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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993.10.11 Council MinutesMINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 11, 1993 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8 00 P M by Joyce DeFelice, Mayor ROLL CALL By Deputy City Clerk. Councilmembers present* Joyce DeFelice, Michael Garnson, Edgar Hargrow, Chris Jensen, Charles Kilbury, Dan Lathim, and Carl Strode Also present* Gary Crutchfield, City Manager, Greg Rubstello, City Attorney, Dan Underwood, Finance Director, Jim Ajax, Public Works Director; Dennis Wright, City Engineer, Dick Erickson, Parks & Recreation Director, Don Francis, Police Chief, David McDonald, Community Development Director, and Kurt Luhrs, Administrative Assistant PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance CONSENT AGENDA MOTION Mr Garrison moved to approve the Consent Agenda Seconded by Mr Hargrow Motion carried unanimously Consent items are as follows A) Approval of Minutes To approve minutes of Regular Meeting held September 20, 1993 To approve minutes of Special Meeting held September 27, 1993 B) Bills and Communications: To approve General Claims in the amount of $914,982 69 ($12,475 73 being in the form of Wire Transfer Nos 2823, and $902,506 96 consisting of Claim Warrants numbered 83204 through 83413) Payroll Claims To approve Payroll Claims in the amount of $446,628 47, Payroll Voucher nos 32364 through 32573, and 32574 through 32776 Bad Debt Write-offs To approve bad debt write-offs for utility billing, ambulance, cemetery, and Municipal Court non-criminal and criminal accounts receivable in the total amount of $175,485 79 and, of that amount, authorize $172,857 56 be turned over for collection C) Fixing Public Hearing - Appeal of Planning Commission Recommendation (MF #93-45-Z) To fix 8 00 p m, Monday, October 18, 1993, as the time and date to consider the Holt/Madson appeal D) Special Permit Expansion of an Existing Community Service Facility at 210 North 7th Avenue (MF #93-40-SP) To approve the Special Permit for the expansion of the Wilson House at 210 North 7th Avenue, as recommended by the Planning Commission E) Electronic Home Monitoring To authorize the City Manager to contract with the Franklin County Jail for a test program for electronic home monitoring for a period not to exceed three months s r r, MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 11, 1993 F) Residential Property Maintenance Task Force Report To accept the Residential Property Maintenance Standards Task Force Report and direct the Planning Commission to recommend, after public hearing, appropriate code amendments no later than December 1993 PROCLAMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS "Yard of the Month" Awards, September. 1993 The following Pasco residents were presented Certificates of Appreciation from Mayor Joyce DeFelice Rod and Took Smith, 603 North Waldemar Street (unable to attend) J A and Virginia Sutherland, 2726 West Bonneville Street (unable to attend) Mana Zepeda, 1626 West Cartmel (unable to attend) Ruth sovereign, 207 North 8th Avenue (unable to attend) Paul and Shirley Zahn, 912 Lincoln Drive (unable to attend) Dick and Barbara Williams, 4219 North Mojave Drive (unable to attend) VISITORS None REPORTS FROM commn ILES AND/OR OFFICERS Mayor's Activity Report Mayor DeFelice reported that on September 24, attended the Tn-City Visitor and Convention Bureau and TRIDEC monthly luncheon That evening she attended a reception for major sponsors of the Air Show where the City was presented with a plaque On September 25, worked in the Hospitality Tent for the Air Show On September 29, met with the Editorial Board of the Tn-City Herald, at their request, to discuss the issues surrounding TRAC On September 30, attended a reception hosted by the Community Quest for Qualified Physicians Committee Their mission is to recruit primary care physicians into the Tn-City area Tn-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau Board Meeting - September 23. 1993 No report given Health Board Meeting - September 23. 1993 No report given Mid-Columbia Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Council Meeting - October 4. 1993 No report given PUBLIC HEARINGS None. ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ORDINANCE NO. 2965 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO ZONING AND CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF PASCO FROM C-1 (RETAIL BUSINESS) TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS). 2 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 11, 1993 MOTION Ordinance No 2965, was read by title only. Mr Garrison moved to adopt Ordinance No 2965, granting a rezone from C-1 to C- 3 with a concomitant agreement Mr. Jensen seconded the motion Motion carried unanimously RESOLUTION NO. 2101 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR U S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. MOTION Resolution No 2101, was read by title only Mr Garrison moved to approve Resolution No 2101, authonzmg the City Manager to apply for a grant from the Department of Justice to assist the hiring of six additional Police Officers Mr Jensen seconded the motion Mr Crutchfield explained that he had been advised that the detailed requirements of the grant, in terms of financial assistance, is 75% of the salary and benefits of each officer, not to exceed the equivalent of $25,000 per year This means that because of the salary and benefit package provided for beginning officers, together with all equipment and training costs, the City would not be looking at a 75% grant, but a 53% grant With those recalculations the annual cost for six additional officers would be approximately $150,000, and $135,000 $145,000 the second and third year respectively Under this program the City would have to commit to not only the annual share of these officers for the first three years, but also to keeping the officers beyond the termination of the grant After review with Police Chief Don Francis and Director of Finance Dan Underwood, the conclusion was reached that the City could not afford six new officers and recommended the number be changed to four Mr Garrison asked if the new officers could be kept through atrition? Mr Crutchfield explained that the program's intent is that your department maintain the expanded number; new officers are not intended to replace retinng officers Mr Hargrow felt that to receive 53%, with crimes on the way up, would be worth looking into Mr Lathim stated that he was not in favor of hiring any additional officers until some questions are answered and he also felt the City couldn't afford the additional officers He stated that several years ago the City added additional officers and yet crime seems to continually rise. He felt that the City is battling crime in the wrong direction Pouring more officers into the situation is not getting the job done and he wanted more information before making a decision on this issue What would be the additional court costs and jail costs due to the increase in arrests being made by the additional officers Chief Francis pointed out that the crime rate in Pasco has been going down significantly in the past couple of years, however, the gang problem and a certain amount of the narcotics problem is a lot more notorious It gives the impression that crime is not declining The statistics show that there has been a tremendous decrease in the crime rate in the past three to four years since hiring six additional officers in 1988 So far this year, through the end of last month, as compared with the same period last year the City is showing almost a 30% decrease in the major crime rate in Pasco Usually an annual decrease or increase in crime rate is less than 10% -3 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 11, 1993 Despite the increase in officers in 1988 there has been a 25% increase in calls for service All of the present officers are kept busy running to calls and have very little time to do any proactive type pohce work An additional four officers would allow the department to go into neighborhoods in the community and do problem-solving with citizens uninterrupted by calls for service Mr Crutchfield explained that with additional officers it would be expected that there would be additional arrests, thus additional prosecution responsibilities The greater out-of-pocket costs would be for indigent defense services and jail costs at $36 00 a day per prisoner Mr Garrison felt that the additional officers were needed and that if the City could afford to do this, it should be done Mr. Jensen concurred with Mr Garrison and felt that the electronic home monitoring program and community service work program would help defray the additional costs due to an increase in the number of arrests Mr Kilbury stated that he could support an additional four officers, but not an additional six MOTION Mr. Jensen moved to amend Resolution No 2101 authonzing the City Manager to apply for a grant from the Department of Justice to assist the hiring of four additional Police Officers Mr Gamson seconded the motion Motion carried unanimously Original motion carried by roll call vote of seven (7) UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Amendment of Rauscher Option Agreement MOTION Mr Jensen moved to approve the Amendment to the Rauscher Purchase Option Agreement and authonze the City Manager to sign the Amendment Mr Hargrow seconded the motion Motion earned unanimously MISCELLANEOUS - INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. None ADJOURNMENT No further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8 25 P M Joy thee, Mayor ATTEST r.ed,L0 Cathenne D Seaman Deputy City Clerk PASSED and APPROVED this day of Odabe-r" , 1993 4