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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-16 Finance and Safety MinutesFINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes June 16, 2009, 5:00 p.m.,. Conference Room #3 City of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee PRESENT Councilmembers: Pam Linder, Chair; Joe Duffle and De' Sean Quinn Staff: Dave Haynes, Lori Sutter, Shawn Hunstock, Nick Olivas, Chris Flores and Kimberly Matej CALL TO ORDER: Chair Linder called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Fire Department Donation of Boat and Motor Staff is seeking full Council approval of a resolution declaring the Fire Department's 1994 rescue boat and motor surplus, and authorizing its donation. The Fire Department recently replaced a rescue boat and motor. The old boat has no value, and the old motor is valued between $250 -$500. Even though the equipment is considered unusable by our standards, the BRAVE Foundation has requested Tukwila donate this surplus to the Foundation in order for the equipment to be utilized as an emergency resource in Guatemala. This inflatable boat has a slow leak that the Guatemalan teams can re- inflate every few days. There is no liability to the City relative to this equipment donation. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION. B. Police Department Drug Seizure Fund Expenditure Staff is seeking full Council approval to utilize $50,000 from the Police Department's Drug Seizure account to retro -paint the existing police patrol fleet to a traditional black and white configuration. There are several reasons the Police Department would like to change the color scheme of the patrol fleet from the current dark blue to black and white: The black and white configuration is distinctive, increasing visibility and recognition of the vehicle as law enforcement Update the look of the vehicles With surrounding communities also changing to the black and white color scheme, there is a heighted public perception of police presence throughout the area (color scheme is not limited to specific cities i.e. element of a regional police force) Staff is requesting a complete fleet re- paint, as a phased approach would take approximately 5 years. Currently, the seizure account has a balance of approximately $150,000. Committee members asked Chief Haynes about justification of this expenditure during these economic times and if this was an appropriate and good use of seizure funds. Chief Haynes explained that this fund is specifically meant to be spent directly on policing issues, and making an investment in this color scheme change is anticipated to have a direct impact on our City's law enforcement issues of visibility, perception and community sense of safety. Additionally, this color scheme will include marking the currently unmarked sergeant vehicles, increasing the fleet of marked vehicles. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION. Finance Safety Committee Minutes June 16. 2009 Paae 2 C. Police Department Proposed Organizational Change Staff is seeking full Council approval for a Budget Transfer Authorization to move salary and benefits for the difference between a probationary sergeant and police officer first class from Traffic Policing to Investigation. The Police Department is proposing an organizational change that would add a second sergeant to the Major Crimes Unit (MCU). Currently in the MCU, one sergeant supervises 11 positions (9 detectives and 2 non commissioned personnel). Position responsibilities and personnel supervision in the MCU are beyond the capabilities of one sergeant. Due to a recent increase in MCU investigations, a temporary second sergeant was added to the unit. This second sergeant was a critical factor in managing the increased work load. Based on the significant difference noted by this temporary change, the Police Department would like to fill this second MCU sergeant position permanently by eliminating a traffic officer position and replacing it with a sergeant position. This move will not require additional personnel. Funds will be transferred from Traffic Policing into Investigations (MCU), and the extra costs associated with the salary and benefits difference will be absorbed within the current Police Department budget. Chief Haynes noted, that although the Traffic Unit is an important function of the Police Department, there is a critical need for an additional sergeant in the Major Crimes Unit. The Traffic Unit will still have one sergeant and three officers. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:00 p.m. Conference Room #3 P S Z Committee Chair Approval Minutes by KAM.