HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 01/09/2018 (2)
Unless otherwise noted, the Public Safety Committee meets at 4:30 p.m. on the second
Tuesday of each month in Kent City Hall, Council Chambers East, 220 Fourth Ave S, Kent, WA
98032.
For additional information please contact Jennifer Hays at 253-856-5705 or via email at
jhays@kentwa.gov.
Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk’s
Office at 253-856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service call Washington
Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-833-6388.
Public Safety Committee Agenda
Councilmembers: Bill Boyce – Les Thomas – Toni Troutner, Chair
Chief Ken Thomas
January 9, 2018
4:30 p.m.
Item Description Action Speaker Time Page
1. Call to order Chair Troutner 1
2. Roll Call Chair Troutner 1
3. Changes to the Agenda Chair Troutner 1
4. Approval of meeting minutes
dated October 10, 2017
YES Chair Troutner 1 1
5. Police and Criminal Justice Ballot
Measure - Resolution –
Information Only
NO Derek Matheson 20 5
6. Chief’s Report – Information Only NO Chief Ken Thomas 10 17
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Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approval Pending
Page 1 of 3
Date: October 10, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Chambers East
Attending: Dana Ralph, Les Thomas, and Jim Berrios, Chair
Agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Changes to the Agenda
The 2017 SAMHSA Drug Free Communities Grant – Recommend was added to
the agenda as item #6.
4. Approval of Minutes dated September 12, 2017.
L. Thomas moved to approve the Public Safety Committee minutes dated
September 12, 2017. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
5. Yakima County Inmate Housing ILA – Recommend.
Chief Thomas asked members to update an interlocal agreement (ILA)
between Yakima County and the City to transport the overflow of inmates for
the next five years. The request is for purposes of population management.
Benefits to update the ILA are:
The cost is $50 a day, per inmate,
there are no booking fees or additional costs to transport and house an
inmate, and
Kent jail has limited female inmate capacities.
Typically, inmates serving a longer sentence (no longer than 364 days) are
transported to Yakima. Currently, there are 17 inmates serving time in
Yakima. This agreement will renew annually through December 31, 2022
unless there is a written notification from one party to the other to terminate
the contract at the end of the current calendar year.
D. Ralph moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign an
interlocal agreement with Yakima County for the purpose of housing inmates
as the City may need, for 2018, subject to final terms and conditions
acceptable to the city attorney and police chief. L. Thomas seconded the
motion, which passed 3-0.
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Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approval Pending
Page 2 of 3
6. 2017 SAMHSA Drug Free Communities Grant – Recommend.
Research and Development Analyst Sara Wood asked members to accept the
year nine drug free communities programs grant. Grant funds will be used for
drug and alcohol prevention activities identified by the Kent Drug Free
Coalition, Kent Police youth board projects, including the Game of Life youth
conference among other drug and alcohol prevention activities.
It was noted that at the end of year ten, this grant will no longer be available.
L. Thomas moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the Drug
Free Communities Support Program Grant from the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $125,000, amend the
budget, and authorize expenditure of the grant funds in accordance with the
grant’s terms and conditions. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which passed 3-
0.
7. Chief’s Report – Information Only
Chief’s supplied information on a variety of topics, they are:
New Human Traffic Victim Advocate: Ms. Wood worked with Kent Youth
and Family Services to apply for a one-year grant to hire a victim
advocate, Kyra Doubek, to work with city detectives to aid in John
stings. First time offenders are levied $1000 as an assessment fee.
Additionally, if the suspect is the registered owner of the car driven to
the meeting location that car is impounded for a $500 levy. Monies from
both levies are split 50/50: 50 percent goes towards future enforcement
while the other 50 percent goes towards supporting victims’ programs.
So far, Ms. Doubek has exceeded all expectations in regards to working
with victims of trafficking.
Volunteer Chaplain Program: Jay Abram is the new volunteer chaplain at
Kent Corrections Facility. He has previously assisted at the facility
volunteering to provide services to inmates. Chair Berrios invited
chaplains to meet full Council at an upcoming meeting.
Crime Update: although the City remains the lowest in King County
when it comes to violent crimes, the City has seen a spike in car thefts
and property break-ins compared to 2015-2016 numbers.
Drone Use Update: the use of a drone has been in effect for about the
last six months. The drone has been used for one SWAT call on the East
Hill for an officer involved shooting as well as for a traffic collision.
Upcoming Community Meetings:
o Panther Lake Elementary School, October 11 at 7pm. Assistant
Chief Hemmen will have a presentation on camera pods posted in
high crime areas. Other Commanders will provide crime updates
to various sectors around the City.
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Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approval Pending
Page 3 of 3
o Police Diversity Task Force: East Hill Fire Training Center on
Wednesday, October 18. Mark Larsen from the King County
Prosecutors Office will be there to discuss inquests that occur
after officer involved shootings.
o Coffee with the Chief: the next event is 8am Wednesday, October
25 at the Starbucks located on 4th Ave South and Meeker Street.
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:49 p.m. by J. Berrios.
J. Hays
Jennifer Hays
Public Safety Committee Secretary
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Tom Brubaker, City Attorney
Phone: 253-856-5770
Fax: 253-856-6770
Address: 220 Fourth Avenue S.
Kent, WA. 98032-5895
DATE: January 9, 2018
TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Derek Matheson, Chief Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Police and Criminal Justice Ballot Measure-Resolution –
Information Only
MOTION: INFORMATION ONLY
SUMMARY: This Resolution begins the process to submit to the qualified voters in
the city of Kent a ballot proposition, “Proposition A,” to authorize the city to raise
the existing six percent utility tax on the gross revenues of companies operating in
Kent that provide electricity, manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and cable
television services by two percent to a total utility tax on these companies of eight
percent. The purpose for this utility tax increase is to increase staffing and provide
equipment for police and criminal justice services in Kent in order to fund these
critical services in our community. All of the two percent increases in utility tax
revenues will be dedicated solely for police and criminal justice purposes.
State law requires that the voters must approve any utility tax increase on these
companies that exceeds six percent.
Staff will coordinate a special Public Safety Committee meeting this month, likely
January 30, to take action on this proposed resolution and send it to the full
Council. At that special committee meeting, staff will finalize and present the
Mayor’s recommended allocation of funds to be received from the increase, if
approved. Administration will also begin recruitment of the pro and con
committees, as required by law and work on a communication plan to present to
the committee.
King County Department of Elections must receive the resolution calling for the
ballot measure, the explanatory statement, and the pro and con committee
appointments at least 60 days before the special election, which would be no later
than Friday, February 23, 2018.
Exhibits: Draft Resolution, Draft Explanatory Statement
Budget Impact: Finance Department estimates approximately $4.8 million in
additional revenue
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1 Police and Criminal Justice
Resolution
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the
city of Kent, Washington, providing for the
submission to the city’s qualified electors at an
election to be held on April 24, 2018, of a
proposition authorizing the city to increase the
existing utility tax by two percent (2%) for a total
utility tax of eight percent (8%) on the total gross
income derived from revenues of companies
operating in Kent that provide electricity,
manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and
cable television services in order to fund additional
staff and support exclusively for police and
criminal justice in the city of Kent.
RECITALS
A. Kent has experienced dramatic growth in its recent past. The
city now encompasses approximately thirty-five square miles in area, and
its population is the sixth largest in Washington State. With this growth
has come pressure on the city’s general fund as it strives to continue to
provide all city services to this dramatically increased population and
service area. A number of factors have contributed to issues with
continued funding of these services, including a property tax limitation of
one percent per year, which causes a continuing structural revenue
shortfall, because the one percent cap generally runs one to two percent
below the annual inflation rate. Also, when the state legislature enacted
its Streamlined Sales Tax legislation, the city, according to the latest
study, has incurred an annual loss of expected sales tax revenue of
approximately $12.7 million per year.
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Resolution
B. Of all city services, police and criminal justice services are
primary to its citizens. The city has strived to maintain its level of delivery
for these services, but staffing levels are challenged as the city grapples
with its recent growth. Police officers are working overtime, and more
officers are needed to adequately address criminal justice demands.
Increasing its current active duty officers from approximately 160 officers
to approximately 180 officers would significantly improve the city’s ability
to deliver these services. The city needs these officers to maintain a level
and quality that the public needs and deserves.
C. Police officers are a significant part of the city’s public safety
network, but adding additional officers will also impact service and staffing
levels in police support services, the city’s municipal court, its municipal
jail, and also its prosecution and public defense staffing. As a result, if this
additional funding becomes available, some part of that funding will also
be dedicated to these other critical branches of the city’s police and
criminal justice network.
D. The Kent City Council finds that it is in the public interest and
is imperative to increase the funding level of the Kent Police Department
and related criminal justice network to provide fully-staffed police and
related criminal justice services. Hiring additional police staff, developing
and improving our policing programs, purchasing necessary police
equipment, and supporting our court, jail and related criminal justice
services will provide for the general health, safety, and welfare of our
community.
E. As authorized by law, the city currently imposes a six percent
(6%) utility tax on the total gross income derived from revenues of
companies operating in Kent that provide electricity, manufactured and
natural gas, telephone, and cable television services. Under state law, a
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Resolution
majority of the voters in the city may vote on a proposition to raise the
utility tax over that six percent amount.
F. In order to maintain and improve its police and criminal
justice operations at a service level that the citizens of the City deserve
and expect, the Kent City Council has determined to ask the voters to
increase the six percent utility tax by two percent, resulting in a total
utility tax of eight percent (8%) on the total gross income derived from
revenues of companies operating in Kent that provide electricity,
manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and cable television services.
G. These conditions require the holding of an election in the City.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
RESOLUTION
SECTION 1. Findings. The City Council hereby adopts the
foregoing Recitals as its findings and determines that it is in the best
interests of the residents of the City to provide additional funds to pay
costs of improving its police and criminal justice services.
SECTION 2. Increased Tax on Electricity, Manufactured and
Natural Gas, Telephone, and Cable Television Companies. The Kent City
Council finds and declares that, in order to preserve and protect the
health, safety, and welfare, it is in the best interest of the City to submit to
the qualified electors of the city for their approval or rejection at the
special election to be held on April 24, 2018, a proposition authorizing an
increase from six percent (6%) to eight percent (8%) on the total gross
income derived from revenues of companies providing electricity,
manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and cable television services, to
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4 Police and Criminal Justice
Resolution
be collected beginning July 1, 2018, or as soon thereafter as allowed by
law, and every calendar year after that. The King County Department of
Elections, as the ex officio supervisor of elections in King County,
Washington, is requested to call and conduct this election in the city and to
submit the proposition in the form substantially presented below to the
city’s electors on that date. Upon the voters’ approval of this proposition,
the city may use the proceeds of the utility tax increase to hire additional
police officers and other criminal justice personnel and equipment.
SECTION 3. Ballot Proposition. The City Clerk is authorized and
directed to certify the following proposition to the King County Records and
Elections Division, as ex officio supervisor of elections in King County,
Washington, in substantially the following form:
CITY OF KENT
PROPOSITION A
2% UTILITY TAX INCREASE FOR
POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES
The Kent City Council adopted Resolution No. _______,
asking voters to consider approving additional revenue
for police and criminal justice staffing and equipment
purposes. If approved, Proposition A would authorize
the city to levy a 2% utility tax increase, from 6% to
8%, on the total gross income derived from revenues
of companies providing electricity, manufactured and
natural gas, telephone, and cable television services in
the city, to the extent allowed by law, for the sole
purpose of maintaining and enhancing police and
criminal justice services in Kent.
Should this proposition be:
APPROVED
REJECTED
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Resolution
SECTION 4. Changes. The Mayor and City Attorney may make
minor adjustments to the wording of this proposition as may be
recommended by the King County Department of Elections or the Office of
the King County Prosecuting Attorney, as long as the intent of the
proposition remains clear and consistent with the intent of this ordinance
as approved by the City Council.
SECTION 5. Notice Relating to Ballot Proposition. For purposes of
receiving notice of the exact language of the ballot proposition required by
RCW 29A.36.080, the City Council hereby designates the City Clerk.
SECTION 6. Request for Local Voter’s Pamphlet. The city requests
that the King County Department of Elections include the city’s ballot
measure, explanatory statement, pro and con statements and rebuttals,
and all other appropriate materials in the local voter’s pamphlet, if one is
already planned. If the County does not intend to publish a local voter’s
pamphlet for the April 24 special election, the city asks that one be
published for this ballot measure. In either event, the city understands
and acknowledges that it is responsible to pay the cost of publication and
delivery.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This resolution will take effect
immediately upon passage, as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, at a
regular open public meeting held this _____ day of February, 2018.
CONCURRED in by the Mayor of the City of Kent this _____ day of
February, 2018.
DANA RALPH, MAYOR
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Resolution
ATTEST:
KIMBERLEY A. KOMOTO, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
TOM BRUBAKER, CITY ATTORNEY
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Resolution
CERTIFICATE
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Kent, Washington, and
keeper of the records of the City Council, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. That the attached Resolution is a true and correct copy of
Resolution No. _______ of the City, as adopted at a regular meeting of
the City Council held on February ____, 2018, and duly recorded in my
office.
2. That this meeting was duly convened and held in all respects
in accordance with law, and to the extent required by law, due and proper
notice of the meeting was given; that a quorum of the City Council was
present throughout the meeting; that a legally sufficient number of
members of the City Council voted in the proper manner to adopt the
Resolution; that all other requirements and proceedings incident to the
proper adoption or passage of the Resolution have been duly fulfilled,
carried out and otherwise observed; and that I am authorized to execute
this certificate.
Dated this ____ day of February, 2018.
Kimberly A. Komoto, City Clerk
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Explanatory Statement:
The city currently imposes a 6% utility tax on private electricity, gas, telephone,
and cable television utility services. If approved by the city’s voters, this
proposition increases that tax by 2%, raising the total utility tax on these services
to 8%. The city’s police and criminal justice services need additional staffing and
equipment to meet the needs of Kent, a city that in the recent past has grown to
cover over 35 square miles and has become Washington’s sixth largest city. This
2% utility tax increase, which will be devoted solely to police and criminal justice
services, will allow the city to add police officers to patrol city streets, increase the
total police department staffing to approximately 180 officers, and will support
staffing and equipment needs for our municipal jail and municipal court. Impacts
from growth, from gang violence, and from the impacts of urbanization in our
community make it necessary to grow our police and criminal justice departments.
The city’s general fund cannot afford the additional cost to do so without this utility
tax increase. The Kent City Council has determined that, in order to protect and
preserve the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, it is in the best interest of
the city to seek voter approval of this 2% utility tax increase for the sole purpose of
maintaining and enhancing police and criminal justice services in Kent.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
Ken Thomas, Chief of Police
Phone: 253-856-5800
Fax: 253-856-6802
Address: 220 Fourth Avenue S.
Kent, WA. 98032-5895
DATE: January 9, 2018
TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Chief Thomas
SUBJECT: Chief’s Report – Information Only
MOTION: Information Only
SUMMARY: Chief Thomas’ report will include a variety of items.
EXHIBITS: n/a
BUDGET IMPACTS: n/a
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