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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-11-28 Committee of the Whole Minutesit TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE November 28, 1979 Tukwila City Hall 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers M I N U T E S CALL TO ORDER Council President Bohrer called the Budget Review Meeting to order. COUNCIL MEMBERS LIONEL C. BOHRER, Council President, MABEL J. HARRIS, GEORGE D. PRESENT HILL, J. REID JOHANSON, DANIEL J. SAUL, GARY L. VAN DUSEN BUDGET REVIEW CONTINUED POLICE DEPARTMENT Pages 90 -127 Page 90 Administration Page 91 Page 98 John Sheets, Police Chief, gave the opening presentation. He said the budget was designed to meet the challenges of the '80's. Their goal is to increase the efficiency of the department. Additional personnel being asked for are: Police Deputy Administrator; Patrolman I, Detective Division; and Patrolman Probationary III, Patrol Division. Then, they are asking for approval of a Training Officer; a Juvenile Officer and an Evidence Technician. In addition, they are asking for approval to add a K -9 unit. He distributed copies of the Crime Index Review indicating the percentage of increase in crime and discussed each type. Councilman Saul asked if the Sergeants are making more than the Lieutenant. Chief Sheets said yes, in some cases. The Police Officers received an 8% increase this year and the Lieutenant a 7 Next year the Officers will receive 11.7 There should be at least 15% difference between the Sergeants and the Lieutenant. Discussion followed on the duties of the Police Deputy Administrator. Councilman Van Dusen said, as far as manpower, we need to take a look at the overall picture. He said he would like to see the K -9 Unit added, get the minimum of two men on the street, and approve the Administrator. He asked if the addition of the K -9 Unit needed more personnel and was told, no, an existing employee would man the Unit. Councilman Harris said, before we start approving personnel, we need to look at the budget as a whole. Councilman Bohrer explained that the problem is that revenue is not increasing as fast as the increase to manpower. Councilman Van Dusen said we are going to have to take a good look at the programs and services and see what can be cut if we want to increase manpower. Our prime interest is public safety. Councilman Bohrer asked Chief Sheets how he determined they are undermanned and how was the proper manning level determined. Chief Sheets said with the increased number of crimes he can assure Council there are times they need more Police Officers. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE STIPULATION IT MIGHT BE CUT LATER. 3 -YES; 3 -NO. MOTION FAILED. Frank Todd, Mayor- elect, commented that he believes, as a citizen, the most functional use of the taxpayer's money is to provide Fire and Police protection, clean water, sewer, and streets to drive on. Then, if there is any money left, provide the other things. Five Minute Break. Council President Bohrer said Council will discuss the Administrator Position again at a later date. Chief Sheets recommended the Lieutenant's wage be increased to 15% more than the Sergeants. No changes made at this time. Robert McQueen, Sergeant, explained the function of the Investigation Division and the increase in case load they are experiencing. He asked Council to add one Detective to the Staff TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL, BUDGET REVIEW CONTINUED November 28, 1979 Page 2 POLICE DEPARTMENT Page 98 (continued) and change the Clerk position to an Evidence Technician. Also, he asked Council to put the purchase of polygraph equipment back in the budget. At the present, the City uses King County and that person is only available after 4:00 p.m. We would train one of our own officers to be a qualified operator. Councilman Saul asked Sergeant McQueen if he were to make the decision on which person to hire, would it be the detective or a patrolman. Sergeant McQueen said, to be honest, if he had to make the decision he would start with Patrol. Discussion continued on the need for the additional Detective, on the training of an officer to operate the polygraph machine and suggestions on alternate methods that could be used. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE DETECTIVE. 3 -YES; 3 -NO. MOTION FAILED. Sergeant McQueen asked to have the title of the Clerk changed to Evidence Technician. He suggested the pay be increased to make it comparable to Patrolman III. Councilman Harris disagreed because that position is not hazardous like the Patrolman's. It may be specialized, but it is still clerical. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY HILL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE CHANGE OF TITLE FOR THE CLERK II TO EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Todd, Mayor- elect, asked if this new position is a Civil Service position. Chief Sheets said that decision is made by the Civil Service Commission. Page 99 Sergeant McQueen asked to have the overtime increased to be used during emergency situations. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL $1,500 TO THE OVERTIME. MOTION CARRIED. a4 19 Discussion followed on the training and equipment necessary for a polygraph operator. Sergeant McQueen recommended that if the training and equipment is rejected, the Professional Services be increased to cover increased use of King County. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE ACQUISITION OF POLYGRAPH EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE OPERATOR. MOTION FAILED. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL PROVIDE MONEY FOR TRAINING AND $1,000 FOR CONTRACT. MOTION FAILED. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL $2,000 IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR POLYGRAPH CONTRACT. MOTION CARRIED WITH BOHRER VOTING NO. Page 100 No change. Mrs. Doris Phelps suggested the purchase of the polygraph be placed in the Public Safety Committee for investigation. Page 103 Councilman Van Dusen asked if Council approves two additional Patrol officers, will scheduling assure 3 men on duty per shift. Chief Sheets said they need three men or more overtime. Councilman Van Dusen said he does not want Patrolmen on duty with no backup. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE ADDITION OF TWO PATROLMEN.* TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL, BUDGET REVIEW CONTINUED November 28, 1979 Page 3 POLICE DEPARTMENT Page 103 Patrol (continued) Page 115 Page 116 Page 105 ADJOURNMENT Council President Bohrer reviewed comparisons between Tukwila and the surrounding cities and said the figures indicate that Tukwila is already allocating a very substantial portion of its resources for police protection. Why increase this further. Chief Sheets said because Tukwila is not an average City. Council President Bohrer said he is looking for criteria. Mr. Pat Lowery said the Industrial Area is almost 100% occupied. They are here because of the quality of services. You have to address this in the budget. People want to come to Tukwila. Mrs. Doris Phelps, Councilman- elect, said she feels strongly about this and supports the hiring of additional patrolmen. *MOTION CARRIED WITH BOHRER VOTING NO. Mr. Pat Lowrey asked Council if they would consider his budget now. It is the same budget as presented in February and accepted then. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY VAN DUSEN, THAT COUNCIL RETAIN THE CRIME PREVENTION DIRECTOR AT $1,832 PER MONTH. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT PAGE 116 BE ACCEPTED AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY JOHANSON, SECONDED BY VAN DUSEN, THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE ADDITION OF THE K -9 UNIT AS BUDGETED.* Councilman Hill asked if they needed a special car. Gerry Myklebust, Police Officer, said they will convert a car that is going out of service. The animal will come to work with him every shift that he works. The schooling takes 14 weeks. Councilman Bohrer said Renton's budget is $9,991 for one dog and they are budgeting a vehicle. He said the cost of this item will be more like $20,000 considering training and wages. Councilman Johanson said the dog would be more effective than man. *MOTION CARRIED WITH BOHRER VOTING NO. 10:45 p.m. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned. Daniel 3.!Sauf, >nior Louncilmem b' `City' Clerk