Police Advisory Commission Agenda 10-21-2008AGENDA
MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 7 p.m.
1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of minutes of April 23, 2008 Police Advisory Commission meeting.
Approval of minutes of July 22, 2008 Police Advisory Commission meeting.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
4. Wright County Sheriff s Department updates / Q&A session.
5. Consideration of increasing patrol time at Sunset Ponds park property.
6. Consideration of increasing patrol time at School Boulevard and Redford Lane.
7. Update on relocation of Sheriff's Office from City Hall to Fire Station.
8. Update on River Street access closures to TH 25.
9. Discussion of added items.
10. Schedule next Police Advisory Committee meeting.
11. Adjourn.
MINUTES
MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 7 p.m.
Members Present: Brad Fyle, Dick Slais, Tom Perrault, and Jim Roberts (7:45 pm)
Members Absent: Dave Gerads
Others Present: Lt. Dan Anselment and Sgt. Dave Anderson - Wright County Sheriff's
Department
Bruce Westby - City Engineer
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. A quorum was present.
2. Approve minutes of October 17. 2007 Police Commission meeting.
BRAD FYLE MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 23, 2008
POLICE COMMISSION MEETING AS WRITTEN. TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
The following item was added to the agenda:
• Commissioner Slais — No -Parking signs on West River Street.
4. Wright Countv Sheriffs Department updates / O&A session.
Lieutenant Anselment updated the Commission on several items including:
• The additional 4 hours per day requested by the City will occur from either 2 to 6 pm or 6
to 10 pm weekdays, depending on available staff.
• The Wright County Sheriff's Department is now operating at full force with 84 officers,
of which 22 were hired in 2007.
• The Sheriff s Department is keeping a close eye on all cities in Wright County due to the
recent newspaper articles telling of high number of foreclosed (vacant) homes. However,
foreclosures are still less prevalent in Monticello than in Otsego, Saint Michael and
Albertville and they have noted no real problems with home break-ins yet in Monticello.
• Theft of catalytic converters and copper wire is on the rise since these can easily be
removed from cars, power poles, irrigation systems, etc and scrapped for money. They
have noticed that thieves that were previously scrapping these materials in Anoka County
are now coming to Wright County to scrap them since they ran out of scrap yards in
Anoka County after being checked following numerous visits in short time spans.
• Implemented a new Traffic Division to work the problem areas in the City such as
Broadway (CSAH 75). Last year 88 tickets were issued to date, but about 150 tickets
have been issued this year to date. Of those about 90% are moving violations. Will
typically issue a warning first. Less than half are actually getting tagged with tickets. In
some instances recurring violators are required to attend a two-hour class.
• Deputies are now being told to reduce idling to conserve on gas.
Police Commission Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2008
Page 2
• Gas drive -off s are on the rise again with rising gas prices.
• Deputies only engaged in 6 high-speed pursuits last year.
NO FORMAL ACTION REQUIRED/TAKEN.
5. Consideration of adopting Mission Statement for the Police Advisory Commission.,
Development of a Mission Statement was discussed. Examples from other Commissions were
reviewed including the Monticello Parks Commission, Calgary Police Commission, New Paltz
Police Commission, Medicine Hat Police Commission, Edmonton Police Commission, City of
Zion Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Commission, and the City of Spokane Police Advisory
Commission.
Commissioner Fyle felt that a mission statement is not necessary, but that if one is to be adopted
it should be simple like the Edmonton Police Commission's mission statement.
Commissioner Perrault prepared a draft mission statement which he brought along and read out
loud.
Commissioner Slais agreed with Commissioner Fyle in that any mission statement adopted by
the Commission should be kept simple.
Commissioner Roberts supports the adoption of a mission statement and likes Edmonton's and
Calgary's the best.
The consensus of the Police Advisory Commission was that this was a good idea, but everyone
wanted more time again to digest the information presented. Ideas will be brought back to the
next meeting for further discussion.
BRAD FYLE MOTIONED TO APPROVE ALTERNATIVE ACTION #2. TOM PERRAULT
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. Consideration of recommending adoption of Outstanding Citizen Recognition Award.
Development of Outstanding Citizen Recognition Award was discussed. Commissioner Slais
likes the concept and feels the City should adopt such an award. Commissioner Fyle agreed and
feels one award should be issued per year. Sergeant Anderson presented Directive G300 to the
Commission, which is the Awards and Recognition program used by the Wright County Sheriff s
Office.
The consensus of the Police Advisory Commission was that a nomination form should be added
to the City's web site for people to use to nominate recipients. It was also agreed upon that the
award should be presented to the recipient by the Police Advisory Commission at a City Council
meeting, and that the award should be a framed certificate signed by the Mayor, the Chair of the
Police Advisory Commission and the Wright County Sheriff.
Police Commission Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2008
Page 3
The Commission also recommended that the City budget $300 per year for the award.
NO FORMAL MOTION WAS MADE.
7. Discussion of added items.
No Parking signs on West River Street: Commissioner Slais feels additional No -Parking signs
are needed along West River Street and requested that City staff review the corridor and add
signs as needed. Also include Hillcrest Road and Hilltop Drive in review area. Bruce Westby
will discuss this with Tom Moores, Street Superintendent, and add signs as needed.
8. Adiourn.
MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN BY TOM PERRAULT AND SECONDED BY DICK
SLAIS. MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AT 8:18 P.M.
Following adjournment the next meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2008. The
meeting day was changed from Wednesday to Tuesday to accommodate Commissioner Robert's
new work schedule.
Bruce Westby, City Engineer
Recording Secretary
MINUTES
MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 7 p.m.
Members Present: Brad Fyle (arr. 7:49 pm), Dick Slais and Tom Perrault
Members Absent: Dave Gerads and Jim Roberts
Others Present: Lt. Dan Anselment and Sgt. Dave Anderson - Wright County Sheriff's
Department
Brian Stumpf - City Councilmember
Cathy Shuman — Program and Project Coordinator
Patty Salzwedel — Animal Control Officer
Bruce Westby - City Engineer
1.
2.
3.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m. It was noted that a quorum was not present.
However, Commissioner Fyle arrived at 7:49 pm resulting in a quorum.
Approve minutes of April 23. 2008 Police Commission meeting.
BRAD FYLE MOTIONED TO TABLE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 23, 2008 POLICE
ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING AS WRITTEN, PENDING VERIFICATION THAT A
MISSION STATEMENT HAD BEEN APPROVED. TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
The following item was added to the agenda:
• Commissioner Slais — No -Parking signs on West River Street; still spaced too far apart.
• Commissioner Perrault — National Night Out
4. Wright Countv Sheriffs Department updates / O&A session.
Lieutenant Anselment updated the Commission on several items including:
• Third-quarter statistics were not available yet.
• A total of 221 traffic violation citations issued last quarter.
• No new criminal trends were detected.
• A couple of bulk fuel tanks on farms were siphoned.
• Gas station drive -offs are still occurring, but not as often as neighboring communities.
• Catalytic converter thefts are still on the rise.
• The pawn shop is maintaining compliance.
Additional answers to individual questions included:
• If the City receives complaints about vehicles are blocking intersections these should be
forwarded to Sgt. Anderson. If the license plate number is known please include this
information as well so a courtesy visit can be made.
Police Commission Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2008
Page 2
• There is no law against the use of horse-drawn carriages on County Roads in City limits.
Use of a slow-moving vehicle sign is encouraged.
NO FORMAL ACTION REQUIRED/TAKEN.
5. Consideration of dog complaint issues in Citv of Monticello.
Cathy Shuman, the City's Program and Project Coordinator, and Patty Salzwedel, the City's
contracted Animal Control Officer, presented various animal control issues to the Police
Advisory Commission for information and discussion. Three handouts were distributed to the
Commission members including a three-page list of animal control issues, a one-page memo on
after -hour procedures, and a copy of City Ordinance Title 6, Chapter 2, Dogs and Other
Domestic Animals. Specifics of the discussion were as follows:
• Patty's normal working hours are 8 am - 5 pm, Monday — Friday. She should be the
contact for animal control calls between those hours. Patty is also on-call on Saturday
and Sunday, though she can't guarantee she will always be available.
• Wright County Sheriff's Office should be contacted for all animal control calls between 5
pm and 8 am. They will also assist Patty as needed during the day.
• Nuisance and running at large calls account for about 75% of all animal control calls.
• Wright County Sheriff's Deputies can't do anything to silence barking dogs ... there is no
"doggie jail". Sheriff's Deputies typically respond to barking dog calls by parking and
listening. If no barking is heard and they don't know who to contact they have no choice
but to leave the scene. Lt. Anselment recounted a barking dog incident in which a deaf
couple owned a dog that barked excessively, of which they were not aware. A bark -collar
was used to remedy this situation.
• Wright County is considering instituting an Animal Control division, but this is just in the
discussion stage at present.
• Lt. Anselment is hopeful that the City can better enforce its animal control ordinance in
the future.
• Patty noted that the Wright County Sheriff's Office dispatch sometimes doesn't pass dog
complaints on to Deputies. Lt. Anselment agreed that dispatch should pass these calls on
to a Deputy to handle the call.
• The Wright County Sheriff's Office has not noticed any particular animal control
complaint hot -spots in the City. Patty thinks the Sunset Ponds townhome area is one of
the worst areas for animal control complaints in the City.
Gaps in service were discussed as follows:
• Regarding transporting animals to the animal shelter, Lt. Anselment said Sheriff s
Deputies are not supposed to handle this duty but they often do. Wright County does not
train its Deputies to do this. Sgt. Anderson does not believe Deputies can be appointed as
Animal Wardens.
• Wright County Sheriff s Deputies do not tranquilize animals. Patty does provide this
service, however at a low dosage due to the liability associated with accidentally killing
an animal due to a tranquilizer overdose. As such it can take up to two -hours for an
animal to succumb enough to the tranquilizer to be caught.
Police Commission Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2008
Page 3
• Sgt. Anderson recommended meeting for an hour next week to address stop -gap measures
and communication issues.
City Councilmember Brian Stumpf was in attendance and provided the following comments on
this issue. Councilmember Stumpf felt that Patty may need assistance. If so, this should be
brought to the Council's attention. He also recounted a recent experience he had with two dogs
that were in a vehicle he needed to tow. He had no direction on who to contact to bring the
animals to the dog shelter so he did it himself. If the City is going to run the animal shelter we
should have plans in place to address such instances.
NO FORMAL ACTION REQUIRED/TAKEN.
6. Consideration of billing amount for false emergencv alarm calls.
City Councilmember Brian Stumpf addressed the Commission. He feels there are significant
differences between the false alarm calls that the fire department responds to and the false alarm
calls that the Sheriff's Department responds to. Councilmember Stumpf noted that false alarm
calls in relation to security systems may not actually be due to false alarms. Some of the calls
may be due to operator error, in which case the alarm system was working fine but the operator
made a mistake. Councilmember Stumpf therefore feels that it may be hard to accurately
categorize which false alarm calls as due to faulty alarm systems and which are due to operator
error. He also feels that City staff has better things to do than to review alarm call records to
determine which calls were likely false alarms and which calls may have been warranted.
Lieutenant Anselment reported that false alarm calls are on the rise, however technology is
getting better and better so the number of false alarm calls are not increasing at the same rate. In
addition, he said that the Sheriff s Department sometimes quits responding to certain residences
and/or businesses when they receive multiple calls in a short period of time. Only after the fault
has been fixed will they then start responding to their calls again.
Cathy Shuman mentioned that she thinks that the City does not have a current ordinance that
addresses fees for false fire alarm calls, nor is there one for vehicular accident calls.
BRAD FYLE MOTIONED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY
NOT CHARGE FOR FALSE ALARM CALLS. DICK SLAIS SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
7. Consideration of adopting Mission Statement for the Police Advisory Commission.
Commissioner Perrault felt that a mission statement had already been approved by the Police
Advisory Commission at the previous meeting and recommended tabling this item until this
could be determined.
TOM PERRAULT MOTIONED TO TABLE THIS ITEM. DICK SLAIS SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Police Commission Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2008
Page 4
8. Consideration of recommending adoption of Outstanding Citizen Recognition Award.
Development of an Outstanding Citizen Recognition Award was discussed at previous meetings
however, no formal motion was ever made. The previous consensus of the Police Advisory
Commission was that a nomination form should be added to the City's web site for people to use
to nominate recipients on-line, and that one award should be handed out per year. It was also
agreed that the award should be a framed certificate signed by the Mayor, the Chair of the Police
Advisory Commission and the Wright County Sheriff , and that it should be presented to the
recipient by the Police Advisory Commission at a City Council meeting. The Commission also
recommended that the City budget $300 per year for the award.
BRAD FYLE MOTIONED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY
ADOPT THE OUTSTANDING CITIZEN RECOGNITION AWARD PROGRAM AS
DEVELOPED BY THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION. DICK SLAIS SECONDED
THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Update on River Street access closures to TH 25.
Bruce Westby updated the Commission on the status of the River Street closure pilot project.
10. Discussion of added items.
No Parking signs on West River Street: Commissioner Slais still feels additional No -Parking
signs are needed along West River Street and requested that City staff review the corridor and
add signs as needed. Bruce Westby will work with Tom Moores, Street Superintendent, and add
more signs as needed.
National Night Out: Commissioner Perrault informed Commission members that National
Night Out will be observed on August 5, 2008, and that a resident on Farmstead Avenue will be
hosting a block party.
11. Adiourn.
MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN BY DICK SLAIS AND SECONDED BY BRAD
FYLE. MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AT 9:38 P.M.
Following adjournment the next meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2008.
Bruce Westby, City Engineer
Recording Secretary
Police Advisory Commission Agenda: 10/21/08
4. Wright Countv Sheriffs Department updates / O&A session.
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
Representatives from the Wright County Sheriff's Department will update the Police
Advisory Commission on recent issues affecting the City of Monticello, and will respond to
questions and concerns from Commission members.
B. SUPPORTING DATA:
None.
Police Advisory Commission Agenda: 10121108
5. Consideration of inereasin2 patrol time at Sunset Ponds park property. (TP)
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
On September 8, 2008 the City Council discussed reports of questionable activities occurring
in the park at Sunset Ponds, especially after-hours, and suggested that extra patrol time may
be warranted in the park to curtail any suspicious activities. The Council therefore asked that
this subject be discussed at the next Police advisory Commission meeting and that the results
of the discussion be relayed to the City Council, especially in terms of any recommendations
or motions that are made.
Discussion items include:
• Has the Wright County Sheriff s Office received calls recently regarding suspicious
activities in the park, and if so what was observed?
• If extra patrol time for the park is being advised, in what area can patrol time be
reduced?
• Are there other options that the City Council should consider to discourage suspicious
activities in the park such as better lighting?
B. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
1. Motion to advise City Council to increase patrol time at Sunset Ponds park property.
2. Motion to advise City Council to leave patrol time as is.
3. Motion of other.
C. SUPPORTING DATA:
None.
Police Advisory Commission Agenda: 10121108
6. Consideration of increasing patrol time at School Boulevard and Redford Lane. (JR)
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
Jim Roberts has received reports of juveniles loitering in the cul-de-sac at the intersection of
School Boulevard and Redford Lane, and would like to discuss the potential for increasing
patrol time at this location.
Discussion items include:
• Has the Wright County Sheriff s Office received calls recently regarding juveniles
loitering in the cul-de-sac, and if so what was observed?
• If extra patrol time for the cul-de-sac is being advised, in what area can patrol time be
reduced?
• Are there other options that the City Council should consider to discourage loitering
in the cul-de-sac such as better lighting?
B. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
1. Motion to advise City Council to increase patrol time at School Boulevard and Redford
Lane.
2. Motion to advise City Council to leave patrol time as is.
3. Motion of other.
C. SUPPORTING DATA:
None.
Police Advisory Commission Agenda: 10/21/08
7. Update on relocation of Sheriffs Office from Citv Hall to Fire Station. (WCSD)
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
The Wright County Sheriff s Office will update the Police Advisory Commission on efforts
to relocate the local Wright County Sheriff s Office from City Hall to the Fire Station.
B. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
None required.
C. SUPPORTING DATA:
None.
Police Advisory Commission Agenda: 10/21108
8. Update on River Street access closures to TH 25. (BW)
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
Access to TH 25 from East and West River Streets was closed on the morning of July 14,
2008 immediately following the morning rush hour. This 60 -day access closure pilot project
was ordered by the City Council for two reasons. The first was to address concerns from
residents along East and West River Streets regarding increasing traffic volumes and speeds
due to cut -through commuter traffic. The second reason was to try to determine if the signal
system at TH 25 and River Street was increasing congestion on TH 25.
On September 22, 2008 City staff presented information to the City Council regarding the
results of the pilot project. Traffic data that had been gathered before and during the pilot
project indicated that traffic volumes decreased by 85% on East and West River Streets,
while average vehicle speeds decreased by almost 5 mph. In addition, congestion and delays
on TH 25 decreased slightly, however congestion and delays on CSAH 75 increased due to
the additional traffic that shifted from East and West River Streets to CSAH 75.
Comments were received during the pilot project from area residents and businesses. For the
most part, residents along East and West River Streets supported the project while many of
the local business owners voiced their displeasure with the project noting a drop in business
due to decreased accessibility. The City therefore met with a representative of the local
businesses and developed plans to institute a second pilot project to allow for some access at
the intersection of River Street and TH 25 to increase business accessibility. These plans
were presented to Mn/DOT for approval but they modified the plans to address some snow
plowing concerns. Mn/DOT's approved plan was then presented to the City Council at a
workshop on October 13, 2008. Following a great deal of discussion and additional input
from residents and business owners, the Council modified the Mn/DOT approved plan. The
Council approved plan was then sent to Mn/DOT for approval but as of the time this report
was written no comments had been received.
If another pilot project is approved by Council it will again run for 60 -days, during which
more traffic data will be gathered to determine what effects this latest project had on traffic
volumes and speeds on River Street, and whether it helped alleviate congestion along TH 25.
Should the Council ever decide to permanently turn off power to the signal system, the City
will need to work with Mn/DOT and Wright County to address their concerns.
B. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
This item is for information only.
C. SUPPORTING DATA:
Current City Council approved access closure plan.
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