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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-1988 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES August 22, 1988 7:30 PM Medina City Hall 501 Evergreen'Point Rd. CALL TO ORDER: The special meeting of the Medina City Council was called to order at 7:30 PM by Mayor Vall- Spinosa. The meeting was tape recorded. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Ellis, Goldstein, King, Messmer, Mathewson, Reagan and Mayor Vall-Spinosa Staff Present: City Manager Dodge, City Clerk Davis, Director of Public Safety Anglin, and City Attorney Wines DISCUSSION Police Department Evaluation by the Delaine Group Mayor Vall-Spinosa gave an overall review of the Study. He then asked the City Manager to give a little history on why the report was initiated. The City Manager stated there were problems in the Police Department which were effecting its efficiency. It had become serious enough to have a consultant come in and evaluate the department. The Delaine Group, State and Local Government Law Enforcement Consultants, was highly recommended. After spending three weeks interviewing the personnelAin the department, the Study was written up and presented to the City Manager. The City Manager then introduced Neil Maloney, who was representing the Delaine Group, and asked him if he would give the Council his qualifications before going into the Study. Mr. Maloney gave a run down on his qualifications and education as well as on the other members of the Team: Clayton Bean and Ray Garza. Mr. Maloney stated the Study included a review of the organizational structure, management procedures and the evaluation of personnel practices including scheduling training and operation of the reserve program. He expressed the appreciation of the Team to the personnel of the Department for their cooperation during the Study. They found there has not been any long range goals recorded. There is a lack of direction and supervision that exists in the leadership of the Department. He also voiced a concern about the reserve officers working shifts without supervision. He then reviewed the chapters of the Study and pointed out the Department's weak areas and made'recommendations for correcting them. He stated, due to the organizational structure and size of the Department, the Team recommended reverting back to a Chief of Police position, with the Chief working in the field one-third of the time. The evaluation of the officers and their capabilities was done through observation during their shifts. He found the officers worked well with Clyde Hill and other agencies. He also stated there were morale problems and personality conflicts. The officers are all qualified to perform their duties and carry out their responsibilities. Medina City Council Special Minutes August 22, 1988 Page 2 Mr. Maloney also recommended complete goals and objectives be developed, and continuous training of the officers. He recommended the consolidation and pooling of polico services between Clyde Hill and Medina. Mayor Vall-Spinosa then asked Director of Public Safety Anglin if he would like to comment on the Study. James Kennedy, Anglin's attorney, answered on his behalf. Kennedy stated that while Anglin was acting manager, he was made Director of Public Safety because of his outstanding service and loyalty to the City. He read a memo, dated July 29, 1987, from the City Manager to that effect. Kennedy stated t-lvi--,"Mayor had approached Anglin to stay on as Director of Public Safety in appreciation of his 21 years of service. The Mayor then opened the meeting for audience comments. The following citizens voiced their concerns. Herb Lyon, 8645 NE 7th Street, stated he was concerned about the morale of the officers and their conflicting loyalties. Erselle Eade, newly elected Mayor of Hunts Point, spoke on behalf of former Mayor Barton. She stated that with a few exceptions, the town of Hunts Point has been pleased with the way Medina Police have responded to their needs. The following spoke highly of Anglin and felt he should stay on in his present capacity: Burton Green, 1200 Evergreen Point Rd., Jerry Keil, 7735 Overlake Dr. W., Robert Kaufman, 1306 Evergreen Point Road, Steve Marglin, 2623 Evergreen Point Rd., Dale Dier, 1605 73rd Ave. NE, Fred Pneuman, 2616 79th NE, Susan and Mack Richey, 3616 Evergreen Point Rd., Alice Hall, 620 Evergreen Point Rd., Suzanne Hutchinson, 3311 Evergreen Point Rd., Gerard Kern, 2402 80th NE, Don Reed, 8581 Hunts Point Rd., Karen Guthrie, 1040 Evergreen Point Rd., Ken Kingman, former reserve officer. They also were in agreement that the communication between the City and the residents could be improved. They wanted to know why the newspaper reporter had the news before they (residents) did. The following supported the report, agreeing that the morale in the police department is a very serious problem and should be dealt with soon: Karen Jarvis, 7617 NE 10th, Mike Moran, 7600 NE 16th, Mary Walder, 2038 78th NE. Zenta Gerber,* 8418 Overlake Dr. W. spoke in disapproval of the Director of Public Safety in the way he handled a problem she had. A 10 minute recess was called by the mayor. When the meeting resumed, no more public comment was allowed. In answer to the audience's comments on the newspaper having information before the residents'were informed, the City Manager stated Mr. Maloney had gone to the newspaper library in research for past publications on the Department. That is when the reporter asked him for a copy of the Study when it was completed. At the request of the audience, Mayor Vall-Spinosa asked the City Manager to have more copies of the Study available for the public. After a lengthy discussion, the Council agreed to have an executive session before the regular September 12th Council meeting at 6:30 PM. Medina City Council Special Minutes August 22, 1988 Page 3 The consensus of the Council felt the seriousness, of this as situation should be dealt with as soon possible.' The Mayor requested the City Manager have an ordinance,gchanging ''�✓��L from Director of Public Safety to Chief of Police which will r enable the Chief more time for day to day police functions. Adjournment Reagan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 PM, seconded by Mathewson, carried unanimously. r 1 Mayor Pete Vall-Spinosai, arg ret R. Davis, City Clerk