HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-16 Public Safety MinutesCity of Tukwila
City Council Public Safety Committee
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
September 16, 2019 - 5:30 p.m. - Hazelnut Conference Room, City Hall
Councilmembers: Dennis Robertson, Chair; Kate Kruller, Zak Idan
Staff: David Cline, Bruce Linton, Trina Cook, Jay Wittwer, Laurel Humphrey
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robertson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
I. ANNOUNCEMENT
II. BUSINESS AGENDA
A. Fire Department Second Quarter Report
Chief Wittwer presented the Fire Department Second Quarter Report, highlighting call volume
& response times, response types, notable incidents, events & staffing, administration, Fire
Marshal Office, emergency management, and timeline of July events. Chair Robertson asked
how many personnel attended boat operator training in April, and staff will report back. The
Committee asked to see the Fire Department policies that are being reviewed and updated.
Councilmember Idan asked about the status of the annual report as required by the RCW. The
Fire Department has published an annual report since 2017 and will add in departmental goals
to the 2019 report as outlined in the RCW. Councilmember Kruller confirmed that the City's
CERT program will continue and suggested that staff reach out to past graduates with an
update as they have heard nothing recently. DISCUSSION ONLY.
B. Police Department Crime Statistics
Committee and staff continued discussion of crime reporting that would be meaningful for
policy decisions. When last discussed, the Committee requested more information about
instances of hate crimes and sexual assault. There have been no reported hate crimes, and
sexual assault/rapes should not be publicly discussed with regard to geographic location.
Councilmember Idan asked about the definition of hate crime and noted that he is aware of
instances of verbal intimidation along the lines of "go back where you came from." While these
are not hate crimes, he asked if staff can report on the number of these instances. He would
also like to know what categories are used when logging crimes. Staff discussed the map
showing"Suspicious Subject and Disturbance Calls for Service" for the second quarter, of which
there were 1,657 as compared with 1,704 in 2018. Chair Robertson noted that the highest
number of incidents reflected on the map occur in the Tukwila Urban Center and along Tukwila
International Boulevard. Committee members discussed various approaches to looking at
data. Staff will return for further discussion including the possibility of reporting on case
reports. Chief Linton noted that accurate data is dependent on people reporting. DISCUSSION
ONLY.
Public Safety Committee Minutes September 16, 2019
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Adjourned 6:54 p.m.
(rr 1 Committee Chair Approval