Public Safety Committee Minutes 2006 01-12-06 Page 1 of'3
APPROVED 3/9/06
PUBLIC SAFE'L'Y COMMITTEE
YORKVILLE CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Committee Chairman Wanda Ohare called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m,
Present
Alderwoman Wanda Ohare, Alderman Dean Wolfer, Alderwoman Rose Spears, and
Police Chief Harold Martin.
1. Minutes for Approval/Correction—None.
2. PS 2006-01 —Police Reports for December 2005
Police Chief Harold Martin said the number of miles driven per police vehicle is up
because of the increase in population, Also, the department plans to hire additional police
officers because of the increase in population, Usually there are about 2.5 officers on per
shift and the city would like to increase that number to 4 officers,
Alderman Dean Wolfer noticed that some of the vehicles have a lot of miles on them and
he wondered if they're safe to drive, Chief Martin said administrators and detectives
drive the vehicles with more than 100,000 miles on them. The squad cars all have lower
mileage and are part of a regular replacement program.
3. PS 2006-02 Holiday DUI Enforcement Program
Chief Martin reported five DUI arrests and one arrest for driving under the influence of
drugs/alcohol were made during the recent Holiday DUI Enforcement Program, Also, a
number of citations and warnings were issued. The program ran from Dec, 19, 2005 to
.Tan. 1, 2006,
4. PS 2006-03 Request to Hire Two Patrol Officers
Chief Martin said his department would like to hire four additional police officers. The
first two are already in the budget, but he would like to hire two additional officers. He'd
like to hire two officers right away and hire two more in March
The committee agreed to move the matter,forward to the Feb. 7 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
5. FY 2006/2007 Budget Requests
Chief Martin said he'd like to get input from the committee members about the proposed
budget.
Alderwoman Wanda Ohare, committee chairman, said she'd like to see funding for the
cadet program. It's turned out to be a valuable program for the department, she said.
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Wolfer asked the chief if there was anything else he needed in the budget. Chief Martin
said he'd like to have money for the New World Software Program. The reporting system
software costs about $125,000 and it's the same one that other departments in the county
and state have. Alderwoman Rose Spears said it should be a priority for the city to be in
the same database as other communities.
6. PC 2005-12 Police Reports for November 2005
T'he police reports for November 2005 were approved and more forward.
7. PS 2005-02 Request Approval to Use$1,000 in CPAT Funds for Regional Air
Support Service
Chief Martin said the department is requesting to use $1,000 in CPAT funds for the
ability to use a regional air support service. The focus of the unit will be anti-teriorism,
counter drug and other public safety uses. Professional volunteer pilots and police
officers would staff the helicopter. The money would help fund the operational costs for a
regional helicopter. Ohare said the fee is extremely reasonable.
'Ihe committee agreed to allow the chief to use the funds.
8. PS 2005-13 Countryside Parkway Addresses
Chief Martin said that City Engineer Joe Wywrot suggests a need to change some
addresses on Countryside Parkway due to the fact that the city's zero grid line is Route 47
and no longer Center Parkway.
If addresses are changed, it would affect five locations: one on the south side of
Countryside Parkway and four are resident s on the north side of the street.
Spears said she's reluctant to approve any changes until she knows the cost involved. She
also wants to know if the proposed changes are really necessary.
Martin said as the city grows and new officers are added, it could slow some officers in
getting to a call if they're confused about an address.
Ohare suggested sending a registered letter to the residents who would be affected by the
addresses changes. She said the letter should list reasons for the proposed changes and
invite residents to come to a meeting to discuss the issue. Chief Martin said he's met with
Wywrot about drafting a registered letter to mail.
Wolfer said it also would be a good idea to find out what's involved such as changing
legal descriptions etc.
The issue will come back to the Public Safety Committee.
9. PW 2005-16 Heartland Circle Construction Traffic
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Chief Martin said Wywrot is asking if'construction traffic could go on Spring Street
rather than through the Heartland development. However, he said he said the city agreed
it wouldn't allow construction traffic on Spring Street.
Wolfer said the city needs to abide by the agreement it made with residents. Spears,
however, said that there is some discrepancy as to what the original agreement was.
Ohare suggested asking Wywrot to find a copy of the original agreement and to bring it
to the February Public Safety Committee meeting for discussion,
10. PS 2005-09 Gift Basket Liquor License
Ohare said the request to sell liquor in gift baskets came to the city before the Christmas
season, but there wasn't enough time to get it done by then.
The owners of Carriage I wanted to sell wine in gift baskets for the season.
Ohare said City Attorney John Wyeth needs to draft a letter outlining what classification
of liquor sales this would fall under. She suggested the mater be discussed at the February
meeting after the letter has been drafted.
11. PS 2005-06 Business Registration Update
This issue will have to come back to the city.
12. PS 2005-11 Skate Board and Motorized Scooters Update
Ohare said the city is seeing a lot more of the motorized scooters and some sort of
regulations need to be in place. The city needs an ordinance keeping skateboards and
motorized scooters off sidewalks in commercial areas. She said residential areas are
another matter.
The issue will come back at a future meeting.
13. Additional Business
Spears asked if the city could increase fines issued to those who park in handicapped
spaces. She suggested the city seek the maximum allowable penalty of$350.
Wolfer suggested that rather than increasing the fines because of the cost involved in
purchasing new signs,the city adopt a strong zero-tolerance policy.. He said the city could
put in its newsletter that no warnings will be issued to those illegally parked in the
handicapped spots.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Dina Gipe