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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_01/19/1994_Public Safety Committee F VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 -0273 • (407) 575 -6200 1 Fax: (407) 575 -6203 , o 6 4 f 'CH co U"4' V I L L A G E O F T E Q U E S T A P U B L I C S A F E T Y C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G M I N U T E S J A N U A R Y 1 9, 1 9 9 4 I. The Tequesta Public Safety Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall at 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, January 19, 1994. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Chairman Joseph N. Capretta, with Co- Chairman Ron T. Mackail in attendance. Also in attendance were Village Manager, Thomas G. Bradford; Village Clerk Joann Manganiello; Police Chief Carl Roderick; Fire Chief James Weinand; and Police Lieutenant Steve Allison. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as submitted. III. REVIEW OF PROPOSED POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRING CRITERIA Police Chief Roderick presented to the Committee a copy of a Memorandum from him to the Village Manager dated January 10, 1994, outlining hiring criteria for the Police Department. The criteria included: o Maintaining an eligibility list for the Reserve Program of no less than 15 persons; o Advertise a minimum of twice per year for applicants; o Applicants will be tested via the Tests of Adult Basic Education (T.A.B.E.) (a three -part test) as the first part of the process with a minimum score of 11.0 out of a possible 12.9 for each portion of the test, or an average of 11.5 for the entire test. o Physical agility standards and testing for new hires, to be intermittently tested throughout employment. Recycled Paper Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 2 ------------------------------- Upon passing'the tests, the candidate will be placed on the eligibility list, and the Police Department will contact each candidate at least once every two months to verify that the candidate is still available and interested. In order to fill an opening, the candidate will come before an Oral Review Board (not yet established). Thereafter, points are assigned to perspective employees for ranking same. IV. REVIEW OF PROPOSED POLICE DEPARTMENT OVERTIME POLICY. The Committee asked if a Reserve Officer can fulfill the same duties as a full -time officer. Chief Roderick explained that there will be two levels of Reserve Officers: 1) those who are still going through training; and 2) those who are fully trained with the same qualifications of a full -time officer. However, the Union contract states that the Village cannot alter work schedules solely to circumvent overtime. Chief Roderick further explained that the Department now has proposed a policy which requires an Officer to have an 8 -hour break between a 12 -hour shift. This is consistent with other municipalities. Co- Chairman Mackail felt the Reserve Officer Program would create a depth to the Police Department which is greatly needed. Village Manager Bradford felt the answer would be to dove- tail the Reserve Program in a manner the Tequesta Fire Department does with its Volunteer Program: i.e., utilizing it as an enhancement to the minimum level of service so that the Reserve Officers come in at scheduled times, with minimum amounts of monthly service. Co- Chairman Mackail felt the Police Department should keep in mind the potential growth of Tequesta and the number of police officers it will need. Chairman Capretta felt the number of qualified persons on hand also needs to be considered for special events which take place in the Village, i.e., parades, etc., where coverage must be maintained on both sides of the Village. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 3 ------------------------------- It was the Committee's recommendation that the Police Department create a minimum amount of Reserve service to enhance the level of service during critical times, and to consider the enticement of compensation to encourage extra working hours. Lt. Allison felt that would be a good approach since it would allow the Reserve Officers, through working for the Village, to keep their certification active. Co- Chairman Mackail asked if there was any requirement for physical training for the officers. Chief Roderick answered that personal physical training is the responsibility of each individual, not the responsibility of the Department. Fire Chief Weinand stated that he expects his force to stay in the physical condition that was required of them to be hired. Village Manager Bradford informed the Committee that the current contract expires September 30, 1994; therefore, if the Village so desired, it would have to negotiate or mandate physical agility standards for current personnel. Chief Roderick stated that the physical agility standards he has outlined in his January 10 Hiring Criteria Memorandum will soon be mandated by the State of Florida, in addition to being Tequesta Police Department Policy. The Committee felt the Hiring Proposal was a good one and stressed that the Police Chief make maximum use of the Reserve Program, keeping the eligibility list active, etc. V. REVIEW AND DIRECTION RELATIVE TO PROPOSED PARADE AND SPECIAL EVENTS ORDINANCES Village Manager Bradford provided to the Committee a copy of a January 11 letter from the Village Attorney regarding the proposed Village of Tequesta Parade and Special Events Ordinance. Essentially all of the Public Safety Committee's suggestions for the Ordinance have been inserted, except for the following: Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 4 ------------------------------- o The Village Attorney cautioned the Committee regarding off -duty detail services of police and fire to be a requirement for the person applying, with the entity applying required to pay for those costs. It was Attorney Randolph's position that the Village may not always be successful in collecting those monies, since the issue could be interpreted as having a 'chilling' effect on certain Constitutionally protected rights which the public has as to the use of public property. o The Ordinance also provides the requirement for insurance coverage, naming the Village of Tequesta as an additionally insured in the amount of $1M; however, Attorney Randolph cautioned that this may not always be able to be enforced by the Village, since entities may not be able to pay, or that it also may have a chilling effect on Constitutional rights to public property. o A third issue was to try to accommodate the Jupiter Homecoming Parade, since that parade typically falls on a day different from that on which a parade would ordinarily be held (i.e., a Sunday, which would be the best day for commercial businesses) . The Homecoming Parade is usually on a Friday. Approving a parade on such a day as Friday could set a precedent. Chairman Capretta agreed that these issues could probably not survive a legal battle, but that it was necessary to have policies and rules which must be met and are clearly objective. Village Manager Bradford explained the requirement process of the Ordinance: o The application form would be handled by staff. If the applicant does not meet all the requirements, the request is denied. o The applicant may have the option of appealing to the Village Council. The Village Council will make the determination. The Committee agreed that that was the way they intended the Ordinance to work. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 5 ------------------------------- Two other items which were of concern to the Village Attorney were: 1. It was the Village Attorney's opinion that the current practice of the Village to regulate special events via the Zoning Ordinance, should only apply to special events on private property. 2. For special events on public property, it is the Attorney's opinion that the Village does need a separate Ordinance. Village Manager Bradford stated that today's Ordinance on special events on private property is rather vague, grants a lot of discretionary power to the Building Official, and really only limits activities to two per property per year. Chairman Capretta suggested that the Ordinance give the general criteria and rules for the Staff that the Village can live with, making sure the criteria is not subjective. Anything beyond that should come before the Village Council for determination. The Committee stated that the Ordinances drafted for Special Events on Public Property and the Parade Ordinance were fine as submitted but recommended that Staff go back to the Special Event portion of the Zoning Ordinance to make it more objective and with more regulations for private property. VI. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCILMEMBER COLLINGS' REQUEST TO AMEND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES TO ALLOW GREATER PUBLIC ACCESS TO POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES TO ENHANCE PUBLIC RELATIONS Village Manager Bradford explained that Councilmember Collings has suggested that a way be found to use the public relations benefits of the police cruisers, to allow key members of the public such as Crime Watch Captains, to get in or go for a ride, etc., in order to acquaint the public with the impressiveness of these vehicles. Chief Roderick reviewed the problems associated with members of the public riding in patrol cars.Chairman Capretta felt that exposing these vehicles to the public during a special public relations event, (i.e., Crime Watch Programs, etc.), where many people are present might be acceptable, but objected to carte blanche exposure to the public. Co- Chairman Mackail concurred. Village Manager Bradford agreed that public access to these vehicles may appear harmless, but in fact, could be problematic. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 6 ------------------------------- VII. ANY OTHER MATTERS o Village Manager Bradford stated that two Village Police Department Workmen's Comp cases are now coming to a close, and there could be legal activities involved because of the nature of what is going to happen. Police Chief Roderick explained that both officers are claiming on- the -job injuries, and both have been off work for nearly a year. Medical reports have been received to substantiate that neither officer is any longer capable of performing police duties. The only recourse the Tequesta Police Department has is to terminate both officers. Upon termination there could be a lawsuit. Chairman Capretta felt that if the Village is sued, it will take some time to do so. He felt there was not need for concern at the moment. B) Village Manager Bradford reported that he will be attending a meeting next week of residents of Country Club Drive. He asked if the Police Department is still doing traffic enforcement on Country Club Drive, and if so, would need an update. Mr. Bradford stated he felt uncomfortable with making a recommendation to such residents before the Village Council has had opportunity to critique the issue. Village Manager Bradford explained that the real concern in this whole issue is Palm Beach County. Since Palm Beach County desires to spread out the traffic of Long Shore Drive and Loxahatchee River Road, they may construe anything the Village does to Country Club Drive as an impediment to traffic flow. Chairman Capretta asked if the reduction of the right - of -way of Country Club Drive can be done without Palm Beach County's interference, and if so, can Palm Beach County then undo Tequesta's decision. Mr. Bradford answered that the State Department of Community Affairs can stop the Village from reducing the right -of -way, since, if reduced, it would create a new definition for an Urban Collector Road, which must meet State approval. However, if approved by the State, it would behoove Tequesta to grant 15 foot easements on each side of the road, rather than giving the land, since that approach is a more difficult one to overturn. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 1994 Page 7 ------------------------------- C) Chairman Capretta suggested that Mayor Mackail write a carefully structured letter to the Commission Chair of Martin County regarding the upcoming joint meeting of Tequesta and Martin County, stating that Tequesta will need a commitment at that meeting, at least in principle, that Martin County will share costs of: 1) Impact fees for all construction going on in southern Martin County; 2) Paving of Country Club Drive; and 3) Maintenance of Tequesta Park. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary ATTEST: J nn Manganie o Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: d1 /O