Public Safety Committee (Meets 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.)

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Agenda Thursday, July 20th, 2023–6:00 PM Government Center Room 204 Meeting ID Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 262 078 271 781 /Passcode: YLbwVV Or call in (audio only) +1 872-242-8028,,501684506# United States Phone Conference ID: 501 684 506# COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Nick Ledin, Tylor Elm, Mark Johnson 1 ROLL CALL 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1 Public Safety Committee (Meeting held June 15, 2023) 3 COMMITTEE ELECTIONS 3.1 Election of Chair 3.2 Election of Vice-Chair 4 RECURRING BUSINESS 4.1 Police and Fire Department Updates 5 OLD BUSINESS 5.1 Homeless Encampment Update 5.2 Engine Braking on HWY 2/53 6 NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Permanent installation of a speed sign on East 2nd in Itasca 6.2 Fireworks Enforcement 6.3 Purchase Request for Turnout Gear by Chief Vollbrecht 6.4 Purchase Request for Ford Lightning by Chief Vollbrecht 7 ADJOURNMENT Notice is hereby given that a majority of the members of the Common Council may be present at the meeting, and although this may constitute a quorum of the Common Council, the Council will not take any action at this meeting. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you are in need of an accommodation to participate in the public meeting process, please call (715) 395-7200 by 4:30 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled meeting date (OR dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service). The City will attempt to accommodate any request depending on the amount of notice received. ********************************************************************************************* In compliance with Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, this agenda was posted at the following locations: Superior Government Center, Douglas County Courthouse, and online at https://www.ci.superior.wi.us/agendacenter. It was also emailed to the Superior Telegram and the Superior Public Library. This meeting may be called into closed session under WI State Statute Sections 19.85 (1) (c) which cite as follows: ‘Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data for any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility’. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Minutes Thursday, June 15th, 2023 The meeting was called to order by Councilor Ledin at 6:00 pm on June 15, 2023 in Government Center Room 204. 1. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Nick Ledin, Tylor Elm, Mike Herrick, Mark Johnson VIRTUAL: Chief Alexander, Director Todd Janigo, Councilor Van Sickle, Nikki Holmberg, Maria Lockwood CITY STAFF PRESENT: Mayor Paine, Chief Vollbrecht, Katie Warren OTHERS PRESENT: Gary LaPorte (Residence owner), Ryan Nelson (P&R Companies), Megan Holsclaw (P&R Companies) 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Public Safety Committee (Special meeting held May 25, 2023) MOTION by Ledin, second by Herrick, and carried to approve. 3. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES Chief Alexander states they recently interviewed 3 candidates for Police Officer and will start a background check on all 3 once they are received. A lateral transfer also applied from Madison. The Police Department applied for a port security grant; this would provide a vehicle blockade system and an emergency preemption system. Chief Vollbrecht states they recently hired 2 new firefighters; they will be fully staffed next month. Department members went and looked at an electric fire truck as they are hoping to get one in future years. Essentia has provided a grant to area fire departments for emotional resiliency training which will start in September 2023. The airboat has arrived and training has started. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1 Homeless Encampment Update Mayor Paine gave an introduction and background on the homeless encampment. There were several meetings between Mayor Paine, Public Works, City Attorney Prell, Superior Police Department, and Superior Fire Department to determine why the encampment was growing and how to protect the residents of the encampment and those in surrounding areas. The city has tried many efforts over the last couple years to mitigate the challenges of the existing encampment. These include adding a portable toilet, fencing off the area, removing 75 tons of trash, making regular contact with the encampment residents, and adding support from non-profit organizations. Despite the efforts to minimize the challenges, there has been an increase in safety and sanitation issues arising from the encampment. The city has reached its limit of resources and can no longer protect the safety, health, and dignity of the residents living in and those affected by the encampment. Mayor Paine declared an emergency and ordered the encampment to be evacuated. The residents have been given ample warning that the space would no longer be able to be occupied past a certain date. Resources were given to the residents of the encampment to find other housing. Public Safety Committee – 06/15/2023 Jen Stank, Coordinated Response Specialist of the Superior Police Department, describes the outreach she has done at the encampment. Jen visited the area weekly over the last 20 months to provide support and resources and to gain a positive relationship with the residents. Residents were given written notice in May 2023 regarding the evacuation, and they were offered storage of items for up to 30 days. Even after the evacuation, she is continuing to connect with the residents to provide resources. She passed around photos of the encampment during this meeting (attached below). The photos start around August 2022 after a cleanup had been conducted by Sutherland, the next set were from January 2023 after an emergency cleanup had been done in December 2023 as the Fire Department stated there were safety concerns. The third set is from February 2023 where trash was continuously being added. The next cleanup was March 2023, and one month later the trash grew rapidly again. The last cleanup was June 2023, which is shown in the last photo. Motion to hold in committee by Tylor Elm, second by Mark Johnson, and carried. *Jen Stank left meeting 4.2 Add “No Parking Even Side- Weeks Ave, Belknap St to N 14th St” In the past, calendar parking was eliminated on this block, and it was intended to be parking allowed on one side only. It did not go into ordinance that way, only calendar parking was eliminated so people park on both sides. Demand has changed as this was passed before Central Flats opened. There was discussion by Mayor Paine and the Central Flats owner to not change the parking on this block as it would not be beneficial to the residents/businesses in the area and may increase speeding. There was also discussion by Council members that the white lines could be eliminated on this block’ Director Todd Janigo stated his crew could likely grind out the white lines. No Action. *Gary LaPorte left meeting 4.3 Install two 30-minute parking signs along Cumming Avenue near Courthouse See memo in the agenda packet from 06/15/2023 submitted by Dave Sletten. Public parking remains an issue for the government center and courthouse. They are requesting two 30-minute parking signs on this street to make it more accessible. Dave Sletten has been in contact with Director Todd Janigo and is fine with the current 20-minute ordinance (Chapter 112, schedule F) instead of 30 minutes. Motion by Tylor Elm, second by Mark Johnson to install two 20-minute parking signs along Cumming Avenue near Courthouse on the two northernmost diagonal parking spaces, carried. Will send for council recommendation. 5. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM by Councilor Ledin. Submitted by Nikki Holmberg