HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 08/08/2017Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved September 12, 2017
Page 1 of 3
Date: August 8, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Chambers East
Attending: Dana Ralph, Les Thomas, and Bill Boyce, Acting Chair; Jim Berrios had
an excused absence.
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 May 9, 2017.
L. Thomas moved to approve the Public Safety Committee minutes dated May
9, 2017. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
5. Kent Corrections Facility Programs Fees and the Kent Police
Department Fees Resolution - Recommend.
Patrol Commander Todd Durham made a request to adjust the current fee
schedule to include a different fee for the new online traffic school program.
The adjustment will distinguish between the fees charged to the existing in-
person program ($100 per student) and new online program ($136 per
student); the $36 difference would be a convenience fee for somebody that
would not be able to take the in-person class.
An addition to the in-person and online traffic safety school programs, the
department will open the classes to senior citizens one or two times a year and
possibly expand to newer drivers. These classes will be at a reduced cost since
they are not in relation to an infraction.
Traffic School Coordinator Allyson Miller provided a more detailed explanation
regarding how the online class will work. The company that will supply and
monitor testing is National Traffic Safety Institute (NTSI). NTSI has built-in
safeguards to ensure the “student” is taking the four-hour course. For
instance, multiple, personally related questions are asked in the beginning of
the course and then randomly will pop-up throughout the course. If a question
is answered incorrectly the test shutdowns and a notice is given to call Ms.
Miller. The test cannot be taken at the pace of the student, rather it is a full
four-hour course that has to be fully read and quizzes completed in a timely
manner.
Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved September 12, 2017
Page 2 of 3
It was noted that a multitude of fees, including traffic school fees, falls within
the Corrections Facility Programs Fees resolution 1807.
D. Ralph moved to recommend Council adopt the proposed resolution
amending the fee schedule established for the Kent Corrections Facility
Programs and the fees for the Kent Police Department to add an online traffic
safety school option. L. Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
6. Police Equipment and Technology Purchase Update – Information
Only.
Chief Thomas informed members that the department will be going back to the
original way of how finance needs from the Criminal Justice Funds will be
requested. Each August all requests will be brought forward rather than
piecemealing the requests throughout the year.
Committee members were in agreeance that if there is an emergent need that
it should be brought to committee at that time.
7. EvidenceOnQ – Information Only.
Chief primed members that the department will be requesting the purchase of
new evidence equipment. Department staff has compiled information from
other local jurisdictions, cities of Renton and Auburn, and have found that
EvidenceOnQ would be the best software program to move forward with. As it
is now, processing out evidence has been a challenge. It takes one person to
go to five different areas in the current Tiberon program before evidence can
be released. Although hiring additional personnel has been previously
approved, at this time it would not be effective to the process.
Besides having found the Tukwila based company to have the best customer
service, the program also speaks to itself across agencies. Research has found
a cost savings of $20,000 to $40,000 if purchased sooner rather than later this
year. Once the contract has been finalized the request will go to full Council.
8. Panther Lake Police Substation – Second Amendment to License
Agreement – Information Only.
Chief discussed the upcoming rental agreement renewal for the Panther Lake
area police substation. The three year agreement will run through May 31,
2020 with June 1st of each year bringing a slight increase, they are:
June 1, 2017: $800.80
June 1, 2018: $824.83
June 1, 2019: $849.57
Committee members noted that good feedback has been received regarding
both the Panther Lake and 104th Street locations.
Public Safety Committee
Minutes
Approved September 12, 2017
Page 3 of 3
9. Chief’s Report – Information Only
Chief’s report included two items, they are:
Body Cameras: for the past several months department staff and
Information Technology Project Manager/Business Analyst Matt Johnson
have been compiling information for the use of body cameras. Research
has included a visit to the Seattle Police Department to see how their
system works, looking into policy and legislation issues, implementation
and costs, public disclosure and software challenges. The preliminary
cost will approximately be $215,000 for start-up, then $110,000 a year
for ongoing costs. For redaction and public request disclosures two new
positions will need to be filled in the city clerk’s office and one IT staff
person is estimated to cost an additional $370,000.
South King County Gang Violence: there was a regional meeting held
in Auburn to allow south county cities and police departments to provide
updates to violent crime data, year-to-date they are:
o Homicides are down from January through April’s four per month
to two for a total of 22
o Injury shootings are down from January through April’s 11 per
month to five for a total of 65
o Confirmed shots fired are down from January through April’s 25
per month to 18 for a total of 157
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. by B. Boyce.
J. Hays
Jennifer Hays
Public Safety Committee Secretary
August 8, 2017