HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Safety Committee Minutes 2025 03-06-25APPROVED 7/3/25
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UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:00pm
East Conference Room #337
651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville, IL
In Attendance:
Chairman Dan Transier
Alderman Craig Soling
Alderman Seaver Tarulis
Absent: Alderman Chris Funkhouser
Other City Officials in Attendance:
Police Chief Jim Jensen
Others in Attendance:
Mr. Joey Weslo, Kendall County Record, via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Dan Transier.
Citizen Comments: None
Minutes for Correction/Approval: January 2, 2025
The minutes were approved as presented.
New Business:
1. PS 2025-05 Monthly Report Review for January 2025
Chief Jensen presented this report. He said the department is fully staffed at this time. He
reported the overtime hours, the community police initiatives--particularly in the downtown area
and Sgt. Stroup was installed as Sergeant-in Arms in the Kendall Chiefs Association. The Chief
also reported the training hours, number of crashes, the mobile speed sign was placed in the
downtown area for a 2-week study and the directed patrol efforts. In addition, he said the number
of citations were up, warnings were down and many background checks were done. A second
School Resource Officer may be requested, so the school activities are being tracked. At the
present time, the only Resource Officer travels to all the schools. The Chief discussed the Nybers
reports and also said there were fewer motorist assists and lockouts. Alderman Soling asked if a
liability waiver is signed for lockouts. A waiver is signed and Chief Jensen noted that many
departments no longer do lockouts, however, he feels it is a public service.
2. PS 2025-06 Adjudication Reports for January and February 2025
In January, there were solicitors who had no permits and they are warned first, then citations are
issued. A few cases for vape pens and cannabis were also noted. The Chief had questions on the
parking violations and “no registration” citations and will clarify.
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3. PS 2025-07 2024 Annual Report Review
Chief Jensen said the 2024 goal was to challenge the staff to make a certain number of daily
stops. That goal was divided into 9 smaller goals for expectations and standards. The department
also challenged officers to identify and solve problems. He noted a 155% increase in traffic stops
for cell phone use/distracted driving and he detailed the overall number of calls for service for the
year. The Chief said the CSO program has proved to be valuable and he likes to hire the CSO's
as full-time officers. The Chief reported the number of FOIA requests and also the crimes
handled by the School Resource Officer. DUI's and crashes were up, but the overall crime rate
was down. He noted that in 2024, the department was using the Nybers reporting system
exclusively.
The Chief also discussed that de-escalation and transparency are very important strategies The
Police Department also partners with the health department on mental health incidents and they
provide a social worker 1 day a week who follows up with persons in need of their services.
Chief Jensen said in the future he may ask for funding for increased hours of a social worker.
The department has two drones which are used every shift. There are 6 trained drone pilots and
they also assist other agencies with this program.
The department also has a therapy dog for use at special events and other needs.
4. PS 2025-08 U.S. Department of Justice COPS Grant - Discussion
Chief Jensen said he did not request extra staffing in this budget year, however, in the 5-year
plan, additional staff will be needed. The Mayor has given permission to start writing a grant
through the U.S. Department of Justice, for two additional employees. If the grant is received, it
would provide $250,000 total for 2 persons. The Chief said he is challenging two other staff
members to learn the grant writing process. Alderman Soling noted that Waubonsee College
offers grant-writing classes.
5. PS 2025-09 Regulation of Time-Restricted Parking - Grande Trail by Grande
Reserve Elementary
Phone calls were received from parents regarding parking problems during drop-off and pick-up
times at the school. A drone was sent up and identified some of the major issues. In particular,
the issue is students walking between cars and in front of vehicles. Chief Jensen showed the
committee photos of the problem areas. Nearer to the school, cars are parked on both sides of
the street. The school proposes to allow parking only on one side of the street, however, residents
who live there object. His recommendation is no parking on the opposite side of the street from
the school, from Freedom Place all the way around to Matlock Dr. when school is in session, for
1.5 hours both in the morning and afternoon. Chairman Transier suggested putting the restriction
on Grande Trail from Matlock around the curve. The Chief also suggested a crossing guard at
Constitution and Grande Trail.
Chief Jensen asked to bring this matter to the entire City Council. If they approve of the
proposal, letters would be sent to nearby residents, seeking their input. The school has asked
police to be there each day and Officers have asked parents to move, but the parents sometimes
refuse.
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Old Business:
1. PS 2025-01 Route 47 Downtown Traffic Activity Update - Discussion
Sgt. Stroup had provided an update of the downtown traffic efforts which showed the numbers for
monthly details, stops, citations and warnings. This update will also be presented to the police
staff and enforcement efforts will continue. They will also evaluate if violators have gotten
multiple warnings, etc. The Chief also feels that people in the downtown see and hear the trucks.
He said that Officer Kyle Davis has expressed a desire to do a truck enforcement program. Chief
Jensen said certified scales would be needed, preferably on both ends of town. He suggested that
when tickets are written, the fines be placed into a truck enforcement fund to buy equipment for
these efforts. He will look into the legalities of a separate fund. He said there will be much
future construction and several data centers with the possibility of speeding and overweight
trucks. Complaints have also been received about trucks on Corneils Rd.
Additional Business: None
There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 6:56pm.
Respectfully submitted by Marlys Young, Minute Taker