Police Advisory Commission Minutes 01-18-2012MINUTES
MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 7 p.m., Academy Room
Members Present: Brad Fyle, Jason Roubinek, Leila McCarty, Chuck Fradella
Members Absent: Brian Stumpf
Ex- Officio Representatives: Sergeant Dave Anderson, Wright County Sheriffs Office
Lieutenant Mike Even, Wright County Sheriff's Office
Bruce Westby, City Engineer
Others: Sergeant Butch Darsow, Wright County Sheriff's Office (7:08-
7:17 pm)
1) Call to Order
Brad Fyle called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2) Consideration of approving minutes of October 19, 2011 regular Police Advisory
Commission meeting
Chuck Fradella clarified an item in the minutes related to "issuing charges ". He also
noted that the City had followed up on his request to have notice of the Police Advisory
Committee meetings in the City of Monticello newsletter.
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19, 2011 REGULAR POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING AS WRITTEN.
MOTION WAS SECONDED BY JASON ROUBINEK. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
3) Consideration of adding items to the agenda
a) West Bridge Park — Leila McCarty
Bruce Westby mentioned that Lieutenant Mike Even will soon be retiring after 33 years
of service with the Sheriff s Office and expressed thanks for a job well done.
4) Wright County Sheriffs Office updates/ O &A session
Sergeant Dave Anderson pointed out that there have been no business burglaries since
the Sheriff s Office took a certain person into custody. He said that crime in Monticello
has quieted down overall. There has been only one theft from a vehicle in the past few
weeks. He noted that Target stores are very effective and efficient at handling security
and pointed to a recent call during which squads were waiting for the career criminals
outside the store. He also mentioned that Walmart continues to report shoplifting but
indicated that these calls usually involve juveniles or folks struggling to make ends
meet. School Resource Officers have been sorting out car egging incidents.
Police Advisory Commission Minutes: 01/18/12
Sergeant Anderson provided a recap of a recent water rescue at Pelican Lake. He
reported that the stranded ice fisherman had used his cell phone to call for help when
the ice gave way. Sergeant Butch Darsow stayed in contact by phone at the edge of the
lake and provided calm directions as to the submerged ice house about 700 -900 feet
into the lake. Fire Department staff have been training for water rescues but were
challenged by thin ice, open water and darkness. Leila McCarty noted that the rescue
got good media coverage.
Chuck Fradella shared his concern that he sees many cars running the stop signs at the
intersections of School Boulevard and Cedar Street, and Cedar Street and Dundas Road.
Sergeant Dave Anderson noted that once the weather is warmer the Sheriff's Office
usually conducts saturations at TH 25 and Broadway or TH 25 and 7th Street. Sergeant
Anderson indicated that he would send Sergeant Butch Darsow, who handles most of the
traffic violation issues, an email noting Chuck's concerns.
Leila McCarty pointed out that she had recently attempted to visit the law enforcement
annex on 6th and Walnut Streets and found that there was no signage on the second floor
directing citizens to the Sheriff's Office. Sergeant Anderson indicated that the door is not
handicapped accessible or secure enough for the Sheriff's Office and needs to be
replaced. Signage will be added to the door at some time. Sergeant Anderson stated that
citizens don't usually come into the building. Leila McCarty suggested noting in the City
newsletter that citizens are free to stop in if there is a patrol car in the lot.
5) Update on 2012 Council appointments to Police Advisory Commission
Staff noted that City Council had approved the recommended appointments to the Police
Advisory Commission. Chuck Fradella had been reappointed for a three year term,
ending in December 2014. Brian Stumpf was approved as the City Council liaison and
Glen Posusta was approved as the alternate. Chuck Fradella pointed out that neither the
Council liaison or the Council alternate were in attendance tonight and asked if that
wasn't the purpose of having a Council alternate, to make sure one of them could be in
attendance at every meeting.
6) Consideration of surveillance equipment use in West Bridge Park.
Recently the City Council considered authorizing the purchase and installation of
portable surveillance cameras for use at various parks and other locations around the City
as needed. This included the installation of temporary camera mounts in West Bridge
Park. The item was tabled pending collection of Wright County Sheriff's Department
calls for service information. The hurry to install the cameras stemmed from previous
direction for staff to look at options for development of portable cameras primarily as a
result of continued vandalism occurring at the park. The additional time created by
Council tabling action afforded the Police Commission the opportunity to make a
recommendation on this topic to the City Council.
Police Advisory Commission Minutes: 01/18/12
The Police Advisory Commission had a broad discussion about the need for cameras, the
types of cameras most useful for City purposes, and the full cost of utilizing cameras and
wireless equipment. They briefly reviewed information and quotes submitted by the
City's IT consultant Doug Lyseng. Costs were estimated to run just less than $5,000. The
Commission also asked for Jason Roubinek's input on this topic as he has expertise in
telecommunications due to his profession. The commission agreed to recommend
obtaining a few more quotes for comparable equipment to ensure best pricing.
Sergeant Anderson clarified that dispatchers would not monitor cameras just as they do
not monitor alarms. (Park Superintendent Tom Pawelk screens alarm calls for the
Sheriff's Office. Bruce Westby said that he would let City Administrator Jeff O'Neill
know that alarms are screened by City staff) The Sheriff s Office would, however, find
the ability to portably record and review recordings useful in the event of an incident or a
rash of criminal activity. There was some discussion of utilizing phony cameras as a
deterrent to inappropriate activity in the parks, but it was noted that this has been tried in
the past and the law now requires that such cameras be signed.
Chuck Fradella suggested checking with the City of Big Lake as they have also dealt with
vandalism in parks and are considering installing cameras. Bruce Westby stated the City
of Buffalo utilizes several permanent cameras and one portable camera in various
locations and feel that it has been of benefit. Leila McCarty suggested finding out if
Buffalo's Police Department monitors its cameras, and likes Chuck's recommendation to
talk to Big Lake about what they plan to do.
The Police Advisory Commission came to a general consensus of support as to the use of
surveillance equipment in the parks. They discussed purchasing two cameras, and
recommended that one be portable. They suggested utilizing cameras that record in lieu
of those that provide live feed for continual monitoring. Bruce Westby agreed to contact
the cities of Big Lake and Buffalo to find out how each is handling this issue and to see
what the City of Monticello might be able to learn from them.
CHUCK FRADELLA MOVED TO RECOMMEND FURTHER RESEARCH BE
COMPLETED RELATED TO THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT AND
THAT QUOTES BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO PURCHASING ANY SURVEILLANCE
EQUIPMENT FOR WEST BRIDGE PARK. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY JASON
ROUBINEK. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
7) Discussion of added items.
a) West Bridge Park - Leila McCarty asked if it is okay for her neighbors to form a
neighborhood watch group to monitor activities in West Bridge Park. She noted
that there have been issues in West Bridge Park recently that have her neighbors
concerned. Sergeant Dave Anderson suggested that she contact Sergeant Brian
Johnson to discuss getting involved in the Neighborhood Watch program.
Police Advisory Commission Minutes: 01/18/12
Leila stressed the importance of having an ongoing relationship with the local
media, including the Monticello Times, and agreed to contact the local paper with
some community information.
Chuck Fradella requested that the City website be corrected throughout to replace the
phrase Wright County Sheriff's Department with Wright County Sheriff's Office. Bruce
Westby agreed to email all City staff asking that any such references be updated.
8) Schedule next meetin¢
The next regular Police Advisory Commission meeting was scheduled for Wednesday,
April 18, 2012 at 7 PM.
9) Adjournment
CHUCK FRADELLA MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:06 PM. MOTION WAS
SECONDED BY LEILA MCCARTY. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Bum
Approved: April 18, 2012
Attest: ZA �_ 1 • . -
Bruce Westby, City Engineer