Public Safety Committee

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AGENDA COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM 4243 REMEMBRANCE RD. NW. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 5:00 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 1. Committee Members: Mayor Carey (Chair), Thom Burke, Jessica Babcock, and Elaina Huizenga-Chase Discussion Items 1. Approval of Minutes from 1-27-2025 2. Department Updates 3. Discussion of Fire Chief Position Applicants Adjournment Page 1 of 3  PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION CHAMBERS MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 5:00 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance Committee Members: Thom Burke, Jessica Babcock, and Elaina Huizenga- Chase City Staff: Darrel Schmalzel, Frank Wash, Shannon Bales, Keith Mankel, and Chad Host Discussion Items Approval of Minutes from 1-6-2025 Motion by Elaina A. Huizenga-Chase, seconded by Jessica Babcock to approve the 1-6-2025 Meeting Minutes. Motion Carried. Fire Department Updates HR Director, Shannon Bales, provided updates regarding applications that have been received for the Fire Chief position. She reminded the committee that applications are due February 4, 2025. S. Bales also updated the Committee on applications that have been received for the open full time firefighter positions and shared information on interviews and the hiring process. Chief Mankel provided fire department staffing updates to the Committee stating that the department currently has 15 active Paid-on-Call fire fighters with two additional new hires starting February 10th and one additional working through the hiring process. K. Mankel stated that there are currently no Fire Academies scheduled in the area for the new hires to attend. Chief Mankel shared the current on call duty schedule for the three station. Discussion was held. Chief Mankel shared an updated Strategic Plan presentation with the Committee which centered around staffing, apparatus, and buildings. Discussion was held regarding paid-on-call vs. part time staff. A staffing progress recommendation was discussed. The Committee agreed to have the department move forward with implementing part time staffing. Public Safety Committee Minutes 1-27-25 Page 1 of 2 Page 2 of 3  Apparatus needs and current fleet were reviewed. Chief Mankel shared and explained a potential plan for apparatus moving forward. Opinions were shared and discussion was held. Commissioner Burke outlined a potential step by step plan for the department moving forward. Manager Schmalzel spoke about conducting an analysis of public safety buildings and said that there are plans to meet with an architect in the next 2 weeks. He stated that funds will be allocated in the budget for such analysis. Chief Mankel shared an article with the Committee about Law Enforcement/Public Safety millages and special assessment tax. Commissioner Babcock requested a report of the pros and cons of current apparatus for the next meeting. More discussion about the department's apparatus was held. Chief Mankel said that the next fire training will take place Saturday, February 1st at the Walker library. Director Bales will send out a Survey Monkey to current paid-on-call staff with questions about moving to part time status. The next meeting will be scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2025. Police Department Update Chief Mankel provided information about federal ICE orders and stated that Walker does not get involved with federal agencies. He said that ICE agents are not going into schools or businesses in the area and that their focus is on established criminals out on bond. Chief Mankel said that there is a process if the department encounters an individual that is on the ICE list. Adjourned at 6:17 PM Public Safety Committee Minutes 1-27-25 Page 2 of 2 Page 3 of 3