HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2005 01/12MINUTES
McCall City Council
Special Joint Meeting and Work Session
with the Police Advisory Committee
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Table of Contents
CALL TO ORDER
• McCall Police Advisory Committee
David Fields, Scott Findlay, Frances Ford, Louie Howard, Rod Nielsen, Helen Spaulding, Martin
Thiede, Kim Zeydel, Austin Foudy, Jessica Moore
• McCall City Council
Council Member Bertram, Council Member Eimers, Council Member Greer, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Robertson
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Minutes of December 14, 2004
WORK SESSION
• Work Session with the McCall City Council
ADJOURNMENT
CALL TO ORDER
David Fields, Police Advisory Committee Chairman, called the Joint Meeting and Work
Session between the McCall City Council and Police Advisory Committee to order at
4:08 P.M.
Members present from the Police Advisory Committee were David Fields, Scott Findlay,
Frances Ford, Rod Nielsen, Martin Thiede, Kim Zeydel, and Jessica Moore.
Members present from the McCall City Council were Council Member Bertram, Council
Member Eimers, Council Member Muller, and Council Member Robertson.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Kim Zeydel moved to approve the Police Advisory Committee minutes from December
14, 2004. Frances Ford seconded the motion. All Committee members voted aye.
The motion carried.
WORK SESSION
Mr. Fields gave a multimedia presentation regarding the history of the Police Advisory
Committee. Mr. Fields stated that the Committee was formed by the McCall City
Council as a reaction to what was occurring at the local bars during the time. The
Committee first met on July 16, 2002 and prepared a list of needs to be addressed.
The seven item list included the total number of department employees, number of
officers responding to incidents, department involvement with youth, parental contact,
perception of police profiling, officer discretion, and the need to organize a public forum.
He stated that the Committee omitted the need to address the issues at the local bars
in their list. The Committee held two public meetings where a broad, diverse
representation from the community voiced their concerns with the Police Department.
As a result of the public comment, the Committee developed a prioritized list of issues
to be discussed. During the first six months, the Committee developed a plan to
address the youth issue which included creating a system to track warnings, allowing
for officer discretion, parental involvement and notification, establishing a Youth Officer
in the school district, and creating a collaboration of youth service agencies. The
Committee also discussed Department staffing. It was unanimously agreed that 24
hour / 7-day-a-week (24/7) police coverage was needed for the community. In order to
provide such coverage, it would take five patrol officers, one sergeant, and staff. Mr.
Fields stated that he was disappointed to see the Council eliminate one of the officer
positions in the Fiscal Year 04-05 budget. Mr. Fields stated that since the inception of
the Committee, they have discussed a Memorandum of Understanding with the school,
Memorandum of Understanding with the Sheriffs department, been involved with the
selection of officers, promotions of officers, the First Responder program, Department
staffing levels, the Police Department budget, vehicle leases, the Forester's issue,
Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety (WRICOP's) Report,
police training, the Department's relationship with other agencies, and issues with
parking and traffic. Mr. Fields stated that benefits of the Committee include the
diversity of the Committee membership, the ability for the members to act as the "eyes
and ears of the community' by bringing up any issues to the attention of the Police
Chief, acting as a sounding board for the Police Department, allowing for a place the
community can go to express their concerns, allowing for community input in hiring and
promoting officers, providing for checks and balances to the system, and providing
another avenue for community resources and public relations.
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Frances Ford stated that she became involved on the Police Advisory Committee as a
result of the issues with the youth in the community. As a member of the school board,
she was aware how the local students felt threatened and harassed by the Police
Department. The membership of the Committee was very diverse and provided for a
wide range of opinions. She has been impressed by the amount of public input
received by the Committee as it provides a venue for people to vent their concerns.
Ms. Ford stated that the City is very fortunate to have Chief Appa and she is impressed
by the quality level of staffing at the Police Department. Ms. Ford stated that she is
concerned about the lack of participation by the current Council membership on the
Committee. She stated that during its origination two Council Members used to be
active members on the Committee.
Scott Findlay stated that he became a member of the Committee since he believed the
City had issues with the Police Department that needed to be addressed. He stated
that Chief Appa took over the leadership of the Police Department with existing
personnel and policy issues and has done a good job in remedying those problems.
While serving on the Committee he was surprised at the length of time it took to fill
open positions due to the training requirements of POST. He believes Chief Appa has
done a good job in getting his Department staff out and getting to know the community.
Even though he is a Committee member, he still has disagreements with the Chief over
several issues such as discretion for DUI enforcement. Mr. Findlay stated that the
public often confuses actions done by the Idaho State Police with those of the McCall
Police Department as they have similar uniforms. He doesn't believe that the quality of
officers assigned to patrol McCall by the Idaho State Police has been very good
recently. Mr. Findlay said that progress has been made in regards to the Department
even though it hasn't been a smooth process.
Kim Zeydel stated that she joined the Committee as a school teacher concerned about
the issues with the local area youth, as well as a downtown business owner who was
concerned about downtown parking. Ms. Zeydel stated that she sides with the Police
Department on some issues but disagrees on others.
Martin Thiede stated that he feels that the Committee is disconnected from the City
Council. He stated that he would like to see a better rapport with the Council. By
serving on the Committee he has come to understand the position of the Police
Department and their duties. He believes the Police Department is moving in a positive
direction.
Rod Nielsen stated that the Committee initially had a good rapport with the City Council
when Kirk Eimers and Ralph Colton were members. The two groups haven't had much
interaction since Ralph left the Committee. Mr. Nielsen suggested that the two groups
meet every six months to discuss the issues being talked about in the Committee.
Jessica Moore stated that she feels it its important to have a youth voice on the
Committee. As an officers daughter she is able to present complaints from students to
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the attention of the Department and the Committee. She is also able to inform the
students of their rights and refers them to voice their concerns to the Committee.
Council Member Bertram asked if the Committee has ever considered expanding the
Youth Membership to include students in grades 9 and 10. Mr. Fields stated that the
Committee has historically tried to fill two youth positions, but it has been difficult to
maintain the participation of the Youth members.
Council Member Robertson asked if there is consensus about the number one issue
facing the Committee. He asked if drug enforcement was the biggest concern facing
the group.
Mr. Fields stated that the agenda has recently been created based upon the concerns
being voiced by the public. He stated that drug enforcement is one of the top concerns
of the Committee.
Ms. Ford stated that the department needs sufficient personnel to address drug
enforcement. She stated that she was concerned over the Council decision to reduce
the Police Department staff during the budget process. She stated that the issue with
Louie Howard has taken a considerable amount of the Committee's time during the
past six months.
Mr. Findlay stated that he was disappointed that the request for ten officers wasn't
approved in the City budget. He stated that without ten officers the City can't have 24/7
Police coverage, which was a major initiative of the Committee based upon the public
input they received. He knows the decision was budget driven but it resulted in a tough
blow to the Committee's morale. He believes that the presence of the Police in the
community is important due to the increased number of new people moving here. He
stated that prior to joining the Committee he believed the Department was overstaffed
but has since learned otherwise. Mr. Findlay stated that 24/7 coverage was an idea
that has been discussed since Chief Parker oversaw the Department but the City still
hasn't financed the ability to do so.
Council Member Robertson stated that the City Council is trying to determine how the
Committee fits into the role of the City government. Based upon what he has heard at
the meeting, he sees that the establishment of the Committee benefits the Police
Department and allows for another venue to field complaints from the community.
Mr. Findlay stated that the Police Advisory Committee is very different than other
Committees. The Planning and Zoning Commission has specific City Code sections to
follow and the Parks Advisory Committee has established goals to achieve such as
developing recreational activities. He sees the Police Advisory Committee operating as
a more Human Resources related function where the public can sit down and address
their problems. He believes the Committee has been able to diffuse several issues at
their level. Mr. Findlay stated that even when the bar issue became a hot topic the
Committee held a meeting with a room full of people from both sides of the fence. He
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stated that many of those attending were able to leave the meeting feeling more
informed.
Ms. Ford stated that the City is fortunate to have a quality Police Chief who has been
able to bring experience to the community. She stated that it was good move for the
City of McCall to form an advisory committee instead of spending money on an
ombudsman like the City of Boise.
Council Member Robertson stated that the Council is trying to figure out where the City,
the Committee, and the Police Department fit into the role of the community. He stated
that the Council is just now becoming aware about the Committee's concern of
eliminating an officer position during the budget process. Council Member Robertson
stated that he knew the Committee wanted to have ten officers staffed in the
Department, but he didn't hear the passion of their initiative until today.
Mr. Fields stated that he didn't know where the budget process went wrong. He spent
several hours with staff during the budget process and the proposed level of staffing
was always included in the budget. He stated that the next thing he knew the City
Council made the determination to eliminate one of the positions.
Ms. Ford stated that she believes the City Council should give time for a Committee
report on the agenda on a regular basis. She thinks that the work of the Committee is
sometimes overlooked when placed on the consent agenda.
Mr. Findlay asked if the Council thinks there is a lack of recommendations being
presented to them from the Committee.
Council Member Bertram stated that she didn't realize that the Committee served as
another forum for the community to address their concerns. It was her understanding
that the Committee was established to provide advice and direction to the Police
Department. Council Member Bertram stated that the public shouldn't be required to
come to an Advisory group to voice concerns. She felt as if the public was required to
get the Committee's permission to talk to the City Council. She is afraid that people
may feel intimated in the Committee setting and they should always have the right to
freely voice their concerns to their elected officials. Council Member Bertram stated
that community members should be able to bring their concerns and ideas to the City
Council, and then the Council can determine if it should be referred to the Committee
level.
Mr. Fields stated that the Committee was originally organized because of the concerns
over the issues at the local bars, he would like to see the Council bring other issues
they would like discussed to the Committee's attention.
Ms. Zeydel stated that the current membership of the Committee is very diverse. She
would like the Council to approve the additional appointment of Dr. Donicht so the link
with the school district exists.
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Chief Appa stated that the Committee's meeting with the Council was scheduled after
he presented an agenda bill in November for the appointment of Dr. Donicht and Ms.
Huish. He would still like to see the candidates appointed to the Committee.
Council Member Robertson said that over the past twelve months Police Chief Appa
has been accused, tried, and acquitted. He stated that during that time, the Council
never sat down and discussed the issue due to other concerns such as the changeover
in City Manager. He didn't want to make the appointment of Dr. Donicht and Ms. Huish
until the Council had the opportunity to know what the purpose of the Committee was
and if there was an issue to warrant the need for the membership to continue to exist.
Mayor Eimers stated that the Committee's handling of the youth issue was well handled
as evidenced by the fact that the complaints from the community have ceased to exist.
He would like to see the Committee work in the same manner in finding solutions to
solve the ongoing bar issues. He stated that he appreciates the Committee's work on
diffusing other issues, but would like their attention to be concentrated on solving the
bar issue. Mayor Eimers stated that the Committee projects an image of only seeing
the issue from the perspective of the Police Department. He stated that the Committee
needs to work in the same diligent capacity they used to solve the youth issue.
ADJOURNMENT
Without further business, the Council Members adjourned from the meeting at
5:22 p.m.
Kirk L. Eimers, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dan Irwin, City Clerk
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