Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 2:00 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes from date 2-5 Public Safety Committee Minutes - 21 Jun 2022 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Drone Use in Parks/City 6 Memo: Drone Use in Parks/City b. Hiring and Staffing Update 7 Memo: Hiring and Staffing Update c. K-9 Program Update 8 Memo: K-9 Program Update d. Squad Car Bids 9 Memo: Squad Car Bids e. License to Serve Process Review 10 Memo: License to Serve Process Review 6. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS 7. ADJOURNMENT  Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 2:00 PM - Tuesday, June 21, 2022 Conference Room The Public Safety Committee of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 2:00 PM, in the Conference Room, with the following members present: PRESENT: Ron Volkert, Mike Montello, Thomas Weinmeyer, Bill O'Connell, Shawn Demulling ABSENT: OTHERS Craig Yehlik, Lori Brinkman PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mike Montello made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mike Montello made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 19, 2022, Public Safety Committee meeting as presented. Bill O'Connell seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Committee member Bill O'Connell explained that he has been collecting feedback from residents regarding interest in a Neighborhood Watch program. Discussion included the roles that community members and City staff would play with regard to the program. Mike Montello made a motion to endorse a neighborhood watch program in which the Police Department would have an advisory role. Bill O'Connell seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS SNOWMOBILES/ATVS/UTVS ON CITY STREETS Public Safety Committee Meeting June 21, 2022 Police Chief Yehlik explained that staff recently received a request to allow ATVs, UTVs and snowmobiles on City streets. This is a request that staff has received in the past; the Committee last discussed this in 2019 when the golf cart ordinance was passed. Discussion included the differences between motorized golf carts and ATVs/UTVs/snowmobiles with regard to rates of speed and noise. The Committee does not endorse ATVs, UTVs or snowmobiles on City streets at this time. No action was taken. MULTIPLE INTERACTIVE LEARNING OBJECTIVE (MILO) SIMULATOR Chief Yehlik spoke of the Multiple Interactive Learning Objective (MILO) Simulator at the River Falls Police Department. The MILO is an interactive video system for scenario-based training. River Falls has created a Memorandum of Understanding for other agencies in the County to use the MILO simulator at no charge. The MOU was signed by the Chief after it was reviewed by the City Attorney and the City Administrator. Mike Montello made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the River Falls Police Department for the use of their Multiple Interactive Learning Objective simulator. Bill O'Connell seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. FLOCK SAFETY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Chief Yehlik presented information on Flock Safety, which is a company that provides electronic surveillance such as traffic cameras and license plate readers. Some agencies in the area have installed equipment from Flock Safety and are willing to let the NRPD investigators access their cameras and in turn Flock Safety will allow the NRPD investigators to utilize the data from those systems as long as a signed MOU is in place. The City Attorney and City Administrator have reviewed the MOU and support signing it. Mike Montello made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Flock Group, Inc., as presented. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. BUSINESS WATCH INTERNATIONAL (BWI) At their April meeting, the Public Safety Committee authorized staff to enter into an MOU with Business Watch International (BWI) to assist in tracking stolen and pawned merchandise. Shortly after that meeting, Chief Yehlik learned that BWI was sold to another company who would not honor BWI contracts; they did, however, give the Police Department a free trial of their LEADS online system. When the free trial is up, if staff determines it meets the department's needs, they'd like authorization to pursue a contract with LEADS online. Discussion followed. Mike Montello made a motion to support the use of LEADS online during the free trial period and to evaluate entering into a contract with LEADS online at a future date. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. PEPPERBALL LAUNCHERS The New Richmond Police Department has been looking at less-than-lethal options and equipment for officers to have available in their squads (i.e. new ballistic shields and helmets, bean bag rounds and jujitsu training). Chief Yehlik is seeking authorization to add an item to the 2023 Capital Improvement Plan for adding pepperball launchers to several squad cars as another less-than-lethal Public Safety Committee Meeting June 21, 2022 option for critical incidents. The cost is approximately $1,200 per unit and $4 per pepperball. Discussion followed. Mike Montello made a motion to endorse the inclusion of four pepperball launchers and ammunition in the 2023 Capital Improvement Plan. Bill O'Connell seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRING AND RETENTION UPDATE Chief Yehlik mentioned that a new patrol officer was hired earlier this year. Staff have been trying to fill the other open patrol officer position. There were 8 applicants, 3 of whom met the criteria, 2 took the required test, and then 1 withdrew, which left just one candidate to interview; staff was not comfortable moving forward with that candidate. The Chief spoke of River Falls and Hudson receiving more applicants for their job openings because they are offering incentives such as paying for training/school. Discussion ensued regarding possible hiring incentives. There was also discussion on retention incentives for current employees; other local agencies offer larger wage increases and bonuses in addition to staff being able to drive squad cars home on on-duty days. NRPD detectives are currently allowed to take their squad cars home. Mike Montello made a motion to support sponsoring new hires through recruitment school. Seconded by Thomas Weinmeyer. Carried unanimously. Mike Montello made a motion to support Chief Yehlik in instituting a take-home policy of squad cars for Sergeants (in addition to Detectives) and to direct staff to come back to the Committee with other potential retention incentives. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. TAXI CAB LICENSES/INSPECTIONS City staff recently received a new taxi cab license application. Current City Ordinance 46, Article V states that taxi cabs need to be deemed adequate to meet the public need. There is no language in the ordinance specifying who is responsible for inspecting new taxi cabs nor is there language indicating if it matters where the taxi company is based out of. Discussion followed. Bill O'Connell made a motion to require the New Richmond Shared Ride taxi vehicles to be inspected annually, and for the Public Safety Committee to review Ordinance 46, Art V regarding taxi cabs and bring proposed changes to the next meeting. Mike Montello seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. CITY ORDINANCE 10-9 - FEEDING DEER PROHIBITED Alderman Thomas Weinmeyer spoke of the growing problem of residents feeding deer, which is in violation of City code 10-9. Chief Yehlik outlined the progression of penalties for this violation which typically begin with educating residents and issuing a warning and if the problem continues, citations are issued at increasing amounts with each subsequent violation. Discussion followed regarding informing residents that feeding deer in the City is illegal. No action necessary at this time. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS Public Safety Committee Meeting June 21, 2022  • At the next meeting, staff and the Public Safety Committee will work together to determine what type of alerts should be issued from City staff for emergency/public safety matters. • K9 Trials were held in Rochester and local K9 units (New Richmond, Hudson and three County units) took first place. • Deputy Chief Koehler has been accepted into Command College, which will consist of a total of 6 weeks of instruction. • Police departments across the state received State grants in amounts of $7,000 or more: NRPD received a grant in the amount of $25,394.20. • Traffic speed continues to be an issue throughout the City; next year's CIP will include additional speed radar equipment. • Crosswalk update - flags will be ordered for a couple of the downtown crosswalks; improvements will be made at the W 4th St/Dakota Ave crosswalk. • Click it or Ticket - preliminary number of tickets appears to be lower this year, partly because officers were spread thin and had to focus on other incidents. • Five new firefighters were sworn in on Monday evening. ADJOURNMENT Mike Montello made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:48 p.m. Ron Volkert seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting June 21, 2022  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 16 Aug 2022 Subject: Drone use in parks/city BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Police Department fielded Drone questions recently and also had some questions about the Drone that was flying over the fun fest parade. The specific question was “can people fly Drones in the parks in New Richmond. RECOMMENDATION: Lori Brinkman went back through the minutes and found in 2017 the Park Board took this topic up and made some recommendations at that time. Discussion also took place with Airport Manager, Mike Demulling and he referred the FAA and State Statutes Govern Drones. Ordinance 62-2 covers this topic as well. Staff recommends that this be referred back to the Park Board Committee if they wish to entertain making any substantial changes to the ordinance.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 16 Aug 2022 Subject: Hiring and Staffing Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond Police Department has reposted the current job opening and started a new hiring process. Chief Yehlik will give an update on the timing of the process work done on sponsorships and lateral transfer options with an open discussion on future hiring, additional recruitment and retention ideas and staffing levels. RECOMMENDATION: No action needed at this time.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 16 Aug 2022 Subject: K-9 Program Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond K-9 program has been in existence for approximately 5 years. Staff will give an update on the program, next steps and information. RECOMMENDATION: Staff would like to begin moving forward with planning for future fundraising and the continuation of the K-9 program.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 16 Aug 2022 Subject: Squad Car Bids BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The 2023 CIP has not been set at this time However the New Richmond Police Department has made a request for one new fully marked police car. Last year with the addition of a fully marked police car it was put out for bid in September, approved the bid in October and ordered. The vehicle was delivered in early July and is now sitting at EATI awaiting the build. It is scheduled to be done in late August/early September nearly one year after the process started. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends authorization to start the bidding process and collecting the information but notifying that bidding dealerships that acceptance cannot take place until final approval of CIP.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik, Michelle Scanlan Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 16 Aug 2022 Subject: License to Serve Process Review BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Michelle Scanlan will attend the Public Safety Meeting to explain the current process for issuing a License to Serve in the City of New Richmond and potential changes to the process. A person holding a License to Serve, also called an Operator's License, is required to be on site during the hours alcohol is being sold at a location holding a Liquor License in the City of New Richmond. The license is a requirement established by the State and is explained in City Municipal Code 6-69. It is up to the municipality to issue those licenses. As of August 1st, 2022 the City has over 150 licensed server's holding a two year license. The current process for licensing is as follows: 1. Application is received and reviewed by the Clerk's Office. It must include: A completed application with notary signature, a copy of a current state ID/driver's license, proof of completed WI Alcohol Server Certification and $47 fee paid. 2. Completed application and all documentation is sent to the NRPD for review and background check. 3. Application approved by NRPD is put on the next Council Agenda for approval on the Consent Agenda. 4. If application is NOT approved the applicant is notified along with next steps. City Staff would like to review guidelines for approving/not approving applications and create a clear policy for applicants on if, or when, they can reapply when they are denied a license.