04-23-01 Health & Public Safety and Personnel & Finance

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Health and Public Safety Committee April 23, 2001 Page 2 Chief Lopez also responded that the River Rescue Schools will be held on: June 4th---8th,2001 September 10th --14th,2001 as well as the last week in September. Participants come from Canada, Costa Rica, South American and throughout the United States. 200 were turned away last year; and over 100 have been turned away so far this year. Council Member Kelly noted that such schools provide a positive image of the great programs which our Fire Department has. The Fire Department's website has also gotten excellent reviews. Citizen Member Gonzalez inquired about providing extra classes in light of the demand. Chief Lopez stated that the week-long classes go from 6 am to 10:30 pm each day, and that to increase from three (3) schools per year to 4 to 5 schools per year would be extremely taxing on the instructors. Following discussion, Citizen Member Gonzalez made a motion, seconded by Council Member White that Bill No. 39-01 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Council Member Ujdak then called for presentation on Bill No. 01-41 which would appoint an Ujdak P PP'o advisory city negotiating team to represent the city administration and the Common Council for the Police Department negotiations. Thomas Bodnar, Deputy City Attorney made the presentation. He stated that he had telephone Council Member Ujdak earlier and advised him that he would be bringing a substitute bill for the Council's consideration (copy attached). Mr. Bodnar noted that the title of the Resolution would be amended by including the appointment of a negotiator, that John T. Neighbours as the negotiator would be added to Section I, that Section II is entirely new and that former Sections II and III would be renumbered. Mr. Bodnar stated that because the negotiating team does not operate in a democratic way since the Spokesperson does the majority of the talking, that he believes the amendments are necessary. Council President Pfeifer stated that regular meetings and updates must take place between the Council, the Board of Public Safety, the Police Administration and the City Administration in order for the negotiations to be successful. She inquired whether the resolution must be acted upon this evening. Mr. Bodnar stated that the City is already on a tight schedule and would need to compliment Mr. Neighbours schedule. Council Member Kirsits voiced concern about the proposed substitute resolution, noting that he has never met Mr. Neighbours and that the resolution appears to give far more authority to him than what may be necessary. He also noted that he hoped that the City Administration was not attempting to repeat the process which was in place in 1986 when an outside negotiator was hired and tension mounted resulting in very difficult labor negotiations.