Public Safety Commission

SKOKIE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021 PRESENT: Chairperson Paul Pitalis, Director of Marketing and Communications Ann Tennes, Police Chief Brian Baker, Transportation Engineer Samantha Maximilian, Director of Engineering Russ Rietveld Alicia Case, David Freireich, Howard Rosenburg, Cornell Collins, Leslie Post-Weissinger, Melissa Villegas, Marcie Claus, Fire Deputy Chief of Operations Nicholas C. Eschner. Linda Perlin, Director of Public Works Max Slankard, Paul Kruszynski, Vice Chair Mark Penning. EXCUSED: Fire Chief Jeff Hoeflich, Mitchell Kushner, Frank Ippolito, Dennis Rizo, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker, ABSENT: Daniel Fink, Jr., Earl Nicholas, Bryant Smith, Kenneth Mantel, Kevin Frampton, Julian Levy, Edward McCarthy, Joel Reyes. CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Chairperson Paul Pitalis called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The minutes of the June 16, 2021 meeting were approved. POLICE DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY BEAT MEETINGS The two representatives from the police department gave a presentation on the Beat Officer Program. The Beat Officer Program allows Officers an opportunity to engage with their areas of responsibility, and develop a partnership with residents to improve the quality of life in individual neighborhoods. Starting in 2022, the quarterly Beat meetings will start at 6 pm. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT The Fire Department report was presented by DC Eschner. Year to date calls are up with a total of 7,301 calls to date. Cardiac arrest type of calls are up partially due to COVID and the hesitancy to seek health care during the pandemic. An update on the status of the maintenance of the fire engines was also discussed. ENGINEERING REPORT The new Director of Engineering was introduced. Russ Rietveld gave an update on current construction projects occurring in Skokie. Questions were answered regarding the planned Church Street bike lanes and future Crawford Avenue reconstruction project. REVIEW AND DISCUSS PROPOSED USE OF FORCE REVIEW BOARD ORDINANCE Vice Chair Mark Penning gave an overview of the process to date and the next steps. Ann Tennes informed the commission that the ordinance is being rewritten based on the subgroup’s recommendation. The new ordinance will be presented to the board in the November to December time frame. Questions and answers type of discussion followed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS It was suggested that commission members be polled regarding their preference for a continued 7 p.m. meeting start time for the monthly meetings, as was the practice with Zoom meetings, or changing back to a 7:30 p.m. monthly meeting start time. An email with a poll will be sent out later in the week. NEW BUSINESS None. ADJOURNMENT At 7:45 p.m. a motion was made to adjourn which was seconded and then passed unanimously. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SKOKIE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMEBER 17, 2021 AT 7:00 P.M. IN PERSON AT THE SKOKIE POLICE STATION TRAINING ROOM AT 7300 NILES CENTER ROAD PLEASE CALL ENGINEERING DIVISION AT 847-933-8232 IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING VOSDOCS-#508651-Public Safety Commission Minutes