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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1985/09/26 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Thursday, September 26, 1985 Council Conference Room 4:00 p.m. City Hall ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Cox, Councilmembers McCandliss, Moore, Scott ABSENT: Councilmember Malcolm STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Goss, Assistant City Manager Asmus, City Attorney Harron 1. MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT Mayor Cox stated the meeting was called to get an overview of the Management Review of the Police and Fire Departments. City Manager Goss stated the report was made by the PAPE Division assisted by an advisory committee consisting of Fire and Police personnel. Mr. Goss highlighted three aspects of the report: (1) the quantitative approach to the workload and staffing in police patrol, (2) several long-term enhancements of the Police management operating systems, and (3) a master plan for fire stations over the next 15 years. Mr. Goss added there is a separate consultant study under way now regarding the Police communications center. This particular study will be useful for that study also. Mayor Cox commented that Councilmembers want more time to study the report in depth before making final decisions. The matter will be rescheduled for further consideration at a later date. Director of Management Services Thomson stated that the report was made with the assistance of the advisory committee consisting of Gene Asmus, Assistant City Manager; Bill Winters, Director of Public Safety; Don Byrum, Fire Captain; Gene D'ablaing, Police Sergeant; Jim Dyar, Fire Captain; Jay Harrold, Battalion Chief; Keith Hawkins, Police Captain; and Mike Miller, Police Agent. Mr. Thomson emphasized that the study is a PAPE report and not a committee report, and PAPE personnel are the ones responsible for the recommendations. Director of Management Services Thomson stated that the recommended Council action would be: Council Conference Minutes -2- September 26, 1985 1. Determine that further consolidation of the City's Police and Fire services is not warranted. 2. Adopt the resolution amending the FY 85-86 budget to add two Peace Officer positions for the Police Department's Uniform Division and appropriate the necessary funds. 3. Approve in concept the Fire Station Network Master Plan presented in the report and direct staff to report back to the Council on specific fire station sites as well as financing and timing of proposed station changes. 4. Authorize the City Manager to provide 6 months notice to the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire District that the current contract for fire coverage will be terminated effective June 30, 1986. 5. Accept in concept the other administrative recommendations contained in the report. Principal Administrative Analyst Goelitz explained the Peace Officers Association and the International Association of Firefighters agreed to cooperate in a study of the feasibility and the viability of the Public Safety Officer concept as part of their MOU. The scope of the study was expanded beyond just an evaluation of the Public Safety Officer to (1) assess whether other alternatives besides the Police Safety Officer concept would improve the cost effectiveness of Police and Fire services and (2) determine the Fire and Police staffing levels needed to maintain adequate service levels in response to population growth. Mr. Goelitz discussed the positive features which characterize the management and operations of the Police Department, noting that: (1) most crime-control tactics in this City appear to be working, (2) the number of "Part I" crimes has dropped; (3) the rate of per capita crimes is not high compared to other cities of comparable population; (4) the rate per capita of "Part I" crimes is lower than the statewide average; and (5) response times for Police calls for service are comparable to other cities in the county. Mr. Goelitz listed a number of steps already taken to improve the cost effectiveness of the Police Services. As to positive features which characterize the management and operations of the Fire Department, Mr. Goelitz noted that: (1) the response times for Fire calls for service in this city are comparable to other cities in the county; (2) automatic and mutual aid agreements in conjunction with joint training have improved overall effectiveness in the Department; (3) the number of structural fires has decreased over the last five years by almost half, and (4) the structural fire loss per capita over the last five years is comparable to other cities in the County. Council Conference Minutes -3- September 26, 1985 Principal Administrative Analyst Marty Chase presented the Public Safety Officer (PSO) analysis. He discussed the lessons learned from other cities which have implemented PSO noting that the savings from consolidation depend on the level of fire department staffing and that the public safety concept has been less successful in cities over 50,000 population. Mr. Chase noted Chula Vista currently has a functionally consolidated department in that it has a single Director of Public Safety and that police and fire calls for service are dispatched through a common communications center. Mr. Chase then discussed the three more comprehensive levels of police and fire consolidation which were studied: a fully, partially, and selected area consolidated department. Key assumptions made in the analysis were: (1) the current level of police and fire services would be maintained; (2) fire companies would be staffed with two persons; and (3) premium pay would be provided to all cross trained staff (approximately 7% over their current wage). Mr. Chase discussed in detail the cost impacts for each type of consolidation noting that (1) a fully consolidated department would increase annual operating costs by $130,000; (2) a partially consolidated organization would reduce annual operating costs by $53,000 with start-up costs over $900,000; and (3) a selected area consolidated organization would yield an annual cost reduction of $19,000-$60,000 on a total budget of $9 million. Mr. Chase stated that in light of the limited benefits and high risks of failure, PAPE'S recommendation is that there be no further consolidation of the City's Police and Fire Services. Council discussion followed regarding the operation in Sunnyvale and other cities in the State. Principal Administrative Analyst Goelitz focused on the following police staffing requirements: 1. Police Patrol 2. Crime Investigation, and 3. Communications Center He noted the weaknesses with utilizing sworn personnel per 1,000 population in ordel to determine the adequacy of staffing levels explaining that the actual law enforcement workload per capita varies widely among communities. Further presentation by Mr. Goelitz centered on the staffing analysis for Peace Officers assigned to Police Patrol. This analysis included the time required for Officers to: (1) answer calls for service; (2) engage in proactive crime control; and (3) provide in-service training. Mr. Goelitz stated the staffing analysis indicated two additional Peace Officers are required at this time. Regarding the level of staffing for crime investigation, Mr. Goelitz noted that current levels appear to be sufficient when compared to other cities with a population 75,000-125,000. Council Conference Minutes -4- September 26, 1985 The analysis of Communication Center staffing focused on the time required for operators to receive calls for service and to complete those calls, to transmit this information to p~!ice and fire, to check records, and to log calls. Mr. Goelitz presented statistics regarding the total workload for the Communications Center and the staffing requirements under the current work schedule. He remarked that an additional communication operator is required but recommended this be deferred until after the Communication Center study. Mr. Goelitz presented background information regarding the objectives and benefits of an enhanced crime analysis capability for the department. He stated that an additional Crime Analyst position is recommended and that the City should initially pursue funding for the position through a C-CAP Grant. Council discussion followed with staff answering Council's questions pertaining to getting a C-CAP Grant and the recommendation for the two additional Peace Officers. Councilman Moore questioned the series of burglaries that are being committed observing that certain streets are more susceptible than others. Director of Public Safety Winters stated a neighborhood watch would be appropriate in those areas and that people in these areas sometimes do not realize the number of crimes that are happening there. In response to Councilman Moore, Director of Public Safety Winters stated the Department is currently below authorized strength in the beat patrols. He noted the retirements, resignations and sick leaves which have occurred during the past year. City Manager Goss remarked that this lack of personnel increases the amount of overtime being paid to the Officers. FIRE STATION LOCATIONS Analyst Marty Chase discussed the objectives of the Fire Station Location Study: how, when, and where to locate the stations through the year 2000. He discussed the fire performance measures and target performance levels used to assess current performance and to Compare alternative fire station networks° Based on these measures the City's current fire station network is generally performing well. By the year 2000, however, population growth would significantly reduce the City's overall coverage, i.e. the percentage of residents living within 5 and 6 minute fire station response times. He then discussed the alternative networks evaluated by PAPE to maintain adequate service levels in the year 2000 and presented PAPE'S recommendations regarding station additions and relocations. Council Conference Minutes -5- September 26, 1985 Additionally, Mr. Chase discussed the recommendation to terminate the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Contract as Of June 30, 1986. Mr. Chase noted the Automatic Aid Agreement the City has with other cities and the current backup and dispatching received by Bonita/Sunnyside at no charge In answer to Councilman Scott's question, Director of Public Safety Winters stated the Bonita/Sunnyside District was not officially notified of this recommendation. However, the Council some time ago stated that when the Fire Station was built at East "H"/Ridgeback, the contract with Bonita/Sunnyside would be terminated and they were notified of this recommendation. Council discussion followed regarding the rebuilding of Station #2 on East "J" Street, i.e., whether there was enough land in the rear of site to build a new Fire Station, while maintaining the old station in the interim. Further Council discussion involved the training tower to be built at Station #2 or for one at the E1 Rancho del Rey site. Mayor Cox left the meeting at this time (6:08 p.m.). Director of Public Safety Winters remarked that a new state-of-the-art tower would cost approximately $250,000-$300,000. Acting Mayor pro Tempore McCandliss suggested the Council decide where to build the station first and then direct staff to do some drawings on it. Councilman Moore noted a station in E1 Rancho del Rey would need to be incorporated into the site plan at an early date. Mayor pro Tempore McCandliss noted there were only 3 members of the Council present and in order to pass the resolution for the Peace Officers it needs a 4/5s vote. MSUC (scott/Moore) to bring back a resolution at the next City Council meeting for the two Peace Officers. MSUC (Scott/Moore) to approve in concept the Fire Station Network Master Plan presented in the report and to direct staff to report back to the Council on specific Fire Station sites as well as the financing and timing of proposed station changes." This includes development of the design for Fire Station #2 during this fiscal year. (Councilman Moore commented that they are not voting at this time to relocate the training tower.) MSUC (Scott/Moore) to approve recommendation #4 which is to "authorize the City Manager to provide 6 months notice to the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire District that the current contract for fire coverage will be terminated effective June 30, 1986. As to recommendation #5, which is to accept, in concept, the other administrative recommendations contained in the report, Councilman Moore noted that this is the City Manager's decision. Council Conference Minutes -6- September 26, 1985 As to recommendation #5, which is to accept, in concept, the other administrative recommendations contained in the report, Councilman Moore noted that this is the City Manager's decision. MSUC (McCandliss/Moore) to set continuation of recommendation #1 and #5 as an agenda item for the meeting of October 15, 1985. Mayor pro Tempore McCandliss complimented the staff on the "tremendous detail work" involved in the report. 2. REPORT ON TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT In a written report to Council, Director of Public Safety Winters explained the reasons for not having the motorcycle unit operational at this time; the new officers being hired and the training required; the number of citations issued by the beat officers and the motorcycle unit for the past three years; and the statement that the motorcycle enforcement team will be reactivated in early 1986. Councilman Moore questioned whether approval was ever given by the Council to disband that division. Director Of Public Safety Winters explained the motorcycle patrol started with a State Grant. When the the Grant was stopped, the Council moved to go ahead and fund the program. MSUC (Moore/McCandliss) to accept the report. 3. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT a. City Manager Goss reported that the Sweetwater Union High School District will be meeting at 7:00 p.m. tonight. They will be discussing the developers fees and whether or not to meet in the Council Chambers. b. City Manager Goss stated the Public Works Director is now back on the job after his heart problems the other day. 4. MAYOR'S REPORT None 5. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilman Moore stated that the City has obtained an old ship bell which will be used to try to trade with the Congregational Church for the original City School bell. He asked for authorization to spend $27.50 to take some photos of the bell. MSUC (Scott/Moore) to approve the bell money. Councilman Moore stated he was very much impressed with the PAPE Report and complimented the staff on this. ADJOURNMENT at 6:30 p.m. to the meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 1985 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber.