City Commission Workshop Meeting

City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes April 28, 2021 (APPROVED) This meeting was conducted partially via teleconference 4/28/2021 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Terrye Howell, Curtis Gibson, Robin Gibson, Mayor Eugene Fultz, Al Goldstein Staff Present: James Slaton, City Manager; Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk; Albert Galloway, Jr., City Attorney Mayor Fultz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Fultz read a statement: Due to the ongoing State of Emergency, while a majority of Commission Members must be present in the Chambers, members of the staff and public may still participate in our meetings virtually. Members of the public are welcome to come into the Commission Chambers to attend our Commission Agenda Work Session Meetings. We ask that everyone be mindful of social distancing and sit in designated seating. Any member of the public may register to attend our meetings virtually at WWW.LAKEWALESFL.GOV/REGISTER Additional Information and Procedures for public participation will be explained by the City Attorney shortly. Albert Galloway, Jr., City Attorney, read a statement on Procedures for this partial virtual Public Meeting. Mr. Galloway asked the Commissioners, "are you comfortable with all the notice provisions set forth and these uniform rules of procedures we have established for this Virtual meeting? The Commissioners answered affirmatively. 2. City Manager Comments 3. Discussion - Street Renaming Procedures [Begin Agenda Memo] RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Commission review the draft documents attached and direct staff on how to proceed. BACKGROUND Recently a citizen submitted a request to rename a street after a relative. This prompted discussion about possibly modifying the procedure to rename City Streets. Staff got samples of street renaming policies from other cities in Florida. Some cities do it by ordinance, some by resolution, and some by internal policy or a combination. The attached drafts  Recently a citizen submitted a request to rename a street after a relative. This prompted discussion about possibly modifying the procedure to rename City Streets. Staff got samples of street renaming policies from other cities in Florida. Some cities do it by ordinance, some by resolution, and some by internal policy or a combination. The attached drafts are possibilities for the Commission to consider. If the Commission prefers to use a resolution and/or policy then the current Ordinance may be modified. OTHER OPTIONS Stay with the current procedure. FISCAL IMPACT There is no immediate fiscal impact to making any changes. [End Agenda Memo] James Slaton, City Manager and Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk, reviewed this item. Mayor Fultz said he is glad we will have a policy to address this issue. Mr. Slaton said that this is the starting point. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson suggested that the Northwest area streets could be renamed for some of the families that have been here for years. He suggested allowing family names as well as individual persons. Mr. Slaton said that would be allowable under this. Commissioner Howell asked if a company wanted to rename a street. Commissioner Howell asked what if there are not many property owners and 40% really don't want to have the street renamed. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said the final decision still comes to the Commission for a final decision. Commissioner Howell asked if the Commission could recommend a name change without paying $250. Commissioner Curtis Gibson said maybe we should not have a fee. Mr. Slaton said the fee would cover some of the staff time involved in reviewing the application. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said the fee prevents those not as serious in their requests. Commissioner Curtis Gibson said the request a few years ago about Obama street was serious. Mayor Fultz said if someone is collecting signatures they could raise the money. Commissioner Goldstein expressed support for having the fee. Commissioner Howell asked what paper this would be noticed in. Mr. Slaton said the Ledger where our other notices are posted. Mayor Fultz said with the few changes this looks good. 4. Purchase Authorization - Axon Enterprise, Inc. [Begin Agenda Memo] RECOMMENDATION 1. Authorize the purchase from Axon Enterprise, Inc. in the amount of $70,724.10 2. Authorize the addition of a video evidence management position within the Police Department 3. Authorize a budget amendment in the amount of $110,350 BACKGROUND The City Commission previously approved the purchase of eight body worn cameras for officers of the Lake Wales Police Department as part of a pilot program. Staff is now requesting approval to purchase the twenty-four additional cameras needed to equip the Department’s entire patrol, crime suppression, and traffic divisions. Axon Enterprise, Inc. has significant experience in providing resources to law enforcement agencies and is the market leader in manufacturing body cameras. The anticipated funding requirement to implement these additional body cameras is approximately $110,350 for the first year of the program. An additional staff position will be needed to review and process the recorded video evidence. A budget amendment from the City’s fund balance is requested as funding is not appropriated in the adopted FY’21 budget. The City has a sufficient fund balance to fulfill this staff request without impacting operating budgets or reserves. Currently, no other law enforcement agencies in Polk County are utilizing body cameras on a department wide An additional staff position will be needed to review and process the recorded video evidence. A budget amendment from the City’s fund balance is requested as funding is not appropriated in the adopted FY’21 budget. The City has a sufficient fund balance to fulfill this staff request without impacting operating budgets or reserves. Currently, no other law enforcement agencies in Polk County are utilizing body cameras on a department wide basis, but many agencies throughout the country that have successfully implemented such a program. OTHER OPTIONS 1. The City Commission can defer this item until the FY’22 budget preparation FISCAL IMPACT A budget amendment of $110,350 is needed to fund this initiative. [End Agenda Memo] James Slaton, City Manager, reviewed this item. Mayor Fultz said this will not affect our reserves or general fund budget so he is in favor of this. This is a good idea. Commissioner Curtis Gibson said this is great. Will these cover all the officers. Mr. Slaton said these 24 plus the other 8 will cover all 32 officers. Commissioner Goldstein said as this has support of the Police Chief so he is in favor of this. This is just one step in building the relationship between the community and the police. Commissioner Howell said she was in favor of all the officers getting cameras. When will the program go into effect? Mr. Slaton said sometime this summer. Chief Velasquez reviewed the tentative set-up and training schedule. He can not say for sure when this will all be done. Commissioner Goldstein asked if a witness can request the camera to be turned off. Chief Velasquez said we are still looking at the policy but we will probably not allow that as something dangerous may happen and shared some possible scenarios. They are leaning towards never turning it off for any conversation. This has to be managed and done right. Some of those conversations may not need to be public though. Mr. Slaton said this is a learning curve. We are trendsetters in Polk County. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said he was initially not in favor of the cameras but recent events have shown they may be needed. policing is going under an evolution. He is glad we have experts coming to work with us. He asked when does that process start? Chief Velasquez said it has started. They are already providing requested data. He reviewed the upcoming steps as the process begins. May 1 is official start date. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said he looks forward to a final presentation and report. Commissioner Howell asked if by September all the cameras will be in operation. Mr. Slaton said it depends on when we get the equipment. Chief Velasquez said we are not dragging anything out in this process. Commissioner Curtis Gibson said that a lot of people will be watching as we are the first in Polk County. He asked if everyone will be cross trained to use the cameras with the first eight. Chief Velasquez said yes. Mayor Fultz said we may be the first in Polk County but we won't be the last. Other cities are considering this. Commissioner Goldstein said that as our city grows more officers will be needed.  Mayor Fultz said we may be the first in Polk County but we won't be the last. Other cities are considering this. Commissioner Goldstein said that as our city grows more officers will be needed. 5. Resolution 2021-13 Extending State Of Local Emergency [Begin Agenda Memo] SYNOPSIS: Resolution 2021-13 declares a State of Emergency for Lake Wales in response to concerns related to COVID-19. This will be in effect from May 7, 2021 until June 7, 2021. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of Resolution 2021-13 State of Emergency Declaration from May 7th 2021 until June 7th 2021. BACKGROUND In response to the threat of COVID-19 Mayor Fultz issued a State of Emergency on March 13th for seven days and issued three more 7 day States of Emergency after that. The current state of emergency was extended throughout 2020. The current State of Emergency, which was approved by the Commission on April 7, 2021 expires May 7th. According to Chapter 9 in our Code of Ordinances, the City Commission must approve a State of Emergency to last 30 days. OTHER OPTIONS Do not approve Resolution 2021-13. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact from the resolution itself. There will be some costs to the City as we respond to this threat. These costs are being tracked. A declared State of Emergency will allow the City to seek possible reimbursement for those costs. [End Agenda Memo] James Slaton, City Manager, reviewed this item. There was a discussion of the recent number of covid-19 cases. Mayor Fultz said Lake Wales has 7-15 cases per day lately. He encourages everyone to still wear masks. 6. CITY COMMISSION AND MAYOR COMMENTS Commissioner Goldstein said this was his last Work Session. He said he has enjoyed the challenge of serving on the Commission and thanked his fellow Commissioners. Commissioner Curtis Gibson said this was his last meeting too. wished the new Commissioners well. He announced that McLaughlin Middle School is doing a free Mothers Day Car Wash and food distribution. He said he is glad that so much was going on right now. Commissioner Howell said she is glad to be back in person. She said the ability to compromise on some things is important. She thanked Commissioners Curtis Gibson and Goldstein for their service. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said he liked the agenda notebooks. Mayor Fultz said that the new Serenity Apartments are filling up quick. He hopes some of the units will be affordable as promised.  Commissioner Howell said she is glad to be back in person. She said the ability to compromise on some things is important. She thanked Commissioners Curtis Gibson and Goldstein for their service. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said he liked the agenda notebooks. Mayor Fultz said that the new Serenity Apartments are filling up quick. He hopes some of the units will be affordable as promised. He reported on his graduation from the Sheriffs Advisory Council. His class has served two years. He complemented the efforts of our Police Department and all they do. Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk, reminded the Commission that the next meeting, May 4, is the swearing in and pictures will be taken. 7. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. ________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ City Clerk