or operator completes their training. 3 City Administrator Crowell advised a tool he is considering is a budget amendment to the City Council for implementation of the program in March. Councilman Spicer made a motion to move the incentive payment proposal forward. Councilwoman Ward seconded the motion. Motion approved. Supplemental Appropriation Amending the 2021-2022 Annual Budget – Expenditure of Drug Forfeiture Justice Funds Captain Wilde advised the department is proposing to use Drug Forfeiture Justice Funds for the purchase of ballistic shields and a drone kit. The ballistic shields have a 10-year shelf life. The department proposes to replace two expired shields for SWAT members and three for patrol supervisors. The cost for the shields is approximately $13,400. The drone kit would be used to support the crisis negotiations team in the de-escalation of a situation. The drone kit would provide two-way communication without endangering the officers. The cost is approximately $14,595. Councilman Schreiber asked the status of body cameras. Captain Wilde advised the department’s plan for body cameras is being refined. Staff will travel to Kansas City to review body cameras and the issue of storage and to ascertain the effectiveness of their use. Kansas City Police Department currently utilizes the same body camera system in which the Jefferson City Police Department is interested. The department will also need personnel to manage the body camera system. Councilman Spencer stated when the time comes he is committed to sponsoring the special appropriation for body cameras to expedite their acquisition. Department of Public Safety Grant Opportunity Captain Wilde stated the police department was approached by the Missouri Department of Homeland Security regarding increasing security around the Capitol by installing license plate readers (LPR) in the downtown areas and the ingress/egress areas of the Capitol. This is a no- match grant that would be used to purchase and install the cameras. The cameras read the back license plate of a vehicle as it passes by and would give an immediate alert to an officer’s mobile data terminal in their vehicle of the suspicious vehicle. The cost paid by the grant would be $46,750 for the first year and $42,500 for the second year. If the grant is discontinued after the second year, the LPRs would be removed. The police department currently has three mobile LPRs in use. Chief Schroeder asked the committee for a consensus of support to obtain the grant. The committee gave approval. OTHER BUSINESS Fire Department Update Chief Schofield stated the Honor Guard and other members of his department participated in line of duty honors for Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney who was killed in the line of duty on December 22nd. Assistant Chief Gladney served on Missouri Task Force One with Chief Schofield. Chief Schofield advised the renovations to Fire Station 4 are going well in spite of supply chain issues. There is still glass to install and painting to be completed. The station was fully operational during the project, and firefighters moved back into the station in November. An open house is expected to be held in late spring/early summer. 4 Chief Schofield and four of his personnel were part of the Missouri Task Force 1 deployment on December 12-17th for tornado response in Kentucky. Chief Schofield stated there are 22 people in their recruiting process. Interviews will be held January 19-21. The number of potential recruits is drastically down from previous years. Chief Schofield advised they currently have opening due to resignation and one impending retirement in the first quarter of 2022. Police Department Updates Chief Schroeder thanked the City Council for approving the new flooring that is replacing the 43-year-old flooring in the police department. The project is in process. Chief Schroeder acknowledged the extraordinary job police personnel are doing in the face of the many vacancies and current environment. Other Updates Cole County Emergency Management Director Tietsort is working with the Fire Department to obtain replacement multi-ray gas detectors. Former Cole County Emergency Management Director Farr advised today is his last day with Cole County Emergency Management. He thanked all those present for their assistance in the transition. Jan Schumaker voiced her frustration and disappointment regarding lack of communication to her from Chief Schroeder and Captain Wilde regarding officer traffic stops. Councilman Schreiber thanked everyone for their attendance. Adjourn Councilman Schreiber made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Spicer seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 a.m.