06-09-08 Health and Puble Safety Meeting Minutes

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HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY JUNE 9, 2008 Committee Members Present: Councilmember Karen White, Chairperson, Councilmember Ann Puzzello, Councilmember Henry Davis, Councilmember Derek Dieter, Donald Brubaker, Citizen Member, Pam Brunette, Citizen Member. Other Councilmember's Present: Tim Rouse, David Varner, Tom LaFountain, Oliver Davis. Others Present: Mayor Stephen Luecke, Tom Bodnar, Catherine Toppel, Ann-Carol Nash, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, John Voorde BILL NO.26-08 -FIREARMS Councilmember Karen White, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 4: 05 p.m. She called upon Deputy City Attorney Tom Bodnar to outline the purpose and intent of the biH. Mr. Bodnar explained the main purpose of the bill was to provide a level of security and peace of mind for City employees and members of the general public by restricting the possession of firearms on city property. Specifically, Mr. Bodnar said the city had the authority to restrict firearms 1.) on its own property 2.) within 200' of a school or 3.) in the event of a declared emergency for a period up to 72 hours. Passage of the bill would help employees outside of the County-City Building and give the same protection as those in the building. Lengthy discussion ensued. Councilmember Puzzello asked in Century Center was included. Mr. Bodnar answered yes. Councilmember Dieter asked if the ban included Parks. Mr. Bodnar answered yes. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand suggested notice signs should be posed in Spanish as well as English. Councilmember Varner noted signs would have to be posed everywhere to meet notification requirements. Mayor Stephen Luecke said city employees need to be secure. Councilmember Puzzello said employees would need incident raining. Catherine Toppel, Director, Code Enforcement rose to support the ban of firearms in the workplace. Ann-Carol Nash, citing problems at O'Brien Center supported the bill as well. Councilmember Karen White recognizing the multitude of questions raised including the amount of the fine, a concern of Councilmember Dieter, and others made some final observations. She along with Council President Timothy Rouse expressed strong support for the safety of city employees but felt pivotal questions concerning effective implementation needed to be answered. In hopes these answers and any accommodations necessary could be resolved by the 7:00 meeting she called for a motion. Councilmember Puzzello made a motion to continue this bill until June 23, 2008. Donald Brubaker, Citizen Member seconded the motion, which carried. UPDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT -HAND HELD DEVICES Catherine Toppel, Director, Department of Code Enforcement gave an update on the policy developed for use of hand-held devices by the inspectors in her department. Essentially any IRS regulations considering such devices as compensation or those requiring extensive use documentation can be circumvented. By simply restricting these devices to business only use the IRS concerns would be allayed. Citizen Member Don Brubaker asked if these field devices were used by Animal Control. Catherine Topped said the software and data base required for their use was not available. She added some progress along these lines was being made and applications were being monitored. Chairperson Karen White urged Catherine Toppel to stay on top of developments. There being no further business to come before the committee at this time, Chairperson Karen White adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, G~~t~~ -~~Ce~l~ Karen L. White, Chairperson Health and Public Safety Committee