HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety (Committee) - 09/14/2010
CITY OF KENT
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
September 14, 2010
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Les Thomas, Dennis Higgins, and Ron Harmon, Chair
• The meeting was called to order by Chair Harmon at 5:05 PM.
1. Approval of Minutes
L. Thomas moved to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2010 meeting.
The motion was seconded by D. Higgins and passed 3-0.
2. Prescription Drug Take Back Day, September 25 – INFO ONLY
Chief of Police Steve Strachan introduced Public Education Specialist Stacy Judd who
presented information on the event to be held at the Kent Police Station.
3. Washington Traffic Safety Commission grant award – ACCEPT and Establish
The Budget
Chief Strachan explained that $18,603.50 has been awarded for DUI emphasis patrols
beginning October 1, 2010 and ending September 30, 2011.
D. Higgins moved to authorize the Kent Police Department to accept the
Washington Traffic Safety Commission Target Zero grant in an amount not to
exceed $18,603.50 and establish the budget.
The motion was seconded by L. Thomas and passed 3-0.
4. Contract Misdemeanor Diversion Services – INFO ONLY
Deputy City Attorney Pat Fitzpatrick provided information on a diversion program that
may be offered in Kent beginning in the early part of 2011 through a contractor,
Friendship Diversion Services. He stated there currently is no diversion process in the
City of Kent for first time offenders. If the offenders meet certain criteria, choose
voluntary compliance and agree to pay the necessary fees to the contractor, they would
not enter our municipal court system. This would afford the Law Department and the
Municipal Court to give more focus on high impact offenders.
Chair Harmon asked if P. Fitzpatrick would ask another city that is currently utilizing the
the services of this contractor to present their opinion at a future committee meeting.
P. Fitzpatrick stated he will either find another city to attend a meeting or that he will
visit another city to get the information and then report back, possibly to a Council
Workshop.
5. Amend Parking Restrictions - Ordinance– ADOPT
Deputy Chief Mike Painter and Chief Prosecutor Tami Perdue presented information
on the ordinance that affects two-hour parking areas, new parking restrictions
within the City and the monetary penalties associated to the restrictions. M. Painter
thanked T. Perdue and Tammy White for their good work on the parking changes.
L. Thomas recommended Council adopt the proposed ordinance amending
Ch. 9.38 of the Kent City Code to add new parking restrictions within the City,
and to adopt the substantive text of RCW 46.61.570 and RCW 46.61.575 and
increase the assessed monetary penalty from $20 to $50 to allow the City to
recoup more of its actual costs incurred in enforcing those parking provisions.
The motion was seconded by D. Higgins and passed 3-0.
Public Safety Committee Minutes
September 14, 2010 2
INFO ONLY –
Chief Strachan mentioned that Graffiti Clean Up Day is Saturday, September 18th, and
that Public Education Specialist Sara Wood has 120 volunteers signed up for the event.
Chief Strachan and Stacy Judd advised the Committee that the Kent Youth Board has
been awarded the 2010 Washington State Substance Abuse Prevention Award in the
category of Exemplary Youth Leadership.
The meeting adjourned at 5:58 PM.
Jo Thompson,
Public Safety Committee Secretary