HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 10 2019 MinutesCommunity Safety Advisory Committee
10 January 2019, Meeting Minutes
Attending: Chief Booker Hodges, Chief Rick Steinhaus, Warren Erickson, Tonya Fitzgerald, Megan
Boyle, Isabel Lundquist, Paul Godlewski, Karen Bubb, Woody Spitzmueller
Absentee: Tracy Miller
Meeting called to order at 4:05 pm by Chief Hodges.
3. Approval of meeting Agenda:
4. Approval of November meeting minutes (no mtg in December): unanimous.
5. No hearings scheduled.
6. Presentation – new committee members introduced themselves.
7. Old Business:
a) Chief Hodges provided an overview of the PLPD operations;
a. Staffing has not changed appreciably over last 10 years; 28 FT offices funded on 2008;
and 29 FT officers funded in 2018. This is 4% increase. City population increased from
24.6K to 26.4K (7% increase) during this period. PD Chief’s have maintained the
department is understaffed during all this time. Presently 17 officers are available for patrol
duty and department has 3 vacancies at this point. Chief Hodges has made offers to 3 new
patrol offices and one additional position has been authorized by council, In addition 2 new
Community Service Officers will be hired.
b. Annual department budget now is $4.6M, and includes $500K from the SMSC.
c. Chief Hodges believes the department should be staffed at level of 37 FT officers although
realistically will push for 31 FT officers.
d. Chief Hodges mentioned that there will be a ‘Tip a Cop’ event at the Pointe on 22 Jan to
benefit special olympics.
b) Chief Hodges view of CSAC objectives for 2019:
a. Support department needs for new officers and CSOs/
b. Education relating to Senior Fraud issues… false marketing, deceptive practices.
c. Encourage residents to stay in touch with elderly relatives.
d. Develop stratagies for after dark safe communities
e. Expand use of social media, improve community outreach
f. Committee to lead the National Night Out
g. Develop program to collect school supplies for needy youth
c) Chief Steinhas provided an overview of the PLFD operations:
a. PLFD responds to 500 calls annually; meaning sometimes 2 calls per day.
b. Staffed by 45 part time volunteers and 1 FT chief.
c. Rick said retention is poor; with average volunteer putting in 5 to 10 years. At present
there are only 6 volunteer firefighters with 20+ years experience. At present firefighters
are vested in the retirement program after 20 years. Rick suggested that retention may be
improved if this was changed to be more attractive. Compensation is $12.20/hour and is
adjusted regularly.
d. The FD is successful in obtaining grant funding, most recently for dryers for the gear.
e. Rick suggested that the CSAC could assist in recruiting efforts; new hiring push starts in
May.
8. New Business: Tonya Fitzgerald volunteered to coordinate ‘Nite to Unite’ for the PD.
9. Other Business - none
10. Announcements/Correspondence
a) Next CSAC meeting will be at the Police Department building; 14 February.
Meeting Adjourned 530 PM, Motion Woody, 2nd Karen. Unanimous.