HomeMy WebLinkAbout050908 task force meeting notes
Community Safety Task Force Meeting Notes
May 9, 2008
B. O’Rourke:
Welcomed. Indicated that purpose of meeting is to hear from five
subcommittees. Targeting the June 16 City Council meeting to report on accomplishments to the
Council. Suggested it cou ld be approached in a couple of ways: 1) make a report based upon
each subcommittee, or 2) have the whole group approve what goes through the whole committee.
Believes the document should be from the whole committee. (General agreement.) Would like
to see reports – perhaps some or all. We will get notes out, meet one more time, then get
together one more time before writing the report.
Substance Abuse and Use Subcommittee (see handout).
G. Gertner :
Discovered that numerous things are being done. As ked for questions.
B. O’Rourke:
regarding Blood Alcohol Content – saw an intnoxiclock which may be
something we can acquire.
M. O’Hehir:
wondered about liability of administering PBT and letting people drive. Nervous
about getting into liability system.
L. Ringstad:
need to use this carefully as an educational basis.
S. W right :
Alcohol sales at Lakefront Days.
B. O’Rourke:
Switched to Coke and Pepsi a few years ago.
J. Alcorn:
Believes video so important because of the subtle messages the kids get th at parents
are not conscious of. Already on cable channel.
B. O’Rourke:
should get credit for that.
M. O’Hehir:
DARE kids could name beers/liquors/logos and slogans. Need to be aware of
impact of ads.
B. O’Rourke:
Next group. Will distribute to all g roups.
P. C iliberto :
Two things resulted from the work of this subgroup. 1) Climb Theatre – believes
it is such a good idea that it should be offered in all schools, 2) Minor Consumption Policy – get
parents into session.
Predatory Offender
Predatory o ffender is statutory by definition. Want to add “as anyone that would be a risk to our
children.”
Kids need to be aware that these people exist.
Things are being done, but more could be.
Found gaps and inconsistency.
Community Education:
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Have a Website for safety awareness sponsored by City.
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Brochures out in the community, what to look for, who to look for, dangers, etc.
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Background checks. Have a central location – City to have background checks which all
agencies can use. Would have consistent informa tion.
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Need to have task force to oversee education efforts, guidance to organizations for policies to
keep kids safe. Have a community group who does notification.
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Next thing would be to take this to SCALE so this could be done county - wide.
J. Alcorn:
Sa fe spaces in the school. Claire Neuman also does teen age sexuality. Offered
parent information fair. Could be a resource.
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S. W right :
Boy Scouts have very good child protection training and policy. Parents must read,
sign. Also a videotape.
B. Jad er:
Wealth of information out there. Just need to get it out to people . Various brochures.
General information about sexual abuse. Talk ed about policies for screening. How do we report
violations? Grant Hussy F oundation proposed the policies and pos ted on the Internet, but never
acted upon. Available for any group or organization to use. Protects kids and volunteers.
B. O’Rourke:
Would like to see the N ational A ssociation for M issing and E xploited Children
train the trainer program offered . Also would like Maureen to receive training on Internet
molestation . Also Stranger Danger. Daycare visits. Crime Prevention assignment this summer.
Calendar open to do Net Smart and kid safety.
M. O’Hehir:
Biggest problem at schools is bullying and Inter net.
J. Alcorn:
An area of need – pod casts as well. Do a specific subject. Link to City/school.
Could be posted on various sites.
S. W right :
Maybe at County libraries.
W. S pitzmu e ller .:
Espiritus program – programs to train regarding predatory offen ders.
M. O’Hehir:
Background checks – often not up - to - date or miss some information. It is a tool,
but don’t rely upon it to the exclusion of all others.
Traffic Safety
Woody Spitzmu e ller,
named committee members, defined the issue. PowerPoint. What ot hers
are doing:
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Great Website, mock accident at Shakopee and Prior Lake . Simulate an accident on
prom night.
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SMSC Fire Department/school works with group to do a demo of a prom night crash
depicting fatalities. Belle Plaine mass shooting. Would recommen d this.
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For teenage drivers provide greater restrictions from 16 – 18. Wisconsin model is more
restrictions regarding passengers. Program has teeth. Would be a good one for state
level.
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Prior Lake defensive driving.
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Slow down, save money, save lives.
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St ate city and high school – graduate license system. Beyond driving training offer 30
additional hours of training.
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Would have to be a state law.
B. F leming :
Bill is working way through legislature. Governor wants parents to be able to opt
out.
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High Schoo l – Safe Communities Forum – a pledge to wear belts, speed - safe driving
behavior – c o uld require before issuing school lot parking permits.
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Seat belt support as primary offen s e.
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Drive Alive campaign.
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All state – teen driving ed ucation support.
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Teen driv er s in disproportionate number of accidents than other groups including seniors.
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Minnesota needs to take on Wisconsin requirements for teen driving restrictions.
J. Alcorn:
MN Safety Coalition – sends a letter to 16 - year - old receiving the driver’s licenses on
the month of their birthday. Suggests an officer in drivers education classes to show what they
have seen at crash scenes .
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Active Neighborhood
K. Haugen
: Identified strengthening and maintaining small town values.
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More and stronger friendships.
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Con nection of neighborhoods to city.
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Eliminate disconnect – create better communication.
Currently:
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National Night Out
16 parties X 20 people per party.
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A few neighborhood associations, but not in traditional neighborhoods
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Neighborhood Watch
Nothing going on but working on a few – Wilds/Sand Pointe.
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Recommendations
Identify neighborhoods in the city and use City Council or staff to go to
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neighborhoods. Tell them what they can get from the city. Also participate in
2030 strategic planning.
In between, give th em support. Have a competition between neighborhoods. Get
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people to know each other. Greater familiarity with own and other
neighborhoods.
Also helps to have parents know kids in neighborhood.
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Create city - wide communication vehicle. Have neighborhood W ebsite pages.
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Promote sharing of information. A message board. Basic information about
neighborhoods themselves.
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Neighborhood Olympics
Around National Night Out, promote neighborhoods week. Have it lead up to
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Lakefront Days.
B. Jader:
Could be the hu b of the whole safe and healthy community wheel. Great place to get
info out, to have key person to distribute information.
M. O’Hehir:
Already has neighborhoods that are involved. Neighborhoods need to do their
share.
K. Haugen:
Get people involved in an event to get them going.
S. Wright:
Had association meeting last week – test marketed. Penny carnivals years ago.
Each house organized a specific event. Need event for each group . Tell kids about safe houses.
K. Haugen:
Our neighborhoods are safer if we get to know each other better. How , when we
are double the size, will we have more small neighborhoods.
Bullying
M. O’Hehir:
Lots being done. Want to:
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Increase common language between schools.
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Simplify criteria regarding who is responsible for what.
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Getting into PLAY . Randy G. – M.O. coming into organization to work with coaches to
deal with bullying.
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Community and cultural awareness – sexual, bullying, showing what consequences there
is for bullying.
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Cyber bullying – interactive programming. Middle and high school.
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Written information.
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Police notes.
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J. Alcorn:
High level of autistic kids. Let people know about them and appropriate treatment.
Tolerance. Encourage coaches to come and understan d. One in 10 will have problems.
M. O’Hehir:
Al l persons are responsible whether they have problems or not.
S. Wright:
Need to tie the schools in. After school program had no policy to follow for
complaints, retribution.
M. O’Hehir:
Have to have understanding of boundaries. Same language, standards and
guidelines for all groups to crystallize expectations.
B. O’Rourke:
stated that he would email the reports out to committee members before the next
meeting so they can be read. The next meeting will be devoted to what the committee reports to
the C ity Council and how.
Next meeting:
May 29 @ 4 p.m.
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