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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_01/25/1985_Public Safety Committee c �' `��� VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA ; , , Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Teq�esta Drive ' Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (407) 575-6200 ° - � ` Faac: (407) 575-6203 f "�L O 9 4 f+ �N CoUN VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUT�S JANUARY 25, 1995 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Public Safety Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, January 25, 1995. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 A.M. by Chairman Joseph Capretta. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were: Chairman Joseph Capretta. Co-Chairman Ron T. Mackail arrived at 8:35 A.M. Village Staff present were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford and Department Heads. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as submitted. III. REVIEW OF CRIME STATISTICS FOR 1992, 1993 AND 1994 Police Chief Roderick explained that crimes had been broken into categories for yearly comparison. The breakdown was as follows: Crimes Against Persons were broken into two sections, Battery and Assault. Battery crimes were listed as Simple, Aggravated, Sexual, and Spouse. Assault crimes were listed as 5imple and Aggravated. 5imple battery had been dramatically reduced since 1992, and the only increase was under aggravated battery. Crimes Against Property were divided into Burglary and Theft. Burglary crimes were listed as Auto, Business and Residence. Chief Roderick explained that as an example, seven cars had been entered in the Tequesta Country Club, with nothing taken in some, but each incident was reported, which increased the statistics. Since all the entered vehicles had been unlocked, ways to Kec�uclt�d Pnyer Public Safety Committee 1Keeting Minutes January 25, 1995 Page 2 encourage residents to keep their vehicles locked were discussed. Co-Chairman Mackail reparted that at a recent Municipal League meeting crime preventian measures had been discussed, and that Tequesta's location made it a prime area £or crime . Co-Chairman Macka�.l stated he believed that crime would increase as the area south af the Villa�ge became developed and that in his opinion, Tequesta only had two options to maintain the current low crime rate, which were to institute preventative programs and to increase police o�ficers' presenc8 in the community by having more of f icers on patrol . Chief Roderick commented that the Police Department had a crime prevention program currently i.n place and tried to meet a�t least once a year with every homeowners' association and more if tY�e association requested. Chairman Capretta suggested that police on bicycles go through an area during the evening, placing stickers on cars stating the car could have been robbed because it was unlocked. Co-Chairman Mackail suggested a five-year plan be utiiized using awareness, preventive programs, increased police presence, and continued communications to local homeowner associations to keep Tequesta a safe place to live. Theft crimes were listed as Auto, Grand, Petit, and Retail. Miscellaneous Crimes were shown as Narcotic, Intox, DUI, Forgery, and Fraud. Chief Roderick stated that considering the population of the Village as well as the transient population, the statistics were very qood, and that many of the thefts were not significant, for example, theft of a �prinkler head. Chairman Capretta commented that according to the data presented there had been no significant changes; that prevention seemed to be the answer to keeping the crime rate low; that he would like comparison of the number of crimes with Jupiter, and was informed that a publication from Tallahassee rated crimes per thousand so that crimes could be compared city to city. Chief Roderick reported the current number of officers was 3.5 per thousand, including administrative staff, and that he believed that the reserve department needed to be increased and that zone coverage needed to be inareased to a minimum of three to meet expected crime increases over the next five years. During discussion of the reserve program, Chairman Capretta requested a record be kept of the number of hours the reserve officers were used for actual police work. Aisa, a comparison had been done of Miscellaneous Calls for Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 25, 1995 Paqe 3 the years 1992 and 1993 for Motor Vehicle Accidents, Criminal Mischief, Trespass, and Domestic. Chairman Capretta summarized by stating that the crime statistics showed crime was remaining approximately the same, that a way was needed to communicate to the citizens the importance of prevention and newsletters and mailinqs could be utilized, that Mr. Riccardi's program should be expanded, and that when fire inspections were done a reference should be given to Mr. Riccardi or the business reminded to ca11 for a security survey. Co-Chairman Mackail �tated he would Zike to learn more about preventative programs such as the Dare program, and would like the ability to get more preventative programs in place. IV. OVERVIEW OF TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARZ'1KENT BUSIN�;SS SECURTTY SURVEY PROGRA�I�i Chairman Capretta suggested that the free volunteer security inspection offered by Mr. Riccardi be advertised and if people did not take advantage of it that the Police Department institute a mandatory inspection program similar to that of the Fire Department tfl examine all businesses for a fee, and cited the case of a break-in at Claire Malone's business which might have been prevented by proper locks. Fire Chief W+einand reported the Fire Department had made appraximately 400 inspections during the past year. It was the consensus of the Committee to use applications for occupational licenses to trigger security inspections, and to utilize the Fire Department manpower by having them note inadequate security and offer a security inspection when doing fire inspections. Chairman Capretta suggested that where security measures were needed the business name be given to Mr. Riccardi so that he could ca11 them. �hief Roderick reported the security inspection program would be advertised by the Chamber of Commerce and announced in the next Village newsletter. V. CRITIQUE OF TEQUESTA STRUCTURE FIRE ON O1/08/95 Chairman Capretta discussed a letter in the newspaper written by a Palm Beach County fireman which referenced a Tequesta house fire ancl gave unfavorable publicity to the Tequesta Fire Department since he had evidently been unaware Public Safety Co�mnittee Meeting Minutes January 25, 1995 Page 4 • of the facts. A letter of response from Fire Chief Weinand had been written and published in the newspaper. Chairman Capretta stated that the public needed to be aware of the mutual aid agreements with Martin County and surrounding communities and that Palm Beach County, although invited, had not cTiosen to participate in a mutual aid agreement, and the newspaper article had implied that the closest station, Palm Beach County, had not been called because it would cost $3,000. Fire Chief Weinand explained that under the automatic reciprocal agreement with Martin County, that when a fire is reported a call is made for response even before the fire is verified in order to get fire apparatus on the road and decrease re�ponse time, even though this re�ults in several false aiarms. Chief Weinand reported that in this fire policies had been followed and it had been a very successful operation. Lieutenant Alex Nathansan presented a graphic demonstration of how the fire was extinguished which showed that al1 proc8dures had been followed properly. Tequesta's response time had been 4 minutes and the fire was under control 14 minutes after they arrived on the scene. M�rtin County had arrived two minutes before the fire was under control, and Palm Beach Gardens had arrived af'ter the fire was extinguished. Fire Chief Weinand explained that Palm Beach County would have been called if the fire had progressed to the point it was out of control or if a simultaneous call had come in that needed response. Co-Chairman Mackail stated that Mr. Bartlett, who was the fireman who had written the newspaper article and was present at the meeting, did not know the facts and that it was devastating to the average resident who was also unaware of the facts to read such an article. Co-Chairman Mackail congratulated the Fire Department for their excellent job and informed them that since the article had been published he had received two calls from residents that were overwhelmed with the success of the operation and impressed with the professionalism of the department. Mr. Bartlett stated he was present in the capacity of a concerned resident and not as a member of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Public Safety Committee Meeting Mi�utes January 25, 1995 Page 5 Chairman Capretta commented that with all the publicity on this fire that he wanted to make sure the public knew that the Public Safety Committee reviewed these cases and that they received the best protection possible. VI. ANY OTHER MATTffitS Fire Chief Weinand responded to Chairman Capretta that he was comfortable with the ambulance system now in place and that the EMS Ordinance would allow for contingencies and backups to be handled by Medcom. Village Manager Bradford commented that Tequesta would experience na changes in procedure when the County began ambulance service on March 15. VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Wade Griest urqed estabiishmer�t of neighborhood watch , programs. Chief Roderick responded that only one such program, Willow Road, was currently in place and that the Police Department would gladly establish these programs which would then be turned over to the residents for ope:ratian. Mr. Griest commented on the fire discussed earlier and stated that the residents shauld be informed, possibly in the local paper. about the Fire Department and how good it is. John Bartlett stated his purpose in writing the letter that was published in the newspaper was not to critique inclividual firefighters on the scene but to look at things needed to improve the system. Fire Chief Weinand responded that he would talk to Chief Brice again to try to get a reciprocal automatic mutual agreement with Palm Beach County. After further comments by Mr. Bartlett regarding procedures on the scene, Co-Chairman Mackail commented that as a professional firefighter Mr. Bartlett should have considered how an untrained person would perceive the article, and that the article could have been written in a positive light on how to improve the system to make it a better system, and that Tequesta was still waiting for Chief Brice to fulfil his comment that he would work toward a working arrangement with Tequesta. Publie Safety Committee Meeting Minutes January 25, 1995 Page 6 ----------------------- VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 A.M. ,,�,••�``'� Respectfully submitted, � ; ^.� �..� ,� �.' .` � :.��.� ' ,/ '� j A y� / �''� t .�t.,��'� _,! 4J � �I � J \ ' Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEaT: Jo nn Mangan' llo Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: � -� 9 , /93S �.� � �•