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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Public Safety Committee 2005-10-27RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 27, 2005 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 27t' day of October, 2005. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Chairman Newsom, Trustees Doylen and Homeier Chairman Newsom and Trustee Doylen Town Administrator Repola, Chief Richardson, Chief Dorman, Deputy Clerk Schares Absent: Trustee Homeier Chairman Newsom called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. POLICE DEPARTMENT. The agenda was modified adding the Town Pedestrian Crosswalk Study as an Action Item. School Resource Officer Agreement between Park R-3 School District and the Town of Estes Park — Request Approval. Chief Richardson stated finalization of the working agreement between the Town of Estes Park and the Board of Education Park School District R-3 is complete. Town Attorney White and Park School District R-3 attorneys have reviewed and concurred with the terms of the presented agreement. This completes the last step before implementing the School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the Estes Park Schools starting January 2, 2006. Officer Reeves will be the SRO and his salary will be paid by the Town. Staff recommends approving the agreement for signature by Mayor Baudek. The Committee recommends approval of the agreement and would encourage feedback from Officer Reeves and from the school principals. Segway Purchase — Request Approval. Chief Richardson advised beginning in 2006 the Police Department will no longer provide Community Service Officers (CSOs) in the downtown area as in the past during tourist season. The Police Department will continue to provide a presence in the downtown area with one Master Police Officer and one Seasonal Parking Enforcement Officer. Their duties and responsibilities are outlined as follows: 1. Provide assistance to local businesses. 2. Manage traffic flow when deemed necessary. 3. The CSO will perform parking enforcement in all timed Municipal Parking Lots and signed areas. (With the help of the Clancy Parking System to be discussed at a future time). 4. The assigned police officer will provide all police services in the core downtown (specifically all of Elkhorn and all of Moraine to the Piccadilly Shops). 5. Provide assistance to visitors as needed. 6. Patrol all the trails and parks in the downtown area. These primary responsibilities allow the department to provide continued services that the public has grown accustomed to while maintaining a high quality of service with less staff. In order to provide these direct services in a timely manner, the Segway Human Transport Device is proposed as an alternative mode of transportation. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Public Safety Committee — October 27, 2005 — Page 2 Due to the versatility of the Segway (Special events, parades, downtown patrol, bike path patrol, Riverwalk patrol, parking enforcement etc.) staff recommends purchasing one Segway XT for the Police Department from Segway of Northern Colorado, a locally owned and operated business in Estes Park. The Committee recommends the purchase of one Segway XT in the amount of $7,394.00. Town Pedestrian Crosswalk Study Follow-up — Request Approval to Remove Crosswalks. Officer Schumaker presented a comprehensive study on pedestrian safety and the affects pedestrians have on traffic accidents from 2001 to present. The results of this 2005 study are reviewable in the Zone Initiative Report completed by Master Police Officer Schumaker. The report identified that over a five-year period (2001-2005), 266 accidents were reported of which, 18 accidents involved pedestrians. 6.7% of all downtown accidents are pedestrian related. The study identified 77.7% of auto -pedestrian accidents occur at two downtown mid -block crosswalks (Elkhom/MacGregor) and (Moraine/Wiest). Endemic to both locations is poor visibility for the traveling motorist, no early waming device to motorists, and heavy traffic volume during the tourist season. Staff recommends immediate removal of the signs at Elkhorn/MacGregor since this location represents 50% of all auto -pedestrian accidents. As part of the removal process staff recommends installing crossing barriers on the northwest corner of the intersection and at the south curb location, to include curb replacement for the north and south curb lines. Furthermore, with the removal of the pedestrian signs from this location staff recommends a one-year study of Moraine/Wiest crosswalk to assess the need to retain pedestrian crossing at this location. The Committee supports the study and recommends the item be presented as an action item for full discussion at Town Board in November. Reports: CACP Accreditation Status: Chief Richardson reported the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) conducted a professional accreditation assessment last month for the Estes Park Police Department and as a result the Police Department has been recommended to have CACP Accreditation. Are You Okay Program (RUOK?): Chief Richardson reported that the program is up and running and the Police Department will be actively seeking participants. Update on Town Employee ID System: The Larimer Co. Sheriffs Department has donated a printer system to the Town for the ID card system. The software and supplies have been purchased for approximately $1,000. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Slash Collection Site — Request Approval. Chief Dorman stated Larimer County, Colorado State Forest Service and the Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department have combined efforts in the last few years to promote wildfire mitigation work. This mitigation work, performed by homeowners, is to lessen the effects of a wildfire on private property and forests in our area. The interest from property owners toward this effort has been exceptional, although one concern keeps recurring, "what can be done with the slash, it's too expensive to take it to the landfill." A slash collection site pilot project was implemented in the fall of 2003 and has been a huge success. The Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department applied for, and received, a 50/50 matching Wildfire Mitigation Grant for a collection site from Larimer County. This grant provides $3,100 to hire a contractor to chip/grind the slash and remove the material. The Town's match would be made through in -kind services, i.e. providing a collection site and firefighter labor at the collection site and the use of a front-end loader, for a day, to help remove RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Public Safety Committee — October 27, 2005 — Page 3 the material. Chairman Newsom questioned using the slash for mulch. Chief Dorman will advise at the next Public Safety meeting. Staff recommends opening a collection site on the Fairgrounds property, the drop off area would be fenced off and behind a gate. Fire Department personnel would monitor the site which would be open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with the dates to be announced in the spring of 2006. The Committee recommends using the Fairgrounds property as the collection site for slash in the spring of 2006. Reports: The Dive Rescue Truck Delivery: Chief Dorman reported the truck is here and has already been of use. Fire Safety Trailer Delivery: The funding for the trailer was provided by a FEMA grant. The trailer does not have all the signage and equipment needed at this time, but it has been used. It represents a home and can represent a fire. The Fire Department will be organizing some educational programs in the future. There being no further business, Chairman Newsom adjourned the meeting at 9:06 a.m. / 1C..P-e/ Suzz chares, Deputy Town Clerk APPROVED NOV - 3 2005 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES