Public Safety Commission

Vice Chair Kerstin Keough Chairperson Dan Smoker Public Safety Commission Clark Hammelman Meeting Minutes Don MacBrayne Nate Marsh Janet Peterson Carl Smith Steve Thayer Mike Wells Thursday, June 3, 2021 3:00 PM PSTC North Building - Red Room 301 Malibu St. This meeting is open to the public. Please note that all times indicated on the agenda are approximate and interested parties are encouraged to be present earlier than the posted time. The Public Safety Commission meets monthly at the Public Safety Training Center, 301 Malibu St., Castle Rock, CO 80104. Call to Order and Attendance Vice-Chairperson Keough called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. Guests - Officer Gillespie Present 8 - Janet Peterson, Vice Chair Kerstin Keough, Chairperson Dan Smoker, Nate Marsh, Carl Smith, Steve Thayer, Clark Hammelman, and Don MacBrayne Not Present 1 - Mike Wells Attendance 3 - Norris Croom, Deborah Stanley, and Jason Lyons Approval of Meeting Minutes PS 2021-018 Public Safety Commission meeting minutes - May 6, 2021 Attachments: PSC May 6, 2021 minutes Ms. Peterson moved to approve the May 6, 2021 minutes. Mr. Marsh seconded the motion; the motion carried. Yes: 8 - Peterson, Vice Chair Keough, Chairperson Smoker, Marsh, Smith, Thayer, Hammelman, and MacBrayne Not Present: 1 - Wells Both new and existing Commission members introduced themselves. Fire Department Report PS 2021-019 CRFD April Report Attachments: CRFD April Report · Chief Croom introduced himself to the new members. · Commission members were emailed a copy of the Fire Department’s April report prior to today’s meeting. · This year’s 4th of July fireworks show is scheduled for 9:30pm off Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 the Santa Fe Quarry. · We should soon be seeing firework sales. · The discharge of legally purchased fireworks are only allowed on the 4th of July. · Any fireworks that leave the ground or explode are not permissible. · The Fire Department‘s award ceremony is scheduled for next Monday, June 7 at 6:30pm. Commission members should have received their invitation. This is in lieu of the January banquet. · Town Council has scheduled a study session June 15 to discuss alternate revenue sources for Public Safety and Parks. This is a hybrid meeting. Chief Croom is encouraging commission members to either attend or watch online. · Chief Croom was asked about our compliance status of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). The Public Safety Training Facility site is in violation of MS4. We are working with the Water Department to capture our run off water. · Have you been assessed any fines? No, we have not. · How were you notified that you were not in compliance? This is a long-term issue and we have known about it for quite some time. · Chief Croom was asked the status of the ketamine bill (HB21-1251). · We have had some success and are still working diligently to amend the bill. · The bill now only addresses ketamine use and is to a point where it is workable. · The bill, which is now in the Senate, still has implications for Law Enforcement. · Chief Croom was asked if he could explain the budget process for the new members. · The 2022 budget and 5-year budget requests have been submitted to Finance. · The Finance Department will hold departmental meetings in June to review the budget requests. Once these reviews are completed, they will move along through the Town’s process. · The Fire Department is requesting 17 additional positions over the next three years. In addition, the 5-year plan contains a request for an additional station (Station 156) and another medic unit, to include staffing for both, as well as another battalion chief position. All requests are outlined and explained in the Fire Department’s Master Plan (which is available on the Fire Department’s website). · The Police Department is requesting five new sworn positions next year and five additional positions each year for the following four years. The department is also requesting enhancement of its training program. This is included in the Strategic Plan (available on the Police Department’s website) - Commander Lyons. · Between Fire and Police, we are requesting 75 new positions Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 in the next five years. Is this just to keep up with the pace of growth? Yes. · Do the departments share a budget? No, each department has a separate budget, but we do work closely on budgetary needs. · Will the next station be the final station? There could possibly be two additional stations, depending on Town growth. Build out will be three additional stations if the Town doesn’t annex any additional land. · Chief Croom was asked to explain the Fire District. · The department, as a result of a court order in 1986, also provides service to the fire protection district. This adds an additional 32 square miles. The Town receives 5.5% of the department’s operational budget from the district to help fund our services. These funds are placed into the Town’s general fund. · The Town will renegotiate the terms of the agreement in 2023. As part of the renegotiation, the department would like to include capital expenses in addition to the percentage contribution towards the operational budget. · Brief discussion on mill levy collection. · Do these district calls for service hurt your response times? It does, slightly, but the call volume is low and it doesn’t necessitate any changes. We are able to make allowances. Police Department Report PS 2021-021 CRPD April report Attachments: CRPD April Report · Commander Lyons, who was sitting in for Chief Cauley, introduced himself to the new members. · Commission members were emailed a copy of the Police Department’s April report prior to today’s meeting. · Command Lyons oversees the Special Operations Division, which includes - · Animal Control Unit - Animal licensing, barking dogs. · Bike Unit - Operates May through August patrolling parks, schools and Town events. · Community Partnership Unit - addresses community issues involving downtown parking, community events, graffiti and school-related concerns. · Community Safety Volunteers - community policing program with the use of volunteers. · In addition, the School Resource Officers, Traffic Unit and Special Events are all under the Special Operations Division. Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 · Commander Lyons was complimented on the success of the annual cell phone drive. · The donated phones are wiped of data, refurbished and given to victims of crime, providing them with access to 911. · Commander Lyons was also complimented on the crow video post. Very entertaining. · Command Lyons briefed commission members on the crash that occurred at Skateboard Park. · Command Lyons was asked why the department didn’t release names for its awards ceremony. The omission of names was not intentional. The goal of the ceremony is to publically recognize our officers. · What is the status of the parking lot extension at the Police Department? Is it still a go? Yes, it is supposed to happen later this year. · Is panhandling legal here in Castle Rock? Most of the panhandling is occurring near the on/off ramps of I-25, which makes it a CDOT and not Town issue. CRPD can’t stop it unless there is a public safety issue. · Commander Lyons gave a brief explanation of the services CRPD offers to the transient population. · Commander Lyons was asked about commercial vehicle inspections. The department does not offer inspection services but there are staff within the department that are certified to inspect commercial vehicles. · Now that development is occurring in Dawson Ridge, where is the department going to go to practice their driving skills? There is a course set up in Highlands Ranch that the department uses. · The department’s Citizens Police Academy will hold its last class on Saturday, June 12. The graduation is scheduled for the following Thursday. · The department is hosting two youth police academies this summer for youths 13 to 17. Both sessions are full. Special Presentation · School Resource Officer (SRO) Gillespie, from Castle View High School, introduced Buttercup to commission members. · This is the first department in Colorado to pair a therapy dog with a school resource officer. · Buttercup came to the department from Brevard County, Florida where she was part of the Paws & Stripes program. · The Paws & Stripes program partners shelter dogs with inmates. The inmates train the dogs for five months in basic obedient and therapy work. Once Buttercup was certified as a therapy dog, she was donated to CRPD at no cost. · Buttercup is a great mental health tool. In the first seven weeks she was at Castle View, she averaged 1000 positive interactions a week. Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 · Buttercup is not a drug-sniffing dog. · Where does Buttercup live? She lives with Officer Gillespie. · Officer Gillespie initiated this program - Commander Lyons. Douglas and Arapahoe Counties are looking at starting a similar program. · Everyone on the school accountability group has had nothing but positive comments for Officer Gillespie and Buttercup - Chief Croom. · What was the total cost for the program? Even though Buttercup was donated free of charge, the department has spent around $2,000 for travel to pick her up, gear and training. · Will you get another therapy dog for the SRO program? The department will evaluate the need for a second dog at the schools. The Victim Advocates division will be getting a therapy dog soon. New Business · Nominations for Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson tabled until the July meeting. Old Business · n/a Adjourn Mr. Thayer made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Peterson seconded the motion. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 4:24 p.m. The next Public Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. This meeting will be hosted by the Police Department.