Police Advisory Commission Minutes 07-24-1996MINUTES
MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
. Wednesday, July 24, 1996 - 7 p.m.
Members Present: Liz DeMarais, Brian Stumpf, Bridget Baldwin
Members Absent: David Gerads
Also in Attendance: Rick Wolfsteller, City Administrator; Chief Deputy Don Lindell
2. Consideration, of annointing Police Commission officers for.10~.
With the recent resignation of Commission member Warren Smith, a vacancy
occurred in the office of Chairman. By consensus of the Baard members
present, Liz DeMarais was elected Chairman. It was also the consensus of
the commission members that Brian Stumpf would act as Vice Chairman and
Rick Wolfsteller wauld perform the functions of Secretary far the commission.
3. ('oncideration of rec^ewing,~he 7997 colic departmrnk hndg and nn Tact
ISLE
Commission members discussed the current contract hours and the proposed
$34.50 per hour rate that had been established last year by the County
Commissioners. It was noted that the proposed rate increase would amount
to 4.5% and would bring the annual budget for 1997 to $316,572.
Chief Deputy Lindell noted that deputies assigned to Monticello are seeing
an increase in the number of calls for service during their shifts, which
results in less time for the deputies to do discretionary items such as
patroling specific areas or looking for speeders. Mr. Lindell felt that the City
should soon consider looking at increasing the hours of coverage above the
present 9,176 annually and possibly look at an allowance of 200 to 400 hours
per year that could be used by the Sheriff s Department at their discretion
when they feel it's warranted. It was noted that it wouldn't be necessary to
set a specific number of hours per day or month that would be used by a
deputy, but it would allow the Sheriffs Departrn,ent some flexibility in
providing additional coverage when a problem arised or when the need was
there. Mr. Lindell also noted that the department will soon be completing an
evaluation of their contracting services and will be loaking at Monticello's
`level of service to see if the amount of hours currently being provided is
adequate .far the population and calls that are occurring. In all likelihood,
`the recommendation in future years will be to increase the level of service as
• ~ the population and area grow.
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Police Commission Minutes - 7/24/96
• With commission members all recognizing the merits of adding additional
discretionary hours to the contract, the discussion turned to the number of
hours that should be recommended to the City Council for 1997. The
discussion ranged from the amount recommended by Chief Lindell at 400
hours annually, which would amount to $13,800 or approximately an
additional 4°7o increase, to starting with 200 hours for an annual cost of
$6,900 and approximately a 2°Io increase. Commission member Stumpf felt it
may be easier to get approval from the full Council on increasing the level of
service if we recommended starting at a lower level and increasing the hours
in future years as needed. Chairman DeMarais supported the
recommendation of Chief Lindell for requesting consideration of an
additiona1400 hours.
After further discussion, it was the consensus of the commission members
that an attempt be made by the Sheriff's Department to provide additional
statistical data to support the requested increase in coverage and that
options between 200 and 400 hours per year be given to the City Council for
consideration at a future Council meeting as part of the 1997 budget process.
4. Miscellaneous discussions.
. Commission members discussed the current traffic controls along School
Boulevard and Fallon Avenue and recommended that the public works
department investigate the feasibility of painting "stop ahead" on Fallon
Avenue near School Boulevard as an additional means of advising motorists
of the stop sign locations.
It was also recommended that an upcoming issue of the City's newsletter
contain an article again on the neighborhood watch program.
Meeting was adjourned.
r,l
Vv ~--~.
Rick Wolfsteller
City Administrator
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