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Police Advisory Commission Minutes 02-28-2007MINUTES MONTICELLO POLICE COMMISSION Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7 p.m. Members Present: Dave Gerards, Brad Fyle, Dick Slais and Susie Wojchouski Members Absent: None Others Present: Lt. Dan Anselment, Sgt. Dave Anderson - Wright Co. Sheriff s Dept. Jim Roberts - Resident / Police Commission candidate Jeff O'Neill - City Administrator Bruce Westby - City Engineer 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. and a quorum was present. 2. Introduction of Jim Roberts, applicant for vacancy on the Police Commission Jim Roberts was introduced as a candidate to fill the vacancy on the Police Commission that was created when Jon Hoff resigned. Jim introduced himself to the Police Commission then presented his resume' and discussed his background and qualifications. DICK SLAIS NOMINATED JIM ROBERTS TO FILL THE CURRENT VACANCY ON THE POLICE COMMISSION. BRAD FYLE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Approve minutes of May 17, 2006 Police Commission meeting. BRAD FYLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 28, 2007 POLICE COMMISSION MEETING AS WRITTEN. DAVE GERARDS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Recommendation of Police Commission on purchase of speed trailer by the City. Bruce Westby reported that the City of Monticello is considering purchasing a speed monitoring trailer for use by City staff to monitor traffic speeds in response to resident complaints regarding excessive vehicle speeds on public roadways. Bruce also stated that Public Works will house, move and maintain the trailer, and that the City will apply for a $1,500 grant that will go towards purchasing the trailer if awarded to the City. Dan Anselment stated that the Wright County Sheriff's Department (WCSD) has two speed trailers and that one is currently being shared equally between the Buffalo Police Department and the WCSD, and the other is used County- wide on a first come, first serve basis. Dan suggested that the City might want to consider using pavement mounted traffic counting tubes to measure speed instead of purchasing a speed trailer as the City of Otsego has a trailer that they don't use due to issues with the statistical data unit. However, Dan agreed that owning a trailer would allow the City to respond to speeding complaints much quicker. Bruce stated that the City wants a statistical unit in order to measure traffic volumes. F.MUCM\ OF MONTICELLOICOUNCILS& COMMISSIONSNOLICF COMMISSIOMMTGMIN PC 2- 25- 0 7.DOC Police Commission Meeting Minutes February 28, 2007 Page 2 Dan suggested that if the City does purchase a speed trailer we should consider purchasing a used trailer with a rechargeable battery. These batteries last about 3 to 5 days between recharging. Dan recommended looking at Kustom Signal's web site before purchasing a trailer. Dan said the trailer should be moved around to achieve the best results, and that the WCSD usually gathers one - week's worth of data prior to moving the trailer. Dan said that if the City does purchase a speed trailer it will not require a license and we can use it on County Roads without being ticketed. BRAD FYLE MADE A MOTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY PURCHASING A SPEED TRAILER AT A MAXIMUM COST OF $9,000. DAVE GERARDS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. Results of speed study on School Boulevard. Bruce Westby reported that on September 20, 2006, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN /DOT) completed a speed zone study on School Boulevard between TH 25 and CSAH 18 in response to the City's request per City Resolution No. 2005 -89. The City of Monticello's Consulting Engineer was copied on a Mn/DOT interoffice memorandum dated January 22, 2007, from Mn/DOT's District 3 Traffic Engineer to the Assistant State Traffic Engineer describing the results of the speed study and asking that a speed limit authorization be sent to the City. The memo stated that the speed limit on School Boulevard between CSAH 18 and a point 250 -feet west of Fallon Avenue is currently posted correctly. However, the memo recommended that the speed limit between TH 25 and a point 250 -feet west of Fallon Avenue be posted at 35 mph instead of 45 mph as it is currently posted. In addition, the memo indicates that several warning signs may be required to warn drivers of existing curves and hazards, and that School Boulevard should be reviewed for traffic control devices impacted by the recommended speed limits before posting any revised speed limit signing. DAVE GERARDS MADE A MOTION TO REPLACE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON SCHOOL BOULEVARD PER Mn/DOT'S SPEED STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS ONCE Mn/DOT PROVIDES THE CITY WITH WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION TO DO SO, AND ONCE THE CITY SIGNS ALL HAZARDS APPROPRIATELY AND REVIEWS ALL EXISTING TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES FOR IMPACTS BASED ON INSTALLATION OF THE PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS. BRAD FYLE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. Update of meeting with Mn /DOT on TH 25. Bruce Westby reported that he and the City's consulting traffic engineer met with Mn/DOT's District 3 Traffic Engineer on February 27, 2007 to discuss various traffic issues on TH 25 in Monticello as follows: a. Traffic backing -up TH 25 off -ramp into WB I -94 through lanes (highest priority issue at meeting) b. TH 25 traffic study c. Signal system removal and geometric modifications at River Street d. Addition of left -turn lane for SB TH 25 traffic into 1st MN Bank F.MUCECNY OF MONTICHMOCCINCOS &COMMISSIONS \POLICP COMMISSION TGMM PC 2- 28 -07.DOC Police Commission Meeting Minutes Febraary 28, 2007 Page 3 e. Pedestrian crossing issues f Other misc. issues not related to TH 25 No specific course of action was decided upon at the meeting. Bruce will update the Police Commission as talks continue. NO ACTION REQUIRED. 7. Review of existing reporting forms, discussion of alternative reporting forms and means of communicating the information to Council and Police Commission. Dan Anselment and Dave Anderson reviewed the schedule with which the WCSD provides activity reports to the City, and walked everyone through the City's 2006 annual report. Dan added that there is nothing out of the normal regarding Monticello's crime rate, and that nothing from the 2006 annual report indicates to him that the City needs to focus our attention more in any one area, Dan stated that Tom Moores, City Street Superintendent, had requested information regarding crash hot - spots and that Dan told him there is a new Crash Management Analysis Tool (GMAT) available through Mn/DOT that can be used to gather such information. Bruce Westby stated that he knows how to access and use the CMAT software program and that he will work with Tom to gather the information Tom requested. Dan said the WCSD will assist the City in accessing local crash reports at any hot -spots that are identified. NO ACTION REQUIRED. 8. Discussion of priority areas of law enforcement activities. Dan Anselment reported that the WCSD is breaking their department up into Districts, and that the City of Monticello will be a District unto itself with Sgt. Dave Anderson being the District Commander. Dan recommended keeping an open dialogue going between City staff, the City Council, WCSD staff and the Police Commission. As an example, Dan said WCSD staff meets with the City of Otsego every 6- week's or so which is very helpful in keeping communication lines open. Jeff O'Neill said that the City is in the process of developing a Rental Housing Licensing Ordinance to help ensure that rental properties in Monticello are maintained in decent, safe and sanitary condition to protect the public health, safety and welfare of those living in the housing and the neighborhood, and to ensure that rental properties do not become a disincentive to reinvest in the community. Dan, Dave Anderson and Jim Roberts agreed that a rental ordinance can be a great tool to do this and that other cities are developing and instituting them. Jim said Golden Valley has such an ordinance and that he would provide a copy of their ordinance to Jeff. Dan indicated that false service calls account for about 90% of the WCSD's calls in Monticello, and that nearly one -third of the Fire Department's calls in Monticello are false calls. Dan suggested that the City consider imposing civil penalties on those who make multiple and/or frequent false calls. Dan said Otsego is doing this and that it is working to reduce false calls there. RARRUCRICIW OF MONTICCLIA\ COUNCMS & COMMISSIONSNOLICE COMMISSIOFN OMIN PC 2- 28- 07.DOC Police Commission Meeting Minutes February 28, 2007 Page 4 Dan said the WCSD develops their own priority list as best they can based on activity reports and input from the City, and that they adjust these priorities on a continual basis. Dan stated that when the WCSD tickets and tows vehicles they first inventory the contents of the vehicle to protect them from false accusations of theft, and that they then wait for the tow truck driver to arrive prior to leaving the scene. This can take up to an hour or more on a busy night so Dan suggested that the City's snow plow drivers meet with the WCSD prior to next winter's plowing season to help streamline this process and minimize delays. Jeff mentioned that the City has discussed using a Community Service Officer (CSO) to tackle some of the lesser duties that WCSD staff are now handling to relieve some of the burden ftom the WCSD. Jeff indicated such duties could include parking enforcement and animal control calls. Dan said a CSO can be effective and efficient if utilized properly, but there are things that the WCSD are looking at doing to increase their efficiency as well. Dan suggested that opening up the lines of communication as mentioned previously can help increase efficiency as much as anything. Dan also said that collecting fines would not even come close to offsetting the costs associated with hiring a CSO and prosecuting violators in court and as such contracting is more cost - effective. NO ACTION REQUIRED. 9. Adiourn. MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN BY BRAD FYLE AND SECONDED BY DAVE GERARDS AT 9:45 P.M. Following adjournment the next Police Commission meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Bruce Westby Recording Secretary P:NAOCMCRY OF MONTICELLO�OONCILS& COMMISSIONWOLICE