Public Safety Committee Minutes 2006 03-09-06 Page 1 of 4
Approved 4-13-06
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
YORKVILLE CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Committee Chairman Rose Spears called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present
Alderwoman Rose Spears,Aldennen Dean Wolfer, Jason Leslie and Jim Bock, and
Police Chief Harold Martin.
Guests
Mayor Art Prochaska and Heather Gillers from the Beacon News,
1. Minutes for Approval/Correction —Minutes from the Nov. 10, 2005 meeting were
approved. However the minute taker's name needs to be added to the minutes. Minutes
from the Jan. 12 and Feb. 9, 2006 meetings were approved without revision.
2. PS 2006-09—Police Reports for February 2006
Police Chief Harold Martin said the department is on track as for as overtime for a
department of its size. He said the department cut back significantly on overtime when it
went to 12-hour shifts.
Chairman Spears noted increases in sex offenses and the number of uninsured motorists.
There was one reported sex offense in 2005, yet in 2006, there already have been six, she
said. Chief Martin said most of the cases have been domestic issues. Likewise, Spears
noted the number of tickets for uninsured motorists was 437 in 2005 and already there
have been 116 tickets issued in 2006. Mayor Art Prochaska said the volume of tickets for
that offense isn't a reflection on Yorkville. Most of the tickets issues are to people who
live in other,comrmunities.
The committee agreed to move the February Police Report to the Committee of the
Whole to be placed on the consent agenda.
3. PW 2005-16 Heartland Circle Construction Traffic
The committee revisited the issue as to whether construction traffic should be rerouted
from Heartland Circle to Spring Street. Spears said when the issue was last discussed the
committee wanted to see the original agreement. There was a lot of controversy when the
Heartland Circle development was proposed to the city and the city tried to please the
developer and current residents on Spring Street by coming up with the traffic agreement.
She said the understanding is that the construction traffic would be routed through
Heartland until construction of Heartland Circle was complete. However, the developer
was under the impression that as long as most of the construction was completed, the
Spring Street ban could be lifted, she said.
Page 2 of 4
Wolfer said the Public Works Committee looked at the issue and voted to honor the
original agreement. Spears said she agrees with that decision and said the city should
stick to the original agreement. The committee agreed. It was decided to have the city
attorney draft a letter to inform the homeowner's association about the decision of the
two committees.
Mayor Prochaska asked to discuss the handicapped parking update and the smoking ban
issue before he had to leave. The agenda was changed to discuss those items.
4. Handicapped Parking Update
Chief Martin said signs have been ordered to post the new $250 fines for parking in
handicapped parking spots.
Mayor Prochaska said the city should make sure the signs are clearly posted in the proper
places. T'he Public Safety Committee agreed there would be a zero-tolerance policy and
that all offenders would receive a fine rather than a warning,
Additional Business
Mayor Prochaska said the city might start looking into smoking bans for restaurants and
taverns, but that the city would need to move very cautiously on the issue.
Leslie said the city would need to look into what control it might have over the issue. He
said it might be something home-rule communities can do easier.
The committee decided to explore the issue more fully next month.
5. PC 2005-13 Countryside Parkway—Address Changes
Because the center of the city is shifting, Countryside Parkway isn't the divider and for
public safety issues, the addresses of those who live or operate businesses on that road
would have to change. Chief'Martin said it isn't a public safety issue yet, but it could be
in five to 10 years. He said it would be nice to get the addresses changed, yet he
understands it would be a burden for those who live or own businesses on the road. It also
would be a financial burden for the city,which would incur the costs of the address
changes. About four homes and a medical building would be affected.
Spears said she'd like to meet with the individuals that would be affected to get thew
opinions. She also would like to know what the actual cost to the city would be. For now,
the committee decided to send the matter back to the Public Works Committee to get a
checklist on what would be involved and get a more definite idea of the potential cost.
6. PS 2006-10 Swanson Lane Estates—Address Changes
Chief Martin said he didn't have any information other than what was in the letter. He
said he'd need more information before he made a recommendation. The letter came
from the city's engineering assistant Jennifer Fischer stating that there are two existing
homes in the Swanson Lane Estates Subdivision. The letter suggested that the addresses
of those two homes be changed to a number and name consistent with the other homes
Page 3 of 4
surrounding them. The letter asked that the item be discussed at the Public Safety
meeting.
Chief Martin said he would get more information and the matter might go to Public
Works before it came back to Public Safety. Spears suggested that the developer pay for
the costs of changing the addresses, not the city.
7. PS 2006-11 Request for Out of State Conference
Chief Martin said the request comes from Officer Jon Helland, the school resource
officer, to attend the National Association of School Resource Officers conference in Pal
Springs, California, Martin said the conference would be beneficial and he recommended
the request be approved.
The committee agreed to approve the request. Also, Spears suggested the officer rent a
larger car for the trip. The committee agreed to upgrade the car in a unanimous roll call
vote. Leslie, Wolfer, Bock and Spears all voted yes.
8. PS 2006-12 Records Request Fee Schedule
Chief Martin requested the police department be allowed to charge fees for those who
request certain records. He said the fees are in range with what other police departments
charge.
The committee agreed to the fee schedule. Spears also suggested the fees be posted so
residents know what they are.
9. PS 2006-13 Request to Purchase— Squad care DVD recording server
Chief Martin said the department would like to purchase a DVD recording server to store
DVD recordings and improve on the system it already has. Right now, the only way the
department has to back up the DVD is to burn the recordings.
A bid for the server was submitted by Software Performance Specialists, Inc. for$9,858.
Spears said this particular request doesn't have to go out for bid, but she suggested that in
the future, the department seek competitive bids.
The committee agreed to move forward with the purchase.
10. PS 2006-14 Budget Request—Policing Software—Fiscal Year 06/07
Chief said if there's any money left in the budget, he requests that the purchase of New
World Software be a priority. In the request, the chief noted the purchase of the software
would allow Yorkville officers and records to share information such as names, histories
and cases with other departments, Also, with the system, record keeping and retrieval
would be more productive.
Spears agreed that the purchase of the system is very important and yet it keeps getting
placed on the back burner. She said she would be in favor of approaching the city council
about adopting a public safety fee or finding other means to fund the purchase. Chief
Martin said he would keep the conmrittee updated on ways to finance the purchase.
Page 4 of 4
11. PS 2005-11 Skate Boards and Motorized Scooters Update
Wolfer said he would get infonnation from other communities and bring the issue back to
the committee.
12. Overnight Parking Update
Chief Martin said the department is working on the appropriate forms to correspond with
the ordinance. He says the ordinance states that 100 percent of residents on a cul-de-sac
would have to give their approval for a cul-de-sac opt out petition. However Spears
mentioned maybe an 80 percent approval would be more appropriate. Chief Martin said
he hasn't issued tickets to people that are in difficult situations and are trying to work
with the city.
The committee agreed to recommend changing the ordinance to 80 percent approval.
Spears also said that the city should have a petition for overnight parking. Chief Martin
said that in some cases if a hardship is determined the city would allow overnight parking
for up to a year.
13. Additional Business
*Wolfer said he's continuing to work on bringing a 9-1-1 camp to Yorkville.
*Spears said Mayor Prochaska asked the committee to look at limiting the number of
stores that can sell liquor. She said that issue would be discussed next month.
'" Chief Martin said the department is continuing to work on a business registration form.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Dina Gipe