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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPub Sfty Cmsn - 04/09/08 �.�� •,� �...i CITY OF PALM DESERT �.•-'��--~� � REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING . APPROVED MINUTES Wednesday, April 9, 2008 — 3:30 p.m. Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER i �U L Chair Kirkwood called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. w 0 II. ROLL CALL � Present: � .-� Commissioner James Butzbach � Commissioner James Larsh Q � � Commissioner Rick Lebel H w ;.� Vice Chairman Martin Nethery w � Chair Gloria Kirkwood � � `� v �' , -.� � c� 3 Also Present: � � �v H � v _�, Councifinember Cindy Finerty '� c� Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager � ' � �+ � < - � �a Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM/Community Services Division � �' Q� o ,� Pau� S. Gibson, Finance Director/City Treasurer � � � ^ H � H � F r a n k i e R i d d l e, D i r e c t o r o f S p e c i a l P r o g r a m s o H H •• •• z � w-� Pat Scull Senior Mana ement Anal st � a W � "' `r' w H H � Y� J Y E-+ at� w � �� Lt. Frank Taylor, Pafm Desert Police De partment ;�p� ���,°���c_�*. C hie f Dennis Dawson, Riverside County Fire Department Chief John Rios, Riverside County Fire Department Chief Jorge Rodriguez, Riverside County Fire Mary P. Gates, Recording Secretary 111. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes of the Public Safety Commission Meeting of March 12, 2008 Removed for separate discussion under Section V, Consent Items Held Over. Please see that portion of the Minutes for Commission action. B. Ratification of Citv Manaqer Approval of Request from Palm Desert Police Department to Allow Use of Office Space at the Washington Substation by Sheriff's Recruiting Team. Rec: By Minute Motion, ratify the City Manager's approval of the subject request. C. Ratification of Citv Manaqer Approval of Request from Palm Desert Police Department for Authorization to Expend Funds for Design and Implementation of a BLOG on the Palm Desert Police Website to be Called the "Police Blotter" Rec: By Minute Motion, ratify the City Manager's approval of the subject request. Commissioner Nethery asked that Item A be removed for separate consideration under Section V, Consent Items Held Over. Commissioner Larsh moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 5-0 vote. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER A. Minutes of the Public Safety Commission Meeting of March 12, 2008 Rec: Approve as presented. Commissioner Butzbach moved to approve Item A as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 4-0-1 vote, with Commissioner Nethery ABSTAINING, as he was not present at the March 12th meeting. 2 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Introduction of Deputies Mark Hansen, Mike Moon, and Bill Conoway Lt. Taylor introduced Commercial Vehicle Officer Mark Hansen, Special Enforcement Team Officer Mike Moon, and Motorcycle Officer Bill Conoway. B. Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Report for February 2008 Vice Chairman Nethery noted that the report indicated all of the average response times were under five minutes, and this was the first time he could remember that being the case. He also stated that it would be helpful if the Fire Department Annual Report included what the Department thinks it could do to both decrease response times and increase the percentage of those calls that are less than five minutes. Chief Dawson responded that he would make a note of that request and would include the information in next year's annual report. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Report for February 2008. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lebel and carried by a 5-0 vote. C. Palm Desert Special Enforcement Teams Monthly Statistics for March 2008 Lt. Taylor reviewed the report and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner Butzbach moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Teams Monthly Statistics for March 20Q8. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote. 3 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 D. Traffic Team Report for February 2008 -- Includes Traffic Collision Statistics for February 2008 and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Statistics for March 2008 Lt. Taylor reviewed the report, noting that the annual "Click It or Ticket" program wouid begin the first part of May. In addition, the Police Department would be kicking off its intoxicated driver program the end of this month, and it would include check points. Commissioner Larsh moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Traffic Team Report for February 2008. Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nethery and carried by a 5-0 vote. E. Business District Team Report— March 2008 Lt. Taylor reviewed the report. Commissioner Larsh noted that some time ago the Commission asked that the report include a breakdown of the number of Segway hours versus bike patrol. Lt. Taylor responded that he would do so for next month's report. He added that 14 officers were currently certified on the Segways. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Business District Team Report for March 2008. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote. F. Canine Report— March 2008 Lt. Taylor reviewed the report in the packets. Commissioner Larsh moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Canine Report for March 2008. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 5-0 vote. 4 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 G. Consideration of Palm Desert Fire Department Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2008/09 The following is a verbatim transcript of this portion of the Minutes: � GK Gloria Kirkwood, Public Safety Commission Chair DD Chief Dennis Dawson, Riverside County Fire Department MN Marty Nethery, Public Safety Commission Vice Chairman SRG Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM/Community Services CLO Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager JL Jim Larsh, Public Safety Commissioner JB Jim Butzbach, Public Safety Commissioner RL Rick Lebel, Public Safety Commissioner PG Paul Gibson, City Treasurer/Finance Director GK Item G, Consideration of Palm Desert Fire Department proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008/2009, Packet Section G. Chief Dawson, do you have something you would like to share, a comment you would like to make about the budget before we ask for Commission comments? DD Our budget proposal is primarily kind of two components. We have, I think on the back of your first page here, Exhibit A, and that's our estimate for this fiscal year's contract for services to run the Fire Department. And the main extender to that is the personnel, and that estimate this year is $8,941,332. Actually, it's about $60,000 less than what our estimate was last year. And the way this works, iYs just an estimate because our personnel cost is based upon top step. And all of the support services and such (it's basically to the rear) is where we take the actual and, you know if you're familiar, we just bill the City quarterly for the actual. So that is our contract for services. There aren't any, you know, we had some substantial increases here in the City over the last...about three or four years ago with COLA's and MOU contracts and such. Fortunately, for some, those contracts are up for negotiation this year, and with the budget being like it is, there's not going to be anything coming, but we actually expect once things are finalized here maybe a slight reduction. So there are no additions in staff and equipment in this component of it. And then the other one is the white sheets and such, the memos to the City Manager, which basically is separate from the contract. It's City direct budget requests, so we're asking to refurbish the ambulance here at the North Palm Desert Station and some ambulance equipment, stair chairs and a heart monitor, some fire prevention programs. And then I do have in there for the reserve ladder truck. It's basically, you know, I think tabled at this point. IYs just going to be taken under consideration with the consultant report thaYs going to be due out here shortly regarding ladder truck 5 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 use here in the City. But it is an expensive item, and I have to bring it up for attention at some point. IYs going to have to have some repair work this year to the existing reserve and some planning ahead for some replacements. And that's (unclear) any other comments on the budget at this point. MN Are you asking for a recommendation...l know you're asking for a recommendation on the budget part of that. What about on the...you summarized in the back the five-year forecast, which is great (unclear) and you summarized those possible capital expenses in 08/09. Are you asking for a recommendation as to the individual items, or are you saying there's going to be more input on each of those items? SRG Can I answer that? DD Yes, go ahead. SRG The staff has been working since February putting the budgets together, and that includes the Fire Department. And we're looking at a different year for the City of Palm Desert in that we're a little bit flat with our T.O.T., which is our hotel tax, and our sales tax revenue based on the economy. So we need to be very smart this year in budgeting for next year to get through. We aren't reducing any services; we're trying to keep things...or recommend to the Council that they keep things pretty much at the high quality that we have right now through the next year. The City Manager has joined us today. The proposed budget is his proposed budget to the City Council. These two sections, Police and Fire, have been through the City Manager. He wants your comments, and then he will take those to the City Council. If you have comments on individual pieces of equipment or any specific portions of the budget, you are free to give them. MN Let me ask Carlos. These are addressed to you, these memos on these particular capital items. Have you approved or made a recommendation or a conclusion about any of them so far? CLO Let's talk about the operating budget. MN Okay CLO The answer is the operating budget will be recommended essentially as presented. One of the areas that we spent a lot of time this moming, not only with the desert Fire Chief, which Ignacio has been promoted to that, but also their accountant from the head office in Perris, looking at the support services...you know, basically looking at the methodology that overhead gets charged not just to us but contract cities. I think out of that discussion we're pretty well satisfied that we are being charged appropriately. So with regard to the operating budget, it is going to be recommended as it is. With regard to the items in the back, you'll 6 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 notice a lot of them are really capital improvements. So we do have the money for...especially for the big items because we've been planning for the fire stations. There's one there for the University Fire Station, one for the Washington Street Fire Station. So those really are from capital improvements, especially the fire station thaYs going to be coming from Redevelopment, so we would have the money. The challenge is in our budget projections. IYs not the capital but the operations, and we continue to look at that. So this year, we're going to be fine, but iYs not this year that we're necessarily worried about. We're worried about four or five years to make sure that we don't start a program that we can't maintain. But as far as what is here and the capital, we're fine. The reserve ladder truck, because it is a shared cost, not only the initial capital expense but (unclear) operations with our other cities, we are continuing to look at that. We do have a study as a result of the Cove Commission's concerns with how the current ladder truck is being used. We have had a consultant look at that, and we're waiting for the results of that before we would recommend this $750,000 expenditure. MN So the others...the ambulance remount, the Stryker chairs... CLO Those are fine. MN You're comfortable with those. CLO Yes, we can afford those. JL How often is the ladder truck used in an area like this? DD They are running about 100 calls a month, but we use them for staffing for additional medical aids, and then when the engine company is (unclear) call, there is another call right in that area, so they do run a lot of inedical aid calls. MN You don't probably use the ladder a lot, but when you need, you really need it, I guess. DD Pretty much. (unclear) DD You know, the ladders are just one of the tools. IYs just a highly visible tool. Items in those compartments are used on every house fire. Sometimes we have to go out and help just open up a vehicle thaYs finished extinguishing and things like that. So it's our rolling...your roll and rescue toolbox and fire toolbox. MN It's just one of the tools. 7 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 DD Right. JB Chief, what is the effective life use of a piece of apparatus like this? DD You have national standards. You know, we basically get as much as we can out of it. Typically, we run into 15 years with it, and front line service as the first unit out running 100% of the time, and then put it into reserve status. So this current one has been...it actually did primary service for about 12 years, and I think it's been in....well maybe not quite that Iong...iYs been in reserve for about 6 of l years. IYs currently 20 years old and has, I think, 110,000 miles on it...oh good, I wrote it down...20 years and 111,000 miles, so iYs approaching that time. It's still a vehicle, still a mechanical piece of equipment, and we take the best care of it, but electronics and everything gets old and aging on them, and the longer you have a car, the higher the maintenance is going to be on them. And thaYs where we're at. JB Thank you. RL Chief, with respect to truck company operations versus engine company operations, do the engine companies carry salvage equipment or ventilation equipment, or is that all on the truck company? DD They have two chainsaws and probably a small complement of some (unclear) and something like that. RL How about water evacuation equipment? DD No. RL It's all on the truck company. DD Yes. RL Heavy rescue? DD We have an Amkus tool, you know just a really quick multi-purpose tool for opening a car door. RL On the engine companies. DD On the engine...not all three. I don't think...do we have them on all three? Yeah, we just have them on the one engine at 33, so...it all depends. It's expensive equipment. We don't try and load down every fire engine. We just keep a couple in a certain area. 8 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 RL I was going to ask about some of the equipment, not knowing that the City was in a position to be able to fund it all. I know in many agencies when finances get tight and the State starts to draw back some money from the cities, a lot of times...you may pay while the sun shines, but when it starts to rain you kind of pull back and not budget as much or try to defer some items when you can. I wanted to know whether or not the items that you have listed in the capital portion of the budget were in rank order or preferred order, if some items had to be cut and couldn't be funded, if they were listed in order of importance. DD For the 08/09, pretty much so...that would be a priority list. With the exception of, you know, the ladder truck, I think we have to do repairs to that this year. MN The reserve...you're talking about the reserve ladder truck? DD Yes, the reserve, and iYs not replace. We have to do some...it's an interlocking safety device that needs to be updated. RL If I could ask our Finance Director...do we have an equipment replacement fund that we fund on an annual basis for the Fire Department, or is that all done through the County? PG No, it's through the City. The exception is the fire engines. That is through the County program, and they charge us a fee per year. RL An annual fee, right. Thank you. GK So, we are looking for a motion to go ahead and make our recommendation with regard to the budget to the City Council. MN Well, I'll make the motion to recommend approval to the City Council based on what I've heard from the City Manager and the rest of staff and the Chief. It sounds like iYs been (unclear) and iYs a fair budget for this year. And if we have the money to do capital expenses, with the exception of the truck, I know you're still working on that. So I'd move the recommendation for approval as presented. JL I will second that motion. GK All in favor. JB Aye G K Aye JL Aye 9 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 RL Aye M N Aye GK Thank you very much. Item H... H. Consideration of Pafm Desert Police Department Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2008/09 The following is a verbatim transcript of this portion of the Minutes: � GK Gloria Kirkwood, Public Safety Commission Chair SRG Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM/Community Services CLO Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager RL Rick Lebel, Public Safety Commissioner MN Marty Nethery, Public Safety Commission Vice Chairman CF Cindy Finerty, Palm Desert Councilmember FT Lt. Frank Taylor, Palm Desert Police Department PG Paul Gibson, City Treasurer/Finance Director JL Jim Larsh, Public Safety Commissioner JB Jim Butzbach, Public Safety Commissioner PS Pat Scully, Senior Management Analyst MG Mary Gates, Recording Secretary GK Item H — Consideration of Palm Desert Police Department proposed budget for the year 2008/2009, Packet Section H. Can we have any comments before we go over it and have comments from the Commission? SRG I'll defer to the City Manager, but this process was also started in February working with the Executive Management Team and members of staff to put it together. I'll defer to Mr. Ortega if he has anything to add to that. CLO Here's what we looked at. We looked at the current level of service and the normal increase that goes with that because of the legal contract that was negotiated. In terms of the operating revenues, our recommendation is to be that we approve it. With regard to the additional requests that, if you look at them, there are several options. RL Correct CLO If we want to fund the additional options, we will have to reach into operating reserves, okay. So that's an issue that we're going to have to discuss with 10 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 Council. I know that Council recently set a policy that we would keep a minimum amount of reserves, which is a very high policy, by the way. So in keeping with that, we're going to have to discuss with Council whether we would dip into the reserves. Overall, we will be able to fund, given what you've heard about sales tax and other revenues, operations, and I can tell you that as of right now, it looks like with regard to some of the capital improvements we're going to have to raid some of the reserves. We are fortunate that we have Desert Willow, who every year since its inception has made a little money, so we have a pot of money. Also, the office buildings that we own have made money over the years, and we have that pot of money. So we're going to be requesting to Council that we take some of that for capital, not for operations, meaning when times improve, maybe we can replace that in reserves. And also, we will be (unclear). We also have some money that is created through an agreement with Intrawest, and they pay fees for golf course fees, so that's (unclear) reserve. So we're going to be using that. But this is operations, and my recommendation is that we do not, to the extent that we can (unclear) reserves for that. So thaYs a discussion that we're going to be having with Council about how many of these options we want to fund and how we're going to dip into the reserves. MN The operating budget as presented looks good to staff. CLO The current level of service. MN Yes SRG We need to have a priority to fill the vacancies we have as well. CF Frank, could I just ask one quick question? Is it possible, as just an option, if the Council were to decide, Lt. Taylor, not to dip into the reserves, I understand you've got Option 3A (unclear) Narcotics Task Force Officer, would it be possible for no extra cost to change out one motor officer for a Narcotics Task Force position? FT Well, it would be possible to change out...they're dedicated positions, and they could be changed out. There was a lot of discussion that went on last year regarding the needs that we have in the City regarding our traffic contingent (unclear) motors. In fact, some of the vacancies that we have right now involve those specific motor positions also that we haven't been able to fill as of yet. SRG And that's a question that needs to be dealt with by the Council when it goes to them. A good question to ask, could you switch (unclear) I wouldn't have the answer to that question. Those are the kinds of issues the Council will deal with, as Carlos said, on what they think we need to fund for next year. I guess we're asking you...we're going with this operating budget. It is, with the exception of 11 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 the addition of the motorcycle, pretty much status quo. (unclear) get the nine vacancies filled. MN Are the options in sort of your recommended priority? Is that your priority for those, or is that (unclear) FT That is correct. If you look at the options (unclear). Like I said, if you look at it, they are future goals or needs that we looked at when we were evaluating this. We spent a lot of time discussing all of this, and it is really important for us to work on those vacancy issues that we are doing. And in your files, you've seen that the City Manager authorized us to be able to put part of the new recruiting detail into the Washington Substation, and that is the big push. And that recruiting group is getting ready to move in this week. It is going to have a large emphasis on looking at Coachella Valley for resources because we seem to get...as we get home grown people, they stay instead of staying here for a short period of time and leaving, and they are a high priority (unclear). They are getting ready to start...there are going to be two intensive academies going here at College of the Desert. I believe they're going to have one in the fall and then one in the spring, along with the regular extended academy that they're doing right now in Public Safety. So there's going to be a big push. There's going to be some pushes with the correctional deputy academy to try and add to that group so we can help fill those vacancies that are there. RL Lt. Taylor FT Yes RL With respect to funding, does the City receive any asset seizure or asset forfeiture funding? FT (unclear) meeting I was asked that same topic, and personally, I haven't seen a lot of it over the years. I know years ago that was all the big tide, and there is still a division within the Sheriff's Department that does that. I proposed bringing in one of those asset forfeiture investigators to speak in front of you and try to give you an overview of how they do things and how that all works, if that is something you might be interested in. RL That would be interesting. FT I don't have a lot of knowledge in that area. PG My understanding is that through the allocation of direct and indirect costs that they do give us credit when they're bilting us for those (unclear) kind of costs. Bu do I see it? No 12 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 JB So the City does not get a check for asset forfeiture revenue. PG No, we do not. RL I was looking at some of the values in the reports earlier during the meeting, some of the values of property that were reported, and they seemed to be very, very low, and yet I know that we've had some large seizures at least in dollar value of drugs and weapons and vehicles and things of that nature, and I didn't know whether any of that... FT Well, lots of times when those things happen, it's part of the baseline services that are provided to the City...is that that division, when there is a request made, they come out and then they take care of all that part through (unclear) service. Our special investigations bureau is the one that takes care of that, and they come out and go through all that process. And I don't have a lot of knowledge in that factor. RL With respect to that, do members of the SET team or the Canine Unit routinely work with private security at the hotels, or do they make any routine patrols of the hotels or complexes? FT Well, our Special Enforcement Team works hand in hand with the hotels and the country clubs and the rest of them, and they go after specific problems within the City. RL I know that in many municipalities, as drugs and things come into town, if you will, a lot of the traffic is handled at a hotel, not necessarily a private residence, and that's why I asked whether or not the SET team or the Canine Unit regularly worked with the private security. FT Well, we pride ourselves in the hotels in the City of Palm Desert that there are very few narcotics related incidents that occur there. And I think a lot of it has to do with the diligence of not only our patrol officers but also our Special Enforcement Teams and a multitude of services that the City has graciously provided for us to be able to do our jobs. And we're able to stay on top of those things. We do that...that relationship with hotel security is any time there is something out of whack going on at the hotels, we get in immediate contact with them and we can take action... JL (unclear) good with the hotel security, and what I understand... RL Is the response generally by uniformed personnel, or is it... FT Well, the initial response is...our patrol division is response-oriented, and so they will take care of that, and very soon after they obtain the initial information, then 13 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 they will make contact, either through our investigations bureau or our Special Enforcement Team, and then when it gets into a higher level, then we'll ask for assistance from the Special Investigation Bureau, which is kind of like the mid- and major-level narcotics people that are involved in that. But we have very few situations...they spend a lot of their time doing...you hear about the seizures on the roads and things like that that are going on. RL Right. JL (unclear) tracking the stash house or something like that. JB Lieutenant, if Options 3A and 3B were omitted from the budget this year, would the County or station still be providing the County designated law enforcement officer to the task force? That currently exists. FT Yes, these are separate items from that. The County position is still attached. In fact, Rod Labrecque, who was on our Special Enforcement Team, was assigned a month or two ago to that position. And so he's that position. Luckily, there have been a couple of things here in the last month and a half that were Palm Desert related, and all the years that Rod worked here and had the motors and our Special Enforcement Team kind of paid off because when we gave them the information, he was really interested in the Palm Desert issue, and he took immediate action on it. So we believe in the future he's going to be able to do that on a regular basis for us. JB I like the position that you're recommending, or the station is recommending, in Option 2A with regards to a coordinated special events coordinator through the Department. I think thaYs important. I think you've had somebody in that capacity, I can't think of the Sergeant's name off the top of my head right now. FT Robert Purdue? JB In essence, isn't that what he's doing now? FT Yes, he's my Administrative Sergeant, and he takes care of a lot of those details. We can see in the future and the future growth in the north end of town, like we do...the Business District Team has done such a good job in the downtown business district. We can kind of see a use in the future of the same type of thing out with all the businesses that are out there because we are working in conjunction with them on a regular basis on issues that are going on...kind of a half and half position to be able to...we spent a lot of time with the special events that are going on....4th of July goes on, and it takes a lot of planning for us to do those types of events and put all the staff out there to do it. 14 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 JB Of all the options, I can see that as being a very important position, and it could have an impact immediately in the organization. JL I agree with that, too. Everything is moving north, a lot of (unclear), and they'll come up with another parade (unclear) JB In fact, if I had a recommendation, I would recommend to the Commission to recommend the reprioritizing and make that, as funding is available for these additional positions, that that be the primary focus in that position. MN Can I ask about....Carlos, I want to ask you about the (unclear) reserves, and I don't pretend to have a clue about the reserves, and I know you know it inside and out. My understanding is that Palm Desert has been blessed with an extremely high amount of reserves across the board, a substantial amount. The reserves you are talking about, the things that you talked about, the Desert Willow and Intrawest, those are not dedicated reserves. You've got reserves that are sort of dedicated for certain capital improvements or other improvements, and then you have some more general. Is that right, or is that not right? CLO Right. When we talk about what we call the General Fund budget, that's things like Police, Fire, streets maintenance, parks maintenance, employee salaries. Those are funded from transient occupancy tax, sales tax, building fees, and other monies that we get from the State. Our budget this year is going to be about $63 million? PG 62 with the Fire. CLO $62 million. MN Operating budget. CLO Yes. And when we talk about the General Fund Reserve, that is for that purpose, okay. If you talk about our total budget, iYs over $200 million, but we have special reserves that are reserved for street building, we have special reserves that are reserved for other capital building money that we get for parks, you know, that we get from developers. So typically, when we discuss budget, we're not talking about those. We're talking about General Fund money. MN And the reserves that you were talking about earlier, that's the General Reserves, not earmarked reserves like streets. CLO Correct MN So, let me ask Lt. Taylor. Option 1, and these guys know a whole lot more than I do about police departments...Option 1, the two dedicated CSO 1's to relieve the 15 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 CSO 2's to help the guys out on the street, that to a lay person sounds like that would be a lot more important in terms of law enforcement than Option 2A, although I would generally defer to my friend Jim because he knows his stuff. But hearing what Carlos says, you know, my thought is going to be, until I heard what Jim said, was going to be to recommend Recommendation 1, the motorcycles...l know we deferred that for a year, and it sounds like the motors are just doing a terrific job from all the statistics and it's very high profile...and Option 1, the two dedicated CSO 1's to free these other guys up to be out on the street. You're looking at $212,000 for those two options only. It seems like something that ought to be reachable. The Option 2A is another $103,000, and without knowing the details, I guess that's something, after hearing what Jim said, maybe is equally important to Option 1, but it seems to me that...l'm sorry, Option 2, yeah Option 2A is the half year for this combination officer. It seems to me that at least the first two, in my mind, and perhaps that Option 2A, if the money is there, and it sounds like it might be, would be very helpful to the law enforcement effort in the Valley. That Option 1 sounds like iYs going to free up people to get more, you know, line officers out there. It will free up the line officers from mundane tasks, I guess is the way to say it. That sounds good to me as a lay person. RL On the other hand, we still have positions that we've had vacant for a couple of years that haven't yet been filled. MN There's no guarantee we can fill them. RL I know. MN Even if they're authorized. RL But that would be a real priority to move toward that. MN And I think that's the first rule, but there are people that don't qualify...there may be people show up and qualify as CSO 1's, and do you turn them away just because you haven't filled your nine officers? Isn't that really the issue? Because some people qualify for CSO's, but they're not going to make it as a... FT Our Community Service Officers are non-sworn positions. We've been able...there's not a lot of them, and historically we've been able to fill those positions pretty quickly. We don't have the same...as we discussed, with the sworn officer positions, it takes a period of time for recruiting, then the academy process, and then their field training. You know, you're looking at a good nine- month period when you add a position for all that to happen. Over the years in the City of Palm Desert, the station here has been open all weekend long until the late hours as kind of a service entity for the usage of the park and (unclear) like that, and the City Manager and I have talked about different issues about 16 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 those types of things. You know, the future I think it's kind of...with the new station coming up, there's probably a point toward this being more of a substation here and having our presence, not only my position here but a contingent of our motorcycle officers here, and a need for in the future of having some staff to be able, like we do at our substations, those are the...Community Service Officer 1 positions are designated for usage in the substations. I think that's kind of my idea for, you know, as a future item, with priority of working on our vacancies and trying to get, you know, those out of the way. I mean, we could close the (end of tape) MN If you were to get these two positions, the CSO 1's, mid-year, which is sort of your suggestion, I guess, or is it for a full year? GK No RL No MN For the full year...if you were to get them, how would you use them? I mean, would you use them (unclear) FT I would use them on nights and the weekends. The Community Service Officer 2 positions, which were (unclear) currently, would be out there. They take the minor traffic collisions, they take minor crime reports, which end up relieving the sworn officers to go out there and do what they do. MN That's really important, especially if we're nine short. We need to free up the sworn officers as much as we can, and that's a fairly minimal cost to free up some more time and sworn officers, I would think. (unclear) talk about, but the more sworn officers we can have out on the street doing the less mundane tasks, I would think that would be better. Anyway, thaYs my take on it. Thank you. Thank you, Carlos. RL I would agree, and I would say that it is a minimal cost, given the (unclear) and the City Manager may be able to acquire some funding to support some of the other requests. I think I'd be prepared to make a recommendation for adoption of the Fiscal Year 2008/09 budget, at least make a recommendation to Council, at a level of $14,754,207, which would be the Police Department's recommendation excluding the replacement of the BMW motorcycles, the capital items. It sounds like the City is going to be able to find the dollars to actually do that. I'm looking at the page 2 of the Detailed Budget Appropriation Request, at the bottom of the page. Total Police Department budget with recommendation 1 only would be $14.8 million basically. And that would include Recommendation #1, so I would be recommending it at $14,754,207, which would exclude Recommendation #1, with the request that the City make every attempt possible to fund the capital items through additional sources of revenues that the City Manager might 17 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 identify. I still believe that Options 1, 2, and 3 are valid requests. I just think they are probably more appropriately considered when the City's revenues are up a little bit, rather than when it's less. GK Okay. Well, I think the two dedicated Community Service Officers are very, very important, especially if we are trying to have sworn officers do a lot more out there. I can understand your position on Recommendation 1, but I would like to see us move forward with the other, with Option #1, so the budget including Option #1. JB Was that your motion? RL That would have been my recommendation. JB If thaYs the motion, I will second Rick's motion. MN I thought you were excluding Option #1. JB Well, no...l will take it out that...what he said about the City Manager and the Finance Manager finding the dollars to be able to fund (unclear) (unclear) SRG Correct me if I'm wrong here, Lt. Taylor, but that was included as part of last year's budget recommendation that we do this in a staggered couple of... FT Correct GK Correct SRG ...and these two are actually, correct me if I'm wrong, budgeted in this year's budget. Am I right? FT The two we're asking for...this year's budget, the way the budget worked, there was a recommendation to replace one out of the budget and then one from the Cal COPS money. And then it was recommended to put the other two off because I originally asked for all four of them. And so this Is asking for those other two in this next fiscal year to be replaced. MN Is it possible there would be Cal COPS money for one of these finro, or do we know yet? SRG I think thaYs... PS It's iffy. 18 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 SRG ...iYs real iffy. PS IYs iffy at this stage. We don't have the Governor's May revised or any of the Fed stuff, but iffy is a good way of putting it. RL And it sounds like they're going to pull back (unclear) PS (unclear) on both levels. MN And if you can't get the two motors this year, what you have to do is you have to keep taking the BMW's up to Riverside like you have been and (unclear). FT Right MN Well, my take on it is....Option 1, to me, seems the most important of all of them, and I would certainly want to vote for a recommendation (unclear), so if it included Option 1, if it were, you know, that would be my preference. They're all terrific, but the Recommendation 1, the motorcycles, while iYs not a big number, $74,Q00, still iYs some real money, but it sounded to me from what Carlos said, and Carlos tell me if I'm off base here, there's some funding level there for some of these items. Obviously, the Council will make the final decision, but there are reserves there that are not earmarked reserves that could take care of this, and the Council is going to have other things to prioritize, too. But for us, the priority for me would be Option 1, probably the motorcycles... GK Recommendation 1 MN ...Recommendation 1, and Option 2A, and I would stop there. That would be, if I were to make a motion, I would probably stop there, and that would be my recommendation, in that order of priority, assuming the money is there. If the money is not there, or if the Council determines that the money needs to be spent somewhere else, then obviously they would make that decision. But that would...thaYs kind of where I'm coming from. We've talked about the Narcotics Task Force year after year after year, and that would be a nice thing to do, but it seems like...and this year would be a little bit of a, what is it, a surplusage is the word... JL (unclear) there, isn't he? MN Not a full time, but we're doing pretty good on drug enforcement in the City of Palm Desert without that and maybe in this year that would be too much. ThaYs my take, but I'm... 19 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 GK Okay, right now we have...correct me if I'm wrong, we have a motion on the table to go ahead and accept the budget, fiscal year budget, of$14,754,206.95. RL Correct GK That excludes the recommendations and all options, correct? JB I'm sorry, then I'll take back...because I thought it was the Recommendation 1 was in there, too. GK No, it was not. JB Okay GK Well, right now we have a motion and a second. Are you withdrawing your second? JB I'll take back my second because I think the Recommendation 1, thaYs a given that has to be done. MN Recommendation 1 or Option 1? JB The motorcycles. GK So do we have a second, or do we go ahead and....it fails for lack of a second. MN Do you want to make an alternative motion, Jim? JB I'd come back with the same recommendation that Rick had but recommend Recommendation #1 be included, and that figure would bring the budget amount to $14,827,972.49. GK Do we have a second on that? RL Second GK Discussion? I would like to still...l still feel strongly that I think Option #1, and if I understood the City Manager correctly, he did say that there were funds...he's obviously right now, so...they would be able to find some funds for that, so that's my only comment. MN Would you consider amending to include Option 1 as a recommendation, or you just don't see that? JB No, I just don't see it. I like the other two, but I think... 20 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 (unclear) JB ...the department and probably the City Manager has to decide, too, and their prioritization of it. MN We're just making a recommendation as to what we think is the best combination, assuming the money is there. RL I'd say we could probably go with the motion on the floor as it stands and then make an additional motion following that up. GK That as monies become available, that would be the next priority. (unclear) SRG Prioritize the options in the order that you think they should be filied. GK Okay, so we have a motion and a second on the table for the budget including the Recommendation #1 for$14,827.972.49. All in favor... JB Aye G K Aye JL Aye RL Aye MN Aye GK Opposed? So moved. Okay, do we have another motion? MN I'd move that we also recommend to the Council that Option 1 and Option 2A, which is mid-year funding, be strongly considered, assuming availability of funds, in that order of priority. If only one can be done, Option 1; if both can be done, Option 2A. This is for the North Sphere (unclear) JL I'll second that. GK All in favor... G K Aye JL Aye 21 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 RL Aye M N Aye GK Opposed? JB No...l just feel pretty strongly about the Special Events Officer being a high priority with the Community Services Officer. We have positions we haven't filled yet. We've fallen back on that. JL He's including two. GK Your recommendation was... MN 1 and 2A in that order. I think Jim disagrees with the priority. MG Did you vote no on that motion? JB Mine was a no. MG Okay, thank you. GK Okay. Let's move on. Item I... For clarification purposes, Commissioner Lebel moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the City Council approval of the Palm Desert Police budget to exclude Recommendation 1 and the Options, with the request that the City make every attempt possible to fund the capital items through additional sources of revenues that the City Manager might identify. The motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Butzbach moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the City Council approval of the Palm Desert Police budget as presented and including Recommendation 1 only (replacement of two aging BMW motorcycles with two new Honda motorcycles, including ancillary equipment to outfit the new cycles), in the total amount of $14,827,972.49. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lebel and carried by a 5-0 vote. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the Council that Option 1 and Option 2A, which is mid-year funding, be strongly considered, assuming availability of funds, and in that order of priority -- if only one can be done, Option 1; if both can be done, both Option 1 and Option 2A. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Butzbach voting NO. 22 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 20Q8 I. Consideration of Palm Desert Fire Department 2008 Baseline and Goals Chief Dawson noted that he had prepared this report at the request of the Commission at its last meeting. He reviewed the report and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner Level moved to, by Minute Motion, accept the report and ask that the City Manager forward it to the City Council for review. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 5-0 vote. J. Request for Authorization to Expend Cal COPS Grant Funds (Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund — SLESF) 2007- 2008 to Fund a Sobriety/Driver's License Checkpoint Lt. Taylor reviewed his memorandum, noting that although $24,000 of the $100,000 2007-2008 Cal COPS SLESF grant was earmarked for the 2007 Holiday Theft Suppression Program, only $15,521.58 was actually expended. City staff received authorization from Cal COPS to redirect the remaining funds to another front line law enforcement program. A grant was also received from the Office of Traffic Safety for two Sobriety/Driver's License checkpoints; redirecting the remaining Holiday Theft Suppression Program Cal COPS funds would allow the Police Department to conduct a third checkpoint. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the City Council that it authorize the expenditure of Cal COPS Grant Funds (Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund — SLESF) 2007-2008 to fund a Sobriety/Driver's License Checkpoint in the amount of approximately $15,000 in overtime; funds would be expended from the Cal COPS Account, #229-4210-422-3914. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lebel and carried by a 5-0 vote. 23 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 K. Request for Authorization to Expend Cal COPS Grant Funds (Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund — SLESF) 2007- 2008 to Purchase Digital Cameras, Recorders, Memory Cards, Rechargeable Batteries, and Cases Lt. Taylor reviewed the report and offered to answer any questions. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the City Council that it authorize the expenditure of Cal COPS Grant Funds (Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund — SLESF) 2007-2008 to purchase 20 Each Olympus FE- 270 7.1 Mega Pixel digital cameras, San Disk 1-Gigabyte memory cards, and Olympus digital recorders as well as 30 rechargeable batteries at an estimate total cost of $5,818.50; funds would be expended from the Cal COPS Account, #2294120-422- 3914. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote. L. Request for Authorization to Purchase Two (2) Automated License Plate Recognition Systems (ALPR), a Computer Server for Storing of Data, and Ancillary Equipment and Licensing Lt. Taylor gave a video presentation regarding this license plate recognition system. Vice Chairman Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to the City Council authorization to purchase finro (2) Automated License Plate Recognition systems (ALPR), a computer server for storing of data, ancillary equipment, warranties, and licensing in the amount of $65,508.16; sufficient funding is available in the Police General Fund, and no additional appropriations would be required. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION (S) Mrs. Gilligan noted that the City Council would hold a public hearing on April 24, 2008, relative to issues with Augusta Restaurant. Commissioner Butzbach added that the next Entertainment Ordinance Committee meeting was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008. Upon question by Vice Chairman Nethery, Mrs. Gilligan responded that the 24 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 revised ordinance would be brought to the Public Safety Commission before it goes to City Council. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Comments by Public Safety Commissioners Commissioner Butzbach said he was curious about the quashing of the search warrant on Canna Help and asked whether that would have any impact on licensing or ordinances or anything else like that or if it was a separate issue. Lt. Taylor responded that this was being handled by the District Attorney's Office. B. Report Relative to Citizens on Patrol Program Ms. Riddle reviewed the new report and asked that Commissioners let her know if there was additional information they would like included in the report. She noted that two television stations (CBS2 and Univision) had aired interviews about the City's COPS program, and she played the CBS2 interview for the Commission. She noted that staff did receive some responses from these two interviews. She added that there were currently 21 or 22 COPS members, and her goal was to have 40. Commissioner Lebel said he felt it would be helpful to law enforcement, the merchants in the business district, and the Citizens on Patrol if signs were posted time to time on EI Paseo indicating that skateboards are not permitted Upon question by Commissioner Larsh, Mrs. Gilligan responded that there is a City ordinance banning skateboards in the business district. As far as posting, there was a question of how many signs should be on EI Paseo. She staff would discuss this with the Director of Public Works and request a report from him for the next meeting. Lt. Taylor expressed appreciation to the Citizens on Patrol for their assistance with regard to the recent bank robbery. He said he called them when he let the station to ask if they were working; four members actually arrived at the bank about three minutes after he did and stayed for the whole time. Their assistance and presence allowed him to release two Police Officers to go back out on patrol. Mrs. Gilligan commended Ms. Riddle and said she took a program that was dead in the water, revamped it, and worked with Lt. Taylor 25 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 and Sgt. Purdue to get it up and running. She expressed her appreciation for Ms. Riddle's efforts. C. Legislative Update Ms. Scully noted that staff was waiting for the Governor's May revise. She said there was talk that the State was getting ready to take local funds from both the City and the Redevelopment Agency, and the Federal Government had the same issue of no money. She said she had spent a fair amount of time in Washington, D.C., this year trying to obtain $16 million for the extension of Portola Avenue to I-10 and construction of an interchange. She received word two weeks ago that it made it out of the first committee. Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack's office had been instrumental in setting up meetings for her to meet with representatives of the Federal Transportation Committee. While she did not think it would be funded this year because it was a Presidential election year, it was still in the process because this year begins the five-year transportation fund. In response to a question raised at the last Public Safety Commission meeting, Ms. Scully noted that a very nice article was in The Desert Sun about the City's video surveillance program. She said there were currently five systems that had been installed and inspected and met the City's requirements. She said there was no way to quantify the effectiveness of the program other than to say it was effective because the systems were a deterrent to crime. D. Comments by Police and Fire Departments Lt. Taylor noted that the City Manager had authorized the expenditure of funds for the Palm Desert Police Department website. It was currently under construction and should be up and running within several weeks. He added that it would include a Police blotter, and they were using a model that is used by the Los Angeles Police Department. Links to the blotter would be included on both the City of Palm Desert and the Palm Desert Police Department websites. Chief Rios thanked the Commission for its support and the time its members spent doing what they do. Upon question by Commissioner Lebel, he said he would provide information to the Commission at its next meeting relative to the County Fire website. 26 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 E. Comments by Staff None XI. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Lebel moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:33 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote. � ' - r Mary P. G e Recording Secretary 27