Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 11/10/2015 Public Safety Committee Minutes November , 2015 Item 1 - CALL TO ORDER Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. Item 2 - COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios, committee member Les Thomas and council member Bill Boyce were present. Council President Dana Ralph had an excused absence. Item 3 - Changes to the Agenda Chief Ken Thomas added a new item No. 5 - 'Emergency Management Performance Grant 2015 - Recommend." Speaker is Division Chief Marzano. Item 4 - Approval of meeting minutes dated October 13, 2015 Council member Boyce MOVED to approve the minutes of October 13, 2015. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Thomas and PASSED 3-0. Item 5 - Emergency Management Performance Grant - Recommend Dominic Marzano, Division Chief with Kent RFA and Emergency Manager with the city of Kent. Chief Marzano presented information regarding the reoccurring emergency management performance grant. The grant is a pass-through grant received from the state that is based on population that supplements the city's emergency management budget. The grant funds are primarily used to maintain the city's emergency center, provide ongoing training for city staff and support and expand the city's emergency radio system. Committee member Thomas MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to accept and sign the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Washington Military Department/Emergency Management Division and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the amount of $81,876, sign all necessary grant documents, amend the budget, and authorize expenditure of the funds in accordance with final grant terms and conditions acceptable to the city attorney. The motion was SECONDED by committee member Boyce and PASSED 3-0. Item 6. - SAMHSA Drug Free Communities Grant - Recommend Stacy Judd, Community Education Coordinator, presented information regarding the Drug Free Communities Grant received from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Nation Drug Control Policy. This grant is a five year grant funded separately each year. The current grant is in the amount of $125,000 for year seven. The grant funds will be used for drug and alcohol prevention activities, including the Game of Life youth conference. Page 11 Committee member Thomas MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the Drug Free Communities Support Program Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $125,000, amend the budget, and authorize expenditure of the grant funds in accordance with the grant's terms and conditions. The motion was SECONDED by council member Boyce and PASSED 3-0. Item 7 SAMHSA STOP Act Grant Award — Information Onl Stacy Judd, Communities Education Coordinator presented information regarding the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant awarded to the city of Kent. In order to be awarded the STOP Grant, the applicant must be a former or current Drug Free Communities grantee. This is the fourth year of a four year grant in the annual amount of $48,258. The Police Department works with schools to identify specific needs so that individualized services can be provided to those schools. Item 8 Ordinance Banning Fireworks - Recommend Tammy White, Assistant City Attorney, presented information regarding an ordinance banning fireworks in the city of Kent. Tammy detailed that this ordinance, pending the outcome of the Public Safety Committee, is set on "other business" on the November 17, 2015, City Council agenda. Tammy indicated that there was an advisory vote that went to the Kent voters on the November 3rd election. As of November 9, 2015, the advisory vote is in favor of a ban of fireworks at 63.3%. A request was made to the City Attorney's office to prepare an ordinance banning fireworks in Kent. Tammy detailed the changes that would take place through the adoption of the ordinance. Adoption of the ordinance would ban the sale, possession and discharge of consumer fireworks, establish a permitting process and calls out other types of fireworks that would require a permit, i.e., pyrotechnics and special effects. Tammy provided details regarding crimes associated with violating the Kent City Code, ranging from civil infractions/violations to gross misdemeanors. Committee member Boyce sought clarification regarding the definition of a public display. Tammy provided the language of state law defining a public display. Division Chief/Fire Marshall, Jon Napier provided information regarding the permitting process and that a licensed pyrotec is required to launch the fireworks during public displays. Committee Chairperson Jim Berrios indicated that this ordinance would not take effect until one year after adoption and that public education will need to take place to ensure the public understands the laws. Committee member Thomas sought clarification regarding whether or not it would be okay for a cannon to be fired during the high school events. Chief Napier Page 12 indicated that he would look into the issue for the committee and provide information prior to the November 17, 2015, City Council meeting. Council member Boyce indicated that the cannon is being fired by private citizens rather than the school district. Committee member Thomas sought clarification from Tammy regarding the costs and levels of crimes. Tammy indicated that if a person was issued a citation, a person can either mitigate or contest the infraction. Tammy also indicated that Section 13.05.060 - "Violations and penalties," would be amended to read: "It shall be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment not to exceed one year and or a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars..." If this ordinance is enacted, Tammy detailed what would happen to a juvenile offender that violates the code. Tammy indicated that she would gather her prior research regarding the statutory processes regarding juveniles and would share it with the committee. Council member Boyce indicated that he would move this ordinance forward for full discussion by the City Council. He also voiced his concerns over potential crimes against juveniles using sparklers. Committee Chair Berrios was interested in whether or not this ordinance mirrors codes in surrounding jurisdictions that currently have bans in place. Tammy reiterated that this ordinance bans the sale, possession, and use of consumer fireworks in the city of Kent in addition to explaining the penalties. Chief Administrative Officer, Derek Matheson provided the number of citations issued in 2015, relating to fireworks that consisted of: 46 filings, 1 reckless discharge of fireworks and 45 infractions. The infraction statistics included the time period of January 1, 2015 through October 20, 2015. Chief Thomas indicated that the City Council makes the laws and the Police Department enforces the laws. Committee member Les Thomas voiced his concerns over the City's ability to enforce more restrictive laws. Committee Chair Berrios provided a brief history regarding the community communications and events leading up to the advisory vote and the potential ban of fireworks in Kent. Councilmember Boyce indicated that he would make a motion to move this ordinance onto the full City Council under "other business," so that the full council can discuss the proposed ordinance. Committee member Thomas spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance. Rich Brandau, 13605 SE 267th Place, Kent, Washington, rbrandau@earthlink.net, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. Page 13 Council member Boyce MOVED to recommend Council adopt an Ordinance prohibiting the sale, possession, and discharge of consumer fireworks, and allowing public displays of fireworks as well as the use of fireworks in theatrical presentations, both conditioned upon the issuance of a city permit. The motion was SECONDED by Committee Chair Berrios and PASSED 2-0. Thomas voted against the motion. Item 9 - Parking of Commercial Trucks on City Streets - Discussion Only Tammy White, Assistant City Attorney, sought guidance from the committee regarding an issue brought up by a resident regarding the parking of large trucks on residential properties. Tammy conveyed that, after discussions with the Police Department, it was determined that current sections of the code are not enforceable regarding parking large trucks on city streets. The code is unclear about what vehicles can be parked on city streets. The current city code prohibits the parking of commercial vehicles on residentially zoned property with an SR-2 or greater zoning designation if they have a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. Tammy provided options regarding amending the code in addition to reviewing provisions and variances from surrounding jurisdictions regarding parking large vehicles on city streets. Tammy indicated that around 2005-2006 there was an extensive process regarding revising the zoning code and that there is no intent at this time to amend the zoning code, but would like guidance on how to correct the provisions adopted in the 1900's. The committee indicated that they would like the Law Department to work with the Public Works and Police Departments to come up with options and recommendations for the committee to consider regarding parking commercial vehicles on city streets and to make Kent's provisions consistent with surrounding jurisdictions. Item 10 - Police Chief's Update - Information Only Chief Ken Thomas advised the committee regarding current events affecting the police department: A. School Zone Traffic Safety Camera Report. Chief Thomas provided the following number of citations issued in October of 2015, compared to October of 2015: 2015 - 974 citations (four schools), 2014 - 1,198 citations (two schools). Chief Thomas also provided trending numbers that he received from the court as Page 14 follows: Neeley-Obrien - 332 citations; Sunrise 292 citations; Millennium - 50 citations; and Meridian 132 citations. Committee Chair Berrios indicated that the lower numbers may indicate that the public is becoming educated and are altering their driving habits to avoid citations. B. Staffing Update. As of November 10, 2015, the current number of officers is 139 officers out of the 147 authorized by the budget. Chief Thomas indicated that the Police Department has changed the thought process regarding recruiting so that the hiring process can be streamlined in an attempt to shorten the time required to hire new officers. Chief Thomas provided his plan regarding the status of where staffing will be in early 2016, and the plan to dedicate significant resources in an attempt to bring the number of officers up to being 1000/o staffed. Chief Thomas addressed questions Council member Boyce had regarding whether or not the city of Kent has competition with the Washington State Patrol's candidates for officers. Committee Chair Berrios stated that the council has been and will continue to support the Police Department's efforts in hiring quality police officers in addition to showing his appreciation for changing its hiring practices. Chief Thomas thanked the committee for its support in its continued commitment to support the Police Department's staffing plan. Chief Thomas indicated that he will miss the November 17, 2015, City Council Meeting and wanted to convey that he has assigned Sara Wood to lead a project to go out into the community to try to determine what our community would expect from a successful Police Department. Chief Thomas indicated that he believes that combining his goals of intelligence led policing addressing quality of life and crime issues, with what the community believes is important will result in the ability to form a plan that meets the needs of the community. The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. by Committee Chair Berrios. Respectfully submit ed, h Kim Komoto Public Safety Committee Secretary 5:\PUBUC\City Clerk's Office\City Council\Council Committees\Public Safety Committee\2015\November\H'ORD Versions\November 13,2015 Minutes.doc Page 15