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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-1968 Minutes433 CITY OF PASCO MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER: JULY 259 1968 Meeting called to order at 8:00 P.M. by the Honorable G.E. Carter, Mayor. ROLL CALL: By Clerk's Representative. Councilmen present were: G.E. Carter, Donald Cooper, Robert Greenlee, Ed Hendler, Allen Stinson and George Stork. Councilman Fl,etcher arrived at 8:20 P.M. Also present were: City Manager, City Attorney, Director of Administration, Director of Community Development, Police Chief and Special Police Consultant. MAYOR CARTER DECLARED THE SPECIAL MEETING OPEN, CALLED BY COUNCILMEN ED HENDLER AND DONALD COOPER,, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY OF PASCO. The City Manager reported that the Hearing had been duly posted and publicized. Mayor Carter briefly stated the role of a Third -Class City, the authority of a City Manager, and duties of a City Council as a Legislative Body. The.City Manager reported that as of 5:30 P.M., July 25, 1968, Mr. Andrew Gooce had resigned his temporary appointive position as Administrative Assistant. Mr. Groce felt his position would present problems if he continued his employment with the City; however, he pledged his continued support to the City Manager and Pasco Police Department. Councilman Hendler opened the Hearing by stating he had asked for the Special Meeting, with permission of Councilman Cooper, to discuss Law Enforcement in our City. He publicly apologized to the City Manager.for misquote in the Tri City Herald (July 25, 1968) challenging authority of City Manager. Councilman Hendler felt the City should reaffirm their support to the Pasco Police Department and assure them of our continued desire to maintain law and order with justice for all. To once again seek that we believe that we should arrest khose who break our laws and to protect those citizens who are law abiding, that there be no compromise to these ideals. He stressed enforcement of the present Curfew Ordinance; namely, that anyone under 16 years of age be off the street by 9:30 P.M., and anyone between 16 - 18 be off the streets by 11:30 P.M. Councilman Hendler asked that the Pasco City Council consider an Ordinance closing all City parks and recreation areas from 11:30 P.M. until 6:00 A.M. each day. To notify all persons, east and west alike, that law and order will be maintained with justice for all, that we will not buy our people's protection to "Bridge the Communications Gap Between East Pasco and The Rest of the City." He asked that the Council instruct the City Manager that there were no funds available for additional Administrative Assistants, and invited Mr. Groce to assist the City in a manner that most of our other citizens do by offering his services without charge. In conclusion, Cogncilman Hendler stated we cannot be naive and not recognize the seriousness of the situation. The Pasco City Council should be hard fast with Justice for all to our law abiding community, one that allows every citizen to walk our streets in peace and without fear of being molested. The City Manager reported he had met with Leon Harris, Community Action Committee;, William T. Jones, Special Police Consultant; Tom Dixon, Office of Economic Opportunity; A.L. McKibbin, Chief of Pasco Police Department, and Lee Brown, U.S. Department of Justice in an attempt to offer suggestions for community improvement. Mr. Brown will be in the Pasco area for about a week to study the problems that exist and recommend improvements. Mr. Hendler moved that an Ordinance be ereeared to close our parks and recreation areas to public use romP.M. un : seven d5ys a week. Seconded v Mr. Stork. 434 CITY OF PASCO MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING JULY 259 1968 Mr. Fletcher moved that the motion be amended to include current thinking. Seconded by Mr. Stinson. Motion carried y the following roll call vote. ; arter, Cooper, Fletcher, Greenlee, Hendler, Stinson and Stork. N0; None. Main motion carried, as amended. The -City Attorney stated that any Ordinance not enforced over a period of years would be in jeopardy. Captain Sickels responded by affirming the present Curfew Ordinance had been used recently. Opinions, pro and con, were voiced by Mrs. Norma Holt, Willie Avery, Willie Butcher, Robert Rawlins, Chief McKibbin, Jim Wren, Charles McCollum and Dale Rinehart. Mr. Fletcher moved that the present Curfew Ordinance be updated to reflect current thinking. Seconded by Mr. Greenlee. motion carried. Councilman Hendler asked what was the status of injured policemen and culprits who performed stoning. He was informed they were recovering (3 back on duty and 1 still convalescing), and the incident had gone to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for a decision. Mr. Hendler moved that the City reaffirm our support to the Pasco Police De artment and assure them of our continued esire to maintain law and order with us ce for all. Secondedy Mr. Stork, Motion Carried. Paul Fletcher stated that the young people in East Pasco felt Andrew Groce was the right man for the job and asked about his duties. The City MANAGER replied that it had been his intent to set up an office in the Whittier School, to be manned by Mr. Groce and Special Police Consultant William Jones. Their duties would be, primarily, to receive and investigate complaints, and then relay the results of their findings to the City Manager Isabel Rosenfels, Washington State Board Against Discrimination, a resident of this area for five years, does not condone violence as a means of settling dispute and believed that enforcing the curfew would bring the police into closer contact with the young people. She encouraged more courtesy and respect on the part of the police officers, and reiterated that the hiring of Andrew Groce had been a step in the right direction. Leon Harris, Community Action Committee, expressed concern for the Pasco area, and accused the City Administration of having no concern for the feelings of individuals. He further stated his Board had hired Mr. Groce as a Field Aide to.,work with people in all minority groups.. Discussion ensued between the Council and E.M. Magee, Bob Orange, Sam Hunt, relative to the hiring of Negro youths for jobs, formation of Kurtzman Park, and sources of recreation for young adults. Councilman Fletcher voiced concern of our community and recommended everyone see the film, "The Seeds of Pride," which we will be showing. The film revolves around the East Pasco area and attempts to rebuild it. Mr. Hendler moved that a Community Relations Meetin q be called for next week and invite all segment -s o assist n any problems that exist. econ e y Mr. Fletcher. Motion Carried. Wayne Campbell, commended the City Manager for taking the first positive step to alleviate our present situation. Chief A.L. McKibbin commended his officers as "Shining Examples" during the recent f, melee for maintaining their composure under difficult circumstances. IJ J CITY OF PASCO MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING 435' JULY 259 1968 Charles McCollum, Department of Criminology, University of Washington, gave his interpeetations of social ills in the Pasco area. He highly endorced Mr. Jones' "Police and Management Study" and urged that it be given the highest priority for consideration of the Council. Mayor Carter suggested that a copy of the special report be put into the Pasco Public Library. Councilman Fletcher commended the City Manager for his actions, and asked that the Public be tolerant of the remarks made by Mr. Harris as they were made, in Mr. Fletcher's opinion, under pressures of his work. He further reviewed problems that he had experienced with the East Pasco Self -Help Co-op, and how he had over- come them. Any effort to solve the difficulties that now exist in the East Pasco area was endorced by Mr. Fletcher. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. .CARTER, MAYUR AT4ex-offi - & an, Director o min s ra on anCity Clerk PASSED and APPROVED this day of 1