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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 16 2022 FENCE CONSORTIUMFencing Consortium JPA 1 How it started Spring 2021 with Hennepin Chiefs of Police Quickly grew beyond just Hennepin Now is a Metro Region-wide initiative As quickly as possible (hours, not days) get anti-scale fencing up around the police department after a no-notice, critical incident Current constraining factors Fencing product availability Timely response capability Transportation of fencing to site Staffing/equipment for setup 2 Fence Working Group Timeline 2021 June/July – Fencing experts Metropolitan Airports Commission US Secret Service 2021 August/September – Met with vendors ARX Perimeters (ARX), Premiere Global Productions (PGP), Long Fence, Hercules 2021 October Decision on vendors, preparation work to get cost info Start logistics conversations 2021 November/December Start legal consortium (JPA) framework Continued logistics/cost info work 2021 January/February Continued JPA development Continued logistics/map development 2021 March/April JPA finalized Pursued State funding 2022 September – Consortium formally starts 3 Demo Fence Panels 4 Anti-scale fence basics Gaps between fence sheet metal too small for fingers to get through (hence harder to climb) Base that extends on both sides of the fence to provide stability. If people are standing on the platform, their weight helps hold the fence in place No bolts or other exposed hardware Metal frame on all sides of fence sheet, providing uniform mesh strength (fence is basically a see-through wall) 8’ tall, 4’ wide panels that are locked together Concrete barriers not essential for setup (thus quicker and more flexible over different surfaces) Heavy equipment only needed for loading/unloading from semi. Setup is all manual labor 5 ARX is on the top at Brooklyn Center PD. PGP is on the bottom at Xcel 6 Why anti-scale fencing? Provide physical separation between law enforcement and protestors Promotes improved mental health environment for all (reduce PTSD) Pre-plan and standardize perimeter layout 7 Why anti-scale fencing? Reduce the need for crowd control measures to be used for violent or destructive actors Improved safety for all Minimize potential impact on adjacent properties Crowd control measures are seen as escalating Another tool for facilitating peaceful protests 8 Why anti-scale fencing? Create a space for protesting Not seen as officers vs. protestors, but protestors just protesting (including optics) Supports efforts to coordinate/communicate with specific protest groups and organizers ahead of time Improved distinction between legal protestors and violent or destructive actors Officers in riot gear are more likely to be able to remain out of sight of legal protestors 9 Why anti-scale fencing? Reduce resource demands committed to one location Local law enforcement agencies are too small to handle large-scale civil disturbance Potentially need fewer officers for security at the site Free up more resources to continue to respond to calls for service in impacted community Takes into consideration that protests may be a protracted event 10 Why a Consortium? Cost Staffing resources through mutual aid Provide experienced leadership for fence deployment operations Unified command structure across professions and agencies 11 Consortium fencing package Only ARX and PGP considered moving forward Consortium only providing outer layer of fencing 8’ tall, 4’ wide anti-scale fence 16’ vehicle gates (two 8’ wide panels with casters in middle) Each member would be allotted up to 4 vehicle gates as part of the standard package 4’ pedestrian doors (built into fence) Each member would be allotted up to 5 doors as part of the standard package 12 Logistics Vendor Would own and store enough fencing in 7 County metro area to cover largest consortium PD Would be responsible for transporting the fence from the storage area to the site (and back) Consortium PW staffing for unloading and setting up fence PD mutual aid/field force could be used to secure area during setup The Fence Deployment team would train 3 times a year (1 day each) so they are experienced at setup 13 Staffing Each member city would have some of their PW staff assigned to the fence deployment team (1-3 people) Statewide PW Mutual Aid Pact Team total strength around 90 people Each member city would cover their own PW staff time For training (3 days per year) For deployments (would likely be OT) Just like PD or FD mutual aid PD and FD staffing would be based on need and conditions using existing agreements 14 Cost development All these factors impact cost Fencing storage location(s) Fencing transportation Fence response time Amount of fencing, gates, and doors Working group prioritized these factors Balance needs with associated costs As the Consortium grows, the opportunity is there to increase the fence amount, speed up the response time, or other facts with impact of the associated cost being spread out more among more agencies. 15 Cost splitting Each consortium member provides a map with their needs 8’ high fence length Location of vehicle gates Location of pedestrian doors The length to cover largest PD is determined Each City pays their percentage of the actual cost based on their percentage of the total fence length 16 Numbers (as of 5/14/22) 53 agencies have provided maps Does not mean they will join Consortium 98,246 feet in total need Largest PD = 4,170 feet Based on maps, not who has officially joined, so it may change Contract amounts 4,500 feet of fencing 10 pedestrian doors 8 vehicle gates Breakdown All agencies that provided maps are between 0.56% to 4.75% of total fence length, which means this is also the percent they pay if everyone were to join the Consortium Median is 1.94% 17 Fence availability concern Fence is ONLY for no-notice, critical incidents Not for planned protests, protecting courthouses for trials, festivals, etc. The Fence Consortium Board will be establishing parameters for what a “critical incident” is With input from members Anticipated to be a tight scope Everyone is concerned about when they need the fence, it not being available Because the Consortium has enough fencing for the largest PD, there is built-in capacity (current plan is for 4,500 feet) The majority of PD’s are 2,000 feet or less 18 Cost if fence is deployed Due to the concerns about the on-going cost agencies would pay and potential they would never need to use the fencing, every effort was made to make the on-going cost as low as possible To do this, costs associated with deployments will be paid by the receiving agency Truly makes the annual cost an “availability cost” Still would be no cost to receiving agency for labor setting up the fence Built into the Consortium structure Saves thousands of dollars 19 Receiving agency would pay Monthly cost for deployed fence, gates, doors Lower than monthly rate if directly contracted with vendor In addition to annual Consortium cost Fixed amount established in vendor contract Vendor loading cost (at storage facility) For deployment Vendor unloading cost (at storage facility) For recovery/demobilization Freight for deployment 900 to 1,000 feet of fence per semi truck Freight for recovery/demobilization 20 What’s the incentive to join? Fencing availability One call for response Trained team to manage and deploy fencing Established relationships Established response procedure No labor cost External resources brought in to setup fence Keeps agency resources available to respond to other needs 21 Why can’t Consortium just buy fence? Storage should be inside Access in the winter Protecting fence Vegetation cannot grow through it Animals cannot build in it Transportation challenges Semi-trucks hold 900 to 1,000 feet of fencing Need to have trailers DOT certified annually Smaller trailers would take many more trips and require more resources Storage location concerns Who stores it? Insurance? Space rental costs? 24/7/365 commitment to provide access 22 State Funding ask State funding for the purchase of anti-scale fencing for the Fencing Consortium will significantly reduce the on-going cost each Consortium member will pay for the availability, storage, maintenance, and transportation of the fence. This reduction in cost will improve equitable access to this de-escalation and safety tool for communities across not only the Seven County Metro area, but also the state as a whole. $5 million is the ask Did not pass in 2022, will try again in 2023 23 24 If Consortium gets State Funding The line item costs for the fencing availability (lease) would go away once the fence was purchased This would result in a savings of over 50% of the annual cost There would still be a yearly cost Storing, maintaining, transporting the fencing Insurance, financial/audits, other misc. costs Target would be to purchase 10,000 feet of fencing Would be able to accommodate additional members (since cost would go down significantly) Provides extra capacity for simultaneous deployments 25 Board Membership Five people 2 Police 1 Fire 1 Public works 1 Emergency management Two year terms 3 in one year 2 in second year Elections will take place every year There are no term limits Hopefully get some long term consistency 26 Initial Board Ryan Murphy (SPPD) Ryan Seibert (Chaska PD) Ward Parker (Eden Prairie FD) Dan Ruiz (Brooklyn Park PW) Doug Berglund (Washington County EM) Term Three positions July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 Have elections this fall (1 LE) Two positions July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023 Have elections in 2023 (1 LE) 27 Communities without their own PD’s If they are a Joint Powers LE agency The community where the PD is physically located in needs to be part of the PW Mutual Aid Pact If they do not have PW Staff, then the County needs to be a part of the PW Pact If they have a sub-station this same approach applies for the sub-station If they contract with the County for LE and have their own PW staff The community needs to be part of the PW Pact If the County provides LE services and they do not have PW staff The County needs to be part of the PW Pact 28 Why does Original Member matter? September 2, 2022 is deadline to be Original Member If agency is not an Original Member The Board votes to accept EVERY new member Additional Members are required to pay a Surcharge to the Fencing Consortium in the amount determined by the Board, and to comply with such additional requirements as may reasonably be imposed by the Board. This is a “check” against an agency waiting until they have a Critical Incident and then wanting to join Basically: pay to play 29 To join Develop an approved fence layout pre-plan Be a member of the Statewide Public Works Mutual Aid Pact Have governing body adopt a resolution joining the Fencing Consortium 30 Requested Council action Council is being asked to: Motion approving the resolution adopting the Fencing Consortium Joint Powers Agreement Questions? 31