HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 10/11/2016 CITY OF KENT
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Minutes of Regular Meeting
October 11, 2016 Kent City Hall,
4:30 p.m. Council Chambers East
Kent, Washington
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m., with Committee Chair Berrios
presiding.
2. Roll Call
All Councilmembers were present.
3. Changes to the Agenda
Chief Thomas indicated there were no changes to the agenda.
4. Approval of Minutes, dated September 13 2016
Councilmember Thomas MOVED to approve the Minutes of September 13, 2016,
and Councilmember Ralph SECONDED the motion.
The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 3-0.
S. 2015-2016 Police Service Agreements with Kent School District -
Recommend
In place of Pat Fitzpatrick, Chief Thomas presented information regarding the 2015
- 2016 Police Service Agreements with the Kent School District.
During the school year, the Department provided the services called for in the
contract, and the District paid for the services, however, due to staffing changes
and other circumstances, the agreements were not executed.
In order to protect the City from any claims that may arise from the 2015 - 2016
school year, the City and District will sign the agreements that include
indemnification language.
Councilmember Ralph confirmed that the contracts reflect concerns discussed at a
prior Public Safety committee meeting. Chief Thomas confirmed that those issues
were addressed.
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Councilmember Ralph MOVED to recommend the Mayor sign the Police Services
Agreement and School Resource Officer Agreement between the Kent Police
Department and the Kent School district for the 2015 - 2016 school year, subject
to the final contract terms and conditions acceptable to the police chief and city
attorney, and Councilmember Thomas SECONDED the motion.
The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 3-0.
Item 6. 2016-2017 Police Service Agreements with Kent School District
- Recommend
Chief Thomas presented information regarding the 2016 - 2017 Police Services
Agreements with the Kent School District.
The Police Department and District negotiated changes that reflect that the officers
will return to the Department to assist with patrol staff for the time period of one
week prior to the start of the school year, one week after the end of the school
year, in addition to during all breaks during the year.
Chief Thomas confirmed that the King County Sheriff's Office provides similar
services to both Kentlake and Kentwood high schools.
Councilmember Thomas MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign
the Police Services Agreement and School Resource Officer Agreement between the
Kent Police Department and the Kent School District for the 2016 - 2017 school
year, subject to final contract terms and conditions acceptable to the police chief
and city attorney, and Councilmember Ralph SECONDED the motion.
The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 3-0.
Item 7. Police Chief's Update - Information Only
Chief Thomas congratulated Kim Komoto in her recent appointment as the city of
Kent City Clerk. Jennifer Hays will step in and take over as the secretary for the
Public Safety Committee.
Chief Thomas provided information on King County's proposed 2017-2018 budget.
King County is proposing to close the Regional Justice Center (RJC) for bookings
100% of the time beginning in 2018. Currently, bookings are open Monday -
Friday 9-5. The Kent Police Department strongly opposes that proposition. It is the
Kent Police Department's position that the RJC is a fully-operational service jail for
the housing and accepting of felons and it should continue to serve that purpose.
If the RJC is closed for bookings, Chief Thomas is concerned that Kent Police will be
required to drive to and from Seattle to book felons into the King County jail, taking
them off the streets of Kent. The Police Department's position is that the RJC
should be open 24/7 for the booking of felons since the Kent community approved
the RJC and that it is a fully-functional facility.
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Chief Thomas will be attending and speaking at the Sound Cities Association
meeting on October 12, in addition to the King County Council meeting during the
week of October 17 to provide input on the proposed changes to the felon booking
system at the RJC and the proposed reduction to the county's marine and air
program. Chief Thomas hopes that King County will reconsider the reduction to
public-safety related budget items.
Chief Thomas provided information regarding police overtime. In the past few
years, overtime costs have averaged approximately 1.5 million, with a budget of
$650,000. 60% of overtime hours have been generated to cover basic patrol
staffing and 10% has been used to cover shift extensions.
Chief Thomas recognized Assistant Chief Padilla and his staff for their work
conducting the analysis of overtime.
The committee discussed details of what affects the overtime budget and the need
to adjust the overtime budget to accurately reflect the cost of police overtime.
Derek Matheson, Chief Administrative Officer provided clarification on budgeting
philosophies.
Chief Thomas confirmed that services are not being sacrificed due to the overtime
costs being covered by another line item of the police department budget. The
committee discussed the possibility of increasing the total number of officers
budgeted from 150 to approximately 160.
Good of the order:
Councilmember Ralph invited the public to the October 19, Kent Drug Free Coalition
meeting at Mill Creek Middle School town hall meeting.
S. Adjournment
At 5. 1hp.m., Committ e Cha' Berrios declared the meeting adjourned.
Kimberley . Komoto
Public Safey Committee Secretary/City Clerk
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