CC_Minutes_2019_0812 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday, August 12, 2019 Page 8 cific cases that are important and might not have as much of a number impact immediately for reducing the case. As the city moves forward and will need to fully fund this, the police department still wants to focus on criminal sex crimes but might have more freedom to impact that more directly. Councilmember Laliberte expressed how glad she is to put the focus where it is needed. She would like staff and the police department to keep the information channel open and report back to the Council when needed. Councilmember Groff appreciated the report and the commitment for diversity. Mayor Roe thought with the potential hire and commitment to diversity program, the city is funding it for a full year so if there happens to be a second person who wants to take advantage of that, the city has some funds in the budget and the levy towards that potential second hire, if needed. He thought that gives the city flexi- bility as well. Chief Mathwig noted the police department actively recruits reserves every day. Councilmember Etten explained that Chief O'Neill mentioned working five to six months with an eight-duty crew, which is different from what the Council heard before. He asked about the types of data he is hoping to see with an eight-duty crew versus a five- or six-duty crew. Chief O'Neill indicated the biggest thing is the rate in which the fire department will be able to get to a third call. Right now, on average it has been seven times a day the fire department has not been available to respond to the next emergency that happens within the city. He imagined that having eight on duty will decrease that to less than one a day. Another benefit will be the number of times the fire department will be able to put two fire ground companies on the scene of an emergency. This is significant for the outcome of the emergency and safety of the fire fighters. Over time he believed it would be significantly reduced on an eight person shift versus a five-person shift. Councilmember Laliberte asked if this initial year is to support the fire depart- ment's own staffing, emergency response, and will the fire department at any time in the future be talking about any of the community health programs. Chief O'Neill explained at the end of the staffing, he hoped the fire department would get there. He noted there was discussion about phasing the staffing in, hopefully over a three-year period, and he will also be looking at grant opportuni- ties and some other things in 2020 that might move this along a little faster. But most of the programs referenced would be fully implemented when the eight duty members are on the fire department.