Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 03/08/2016 Public Safety Committee Minutes March 8, 2016 Item 1 - CALL TO ORDER Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. Item 2 - COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios, committee member Les Thomas and committee member Dana Ralph were present. Item 3 - Changes to the Aaenda Chief Thomas changed the speaker for item eight from Assistant Chief Padilla to himself. Item 4 — Approval of meeting minutes dated February 9, 2016 Committee member Thomas MOVED to approve the minutes of February 9, 2016. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Ralph and PASSED 3-0. Item 5 — School Zone Traffic Safety Camera Program Fund Expenditures — Information Only Chief Ken Thomas presented information regarding the use of School Zone Traffic Safety Camera Program funds. This item is information only for the Public Safety Committee and will go to the March 15, 2016, Operations Committee for action. Chief Thomas is requesting $329,000 in School Zone funds to be used as follows: (1) $50,000 of the funds be allocated as matching grant funds for safe routes to schools obtained in conjunction with the Public Works Department; and (2) $279,000 to be used to purchase seven new police vehicles. School resource officers' vehicles will be replaced. Additional vehicles that are not quite at their lifecycle replacement will also be replaced sooner than the traditional life cycle. The Neighborhood Response Team and two detectives' vehicles will be replaced. The Police Department is expanding the K-9 program by adding one more K-9. The department currently has two K-9s on graveyard, and one on day shift, the additional K-9 will provide seven day a week coverage on day and graveyard shifts. All dogs will be generalist dogs and two will be cross-trained to half generalist and half for drugs. Chief Thomas explained that the K-9s are obtained through a local breeder and the cost of a dog is approximately $5,000 - $8,000. A K-9 master handler from Pierce County trains the dogs because our police officer Chris Mills is currently an assistant trainer and has not reached the level of master trainer yet. Cross training dogs is done through the Department of Corrections and is free of charge. Chief Thomas indicated that the K-9s are assisting in capturing dangerous people and getting them off the streets in addition to conveying that the K-9s are in high demand by Kent and surrounding jurisdictions. Council member Ralph expressed her appreciation that Kent's K-9s are being cross-trained for drugs. There has been a significant change in the laws in Washington, a lot of the dogs were trained for marijuana and they cannot be untrained. Page I 1 Council member Dana Ralph asked if the Public Works Department's plan to apply for a state grant for Meridian Elementary school would be the first choice to use the $50,000 matching funds for. Chief Thomas confirmed that Meridian Elementary is their first choice to use the matching funds. Committee Chair Berrios expressed his appreciation that the Police Department is using the school zone traffic safety camera funds for public safety through education and creating safe routes to schools. Item 6 - Ordinance Amending Ch. 9.02 KCC - "Criminal Code" Recommend Assistant City Attorney, Tammy White presented information regarding the ordinance amending Ch. 9.02 of the Kent City Code, entitled "Criminal Code." This is an ordinance that is brought to the committee annually. When the state Legislature adopts new laws or changes existing laws, they are not automatically incorporated in to the Kent City Code for application and filing charges in the Kent Municipal Court - we must adopt them into our code. Kent adopts the RCWs by reference. This ordinance includes a comprehensive review of all the RCW's and adopts by reference all RCWs that are either a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crime. Additionally, this ordinance includes an express link that will route the public to the state RCWs and also states that a full set is on file with the City Clerk's office. This ordinance specifies that if Kent has not adopted a specific RCW by reference, but reference to that RCW is needed in order to interpret the statute that we are trying to enforce, or apply sentencing conditions, that the intent is that the RCW is adopted by reference also. Committee member Thomas MOVED to adopt an ordinance amending the Criminal Code found in Chapter 9.02 of the Kent City Code to adopt by reference new crimes enacted by the state Legislature in 2015; to adopt other crimes enacted by the state Legislature in 2015; to adopt other crimes that were not previously adopted by specific reference; and to make other housekeeping revisions for clarity. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Ralph and PASSED 3-0. Item 7 - Ordinance Amending_Ch 9.36 KCC - ' Traffic Code" - Recommend Assistant City Attorney, Tammy White presented information regarding an ordinance amending Chapter 9.36 of the Kent City Code, entitled "Traffic Code." Kent has adopted the Model Traffic Ordinance that is adopted in the Washington Administrative Code. The model ordinance is established by the Department of Licensing in conjunction with the Washington State Patrol. They are one set of laws that, if adopted by an agency, are applied consistently among jurisdictions. This ordinance seeks to adopt the current version of the Model Traffic Ordinance. Additionally, this ordinance includes a provision that should the state legislature adopt additional traffic laws, and it takes the Department of Licensing two years to incorporate those laws into the Model Traffic Ordinance, that those laws will still deemed to be applied in Kent, to give traffic officers the authority to site drivers for violating those laws even though those laws have not been adopted into the Model Traffic Ordinance. Tammy indicated that this provision is a stop-gap measure. Page 12 Committee member Ralph received confirmation that the officers are informed and trained on newly-adopted traffic laws. Committee member Ralph MOVED to adopt an ordinance amending sections 9.36.010 and 9.36.015 of the Kent City Code to adopt the current version of the Model Traffic Ordinance; to repeal the City's separate adoption of state statutes now included in the Model Traffic Ordinance, and to make other revisions for clarity. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Thomas and PASSED 3-0. Item S. - Police Chief's Update - Information Onlv 2015 Budget Update Chief Thomas indicated that their department came in $100,000 under budget for 2015. Staffing Update (Retirements/Promotions) Chief Thomas indicated Assistant Chief Straus is retiring at the end of March. Eric Hemmen will be promoted to Assistant Chief in charge of the support services division. Assistant Chief Padilla will be in charge of investigations. Assistant Chief Kammerzell will remain in charge of the patrol division for an additional two years to maintain consistency in the largest division in the department. Commander Church will transfer to support services, Commander Kasner will transfer to detectives, Commander OReilly will transfer to SIU/NRT, Sergeant John Thompson will be promoted to Commander, Sergeant Matt Holmes will be promoted to Commander, Officer Matt Stansfield will be promoted to Sergeant, and Office Jason Bishop will be promoted to Sergeant. These changes will take place April 1st Changes that took place March 1st:- Sergeant Kelso transferred to NRT and Officer Andy Grove was promoted to Sergeant. Council member Ralph is sad to see Assistant Chief Straus go, but is excited about the promotions and changes. Jon Straus served the city for 31 1/2 years. Committee Chair Berrios indicated that Assistant Chief Straus served the City with a passion and was a wonderful leader. Chair Berrios expressed his appreciation for the Chief's thought process in the reorganization of the Police Department and that it is making a difference. Committee Chair Berrios indicated that it is important for people to understand that the police department is doing their very best to manage the tax dollars and appreciates their focus. Chief Thomas indicated that the steady, consistent leadership is helping provide a calm and stable environment for the organization. Page 13 Chief Thomas talked about the new badges commemorating the City's 125th year. Police personnel that wish to get a commemorative badge, must purchase one with their own funds. The badges can be worn through 2016. • Hiring update. There are currently seven vacancies. Two retirements: Jon Straus and a traffic officer that has been with the City for 36 years is retiring soon. Officers Wayne Graff and Justin Davis, under the direction of Assistant Chief Padilla and assistance of the City's Civil Service Examiner Natalie Winecka, are doing a terrific job. They are recruiting at public safety testing events and their efforts have increased the number of candidates by 57%. Chief hopes to interview 150 officers in the coming months in an effort to hire seven officers. Potential budget impact due to the recent state funding of the academy, could cost the City $15,000-$20,000 to send a cadet through the academy. If the current budget passes, the police academy will cancel the next 4 classes which then would extend the waiting list to get in to the academy to a minimum of 8 months. • Community Outreach Coffee with the Chief was held at the Great Wall shopping center. The past few community meetings have averaged 60 attendees. This month Sara Wood, Research and Development Analyst, will be meeting with leaders of diverse groups and seek information as to what they would like to see from the police department. Additional focus groups will be with the chamber of commerce, schools, block watch communities, and service clubs. The Police Department will gather the information and strategize how the Police Department can do better and be more responsive. Committee Chair Berrios shared the Kent Police Department's current successful programs including safe routes to schools and the Kent Police Department's community outreach with Thomas Young, District Director for Congressman Dave Reichert. Chief Thomas indicated he recently met with Congressman Reichert this past January during a recent trip to Washington DC. They discussed youth programs that help reduce guns and youth violence. He hopes to be able to announce an initiative in the near future. The meeting was adjourned at 5:18 p.m. by Committee Chair Berrios. Respectfully su mitted, Kim Komoto Public Safety Committee Secretary 5:\PUBLIC\CAy Oek's 0'![e\Gry COu/bi\B �ummtlees\MNc Sl`ity Comm.2[ex\NI6\NaJi\KOM Vr5ons�NitN 8,2M6A'tutxiGcc Page 14