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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Public Safety Committee 1994-12-15BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Public Safety Committee December 15, 1994 Committee: Chairman Gillette, Trustees Dekker and Marshall Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Klaphake, Police Chief Racine, Clerk O'Connor Absent: None Chairman Gillette called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M. POLICE DEPARTMENT. Citizen Input. Todd Jirsa read a quote that, in summary, commented on the dis-trust in government and the government's obligation to assure fundamental fairness. Mr. Jirsa has had discussions with various agencies concerning accountability --through accountability, a better government is achieved. Specifically relating to law enforcement agencies, Mr. Jirsa found 317 such agencies are accredited. Police Departments must meet 436 standards for policies and procedures and they are held accountable --Estes Park is not accredited. Reasoning for such accreditation include: improved Police Dept./community relations, improved police morale, helps limit liability and decrease the number of lawsuits, and provides better trained, more informed officers. Mr. Jirsa suggested the formation of a "Professional Standards Committee" to oversee the entire Town government. In reviewing recent newspaper articles, Mr. Jirsa found 31 different complaints in 25 different areas; however, in Mr. Jirsa's opinion, most people don't issue complaints due to: fear of nothing being done to resolve the problem, and they find themselves up against an unsensitive bureaucracy. The citizenry must be assured they will be heard. Professional Standards Committees can fail which is due to lack of local government or Police Department support, and/or the Committee is not given the proper tools to do the job (lack of authority). In summary, Mr. Jirsa requested a Professional Standards Committee be appointed with the following responsibilities/authority: 1. Oversee all Town employees. 2. Conduct their own independent investigations. 3. Have subpoena powers. 4. Have power to take disciplinary action. Chief Racine responded that he was an active participant in the formation of the Professional Standards of Colorado through the Colorado Chiefs Association; the Estes Park Police Department has been accredited for approximately one year; and that due to costs of approximately $15,000 plus one full-time officer and the Town's size, Estes Park cannot financially afford national accreditation. Mr. Jirsa was invited to review the Colorado Standards. Administrator Klaphake commented that formation of such a committee may have honorable concepts; however, he cautioned that in some instances, a "bigger bureaucracy" is at times created. Administrator Klaphake conceded that the Town and its employees may have a public perception problem and he welcomed ideas on how such a perception could be eliminated. Trustee Dekker commented that the Board recently approved TQM training for employees with a focus on needs of the community/customers. Trustee Dekker urged citizens to approach the BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Public Safety Committee Meeting, December 15, 1994 - Page 2 Board of Trustees to discuss matters of interest. Staff added that the two components of the TQM training are: problem -solving and teamwork building. Trustee Marshall stated that the Board conducts monthly breakfast meetings to provide a platform for citizen discussion --these meetings are not well attended. Chairman Gillette agreed that should a Professional Standards Committee be formulated, it should oversee the entire Town workforce, not only the Police Department. Additionally, Chairman Gillette cautioned against inappropriate Standards Committee action relative to employee rights/liability. In summary, the Committee stated the Professional Standards Committee is a valuable concept, beneficial to all political entities, and recommends Administrator Klaphake contact CML to obtain additional information on the Standards Committee, particularly relative to liability issues. Staff will report their findings in early January. P.a.C.K. Program Budget. The Town Board approved a 1995 Budget contribution of $10,000 - $5,000 for operations and $5,000 to be approved by the Public Safety Committee. Thus, PaCK Representative Roger Shippy presented a list of potential projects: Assist in newsletters to the community $ 100/issue Computer link between the Police Dept. and the Northern Colorado Task Force 300.00± Professional speaker/Middle & High Schools 1,800.00 Polaroid film for Police Dept./1 yr. 200.00 Youth Open Forum, One/Quarter -0- Neighborhood & Business Watch -0- Recreation Equipment (PaCK Board will buy) Portable sound system Professional speaker/Fall Volunteer staff at youth center Mark Scharenbroich (professional speaker) has been scheduled February 9, 1995 for $1,250 and Loveland is sharing travel expenses. The polaroid film will assist the Police Dept. in developing gang -member profiles. Discussion followed on use of Town funds for long-term projects, such as a commercial storage unit for equipment; clarification on PaCK's involvement with grade school children; "adopt -a -class" program, and DARE. The Committee recommends approval of the project list as submitted, authorizing Chairman Gillette to approve expenditures for the additional $5,000. The Committee expressed their appreciation to Mr. Shippy for his presentation. Vicious Dog Ordinance. Chief Racine reported on a letter received from Doris Frumess concerning an attack she suffered August 29, 1994 by two dogs owned by Bob Andrews, 278 Virginia Dr. Ms. Frumess was unable to attend the meeting, and, based upon the. Vicious Dog Ordinance, she is requesting the dog named "Bear" be destroyed. The Police Dept. issued a citation to Mr. Andrews on August 30 for appearance in Municipal Court September 21, 1994. Mr. Andrews received a $15.00 fine plus costs for confinement of the dog. There was no finding by the Municipal Court that the dog was vicious. Based upon the incident of August 29, 1994, Town Attorney White submitted an opinion that as the matter had already been heard in Municipal Court, there was no further opportunity to prosecute a violation of Section 7.12.090 of the Municipal Code with regard to declaring the dog a vicious dog. BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Public Safety Committee Meeting, December 15, 1994 - Page 3 In the event there is any further incident or indication that the dog is a vicious dog under the terms of Section 7.12.090, the Police Dept., on its own investigation, or following a citizen's complaint, can issue a ticket if there are sufficient facts to support the issuance of said ticket. At that time, the Municipal Court could review the question of whether the dog is a vicious dog and make appropriate findings. Animal Control Officer Thacker reported that the dog did enter quarantine for ten days following the attack and that the owner has now fenced the entire yard (three sides were fenced at the time of the incident). In her letter, Ms. Frumess also reported that a young boy was bitten during her incident, and she expressed concern for the owner's infant child. Following clarification that the Police Dept., could, under their own investigation issue a ticket in support of the vicious dog finding, the Committee recommends: (1) the dog be kept under surveillance to ensure the public welfare; (2) the Department contact Larimer County Social Services and request they investigate whether or not the keeping of the dog on the premises constitutes a hazardous condition for the occupants of the premises; and (3) a copy of the minutes be mailed to Ms. Frumess. David Czapp expressed concern that dogs, who are contained in fenced -in yards, were being condemned. The Committee assured Mr. Czapp such was not the case, and any owners so cited into Municipal Court would plead their case with the Municipal Judge. FIRE DEPARTMENT. There was no official report, however, Chairman Gillette questioned the status of the proposed fire station site and the clouded title at Stanley Park. Staff responded that the Town Attorney began title work in 1993 and he has been directed to accelerate the process. The Town is committed to the project; with passage of a recent resolution to create the Community Investment Fund approximately $106,000 will be collected in this fund for this project; and that alternate sites may be reviewed if necessary, however, selection would not proceed without prior discussion with the Fire Chief. REPORTS. The Committee reviewed the Summary Report and requested future reports contain year-end totals for 1994 for comparison purposes. Staff reported on Town policy regarding graffiti (gang related). Within 48 hours, the Public Works Dept. will remove all graffiti on public property. If graffiti is found on private property, the Police Department is to notify the property owner within 48 hours. There being no further business, Chairman Gillette adjourned the meeting at 9:23 A.M. :: vrsP.w;•.r,cc•c�cproaa�ar)�3 .,aS `i Y . JAN 10 ,t11� � 4§ i 3 7 i Vickie O'Connor, CMC, Town Clerk