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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety (Committee) - 03/11/2014 KENT CITY OF KENT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES March 11, 2014 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jim Berrios, Chair, Les Thomas, and Dana Ralph. The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Jim Berrios 4:37 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion to approve the January 14, 2014 minutes. Motion PASSED 3-0. 2. Traffic School and Target Zero Fund Balances - Accept Sara Wood, Research and Development Analyst, presented information regarding the Traffic School and Target Zero Teams fund balances requesting authorization to increase both funds. After deliberating, Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion to recommend the Council authorize the Mayor to accept the current Traffic School contribution fund balance of $79,600 and the Target Zero Teams grant fund balance of $62,708, authorize amending the budget and authorize expenditure of the funds in accordance with the grant terms and conditions acceptable to the Police Chief and City Attorney. Motion PASSED 3- 0. 3. State Farm Grant — Prevent Illegal Street Racing - Authorize Sara Wood, Research and Development Analyst, presented information regarding the $15,000 State Farm Grant for the prevention of Citywide Illegal Street racing enforcement/Education Campaigns. In the summer of 2013, the City formed a partnership with State Farm Insurance. Prior grants have been received from State Farm Insurance for Illegal Street Racing within the City. Council Chad Berrios asked if there are other opportunities with other insurance companies to apply for grants to support the enforcement and education regarding illegal street racing. Sara indicated that there may be and that she will inquire with other insurance companies regarding the potential to apply for grants. After deliberating, Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to accept the $15,000 grant from State Farm Insurance to implement a citywide illegal street racing campaign including enforcement and community outreach, authorize amending the budget and authorize expenditure of the funds in accordance with the grant terms and conditions acceptable to the Police Chief and City Attorney. Motion PASSED 3-0. 4. Panhandling — Information Oniv Chief Thomas presented information regarding Kent's current disorderly conduct ordinance that mirrors other jurisdictions. Kent's ordinance additionally addresses aggressive panhandling, obstructing pedestrians and vehicle traffic. The City has conducted research and looked at other ordinances of neighboring jurisdictions including Seattle, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way, and Longview. The City's panhandling ordinance is located in the disorderly conduct ordinance and it mirrors the other neighboring jurisdiction's ordinances, except that Kent's ordinance addresses Public Safety Committee Minutes March 11, 2014 aggressive panhandling, in addition to obstructing pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Additional discussion may need to be held regarding the ability to put up signs. Council Chair Berrios requested clarification regarding aggressive panhandling. Chief Thomas recited the City's definition of Aggressive Panhandling located in the current city code and indicated that we may want to examine that definition further. 5. Panther Lake Police Substation License Agreement — Authorize Chief Thomas presented information regarding the Panther Lake Police Substation License Agreement. He indicated that Chief Straus is working with the property manager and negotiated an additional three year lease at the current location. The City will now be responsible for upkeep and utilities of the location not to exceed $800 per month. This is the lease contains the same provisions as the substation located in the Woodmont Shopping Center. Councilmember Ralph asked if this item is budgeted and Chief Thomas indicated that there was a line item, but it was not funded. They will take the funds from another overfunded line item and will make a request in the next budget to fund the line item for both police substations. After deliberating, Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the First Amendment to Shopping Center License Agreement with PK Y Panther Lake LLC, for the rental of space in the Panther Lake Shopping Center for a three year term to be used as a police substation, and subject to final agreement terms and conditions acceptable to the Police Chief and City Attorney. Motion PASSED 3-0. 6. Ordinance Correcting Code Sections for Menacing and Lewd Conduct — Authorize Acting City Attorney, Pat Fitzpatrick, presented information regarding the code sections for Menacing and Lewd Conduct. Pat indicated that this committee recently approved two ordinances that were codified in the same section of the Kent City Code due to the fact, at the time the lewd conduct ordinance was prepared, and the code book had not been updated to show the addition of the menacing ordinance in KCC 9.02.295. This ordinance clarifies that the crime of menacing is recodified at Section 9.02.293 of the Kent City Code. The code sections relating to lewd conduct will be reenacted. Pat advised that Assistant City Attorney, Tammy White found an omission in Section 0.02.296 and has indicated the need to insert the word "following" into section 9.02.296.A.(1) to read "(1) Exposes any of his or her following body parts without a full and opaque covering." After deliberating, Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion recommending Council adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 9.02 correcting code sections for menacing and lewd conduct. Motion PASSED 2-0. Pat introduced Assistant City Attorney, Tammy White. Tammy will be the attorney assigned to the Public Safety Committee. 7. Ordinance Amending KCC 13.05.050 — Fireworks Penalty — Recommend Chief Thomas presented information regarding the ordinance amending Kent City Code 13.05.050, entitled "Fireworks Penalty." This ordinance will amend the penalty for the unlawful sale, possession, or discharge of fireworks from a criminal offense to a class 1 civil infraction. This change will make it possible for officers to write citations that will make it easier to enforce the city's ordinance. Public Safety Committee Minutes March 11, 2014 These infractions will be processed through the Kent Municipal Court with a maximum penalty of $250. Dangerous acts with fireworks will remain a gross misdemeanor or felony as they currently exist. Councilmember Ralph indicated that she feels like this will be an additional tool for the officers to use for enforcement. She indicated that she does not believe that it is possible to enact and enforce a citywide ban. Chief Thomas indicated that he believes they will get more compliance with this provision. Both Chief Schneider and Fire Marshall Jon Napier, in addition to the fire investigations and indicated he has the full support of the Fire Department. Pat indicated that the reckless discharge of fireworks will be vigorously prosecuted. This ordinance captures the discharge at the wrong time or the possession when not allowed to be possessed. Pat agrees with Chief Thomas and believes that this ordinance will result in a much better tool that should be easier to utilize. Pat Fitzpatrick provided Committee Chair Berrios information regarding the enforcement and identification of legal and illegal fireworks. If you purchase your fireworks at a fireworks stand within the city limits you can be generally assured you are purchasing legal fireworks, if you buy fireworks at the reservation, you are probably purchasing illegal fireworks. Chief Thomas indicated that the community education group works closely with apartment managers to educate them and their tenants with the penalties of discharging fireworks. Council Chair Berrios clarified that the police officers not only came up with this provision but also believe that it is enforceable. Additionally, he indicated that essentially we are telling the community that we want to celebrate the Fourth of July, but we have to be respectful and safe and are serious about accountability. Councilmember Ralph asked if a ticket was going to be issued, would be issued to a minor and not their parent. Pat confirmed that the ticket would go to a minor, but that the officer will probably try to locate a parent and try to resolve the issue through the parent. After deliberating, Councilmember Ralph MOVED and Council Chair Berrios SECONDED a Motion to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to adopt an Ordinance amending KCC 13.05.050, entitled "Penalty," amending the penalty for unlawful sale, possession, or discharge of fireworks from a criminal offense to a class i civil infraction. Motion PASSED 2-0. B. Police Chief's Update Chief Thomas introduced Tom Kaspar, the new Volunteers in Police Services ("VIPs") coordinator. Tom will be taking over for former officer Paul Peterson. Tom feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the police department and indicated that they are a fun, good group of people to be around. Tom's goals include growing the number of volunteers in addition to being cited for a national VIPs award. Both Tom and his wife are graduates of Seattle University. After retiring from his job as the Chief Executive Officer of a holding company, they moved to Maple Valley. Tom coached local football and became a member of Kent Sunrise Rotary where he met the Chief. Public Safety Committee Minutes March 11, 2014 Council Chair Berrios indicated that he looks forward to Tom enhancing the VIPs program. Tom said he is honored to work with the police department volunteers and will try to direct the volunteers that cause them to get the outcomes we all want. Councilmember Ralph indicated that she is proud of the VIPs program and its volunteers and indicated their dedicated service is evident throughout the City. Chief Thomas indicated that Tom and other volunteers will be attending training to gain information on how to manage the VIPs group in addition to gaining knowledge on how to apply for grants. As of today, the program has 15 volunteers. The Chief provided information on the next police department community meeting that will be held on Thursday, March 20th at Panther Lake Elementary School. Tom and another volunteer will give a presentation on the VIPs program. Other discussions will include police department issues, the commanders will be talking about crime in their areas, a question and answer section will be held, and finally, there will be a K-9 presentation by Kato and Officer Tung. Councilmember Thomas arrived and provided concurrence on all action items presented during this meeting. Adiournment Coun I President Ra h adj urned the meeting at 5:17 p.m. t Kim A. Komoto Public Safety Committee Minutes March 11, 2014