Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 01/09/2018Public Safety Committee Minutes Approved February 13, 2018 Page 1 of 3 Date: January 9, 2018 Time: 4:30 p.m. Place: Chambers East Attending: Les Thomas, Bill Boyce, and Toni Troutner, Chair Agenda: 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Changes to the Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. 4. Approval of Minutes dated October 10, 2017. B. Boyce moved to approve the Public Safety Committee minutes dated October 10, 2017. L. Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 5. Police and Criminal Justice Ballot Measure-Resolution – Information Only. Chief Administrative Officer Derek Matheson and City Attorney Tom Brubaker provided information regarding a resolution that would begin the process to submit a ballot proposition, “Proposition A,” to authorize Kent to raise the existing six percent utility tax to eight percent on the gross revenues of companies operating in Kent that provide electricity, manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and cable television services. State law requires that voters must approve any utility tax increase on these companies that exceeds six percent. The two percent increase in utility tax revenues is estimated to raise approximately $4.8 million per year in additional revenue which will be dedicated solely to expand staffing, equipment for police, and criminal justice purposes as well as to fund the impacts of additional police officers on police support services, the city’s municipal court, its municipal jail, its prosecution division, and its public defender office. There are a four steps needed over the next few weeks to meet critical deadlines, they are: 1. to work with committee chair to coordinate a special Public Safety Committee meeting later this month, most likely January 30th, to take action on the proposed resolution that would call a special election on Tuesday, April 24th; 2. staff will work on Mayor’s recommended allocation of funds to be presented to the committee; 3. staff will work on a communications plan to present to the committee; Public Safety Committee Minutes Approved February 13, 2018 Page 2 of 3 4. issue a press release seeking recruitment of pro and con committees (three members each) to write pro and con statements for the voter’s pamphlet prior to the election. The deadline to adopt a resolution calling the election, submit an explanatory statement, and provide names of the pro and con committees is Friday, February 23rd. If committee members agree to have a special Public Safety Committee January 30th and votes to recommend the resolution to the full Council, staff will work to schedule the resolution then a second resolution by which Council would express the support for the ballot measure, and next adopt a motion to appoint the pro and con committees during the February 6th council meeting. If needed, the discussion can continue to the February 20th council meeting. 6. Chief’s Report – Information Only Chief’s supplied information on a variety of topics, they are:  Recruiting hire update: four positions have been approved for 2018 with one carry-over position from last year. There are three retirements scheduled, two sergeants (25 and 32 years served) and one officer. Final offers of employment were given to two lateral officers from Florida and Texas, a lateral officer is testing now on a ride-along, plus one additional new-hire officer. One person of interest is still in the military and is scheduled to join the department in June. There are four assessments scheduled with 67 candidates the first quarter of 2018.  Officer safety: with the loss of a Pierce County deputy, it highlights the importance of safety and the need for increased staffing. There has been an up-tic in violent crimes recently with the first homicide of the year in the first week of January. Steps have been taken to secure staff and officers within the City Hall campus by adding bullet resistant glass around the parking garage. Officers are equipped with additional body armor that is capable of stopping rifle rounds as well as issued ballistic military style helmets.  Human trafficking: during a meeting at the Seattle-based FBI office Kent Detective Lovisa Dvorak was recognized and given an award of appreciation, signed by FBI Director Christopher Wray, for her work on the joint taskforce on child exploitation regarding human trafficking cases. Detective Dvorak served as task force supervisor for 18 months of investigations in the Puget Sound region.  National Night Out: Kent’s participation was recognized as eighth best in the nation. Public Safety Committee Minutes Approved February 13, 2018 Page 3 of 3 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 p.m. by T. Troutner. J. Hays Jennifer Hays Public Safety Committee Secretary