HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 04/12/2016 Public Safety Committee Minutes
April 12, 2016
Item 1 - CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios called the meeting to order at 4:32 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 Agenda
None
Item 4 — Approval of meeting minutes dated March 8, 2016
Committee member Thomas MOVED to approve the minutes of March 8,
2016. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Ralph and
PASSED 3-0.
Item 5 — Drug Forfeiture Funds — Information Only
Chief Thomas indicated that this item was presented at the April 5th Operations
Committee as information only, is being presented to the Public Safety Committee
for information only and will go back to the Operations Committee for action. Anika
Stieve, from the Center for Children & Youth Justice (CCYJ) presented information
using a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Youth LINC Replication of
intervention team work with the City of Kent. The PowerPoint presentation is
included as an attachment to these minutes. Youth LINC is a program managed by
the Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs and the Center for
Children & Youth Justice delivering direct services to referred gang-involved youth
in Kent through its intervention team. Seed money from the drug forfeiture funds
will be used to fund this program.
Chief Thomas clarified that the City will contract with CCYJ in the amount of
$175,000, which includes grants to community programs that serve youth in Kent.
Council President Boyce sought clarification regarding the $74,000 for program
staff/supervision. Anika indicated that Kent's program is a replication of the
program, doubling the amount of facilitation, data security measures, and referrals.
The project manager will interface with project partners, coordinate service
providers, and coordinate weekly meetings, track referrals, track progress and work
with the evaluator to produce reports.
Councilmember Thomas asked about how the program can be sustained when the
City is making a one-time investment. Anika Stieve indicated that CCYJ is applying
for and receiving grant funds through the Department of Justice and state grants
and is following an evidence-based model that has continuing opportunities for
funding.
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Anika clarified that CCYJ will make funding decisions based on input from the
project partners and partners they bring to the table for the intervention team.
They will base funding on recommendations of the comprehensive gang model for
supplemental programs.
Committee Chair Berrios expressed his excitement that this program provides
options for law enforcement to address current challenges in the community.
Item 6. — Parking of Commercial Trucks on City Streets — Ordinance--:
Recommend
Tammy White, Assistant City Attorney and Sergeant Schanbacher presented
information regarding the ordinance amending sections 9.38.120 and 9.38.130 of
the Kent City Code relating to the parking of commercial trucks on city streets.
This item was presented as information only at the November Public Safety
Committee meeting. At that meeting Tammy made the committee aware of the
problem with current code that prohibits parking on city streets of commercial
trucks and vans with a vehicle weight rating of 8,000 pounds, as defined in RCWs.
Those RCW's are inapplicable to determining the weight of the vehicle. Is confusing
and has led to enforcement difficulties.
At the November Public Safety Committee meeting, Tammy presented what other
jurisdictions were doing and the Committee asked Tammy to meet with staff and
bring back recommendations to this meeting. Tammy and Sergeant Schanbacher
met with representatives from the Economic and Community Development, Public
Works Departments and the Police Department. Tammy presented some of the
alternatives discussed by staff. Staff collectively agreed on: increasing the weight
threshold application to the parking and storage prohibition of large vehicles on City
streets from 8,000 pounds to in excess of 14,000 pounds (Class IV vehicle range);
removing the commercial limitation; the two hour permissive window; and adding
exceptions for vehicles engaged in active construction, hired services, or loading or
unloading; government, utility, or emergency vehicles; and recreational vehicles.
Sergeant Schanbacher presented practical difficulties of enforcing the code. 14,001
vehicles are class of vehicles that are normally owned by residents. This code
amendment simplifies enforcement since the gross vehicle weight is included on the
report obtained by running an inquiry with the Department of Licensing.
Tammy explained the current zoning regulations regarding the parking of tractor-
trailers on city streets and the history of when the current code was adopted.
Discussion took place on the various methods the code revisions will be
communicated to the public. Additionally, Tammy indicated that officers have
discretion when issuing infractions and there are typically warnings issued.
Committee member Ralph MOVED to adopt an ordinance that amends
sections 9.38.120 and 9.38.130 of the Kent City Code to increase the
weight threshold applicable to the parking and storage prohibition of large
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vehicles on City streets from 8,000 pounds to in excess of 14,000 pounds,
to apply the parking prohibition to all vehicles, and to add exceptions for
vehicles engaged in active construction, hired services, or loading or
unloading; government, utility, and emergency vehicles; and recreational
vehicles regulated under KICC 9.38.145. The motion was SECONDED by
committee member Thomas and PASSED 3-0.
Item 7. - Police Chief's Update - Information Onix
• Traffic Camera Enforcement Update - School Zone Tickets Issued:
March, 2016 - 810 total tickets issued for all four schools
March, 2015 - 904 total tickets issued for all four schools
March, 2014 - 1,032 total tickets issued for two schools
In 2015, there were 87 Car/Pedestrian collisions, but none were in the school
zones.
• Hiring/Staffing update
Currently at 140 officers (authorized at 150 officers)
Officer Rob Kellams retired after 36 years, Assistant Chief Jon Straus and one
other officer. Five contingent offers, two would start on May 2"d. Three
additional will start later due to prior work/family issues. Within the next
month, Chief Thomas believes the Police Department Staffing will be at
100%. Chief Thomas indicated that the hiring process is highly competitive
among local jurisdictions, so the Police Department has fine-tuned their
process to remain competitive.
Chief Thomas indicated that at the June Public Safety Committee meeting he
will present information regarding the Police Department's efforts to diversify
the department.
• Homeless/mental health issues in community.
Every police officer attends eight hours of crisis intervention training at the
academy. Instructors, bicycle and SWAT officers attend the 40 hour training
class. The goal is to introduce this training into ongoing, in house training.
The King County Mobile Crisis Team is stationed 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 pm every
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays at Kent City Jail annex building. The
King County Jail Transition Services moved from Seattle to the Kent City Jail
Annexation office to assist inmates to ensure eligible Medicaid and non-
Medicaid recipients receive easily accessible, acceptable, culturally relevant,
coordinated, comprehensive and quality mental health services.
Chief Thomas presented information regarding the Special Operations Unit
officer's work with Kent's Human Services, Parks Department staff, various
local agencies to work more effectively with the mentally ill and those in
crisis in addition to providing with social services.
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Chief Thomas presented information regarding Commander Scholl's work
with the South King Homeless Coalition to help build bridges between
homeless service providers and Kent Police. Additionally Commander Scholl
is working with King County Emergency Services, local fire departments,
Valley Medical Center and Valley Cities to get a 6-8 month pilot sobering
center open in the Kent/Renton area.
Chief Thomas presented information regarding Commander Scholl's work
with Kent Corrections, Kent Fire, Valley Medical Center, Kent prosecutor's
office, Kent's public defender's office, Human Services, King County Mobile
Crisis Team, King County Mental Health and Valley Cites to for a "Familiar
Faces" group to deal with those identified as causing issues due to chronic
homelessness or mental health issues.
Committee Chair Berrios expressed his appreciation for Commander Scholl's
recent presentations and indicated his desire to have the ability to set up a
resource fund that could be used to immediately provide emergency services
to those in need.
• Police Department focus group
Chief Thomas presented information regarding the work being done be Sara
Wood, Stacy Judd, and John Pagel with the focus groups.
Completed: 2 High School groups, 1 neighborhood group, 1 business group,
and the Kent Police Department Diversity Task Force
Scheduled: Neighborhood group and police employee group
To be scheduled: Young adult group and inmate group
Chief Thomas explained the process Sara will be going through to evaluate
and analyze data obtained during meetings.
Project timeline:
May 13 - Complete all focus groups
May 31 - Transcribe all transcripts of meetings
June 30 - Rough draft report to Chief for review
July 15 - Finalize project results and report
The meeting was adjourned at 5:46 p.m. by Committee Chair Berrios.
Respectfull 'sub itted
Kim Komoto
Public Safety Committee Secretary
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