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Home My WebLink About02-20-2007` ~ ~ ~ CITY OF WASHINGTON MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE CONFERENCE ROOM NO. 3 February 20, 2007 Minutes I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Gene Cerino called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM in Conference Room No. 3 located on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 26 W. Main Street, Auburn. Council members present included: Vice Chair Bill Peloza and Member Lynn Norman. Staff members present included: Mayor Lewis, Chief of Police Jim Kelly, Deputy Chief of Police Bob Lee, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Information Services Director Lorrie Rempher, Employee Relations & Compensation Manager John Fletcher and Risk Manager Rob Roscoe. II. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS There were no agenda modifications for the Committees consideration. III. CONSENT ITEMS A. Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes The minutes of the February 5, 2007 Municipal Services Committee meeting were reviewed. Vice Chair Peloza moved and Member Norman seconded to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2007 meeting. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 B. Contract Administration There were no contracts for Committee's consideration. IV. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS A. Ordinances 1 Municipal Services Minutes February 20, 2007 There were no Ordinances for Committee's consideration. B. Resolutions There were no Resolutions for Committee's consideration. V. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS A Animal Control Employee Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher distributed a handout regarding the estimated net cost to bring animal control and rescue in house. Committee members discussed the estimated yearly net annual operating cost. Vice Chair Peloza also asked about people that currently have a lifetime pet license. The City Council will determine whether to grandfather in those license holders that currently own a lifetime animal license. In response to a question from Chair Cerino, Finance Director Coleman discussed depreciation of items associated with Animal Control. For example, the proposed vehicle with six kennel box is depreciated over seven years. Member Norman asked about fines and other sources of fees. Employee Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher is further researching fees, costs and issues associated with animal control with the City of Des Moines animal control department. Member Norman questioned the salary and benefits to bring animal control in house. Employee Relations and Compensation Manager Fletcher explained that the salary and benefits include one (1) Full Time Equivalent (FTE). Vice Chair Peloza asked about the annual operating costs and specifically the $10,000 allocated fora computer licensing program. Employee Relations and Compensation Manager Fletcher said this would be the initial purchase of licensing software. Finance Director Coleman added that at first it was thought that the City's current building and land use permitting software system, CRW, would work, but she explained that there are more efficient products designed for animal licensing. Vice Chair Peloza suggested that the animal control issue would be a good idea for a citizen survey. Mayor Lewis agreed to add it to the next citizen survey. Members all agreed that raising fees for animal control is not desirable. Employee Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher will compile more information regarding animal control from Des Moines and King County for the upcoming Council Retreat. Vice Chair Peloza requested that Mr. Fletcher also find out how long it's been since 2 Municipal Services Minutes February 20, 2007 King County raised their fees, and if they are considering an increase in the near future. B. Photo Enforcement Chief of Police Jim Kelly handed out a memorandum on Red Light Photo Enforcement /Six Month Review. He explained that there are five approaches within the city that are active, and there were 7,267 violations with 5,889 infractions issued. The current payment rate is 49% which increased from 29% during the first three months and the contested rate of infractions is 19%. The current rate of contested infraction hearings for officer issued infractions is approximately 50%. Vice Chair Peloza asked about these infractions and if the judge reduces the $110 fine for parties that contest the infraction. Chief Kelly said the judge does mitigate the fine, but it is rare. Chief Kelly reported that staff costs were not included on the analysis but explained that it takes a traffic officer approximately one hour each day to review violations. Other staff time related to photo enforcement includes court clerks, the judge and finance staff. Mayor Lewis requested that staff costs be included on the next analysis. Members agreed that anything the City can do to reduce red light violations in Auburn is worthwhile. C. Plan for Police Service to Annexation Areas Chief of Police Jim Kelly distributed a memorandum of the 2008 Impacts of the Lea Hill and West Hill Annexation Proposal. Deputy Chief of Police Bob Lee reported that the memorandum is a preliminary report and map to identify redistricting the Lea Hill area as their own district. Deputy Chief Lee said it geographically mandates Lea Hill having their own district due to the population. The 2002 report by Henderson, Young and Company was used to help develop a LOS (level of service) for this area. That report recommended hiring 14 commissioned staff and 6 support staff. With the current level of population it is recommended to hire 18 commissioned staff and 8 support staff to adequately provide a level of service for the estimated 15,000 citizens. Chief Kelly explained that the Annexation Proposal has to be fiscally responsible and the end product is tailored to what police can provide. Vice Chair Peloza said that he could better understand the proposal if it Municipal Services Minutes February 20, 2007 D. E. reflected current shift distribution of officers. Chief Kelly responded that he will include current shift distribution as part of the workload analysis. Member Norman said that she has seen excellent data from the Finance Department, and she complimented Finance Director Coleman and her staff. Jail Alternatives Chief of Police Jim Kelly distributed a handout that listed several jail alternatives for discussion. Chief Kelly reported that Auburn commissioned a jail study by consultant Ricci Greene & Associates. Auburn is also a part of a separate Regional King County jail study. Chief Kelly advised that Auburn will not be able to house misdemeanor inmates at the King County Jail after 2012. Auburn currently has a contract with Yakima to house inmates, but there are issues with the current contract with Yakima. Some of the jail alternatives include: • Build jail just for Auburn • Partner with another city • Join into sub-regional effort like Valley Com • Explore possibilities of a regional jail • Leave Auburn Jail as is Auburn is being very aggressive with alternatives to incarceration and trying to control costs through alternatives. Chief Kelly reported that Federal Way for example has an ADP (average daily population) that is much lower than Auburn. He suggested that their judges may use different sentencing .guidelines than Auburn Municipal Court. Members all agreed that this is a complex issue to be discussed at the Council Retreat in March. A more comprehensive review will be forthcoming for Councilmembers to consider at the Council Retreat. Matrix Update 7p Golf Course Clubhouse Development -City is in the process of interviewing pro's. 19P Political Signs -Committee members questioned the status of political signs. City Attorney Heid is working to find out what is going on with the state about political signs. Change date to March 19th meeting. 4 Municiaal Services Minutes 20P Animal Control and Rescue -Change to on-going February 20, 2007 21 P Relocate Emergency Operation Center -Change to March 2007 22P Plan for Police Service to Annexation Areas -Change to on-going 4G Jail Alternatives - Change to on-going VI. File: ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:07 pm. Approved this ~rt~ day of March, 2007. .~~ Gene Cerino Chair 2007msa0 02-20 p~ Kathy Dive iss Police Department Secretary 5