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Minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting on July 18, 2006.
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Public Safety Committee Minutes
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
5:15 p.m.
Members present were: Judy Furr, Jim Hargis, Tim McCall, Chris Moore, and Harold Perrin. Councilman Johnson was unable to attend.
MINUTES
Councilman Perrin motioned, seconded by Councilman Hargis, to approve the minutes as written for the regular meeting on June 20, 2006, as written. All voted aye.
FIRE
Councilman McCall informed the committee the ISO report is in. He added the report indicated if the City doesn’t build more stations and hire new firefighters, the City will likely fall to a Class 4 rating with part of the Industrial Park falling all the way to a Class 9. Councilman McCall noted ISO said the City has a good Fire Department, but it just needs more stations. He further stated if the City follows through with Fire Chief Aaron Keller’s plans, the City could possibly go up to a Class 2 rating. Chairman Moore questioned whether a City can have multiple ratings. Chief Keller explained a City can have a split district that would have different ratings. Chairman Moore questioned when part of the City will go to a Class 9. Chief Keller stated they are a Class 9 as of right now. He then explained there’s a need for two new stations, one in the middle of town and one in the Industrial Park. Station 8 would ideally be located around CW Post Road and Nestle Way. He added he’s had an offer to purchase land in that area for $25,000 an acre and would need about an acre and a half for the station. He explained he’d also like Station 7 to be located around Bernard and Race Streets and will need about three acres. He added the property they’re looking at is owned by the state. Councilman McCall questioned if Chief Keller looked into the property owned by Wal-Mart that is near Sam’s Club. Chief Keller stated they did look into it. He explained the land is small enough that they would need to build a two-story station and he is unsure of the parking that would be available. Councilman Perrin questioned whether the station being built at Bernard and Race Streets is in conjunction with ASU. Mayor Formon stated the station would be in conjunction with the university. He added there was some question, though, about the cost of making the road as they had previously discussed. Councilman Perrin stated ASU could be in the position to talk further about the property if the City pursued it. Chief Keller informed the committee they have to have a plan back to ISO in two months. Discussion was held regarding the two new stations providing backups to the currently existing stations. Councilman Perrin suggested Chief Keller and Mayor Formon come back to the committee at the next meeting with a full plan, including the total investment for building the new stations. He explained the plan should show the costs and should include operating costs, constructions costs, as well as land costs. Councilman McCall questioned whether the committee was committed to keeping Jonesboro a Class 3 or possibly moving up to a Class 2, as well as getting the people in a Class 9 back to a Class 3. The committee members agreed they are interested in keeping the City’s Class 3 rating. It was questioned how the City could get back to a Class 3 rating after the new stations are built. Chief Keller stated ISO will have to return to the City and do a re-rating so the City can return to a Class 3. He added if the City builds the stations, then the City could be close to a Class 2 rating. Mayor Formon questioned whether Station 3 could be moved closer to the Industrial Park. Chief Keller stated they can’t move the station because it would create another hole in the City. Chairman Moore asked Chief Keller and Mayor Formon to come back in 30 days with a plan that includes the total cost that will include the building, equipment, land purchase, etc., of the two new stations. Chairman Moore added the committee will have to make a decision in 30 days.
POLICE
Police Chief Michael Yates explained he and City Attorney Phillip Crego have been working on a downtown parking ordinance and it was partially made in conjunction with the Downtown Jonesboro Association (DJA). He asked for the committee to look over the draft. He added they do have concerns over leased parking. Mr. Crego stated they did make revisions to the ordinance to allow the department to put a boot on vehicles that have fines in excess of $100 and to move parking enforcement to the Police Department and out of the Finance Department. He added they would like the committee to make a recommendation to do away with the renewals of leased spaces. Chief Yates explained they would like to get away from leasing spaces at least temporarily until they can work the bugs out of the system. It was questioned if the City has copies of the leases. It was explained they are not sure who has a lease to what parking area. Chairman Moore suggested running an ad in the paper saying the City will not be renewing any leases on parking. Mr. Crego stated there would be no problem with that, but it would also depend on when the leases are set to expire. Mr. Crego stated the DJA asked for the money made from parking tickets be marked for downtown improvements. Chief Yates and Mr. Crego agreed they do not recommend doing that. Mr. Crego stated the City has a parking account the ticket money should be put into. It was asked for copies of all the leases for the City parking downtown to be provided to the committee at the next meeting. Mayor Formon stated Ms. Becky Sharp was able to provide him a list of the people who are leasing spots near the radio station downtown. Chairman Moore recommended the City run a notice in the paper stating the City’s intent to no longer renew lease for downtown parking and request anyone with a lease to contact Mayor Formon. No opposition was voiced to the recommendation. Discussion was held regarding when the leasing should end. It was suggested to end it on January 1st, but Chief Yates stated they could possibly stop it before then. It was also suggested to stop the leased parking at a time Mayor Formon will determine. It was questioned whether a resolution or ordinance is needed. Mr. Crego stated he doesn’t think one is needed because Mayor Formon has the authority to stop the parking leases.
Councilwoman Furr noted a criminal investigator in the Police Department recently graduated from National Forensics Academy in Knoxville. She added the school resource officers received some training from the University of Pennsylvania last week.
ANIMAL CONTROL
Mr. Derek Hogue from Vector Disease Control presented a monthly report concerning their work. He informed the committee there were 59 service calls and expects the numbers to increase.
Ms. Beth Grant provided the committee with a monthly report. She explained they will know on the 20th whether or not Mr. Terry Veal will return to work. She informed the committee Mr. Norwood would be leaving for Iraq on Saturday, but they do have a replacement.
Ms. Cindy Woodard discussed how she became involved in the shelter project and the site plans. She stated the facility would cost $750,000 which included office and kennel space. Ms. Woodard explained she’s talked with Mr. George Krennerich, six Council members, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Tony Thomas. She stated they could build 50 kennels now and add 30 more kennels at another time. She also stated the facility would be 12,000 square feet. Councilman McCall noted the plans looked the same as the plans they were previously looking at. Ms. Woodard stated the other plans were for a 20,000 square foot building, while these plans are for a 12,000 square foot building. Councilwoman Furr questioned whether the City is planning to start housing animals past the 5 days required by law. Mr. Jim Bowman stated they would like to start keeping the animals past the 5 day requirement. Councilwoman Furr expressed concern over having only 50 kennels if the City wants to keep animals longer. Ms. Woodard stated the $750,000 is only for 50 kennels not 80 kennels, but the building will be made so the City could easily add more kennels if needed. Councilman Perrin noted the $750,000 does not include land cost for the building. He also questioned how much it would cost to add the other 30 kennels in time. Councilwoman Furr questioned whether it would be better to go ahead and build all the kennels now as opposed to adding them later. Councilman Perrin recommended coming back with specs for the whole project, including a per square foot price as well as a price for furniture and land cost. Councilman McCall questioned whether the project manager has been involved in the plans that Ms. Woodard and Councilman Hargis discussed. Councilman Hargis stated the plans were made by the project manager. Councilman Perrin stated he thought Mr. Krennerich made the plans. He then questioned how they came up with the $750,000 price. Mr. Thomas explained they have not seen any specs. He further explained the plans were brought to him last week and he did not give them to anyone until Monday. He added he does not know where the $750,000 price came from. Councilman Perrin questioned who came up with the $750,000 price tag. Ms. Woodard stated she came up with the price based on what other cities comparable to the size of Jonesboro spent on their animal shelters. She added she would also like to see the Animal Control Department work more with the Humane Society where they could have a web site together and work in conjunction with the Humane Society to adopt pets out. Mr. Thomas explained their next step is to meet with everyone, including Mr. Krennerich and the project manager, to discuss possible changes to the facility because they’re not proposing the facility as it is. He added the plans are just a first draft. Councilwoman Furr stated they need to prepare to hold more than 50 dogs and questioned whether they should go ahead and build all 80 kennels now. Mr. Bowman concurred saying they need at least 80 kennels. Councilwoman Furr also stated if they are going to pass a cat ordinance, there will also be a need for a place to keep cats in the shelter. Mayor Formon stated he was confused as to why Ms. Woodard is asking to be a liaison between the City and everyone else involved in the project as she stated. Mayor Formon explained he doesn’t know why that would be needed because they have hired a project manager who is now in the process of putting plans together for something that will cost $750,000 to $900,000 as the committee asked. Councilman Hargis stated he thinks the building can be built for $400,000. Mayor Formon added he does have some problems with the plans Ms. Woodard just discussed with the committee. He explained he’s talked with the construction manager about decreasing the office space. He stated when the Council recently toured the Meadows facility, which is 4,000 square feet, they thought it was more than enough office space for the Animal Control facility. He further explained he is looking into decreasing the office space down from the proposed 5,900 square feet so they can increase the kennel area. Mayor Formon stated the City needs to keep an animal as long as possible if it’s adoptable as opposed to euthanizing it. He added this is the first time he’s seen that set of plans.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, Councilwoman Furr motioned, seconded by Councilman McCall, to adjourn. All voted aye.