HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-2022 Personnel & Finance.._ 1865
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
D AWN M.JONES, C tTY CLERK
PERSONNEL AND FINANCE
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Others Present:
Presenters:
Agenda:
-------======--------===----
AUGUST 24, 2022, 5:00 P.M.
Sheila Niezgodski, Eli Wax, Rachel Tomas Morgan
Troy Warner, Henry Davis Jr. Aaron Steiner
Dawn Jones*, Victoria Trujillo*, Justin LePla, Bob
Palmer*, Nick Hamann*, Ken Glowacki*, Shayla
Kimbrough*
Carl Buchanon, Scott Ruszkowski, Tim Lancaster,
Ken Goecki
2023 Fire Department Budget Presentation
Council Questions and Feedback on Proposed 2023
Fire Department Budget
Public Input on Proposed 2023 Fire Department
Budget
2023 Police Department Budget Presentation
Council Questions and Feedback on Proposed 2023
Police Department Budget
Public Input on Proposed 2023 Police Department
Budget
Members marked with an asterisk (*) are present digitally
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=O&mediaid=381543
Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Budget meeting at 5:00 p.m.
2023 Fire Department Budget Presentation
Carl Buchanon, South Bend Fire Department Chief, 1222 S. Michigan Street, stated the 2023
department goals and strategic initiatives focus on recruitment, retention, and community. The
application process has been streamlined. The department is maintaining a strong presence at
recruiting events and job fairs. It is implementing a lateral hiring process for quicker onboarding
of qualified firefighters. The internship program is leveraging the CTE program and retaining
talented youth. Competitive wages and a pension base are being offered to employees. The
department is undergoing rank restructuring to clear the path to develop and encourage firefighters
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227W. Jefferson Bvld South Bend. lndiana46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.2355567 www.southbendin.gov
CIT Y O F SOUTH BEi\'D OFF ICE OF THE CLERK
to be company officers. The community paramedic program and community risk reduction
activities have been a success.
Carl Buchanon reviewed the revenue and financial statements from 2019 to 2022 and the
projections for 2023. Sources of revenue include the 2020 COVID-19 grants, EMS Services-City
runs, County payments for service, Medicaid reimbursement and event coverage, and all other-
interest earnings, licenses, and pennits. Carl Buchanon reviewed the 2023 budget overview. The
fire pension costs four point six ($4,600,000) million dollars. Maintenance and debt service will
cost four point five ($4,500,000) million dollars to acquire and maintain buildings and major
equipment. Fire/EMS and all other costs to run the department are expected to total thirty-one
million three hundred thousand dollars ($31 ,300,000) million. Salary and wages will cover
expenses for two hundred and fifty-six (256) firefighters. There are seven (7) non-bargaining staff.
Firefighters in the second (2nd) year of their three-year (3) contract will receive a two-point five
percent (2.5%) raise. Carl Buchanon reviewed capital and maintenance costs, which will total one
million and seven hundred and thirty thousand ($1,730,000) dollars. Carl Buchanon presented the
equipment replacement schedule. Engines in service of twenty (20) plus years, ambulances in
service of fourteen ( I 4) years, and aerials in service of sixteen ( 16) years need to be replaced.
Council Questions and Feedback on Proposed 2023 Fire Department Budget
Committee Vice Chair Wax asked if there are incentives for lateral transfers.
Carl Buchanon confinned there are incentives in place, including incentives for individuals with
military experience and prior certifications.
Committee Member Rachel Tomas Morgan asked how many staff would qualify as a fully staffed
department.
Carl Buchanon reported that a minimum of sixty-six ( 66) staff per day would allow the department
to fulfill all services and challenges. A minimum of two hundred and fifty-six (256) staff in the
department would qualify as fully staffed.
Committee Member Davis Jr. suggested that there are overlaps and redundancies between
departments should be removed to free up more funding, and asked if flashing lights could be
installed on the streets to indicate that emergency vehicles are on their way.
Carl Buchanon reported that he would investigate the possibility.
Councilmember Hamman asked what the age of each fire engine 1s, and the standard life
expectancy is for that type of equipment.
Carl Buchanon confinned that the information can be provided.
Councilmember Hamman asked for confirmation of whether a decrease in maintenance costs is
projected.
Dan Parker reported that the 2022 budget included an aerial truck which is being replaced and has
led to the projection of a decrease in maintenance costs.
Councilmember Lee asked what is being done to ensure that the fire department is diverse and
suggested that the department should explore recruiting from Black colleges.
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Bvlcl South Bend. Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
2
CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Carl Buchanon reported that the department is collaborating with multiple entities including
African American and Hispanic organizations to increase diversity. He reported that there is a lack
of interest from certain communities as they do not feel like the job pays enough for what is
required.
Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski asked how many lieutenants the department is looking to
hire and whether there needs to be an amendment to the agreement between the administration
and fire department that was just ratified.
Carl Buchanon that the department has been in talks with the union. Only existing staff will be
awarded the new rank. The exact number is unclear now. Pay will remain the same for captains
that transition to lieutenants.
Public Input on Proposed 2023 Fire Department Budget
There were no questions from the public.
2023 Police Department Budget Presentation
Tim Lancaster reported that the 2023 department goals and strategic objectives are as follows:
• Increased personnel strength/recruiting
• RTCC (including analysts and associated technologies)
• Expand (via non-sworn) capacity and expertise areas within the crime lab
• Mobile crisis team
• Community resource officers
Ken Goecke reviewed the 2023 budget-baseline spending for the police department. The proposed
2023 budget-baseline spending totals forty-five million sixty-four thousand seven hundred and
fourteen dollars ($45 ,064,714). Police operations total thirty-four million one hundred thousand
($34,100,000) dollars. The PSAP is not charged to the police department. Maintenance and debt
service-purchasing, repair, and preventative maintenance total four point five ($4,500,000) million
dollars. The pension-cost of the old plan is six million ($6,000,000) dollars. Ken Goecke reviewed
the police operations breakdown which includes the costs of the crime lab. Salary and benefits
total thirty-one million ($31 ,000,000) dollars (ninety-one percent (91 %) of the total budget).
There are two hundred and forty (240) officers to be employed in 2023, with an increase of eight
(8) from 2022. Contract negotiations with the police union are underway for two percent (2%)
increase placeholder in the budget. Forty-two ( 42) non-bargaining staff are employed, representing
a three percent (3 %) increase.
The department is adding three (3) full-time employees to replace one position which was
transferred to the IT division. The three (3) positions include a senior analyst, an analyst-ii, and an
analyst-iii.
The department purchases thirty-four (34) vehicles a year which are used for seven (7) to eight (8)
years ( approximately one hundred thousand (100,000) miles) for a cost of one million eight
hundred and twenty-seven thousand five hundred ($1 ,827,500) dollars. Two (2) undercover cars
will cost fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars. A bomb bunker will cost seventy-five thousand
($75,000) dollars. Bomb suits total forty thousand ($40,000) dollars. The halogen system costs
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Bvld South Bend. Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
3
CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CL ERK
sixty thousand ($60,000) dollars. The total capital cost of 2023 is two million fifty-two thousand
five hundred ($2,052,500) dollars.
The 2023 projected revenue totals eight million four hundred and ninety-one thousand twenty
($8,491,020) dollars.
The SBPD Summer Prospect Days will be held on June 24 or July 16, 2023. The program helps
provide youth mentorship. The sports programs have made a positive impact on the community.
Three hundred thousand ($300,000) dollars are allocated towards mental health response.
Council Questions and Feedback on Proposed 2023 Police Department Budget
Committee Member Davis Jr. asked why substations are not being installed in high crime areas to
diffuse situations and build relationships with the community.
Tim Lancaster agreed that substations are a valuable resource and should be reexamined.
Committee Member Davis Jr. asked why there is no traffic division.
Tim Lancaster reported that a traffic division has been discussed, but due to funding and staff
numbers, the department is restricted to essentials.
Councilmember Hamann asked for clarification regarding the mental health crisis response center
not running at full speed.
Tim Lancaster reported that the physical center is not open yet, but there are two (2) staff who
currently respond to calls. Hours of operations are limited, and the phone line is only open from
8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. He confirmed that he will research the number of times the police
department has utilized the crisis response unit and provide that information to the Committee.
Committee Member Wax asked if there is a standard operating procedure or policy available to
the public which explains when and how systems are used in a manner that protects citizens civil
liberties.
Tim Lancaster reported that it is a delicate balance to maintain citizen safety and privacy. A draft
policy has been written. Systems and cameras would only be activated when a report of a crime
has been made.
Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked if the personnel numbers included in the budget is
considered adequate staffing for the full-time crime center.
Tim Lancaster reported that there are not enough staff for twenty-four/seven (24/7) hours. During
the night, the department will need to rely on the software. Full-time operations would require four
( 4) more Level one ( l) positions. The system will be cloud-based.
Public Input on Proposed 2023 Police Department Budget
Jordan Giger, 424-South Michigan Street, suggested that research shows that Project
Greenlight does not result in a reduction of crime and that the violence simply shifts to other
areas, and asked how the department can know that there is a correlation between the
reduction of crime and the project. He asked if there a reduction in crime is noticeable in areas
where police vehicles have been positioned.
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County City Building 227 W. Jefferson Bvlcl South Bend. Indiana 46601 .p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
4
CITY OF SOUTH BEN D OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Tim Lancaster reported that the infonnation regarding Project Greenlight came from the Detroit
assistant chiefs and that the biggest metric they saw was that car jackings were reduced, city-wide,
by sixty percent (60%). He confinned that whether the crime is being displaced is an important
item to look at and that the department will track this metric. The deterrence vehicles have received
mixed results, and the department is exploring alternative technologies.
Katherine Redding, 1134 Lemarc Terrace, expressed concerns with the vetting and hiring
processes for new police officers only taking a day and asked if there is a training structure for
new officers. She suggested that community input should be collected for the crisis response team.
Tim Lancaster reported that the physical agility tests and written tests have been condensed into
one ( 1) day. The psychological exams and lie detector tests are scheduled later. Officers are put
through robust de-escalation training through POLIS. The department is looking into secondary
(2 nd) de-escalation training as well. All officers are mandated to take the de-escalation training.
The mayor is scheduling a community access group to discuss the crisis response unit.
With no further business, Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski adjourned the Budget meeting at
7:28 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski
NOTICE FOR IIEAIUNG ANO SIGHT li\lPAIRED Pf.RSONS
Auxiliary Ai1I or Other Services may he Availahk upon Request at No Chari.:c.
Please l!,ivc flcasonablc ,\rlvancc Rcqul'sl when Possible
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Bvld South Bend. Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.2355567 www.southbendin.gov
5