Standing Committee Meeting

MEETING OF STANDING COMMITTEES City Hall, 220 Clay Street June 20, 2023 The meeting of Standing Committees met at City Hall at 5:20 p.m. on June 20, 2023, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Councilmembers Susan deBuhr, Kelly Dunn, Simon Harding, Daryl Kruse, Dustin Ganfield, Gil Schultz, and Dave Sires. Staff members from all City Departments and members of the community attended in person. Committee of the Whole: Chair Harding called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the Committee of the Whole Agenda, Youth Commission Presentation and introduced Mayor Green and Mr. Keegan Herzmann. Mr. Herzmann gave an overview of his project with Mayor Green to discuss starting a Youth Commission; he presented benefits and examples of other Youth Commissions. Mr. Herzmann recommended Council pass an ordinance creating a Youth Commission, and proposed number of adult and youth members, terms, frequency of meetings, and the application and appointment process. Councilmembers and Mr. Herzmann discussed interest levels in participation, commission goals, appointment process for adults, and the need for more research. It was motioned by Dunn and seconded by Schultz that Mayor Green and Mr. Herzmann continue their research and bring forward to continue Council discussion. The motion was put to vote. Aye: deBuhr, Dunn, Harding, Kruse, Ganfield, Schultz, and Sires. Nay: None. Motion passed. Committee of the Whole: Chair Harding called the meeting to order and introduced the second item on the Committee of the Whole Agenda, Longevity of Board and Commission Members. Chair Harding introduced City Attorney Kevin Rogers. Mr. Rogers stated the referral for Council to create an ordinance setting term limits for Board and Commission members, and gave an overview of current practice. He provided options for Council including considerations for each: add term limits to existing Ordinances by amendments; or removing the appointment power of Mayor and vest it in Council as appropriate, with or without term limits; he provided a list of each Board/Commission and the ability of Council to appoint. Councilmembers, Mayor Green, and Mr. Rogers discussed: checks and balances of current system; Mayor’s appointment policy setting 20 year term limit but allowing for exceptions; Council not wanting to impose term limits; amending from Mayor to Council appointments specific to Planning & Zoning Commission members; and removal from appointment “for cause”. It was motioned by Ganfield and seconded by Kruse to have further discussion on Planning & Zoning appointments. Chair Harding asked for public comment. Mayor Green expressed concern of one Councilperson driving the appointment and thus Council driving the decisions of the P&Z Commission. Councilmembers Sires and Harding agree the power of appointment should remain with Mayor. Councilmembers expressed to Mayor Green they do not support term limits. The motion was put to vote. Aye: deBuhr, Kruse, and Ganfield; Nay: Schultz, Harding, Sires, and Dunn. Motion failed. Public Safety Committee: Chair Ganfield called the meeting to order and introduced the only item on the Public Safety Committee, Public Safety Update and introduced Public Safety Director Craig Berte, Assistant Public Safety Director-Fire Chief John Zolondek, and Assistant Public Safety Director-Police Chief Mark Howard. Mr. Berte gave an overview 2022 Police and Fire activity and Mr. Howard and Mr. Zolondek noted additional activities not shown in call logs. Mr. Berte provided a breakdown of department personnel. Mr. Berte gave an overview of the 2021-2025 Public Safety Report created to establish core values, along with recognizing department strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, challenges, and service gaps. Mr. Berte, Mr. Howard, and Mr. Zolondek listed and provided examples and expected costs/funding for the seven goals and objectives in the report: staffing, departmental practices, training, facilities, equipment and vehicles, community engagement, and officer well-being. Mr. Berte provided a summary of priorities: recruitment and retention; partnership with Mercy One paramedics; initiate K-9 program; increase community engagement efforts; conduct a legal update and review of all department policies; and recurring live fire training. Mr. Berte provided a summary of challenges: recruitment and retention; increased technology costs (cars, body cameras, etc.); increased cost of goods and services; consolidated dispatch (funding); PS is a new program – looking for the best use of personnel resources; police/fire scene management; and balancing police and fire training. Council discussed: potential sign-on bonuses; paid on call volunteer fire programs including gear cost and potential tuition reimbursement; increasing the number of school resource officers and their roles; use of and plans for the North Cedar fire station building; current minimum staffing and plans for future staffing. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Assistant