Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda Tuesday, April 23, 2024 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 February 20, 2024 2-4 Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 - Minutes 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Outside Employment Policy 5-6 Memo: Outside Employment Policy b. Flock Camera System 7 Memo: Flock Camera System c. On street Commercial Motor Vehicle Parking (NRMC 82-96) 8-9 Memo: On street Commercial Motor Vehicle Parking (NRMC 82-96) d. Policy Updates 10 Memo: Policy Updates 6. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS 7. ADJOURNMENT  Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 2:00 PM - Tuesday, February 20, 2024 Council Chambers The Public Safety Committee of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Ron Volkert, Thomas Weinmeyer, Bill O'Connell, Shawn Demulling, Greg Gartner ABSENT: OTHERS Craig Yehlik, Noah Wiedenfeld, Sarah Reese, Bailey Mitchell PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Bill O'Connell made a motion to adopt the agenda. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bill O'Connell made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 17, 2023 meeting. Ron Volkert seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS FIRE DEPARTMENT RADIO POLICIES Sarah Reese presented the review of the Fire Department radio policies. For best practice it is required for fire department provided radios to remain stored above their fire locker for maintenance, damage, and inspection purposes. Fire personnel that prefer a personal radio for outside uses (ems, etc.) will be responsible for any damage. If they are using a personal radio it will still be on the same schedule for maintenance and inspection. This was approved by the Fire Chief and the city attorney was advised. Greg Gartner made a motion to approve the Fire Department radio policy as presented. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting February 20, 2024 FORCIBLE ENTRY PROP Noah Wiedenfeld presented a quote to purchase a forcible entry prop. This tool would be used for training purposes to practice making forcible entry into buildings and homes on fire calls when applicable. The fire department explored different options and received a quote for $9,090.00 from East Coast Rescue Solutions. It was emphasized that this device is built to stand. Police Chief Craig Yehlik advised that the police department would also be able to use this for law entrancement entry training purposes. Bill O'Connell made a motion to approve the Fire Department purchasing a forcible prop entry. Ron Volkert seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT: ROBERTS-WARREN FIRE & RESCUE Noah Wiedenfeld provided information of the automatic aid agreement with Roberts-Warren Fire & Rescue. With call volume, staffing, and resources, New Richmond Fire and Roberts-Warren Fire will be automatically aiding to specific areas in Richmond and Warren Township depending on the call type. This will be brought to the Fire Board, City Counsel, Warren Town Board, Richmond Town Board, and Emergency Support Services before finalizing. Information and updates only at this time. RIDE ALONG PROGRAM Chief Yehlik proposed adding language to Policy 404 "Ride-Along". The New Richmond Policy Department's ride along policy only allows citizen's to ride along once every quarter. However, potential applicants sometimes like to make sure the department is the right fit by doing a few ride alongs with different officers and times of day. Chief Yehlik would like to add language to policy 404.2.1, that states potential applicants can ride with multiple officers at discretion of the Chief or Deputy Chief. Shawn Demulling made a motion to approve the language change of the policy. Bill O'Connell seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. FLOCK SAFETY Chief Yehlik proposed further exploring and gathering cost and information of Flock Safety for the City of New Richmond for the 2025 budget. A slide show presentation was presented to the committee with what flock is and the benefits it would provide for the growing city of New Richmond. In summary, Flock Safety mounts cameras on poles and lights throughout the city, providing 24 hour coverage of vehicles that drive past them. They provide real time alerts on flagged vehicles, stolen vehicles, and Amber, Silver, and Green Alerts. It is for license plate and vehicle description viewing only. Flock is an investigative tool that Law Enforcement personnel can use to type in a vehicle make, model, and/or color, as well as full and partial plates to gather information on when they passed specific cameras, and provide further investigative information to specific police cases. Flock is being used by many neighboring agencies and they report tremendous success with solving crime, finding missing persons, and recovering stolen vehicles. There is a $150-$650 one time installation fee per camera and approximate annual fee of $3,000 per camera. Flock Safety proposed 14 camera locations totaling in $45,000 annually. Chief Yehlik advised to bring further information to the April PSC meeting and then to bring to the May or June City Council meeting. Shawn Demulling made a motion to approve moving forward with Flock Safety as presented. Ron Volkert seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting February 20, 2024 PATROL RIFLE PURCHASES Chief Yehlik explain New Richmond Police Departments Rifle Purchase program. In summary it states full time patrol officer, with approval, can purchase their own patrol rifle. The City of New Richmond would cover the cost of the patrol rifle upfront, and the officer would have a payroll deduction each pay period for the remainder of the year to pay it back, minus $10.00. Upon departure from the Department the officer becomes responsible for paying to remaining $10 and registering themselves with a Federal Firearms License (FFL). The $10 allows the Chief and other designees the right to make sure policy is still followed. The firearm will still be inspected through the departments firearm armorers and instructors. Giving officers the option to purchase their own firearm can increase their confidence and comfortability in their own firearm. This Chief proposed this policy be added to Lexipole. Shawn Demulling made a motion to approve the patrol rifle purchase as presented. Ron Volkert seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. TASER CONTRACT Chief Yehlik provided an update of information on the departments taser contract. The Department would like to prepare for the 2025 budget and go from 5 to 8 department tasers. This allows more access to the less lethal option on call outs and different incidents, but also the added patrol positions. The New Richmond Police Department is also looking to upgrade to the X10 model. This was just an update for potential increased costs. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS Chief Craig Yehlik advised the committee stay entuned in what is happening in the Law Enforcement world. Police Departments around the country are shutting doors due to lack of applicants for patrol officers. Along with the recent tragic events with Burnsville Police Department and St Croix County Sheriff Office, Chief Yehlik explained all the resources we have for officer wellness, as well as someone possibly coming in to see what else we can provide. Sarah Reese shared that there will be an Open House at the Fire Department March 9th 11am-2pm for potential candidates. ADJOURNMENT Bill O'Connell made a motion to adjourn at 3:21 pm. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting February 20, 2024  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld, Sarah Reese Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 23 Apr 2024 Subject: Outside Employment Policy BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of New Richmond routinely reviews City-wide and departmental policies for legally required, safety and best practice standards. The City, Fire Board, and Fire Department recommend review of the Outside Employment policy, consistent with the existing Police Department Outside Employment policy. RECOMMENDATION: Staff will review the policy with the Committee for recommended approval. ATTACHMENTS: Outside Employment policy - Draft FIRE AND RESCUE - OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT The City of New Richmond Fire and Rescue Department (“Department”) directly serves residents and businesses in the City of New Richmond, Town of Star Prairie, Town of Richmond, Town of Stanton, Town of Erin Prairie, and the Village of Star Prairie. The Department also has automatic aid agreements with Somerset and Deer Park, and a mutual aid agreement with other agencies in St. Croix County. Employees are expected to follow applicable department policies, standard operating guidelines, as well as the City of New Richmond Employee Handbook policies. Section 5.20 Outside Employment of the Employee Handbook states: Employees shall not engage in outside employment or any income producing business that in any way interferes with the employee’s ability to do his or her job or creates a conflict of interest. This policy expands on what a conflict of interest means as it relates to the Department. The following non exhaustive list of outside activities performed by firefighters are conflicts of interest and require pre-approval from the Department Head and the City Administrator: a) Engaging in any activity that utilizes department time, facilities, equipment, or supplies, or uses the department's clothing/uniform, reputation, or influence for private gain or advantage; b) Accepting money or any form of compensation from entities other than the Department for performing duties that are part of the employee's regular employment responsibilities, or are expected of them as a member of this Department; c) Participating in activities outside of the employee's role within this Department that could later come under the scrutiny, oversight, or control of another employee within the Department, either directly or indirectly; d) Undertaking activities that place excessive demands on the employee's time, thereby compromising their ability to meet the minimum performance standards of their role within this department or making them unavailable for job-related responsibilities; and e) Engaging in fire suppression services or closely related activities for another public agency or a private company within the territory serviced by the Department including automatic aid or mutual aid territory. Draft for Public Safety Committee 4.2024 Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 23 Apr 2024 Subject: Flock Camera System BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Information has been brought forward from Flock Safety and the Committee asked that we explore more details. Chief Yehlik and potentially other staff will present further information for consideration. No action is requested at this meeting.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 23 Apr 2024 Subject: On street Commercial Motor Vehicle Parking (NRMC 82-96) BACKGROUND INFORMATION: City Staff has received a request from a citizen to take a look at the current ordinance 82-96 and expand the parameters of such ordinance to increase the vehicle weight from 16,000 to 20, 000 pounds, Increase the height limit from 8 feet to 13 feet, 6 inches and the allowable parking time from 2 hours to 10 hours. The current ordinance reads as follows: Sec 82-96 Street Parking 1. Provisions. Except on Industrial Boulevard, no person owning or having control of any vehicle, trailer, or other unit, whether used privately or commercially, and whether singularly or in combination: a. Weighs in excess of 16,000 pounds gross weight; b. Is over 25 feet in length (including accessories, racks, or other physical extensions); or c. Has a height of eight feet or more from the roadway; shall park the same upon any street, avenue, public way or in any area in the City between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Two-hour parking will be allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. unless such parking violates other City ordinances or regulations. The provisions of this subsection shall not be deemed to prohibit the lawful temporary parking of such equipment upon any street, avenue, public way, or any residentially zoned area in the City for the actual loading or unloading of goods, wares or merchandise; providing, however, the "loading" and "unloading, " as used in this section, shall be limited to the actual time consumed in such operation. The Common Council may, however, designate specific truck parking zones. 2. Special permits. The Police Department may issue special permits, upon application to the department, to park any vehicle, trailer or other unit, as defined in Subsection (a)(1) above, in residentially zoned areas or on private property. The fee for the permit will be as prescribed in the Schedule of Fees on file in the Clerk's Office. Any complications regarding the parking of these trucks must be filed in writing to the Police Department and referred to the Street Committee for action. Action on a complaint is reviewable as provided for in NRMC Title 4, Chapter 1. 3. Removal. On any vehicle unlawfully parked under Subsection (a) or (c) may be removed from the street by order of law enforcement officer, pursuant to NRMC 82-83, and the expense of so moving sand storing such vehicle shall be paid by the operator or owner of said vehicle as a forfeiture in addition to the penalties hereafter prescribed. 4. Bus parking. No operator of a school bus or other bus, regardless of its size, shall park such vehicle in any residential district—on the street, on a lawn, in the alley, in a driveway or anywhere else—except for such time as is reasonably necessary to facilitate the loading or unloading of the vehicle, except that  school buses may park at any school when required. Two-hour parking will be allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in a residential parking zone. RECOMMENDATION: Have a discussion to see if there should be consideration to change ordinance 82-96. Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 23 Apr 2024 Subject: Policy Updates BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond Police Department contract with Lexipol which is a management company that assists with Police Policy. Lexipol has recommended changes/updates to our current policy. Chief Yehlik will present recommended changes at the meeting in a similar format to previous policy updates. RECOMMENDATION: Approve/Deny recommended changes/updates as presented.