Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Held in the Roswell Public Library Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting convened at 4:30 p.m. with Councilor Jeanine Best presiding, Councilor Angela Moore, Councilor Barry Foster, Councilor Steve Henderson, and Mike Mathews present. Staff Present: Chief Phil Smith, Chief Devin Graham, Jill Pollock RFD Admin, Megan Telles Kennel Manager, Karen Sanders Emergency Manager. Others attending were: Larry Connelly, Abby Hess, Joseph Pacheco, Bill Morris, Bonnie Betzer, and Alex Ross. AGENDA APPROVAL A motion to approve the agenda was made by Councilor Foster and seconded by Councilor Henderson. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. A motion to approve the Minutes for October 15, 2019 was made by Councilor Foster and seconded by Councilor Henderson. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed. REGULAR ITEMS 2. Animal Control new resolution 20-XX: A motion to pass Animal Control resolution 20-XX and send to the Consent Agenda, as presented, was made by Councilor Moore and seconded by Councilor Henderson. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed. 3. Condemnation new resolution 20-XX: A motion to pass Condemnation Resolution 20-XX and send to the Consent Agenda, as presented, was made by Councilor Henderson and seconded by Councilor Moore. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed. NON-ACTION ITEMS 4. None INFORMATION 5. Department Updates: Roswell Police: Chief Phil Smith stated they are reviewing the initiation of a K9 drug dog program. A proposal for the need, money and personnel are in the works. Preparation for information requests and questions about a new public safety building are being worked on. In response to the large number of new recruits, RPD is now requiring staff ride-a-longs. All staff and support to staff are now on five, eight hour shifts. Lieutenants are no longer “on-call” they are now on duty. The accident Review Board is being re-established. Three new pick-ups are going through re- calls in Albuquerque and 3 more pick-ups are earmarked to purchase with legislative money. Chief Phil Smith stated the RPD is preparing for another big recruitment. Police recruitment night will be in January. Recruitment is also being promoted through social media, banners and two vehicles being wrapped for advertising. Target areas, such as close by agencies and states with hiring freezes, are being sought out. Roswell Fire: Chief Devin Graham stated they currently have eleven vacancies. Five new recruits will begin on January 3, 2020. A new round of recruitment is currently going and the hiring process will begin in January. Successful candidates will be selected and the needed number people will be dropped into academy. Academy is currently scheduled to begin in February 2020. Chief Graham stated a chief’s meeting was held December 16, 2019 and a strategic plan for 2020 was worked on. The ambulance transport project is currently being worked on. Transfers from the hospitals are still a big problem. Public Service Announcements are being place on Facebook, this month addressed carbon monoxide. Emergency Management: Karen Sanders stated the new hazard mitigation plan is still being worked on. A survey has been released that the public can participate in filling out. There are both hard copies and online copies of this survey. Dispatch: Mike Mathews spoke on behalf of Teri Best, the Chaves County Dispatch Director. He stated dispatch has two new dispatches that are up and going. The new Communication Improvement Project was approved and will last about a year and a half. Radio problems are being worked on with vendors and there is a plan in place. One of the first corrections will be replacement of the antenna on the Sun Bank Building. This will be a one day switch out. 6. Councilor Jeanine Best announced the next meeting will be held January 14, 2020 at 4:30 pm at City Hall. CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENT / REPORTS None PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.