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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023-05-25 minutes 1 Public Safety Committee Meeting Call to Order The May 25, 2023, Public Safety Committee meeting was convened at 7:30 a.m. by Councilman Spicer. Attendance Present: Committee Members: Councilman Derrick Spicer, Councilman Scott Spencer, Councilman Jack Deeken, Councilman Mark Schwartz, Councilman Aaron Mealy Guests: Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Chief of Police Eric Wilde, Emergency Medical Services Chief Eric Hoy, Emergency Management Director Nicholas Tietsort, City Attorney Ryan Moehlman, Councilman Mike Lester, Ryan Lock Approval of Minutes Councilman Spencer motioned to approve of the minutes from the April 27th meeting. Councilman Deeken seconded the motion. Minutes approved. Discussion of Agenda Items OLD BUSINESS Nothing to Report. NEW BUSINESS Councilman Schwartz wanted to address the council of the June 5th City Council agenda item regarding the public scooters. He is concerned about the danger the scooters bring to children who ride the scooters. Councilman Schwartz stated the company who owns the scooters has a responsibility to keep up with the safety measures within their contract, and the youth is violating many of the traffic laws which will ultimately get someone hurt. Chief Wilde stated there have been limited calls for services for the assumed problems the scooters are causing. City Attorney Moehlman added he would like to appear in future meetings to address steps the city can take to help eliminate concerns. Annual MOU Resolution with Cole County EMS Chief Schofield began by stating the relationship between Fire and EMS has never been better. Their collaboration and determination to make sure the public gets the best care in the area has help the two agencies form the relationship they have today. Chief Hoy stated the best way to utilize resources is to combine them in their training aspects. He suggests raising the minimum requirements for Fire Department Paramedics and to cross train the paramedics with EMS to become certified. 2 Councilman Spencer stated it would be a major upgrade to the department to be able to administer care as soon as the Fire Department arrives on scene. In response to Councilman Spencer’s questions regarding equipment, Chief Schofield stated the Fire Department is not equipped with advanced equipment yet. The equipment would be a substantial investment. The benefit to this training would be for the Fire Department to be able to immediately administer care when EMS equipment arrives on scene. OTHER BUSINESS Fire Department Update Chief Schofield gave a quick update for the training and activities the department has participated in to include Elementary Field School Days and Activities and Rope Rescue Training located at Station 2. Chief Schofield stated the department has completed the recent hiring process with 4 participants completing the process for 1 vacancy. He also stated Captain Casey Hughes will retire May 31 st at Station 2. Chief Schofield then gave a brief service anniversaries update. Chief Schofield advised the burn building at Hyde Park has been demolished. They are currently making footings for new buildings. Police Department Updates Chief Wilde addressed the recent spike in Fentanyl arrests. It is a concern for the department because of how new the drug is and most people do not know what the drug looks like. Fentanyl is very similar to OxyContin pills. He plans to put out a public notice for awareness for the drug. Chief Hoy stated the surges of drug activity comes in waves and is not in any particular area of Jefferson City. They are starting to see the drug laced with tranquilizers which limits the ability for NARCAN to wake the patient up from an overdose. Chief Hoy stated there has only been one case of Fentanyl weaponization (mass absorption or inhalation) and it was overseas. There have been many reports of the drug effecting you if you touch it, but chances of that are fairly slim based on recent studies. In response to Councilman Schwartz’s question about the Crisis Center, Chief Wilde stated the Crisis Center has become very helpful for the department to direct people to the help they need at the time of their crisis. Chief Hoy stated there are not nearly enough programs like the Crisis Center and the citizens need more access to programs like it. Chief Wilde advised the department has hire a former Compass Heath representative as a Police Officer with prior experience. She will be the department’s Community Outreach point of contact. Councilman Schwartz stated the council would like to have a monthly briefing of mental health within the community. Chief Wilde stated the promotional process for Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain will be June 2 – 20. June 21 will be oral board interviews and testing. Chief Wilde advised body camera training will take place June 9 – 14. In-car cameras are currently being installed and will be fully ready to go around the 2nd week of July. 3 Chief Wilde stated the police department building was built in 1978 and is in need of renovations. Esthetic upgrades have been made, but the department is running out of space for evidence, storage, and offices. Since boundaries of the city haven’t changed, there would be no need for a new building, just to add on to the current building. Chief Wilde would like to start a savings account to start putting money towards renovations. Emergency Management Update Director Tietsort gave a brief update on the Rapid Warn program which overlays weather information from the National Weather Service. Director Tiersort stated the EMPG grant should open in June or July which the department will reapply for to receive funding for the Deputy Director position. Other Updates Chief Hoy stated May 25th is National Stop the Bleed Day. EMS will be downtown teaching anyone who wants the training how to stop a bleed with a tourniquet and hands only CPR. Adjourn Councilman Spicer motioned to adjourn the meeting, Councilman Spencer seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 a.m.