HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-04-13 Health & Public Safety HEALTH&PUBLIC SAFETY February 4, 2013
4:00 p.m.
Committee Members Present: Karen White, Dr. David Varner, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Tim Scott
Other Council Present: Henry Davis, Gavin Ferlic, Derek Dieter
Others Present: Chief Teachman, SBPD, Mike Schmuhl
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Health & Public Safety Committee Chair Karen White opened the committee organizational meeting
promptly at 4:00 with full committee present. Karen's opening remarks emphasized the importance of
quality of life issues, a long-standing focus of her Council work. Karen's intent in setting this meeting was
to review the 2012 annual committee report, and set some goals and objectives for 2013 incorporating
input from fellow councilmembers and the public.
Before moving into the agenda items Karen asked the Mayor's Chief of Staff to introduce the new Police
Chief Ron Teachman. Given a few minutes to address the Council the Chief said he was about the
process of listening to the Council to see the City through their eyes. He hoped to get to know each
councilmember, tour their districts, hear their concerns and mutually establish priorities for the police
department.
Next, Karen asked Dr. Fred Ferlic to review the committee's annual report. (A copy is on file in the Office
of the City Clerk) As chair of the committee in 2012, Dr. Ferlic noted the committee met 20 times tackling
a wide range of quality of life issues. Of particular emphasis were efforts to address the vacant and
abandoned house problems with the Mayor's task force addressing the problem. One specific problem
was the Council's work on the problematic Courtyard Apartments along with Councilmember Tim Scott;
Dr. Ferlic described an apartment complex that had 3 calls for service a day from the police department.
Out of state ownership of the apartment complex, since gone into bankruptcy, was too far removed to
effectively address the problems. Working with newly court appointment management calls have been
reduced to one per day. Problem tenants have been evicted and the Council has begun work on a
"nuisance ordinance"to address similar problems.
Karen shifted discussion of issues the committee would focus on in 2013. Starting with the Police
Department. Henry Davis said an overriding issue is allocation of police resources. He maintained that a
core issue is the need for greater police visibility in neighborhoods. Karen followed saying five police
issues were listed in feedback from the Council. There were questions about"beat"staffing, downtown
patrols, technology needs, downtown sector coverage and the possible re-establishment of a traffic
division.
Karen said there were few suggestions for fire; but Henry suggested the firefighter's entry age be lowered
to 18 from 21. Though this would require a change in state law, maybe a cadet or internship program
could be started here.
The Neighborhood Code Enforcement Department drew a greater number of concerns. Karen focused
on the imperative for a clean city suggesting a collaborative review of Neighborhood Code Enforcement's
resources. Dr. Ferlic and Derek Dieter both commented on the need for more technology to limit paper
use and improve efficiency.
Asking for additional concerns Karen heard two from Council Attorney Kathy Cekanski-Farrand. First was
the apparent lack of enforcement to safeguard downtown areas. Secondly, she thought the Council
should be involved with the necessary insurance cost effects of Obamacare.
Finally, Karen reminded everyone to review citizen member applications with choices due by Wednesday,
February 13, 2013.
There being no further business to come before the committee at this time, Chairperson White adjourned
the meeting at 4:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Q-Rte
Karen L. White, Chairperson
Health & Public Safety Committee