Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety (Committee) - 03/31/1989 • 0 + MINUTES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MARCH 31, 1989 PRESENT: Berne Biteman Mary Berg Christi Houser Larry Webb Paul Mann Jim Miller Jim Harris Mike Sweeney Rod Frederiksen Chuck Miller Norm Angelo Lyle Price UPDATE ON STATUS OF COMPLAINT PERSON - Fire Department Chief Berg reviewed some of the problems they have been having with the work training person that was to be instructed in on-the-job training for building inspector and complaint inspector. Chief Berg indicated that due to the various problems they have had in getting this person to show up for work, the program has been terminated. Mr. Biteman asked what the up shot of the program was and Chief Berg indicated that they are still exploring the possibilities with the Work Placement group to see if they can get a replacement, but they hadn't heard anything from the yet. SELF INSPECTION PROGRAM - Fire Department Larry Webb indicated that due to all of the new fire stations, new fire engines moving from station to station, that the Fire Department would be unable to inspect 3,500 businesses this year. They have opted to go with regular inspection of the County, a regular inspection of everything that . the Fire Department has permitted such as flammable liquids, propane tanks, places of assembly, etc. anything that's really a hazard. With the rest, they are going to try an experimental mail-out program to let them inspect their own business -using the form that the Fire Department uses. Webb stated that Auburn has a similar program on self- inspection and there are other towns that have done it. Webb indicated that there would be approximately 2,300 to 2, 600 of the self-inspection forms mailed out this year. Ms. Houser questioned as to whether those businesses would not be inspected at all or if there would be spot inspections. Webb indicated that they would be inspected by the business owner, they would have 30 days to inspect and if the form is not, returned, they will be inspected. Webb indicated that they would ,also be making spot checks of places that they know are not the best tenants. Mr. Biteman stated that if he were to put himself in the place of a business owner receiving the introductory letter with the self- inspection form, he would wonder how many others had been selected to participate in the program, was everybody selected or what. Webb indicated that approximately 2,600 will be a self-inspection MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Continued March 31, 1989 Page 2 of 11 out of 3,500. Mr. Biteman also stated that this is an inspection report that is going to take some time fill out and he is wondering how precise that he needs to be in filling it out. If he knew what they were going to do with the report, he would know how well to prepare it. Webb indicated that if the form is filled out and everything is okay, the form goes into the Department's files. The emergency information on the top of the page is updated with valley Comm. If there is a problem; then the business will be re- inspected. Mr. Biteman indicated that perhaps a statement in the cover letter telling what is going to be done with form would be helpful to ensure that the business owner prepares the form accurately. Mr. Mann stated that he felt the Department is just trusting these business owners to do this and they're not going to report problems. Biteman and Houser both disagreed with Mann with Biteman stating that most of these people have been inspected before and they know that this is on file and if they get spot checked or if it does go back into regular inspections and they find this, they'll get hit twice as hard on the next inspection. Chief Angelo indicated that this program is critical this year because there is not physical human way that the Fire Department can complete all those inspections. They won't just leave it here and let it continue this way forever, they will be doing more checks. They don't see it replacing annual inspections forever. It is a method of giving the business people the opportunity to be involved or sold into the process of making a safer community. Mr. Biteman asked what percentage of the businesses would be inspected this year or next year normally. Chief Angelo stated that normally 100% of the businesses would be inspected. Ms. Houser stated that there probably is a small percentage of those who would not fill the form out correctly, but that she had faith that the most would answer the questions truthfully. Chief Angelo indicated that the higher risk businesses, businesses that they know are habitually having difficulty understanding the code would be inspected and they would not be offered the self- inspection program. Mr. Biteman asked how long an inspection would normally take on an average. Webb indicated that approximately an hour for a small occupancy. Mr. Biteman asked that the committee be advised at the end of the year how the program went. Mr. Mann asked who checks some of the businesses to make sure that they're not a health hazard, that the workers are not breathing in fumes that are harmful. Chief Angelo indicated that if there is MINUTES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Continued March 31, 1989 Page 3 of 11 an infraction other than in the City's code, they are able to notify others such as the Health Department or Environmental concerns. INTERNAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR PROPOSAL - Police Department Chief Frederiksen indicated that it is common throughout the profession, that there is going to be some conflicts that occur when there is internal review of disciplinary matters and that there has been controversy within the police department with regard to the process of dealing with internal investigations. Some of the concerns of the Union have been relayed to the Chief and in the interest of finding a process that would be acceptable not only to the Police Union, but also to the Police Administration, Chief Frederiksen had suggested to the Mayor a compromise that he feels is going to be a very workable solution to the problem. Frederiksen stated that what he is proposing is to create a position within the Police Department which is called an Internal Affairs Coordinator. Chief Frederiksen introduced Detective Chuck Miller of the Kent Police Department as the individual that he is proposing to be appointed to fill the position of Internal Affairs Coordinator. Chief Frederiksen reviewed how he .gees the functions of the Internal Affairs Coordinator. He would be an individual that the Department would provide special training to and he would conduct the majority of internal investigations that ,occur within the Department. He would be called a coordinator in that there will still be investigations, because of their magnitude that there may be the need to have additional people assigned to the investigation with the Coordinator to ensure that the investigation is done properly. There also may be situation where an individual of sergeant's rank or above that may be involved in the investigation and it may require that somebody of greater rank be assigned to assist in the investigation. Chief Frederiksen indicated that through analyzing what has been occurring in the Department historically that on an average there are four internal affairs investigations or allegations of misconduct per month and it is hard to speculate how much time that would take because it depends on the seriousness of the allegation, therefore, at this time, it would be necessary to combine some other tasks within the Police Department with the Coordinator's assignment. Chief Frederiksen indicated that another reason he has sel6cted Detective Miller is because he is the Department's polygraphist. There is also the necessity of doing pre-hire employment background checks and it is essential that the Department does policy review to ensure that policies are updated on a frequent basis. Chief Frederiksen stated that Detective Miller was also chosen because of he feels that not only does Police Administration feel that he is an excellent individual and somebody of great quality and trustworthy, he is also viewed that way by the Union, as well as MINUTES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, ContinVed March 31, 1989 Page 4 of 11 his fellow workers. Chief Frederiksen stated that there are several key issues that he has pointed out in his memorandum to Mayor Kelleher and they are also pointed out in the letter from Union President Mike Painter. Those are that the Coordinator report directly to the Chief of Police, that the Coordinator not make recommendation as to appropriate action or whether the allegation should be sustained or not, but be on a fact finding mission and prepare a good investigative report of the allegation for the Chief's review, and also that if there were one individual handling this, it would be much easier to provide him with updated training on an annual basis. Chief Frederiksen indicated that there are three alternatives that he sees to allow this to happen. One would be to assign one of the three new detectives that have been authorized by the Council to fill Detective Miller's tasks within the Detective Unit now and forego some of the items that were to be done this year on more emphasis on drug investigations; the second would be to select the Internal Affairs Coordinator this year and provide him the training and not really have him perform those tasks until the beginning of next year; or to request a mid- year adjustment to allow this program to start in June of this year. Chief Frederiksen stated that he feels this is a vitally important position for the Department and he thinks that the money would be well spent to start this program June 1st of this year. The cost identified to start this program would be for a half-year probationary officer would be $18,136. Chief Frederiksen stated that this would allow the Department to hire a probationary officer and" begin training him, to allow as the training is complete, to bring somebody else into the Detective Unit so that operations would not be jeopardized. Chief Frederiksen stated that this proposal is supported not only by Police Administration and the Mayor, but also by the Police Union. Mr. Mann moved that Chief Frederiksen's recommendation be accepted and go with the option that he feels is most beneficial to the Department. Ms. Houser seconded the motion. Mr. Biteman commented that he recognizes that over the years in Kent that the Police Department has had a, because of the expansion of the City and a variety of other reasons and the change in the form of the organization, it has been difficult. $iteman stated something he has also recognized in contacting the officers themselves is that when you have people that operate .well independently, you get sometimes more independence that you had wanted and from that point of view, he feels its probably a little more difficult at the top to weld these into the working unit that you can be completely satisfied with. Mr. Bitemao commented to Detective Miller that he feels he's got a remarkable task ahead to walk the tight line required to keep the ombudsman relationship in hand. Mr. Biteman stated he likes the idea and thinks that it MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Cotttnued March 31, 1989 Page 5 of 11 certainly should bring the kind of stability that everyone is looking for. Mr. Biteman questioned Mr. Harris regarding the funding. Mr. Harris indicated that the $18,000 for this year would come from the City's "magic" source of funding and' then it would be put in the 1990 budget. Mr. Biteman asked for a vote. Motion passed unanimously. POLICE DISCIPLINE SEMINAR - Police Department Chief Frederiksen indicated that this is another issue that relates to the Internal Affairs Coordinator and in the process of discussing these issues with the Union, it became very apparent that it would be very good for both Administration and the Union, and for the City to also have the Union President attend the training in San Francisco in April. Chief Frederiksen stated that he felt it important for the Union to have a good understanding of the internal affairs process and have the training and exposure to others that are involved in the same process across the country. Chief Frederiksen indicated that he is recommending that Union President Mike Painter be allowed to attend this training at City expense. He stated that he feels that the value to •th'is community and to the Department would be money well spend. The amount for this would be $956.00 which includes travel and all expenses. Mr. Mann moved that the proposal be approved to go to the consent calendar. Ms. Houser seconded the motion. Mr. Biteman indicated that a motion has been made to, approve the sum of $956.00 for Mike Painter's training and asked for comments. Ms. Houser commented that there would be four attending the training. Chief Frederiksen stated that the monies for the other three would come out of the Department's training budget and indicated that the training that was attended in Las Vegas was of very poor quality and the Department has received approximately $1600. 00 back in training benefits from I.A.C.P, but that he is asking the City Attorney to write a letter asking for the remainder of the funds that were expended for that trip. Mr. Biteman commented that he felt this would be essential,, although its something that would be overlooked, is the Union's .'recognition of internal affairs and procedures. Mr. Biteman asked for a vote. Motion passed unanimously. U.S. MARSHALL'S AGREEMENT MODIFICATION - Police Department The modification of the existing U.S. Marshall's agreement is the first and the last sentence of Article IV. Chief Frederiksen indicated that primarily it states that this agreement shall be in MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Continued March 31, 1989 Page 6 of 11 effect from January 1 through December 31 each year until terminated in writing by either party. Chief Frederiksen indicated that previously it stated that there was a conclusion of the contract last year, so this would basically be an extension of the agreement between the U.S. Marshall 's and the City of Kent. Mr. Biteman asked if this has already gone out and Chief Frederiksen stated that no, it had not. It is being requested is approval for the Mayor to sign. Chief Frederiksen again indicate4 that this is primarily an extension of the contract, it speaks about the 15 bed guarantee and the capability of both parties to get out of the agreement if they have to. Chief Frederiksen reminded the Commiteee that today there are 82 prisoners in tho Corrections Facility and there are prisoners on the floor, s6 they're are looking at the possibility in the near future of having to reduce the contract with the Federal Government and are also having to work with the local courts to find some solution to the problem. Chief Frederiksen indicated that although it is nice to have this to reduce the guaranteed beds, but it has to be remembered that as this is done, there is the potential of losing a swbstantial sum of revenue. Mr. Mann asked how you go about mitigating with the courts to alleviate the problem of congestion in the racility. Chief Frederiksen indicated that one of the things that is being looked at is that there is a distinct difference in the asentencing of prisoners at Aukeen Court in comparison with, all , the other districts and that his general thoughts are that as they started to utilize the new Corrections Facility, because it was empty they started sentencing prisoners to much greater tArms. Chief Frederiksen indicated that an analysis is being don4 to show them that they are sentencing far greater than anybody, aloe ,in the area and try to reduce the sentences in some of the misdemeanor prisoners that are being sentenced to the Facility., Mr. Mann stated that he hoped that they wouldn't let up on thei drug area. Chief Frederiksen indicated that a good number of the people that area arrested for drugs are charged with felonies and certainly in that type of situation they wouldn't reduce the sentences, but that there are some situations such as with one indiVie ual, they can only be sentenced for each violation for one y�sar, but this individual has been sentenced to three years on #hare separate charges and so basically the Facility will have thin prisoner for three years as would be normal for a penitentiary.. Mr. Biteman asked Chief Frederiksen to restate the kinds of inhabitants that are at the facility, limited to what. Chief Fredsri)won indicated that they are misdemeanor prisoners, with the exception of the Federal prisoners which can be felons and those arrested on felonies that are housed in the Facility until thay, sare arraigned in court and then they're sent to the County facility. Mr. Biteman asked what misdemeanor would cover and Chief Frederiksen indicated MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Contihuad March 31, 1989 Page 7 of 11 that it would traffic laws, minor conduct, domestic Violence, minor assault. Mr. Biteman indicated that the reason that he was asking this was because it continually comes to him that the prisoners are being serviced too well and that he has to point out that these are people from our own community that are misdemeanor type', he may not have paid his alimony. Ms. Houser moved to recommend authorization for the;• Mayor to sign the modification of the U.S. Marshall's contract, Mr. Mann seconded the motion. Mr. Biteman asked for a vote. Motion passed unanimously. LIBRARY REMODEL PROJECT UPDATE - Police Department Chief Frederiksen reviewed through a brief backgrQund on how the library building next to City Hall became des il ated as the location for the police facilities. Chief Frede 'I sen indicated that this is a short term solution to the Police Department's overcrowding problems and should serve that need probably into the year 1995. Chief Frederiksen indicated that he teals that the process was done backwards--the building was found, established a budget for remodelling it and now going through the process of establishing the functional needs of the Department into the future and doing an assessment of the condition of the building, which should have been at the other end of the process. Chief Frederiksen stated that through the assessment of thw building it has been found that the roof needs to be repaired or 'replaced, they have had problems with the heating and cooling sytt*% for the last five years and it has been recommended that the heating system needs to be replaced. Chief Frederiksen indicated that in order to accomplish the needs of the Police Department with the building, it will take a conservative budget of $1,147,000.' There is currently $700,000 budgeted for the remodel. What the Department is going to be asking for in the budget process is that additional money be placed into the CIP for fiscal year 1990 to allow the Department to go forward with the remodelling eXpOndi.tures. Chief Frederiksen indicated that he realizes this may put,; a ',drain on the system, but in the building there are a great number of needs that ' become very apparent the day you move. One of the.ineeds could be that if there were to be a substantial leak in the 'roof that it could ruin a good portion of what was remo deled. If the Department moves into a facility where the system is inadequate and start closing off more office space, then obviously, the heating and cooling system is even going to do less of a job than it does now. Chief Frederiksen stated at this point, it is necessary to get direction from the Council as to whether or not to move forward with this. It needs to be determined whether to go ,tbrward at this point to do more programming, spending more money out of the MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Contipted March 31, 1989 Page 8 of 11 $700,000 to do the programming for the building. If the decision is made not to do that or not authorize the funding, then that determination should be made now. Mr. Biteman asked what was needed from the Committee on this item. Chief Frederiksen indicated that'although this was an informational item, the Department did need some direction from they Public Safety Committee as to their thoughts as far as proceeding forward and expending more money in the process. Chief Frederiksen asked Lt. Mike Sweeney to review through some of the details of where the Department is at with the architect. Lt. Sweeney indicated that the dilemma that the Department is in is that there is a $700,000 budget that was set before there was a structural/mechanical/electrical inspection of the building, which was set before there was a program about how the space was going to be used and how it might be configured. Now., in order for that building to achieve what it is that the Department wants it to do, according to the engineers, it will cost an additional $447,000. Lt. Sweeney advised that there are a couple of issues that the Committee needed to be aware of before they, looked at the budget. The first issue is that public safety buildings need to be built seismically to withstand greater loads and forces than do common office buildings. Lt. Sweeney indicated thit the problem occurs in the definition of public safety building. The Police Department intends to use the building as office space and headquarters only. Public safety tends to conjure up in its definition to meet the seismic requirements, the issues of dispatch centers and jails, not just office space. The structural engineers have preliminarily talked with Code Enforcement and basically it's pretty safe to assume that it will be a Class i office type building, not a public safety building. It's a police headquarters, but it doesn't have to satisfy,- at this point, all the seismic requirements. The second issue is, in figuring a 60% closed office and 40% open office concept, the more closed offices you have, the more mechanical you need to move air, to run electricity, etc. Since the beginning of the project in December,, it has been determined that there are three things that are wrong with the building. First, the City has to hire somebody to map the septic lines monthly, it flows up hill not down. Unless ,it's pumped monthly, the library has a problem. The mechanical engineer has pointed out the alternatives to solve the problem and none of them are cheap. Second, in order to protect the investment that goes on underneath it, the engineers say that it would b4 foolish to do that scale of remodel to the building and not put a new roof on. Third, the heating and ventilating system in the building, MINUTES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, Continued March 31, 1989 Page 9 of 11 according to the current people who maintain it�, 'the current heating and ventilating system is not suited to its purpose once the building has been remodelled. The system has been maintained well and internally it is very sound, but the problem is that it doesn't have the capacity for the building that it*s in. The issue of the mezzanine serves two purposes. one, it's a reasonable cost and increases floor space by approXimately 2,000 square feet and second, it allows for power, plumbing and mechanical to the other end of the building and keep ,it hidden. Mr. Biteman asked for any reactions to the information that has been presented. Mr. Mann stated that when he first heard about the ssptic problems, the flag went up and he figured that there would be other problems, so this is no surprise to him, but that he feels that it is something they needs to be dealt with. So whether it's the Police Department there or another department, if it needs a new roof, then a new roof has got to be put on. If it needs hew heating and cooling, it's got to be done. Ms. Houser stated that the thought of trying to come up with $450, 000 more. She stated that she is real concerned about where they will get the $450, 000 to do this. Mr. Harris stated that this would be asked for in the 1990 budget and that it would be one of the tough decisions that, the Council would have to make in setting the budget. Mr. Biteman stated that he would have share Mr. Mann's viewpoint on this. That biting the bullet, he feels is easit,ial in terms of the investment in the building and that the Committee's recommendation has to come on whether they should move forward with it or not. The locating of the funds is the job of ,fiho City staff, the Finance Department and others. Ms. Houser stated that she feels that there isn't •a whole lot of choice. It's a part of City Hall and there has been extensive remodelling done all over City Hall, but that this is just such a large lump sum. Mr. Biteman stated that unless there are some alternatives on locating the funds, the Department has the committee's approval on moving ahead to pursue whatever it takes to get this thing done right. He stated that he understood that this was ,something that couldn't be taken care of in one-year time, that this would be a two year project at least. MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY C43MMITTEE MEETING, Contiiued March 31, 1989 Page 10 of 11 Mr. Harris stated that he thought it was important for the Police Department to get the green light to continue on with. Lt. Sweeney indicated that the next step would be to develop the architectural program around the functional needs, and how that building will accommodate them and that is going to cost more money out of the $700,000. Mr. Biteman indicated that when the Police Department makes the presentation to Council the fact that the preliminary allocation of funds was not based on an inspection of the building. Mr. Biteman asked Chief Frederiksen if there was any, action of any kind that would be needed other than the affirmation the Committee had given and Chief Frederiksen stated that he felt that the information that the Committee provided was enough ?;to go forward with the expenditures. Mr. Biteman expressed his congratulation on finding the mezzanine space because the space need is •the biggest thing. Mr. Mann also wished to commend the Department for all the time and ', energy that has been put into the project and the anxiety over the whole thing. Chief Frederiksen concluded by stating that he feels that this would serve the Department's needs for the immediate future, but that he didn't want to leave the Committee with the feeling that this would take them further than maybe 1995 in thAt ,as the City grows as a community and go forward with annexation ,anId add to the population, that that particular facility could be fast filled. The Department could then be back asking for additional, funding for more facilities, whether it be a precinct on the, east hill or whatever. Mr. Harris indicated that he felt that the City would grow on natural increase without annexing anything at a rate;of about 1,400 or 1,500 a year due to the various apartment complexes and now the single families. If the City touches annexation,, it's going into the big-time city operation just on population. T" pity is there now in the profile of the community being an induotirial/service community. Someone from an insurance company came through not too long ago and said that Kent has the profile Of a city of over 100,000. Chief Frederiksen indicated that this is brought to the Committee's attention simply because there are direct and fnd�rect costs of annexation and as the whole picture is presented to Council for consideration, that there is a good analysis of ,what the true fiscal impact would be. { r J^. 1 f y MINUTES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, CP t anued March 31, 1989 Page 11 of 11 Mr. Biteman suggested that some of the pictures bed replaced with some growth factors, just a chart showing the grew year by year. '� Meeting adjourned.