Council Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Public Safety Committee met on November 5, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., with Peggy Henson presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the meeting, taking three votes and hearing five public comments.

The committee approved the summary from the previous meeting. Two items were deferred for further consideration: the Division of Police Home Fleet Policy and Items in Committee. Two presentations were delivered on an informational basis: one on Fire Stations and ISO Ratings, and another on DEM Emergency Preparedness. Overall, the meeting balanced routine approvals with substantive policy discussions and informational updates on public safety matters.

Attendance

Present: Peggy Henson, Kevin Stinnett, Chuck Ellinger, Diane Lawless, Bill Farmer, George Myers, Jennifer Mossotti, Harry Clarke, Ed Lane, Chris Ford, Richard Moloney, Mike Sanner, John Sheed, Chief Baston, Commissioner Mason, Commissioner O'Mara, Jamie Emmons, Pat, and Mike Sweeney.

Absent: Shevawn Akers.

Late: None reported.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included three motions, all of which passed by voice vote.

Motion to Approve Meeting Summary 0:00 Harry Clarke moved to approve the summary of the meeting, seconded by Diane Lawless. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Motion to Discuss and Consider Revised Language of Section 16-14 of the Code of Ordinances 4:00 Ed Lane moved to discuss and consider the revised language of Section 16-14 of the Code of Ordinances, seconded by George Myers. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Motion to Adjourn 5:00 George Myers moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ed Lane. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several financial matters related to the Lexington Fire Department's operations and equipment needs.

Appropriation for Fire Department Vehicles

Resolution 0073-26 approved $1,000,000 in funding for new fire department vehicles for the Lexington Fire Department.

Fire Station Operating Costs

The meeting discussed the annual costs to operate fire stations with full staffing:

• Engine-only configuration: $650,000 per fire station
• Engine and ladder configuration: $1,335,000 per fire station

These figures represent the full operational expenses required to maintain each facility with complete staffing levels.

Public Comment

Mike Sweeney, president of the Turn Order of Police, addressed the council regarding the home fleet policy 36:52. He argued that the policy is vital for community safety and officer presence, citing that officers answer approximately 5,000 off-duty calls annually. Sweeney urged the council to reconsider the policy and expressed willingness to negotiate a letter agreement with the city to reinstate it.

Council Member Lane raised concerns about fiscal responsibility 44:01. She emphasized that the city's surplus came from borrowed funds rather than tax revenue and cautioned against overspending despite the perceived benefits of the home fleet policy.

Council Member Akers addressed potential precedent concerns 51:20. He questioned the implications of renegotiating collective bargaining agreements mid-term, specifically asking how such action would affect other unions, including fire and corrections departments.

Council Member Lawless spoke in support of the home fleet policy 54:31. He emphasized that public safety is the primary obligation of government and noted that the home fleet policy provides tangible benefits, including the 5,000 off-duty calls answered annually.

Council Member Massadi addressed fire station planning 53:49. He expressed support for the need for new fire stations and requested detailed cost and timeline estimates for proposed stations in the Masterson, Polo Club, and Hayes Boulevard areas.

Contested Items

Home Fleet Policy Reinstatement

The committee was divided on whether to reinstate the home fleet policy. Members supporting reinstatement cited public safety benefits as their primary rationale. However, other committee members opposed the measure, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and the importance of respecting collective bargaining agreements. The disagreement resulted in a split vote, indicating the committee could not reach consensus on this issue.

Fire Station Expansion

The committee engaged in a heated discussion regarding the expansion of fire stations in high-growth areas. The debate centered on multiple concerns: the urgency of building new facilities, the associated costs, response times in underserved areas, and long-term planning considerations. Committee members also raised concerns about changing building materials and evolving fire dynamics, which factored into their assessment of expansion needs and priorities.

Approval of Summary

The committee approved the meeting summary without dissent 0:00. Harry Clarke made the motion to approve, and Diane Lawless seconded it. The summary was approved with no objections raised.

Division of Police Home Fleet Policy

The committee discussed the Division of Police home fleet policy, examining its effects on cost savings, officer morale, response time, and public safety. Key speakers in this discussion included Chief Baston, Jamie Emmons, Mike Sweeney, Council Member Stinnett, Council Member Lawless, and Council Member Lane. 4:00

The discussion covered multiple dimensions of the policy's impact. Committee members and administration representatives addressed how the policy affected departmental finances, the morale of officers subject to it, the speed of police response to calls, and broader implications for public safety in the community.

The administration confirmed that the home fleet policy would remain in place until the next collective bargaining cycle, indicating that any changes to the policy would be contingent on negotiations during that period.

Despite the administration's position on the policy's continuation, the committee expressed strong support for reconsidering the home fleet policy. This indicated a disconnect between the administration's stance and the committee's preference for revisiting the policy's terms or implementation.

The outcome of this agenda item was deferred, meaning the discussion did not result in an immediate decision or resolution, and the matter was postponed for future consideration.

Fire Stations and ISO Ratings

54:37

Chief Hoskins and Pat presented findings on fire station coverage, response times, and ISO ratings to the committee.

Key Findings

The presentation identified three areas with response times that exceed the national standard of four minutes:

• Masterson Station
• Polo Club
• Hayes Boulevard

Committee Action

In response to the presentation, the committee requested that the fire department provide detailed cost and timeline estimates for new fire stations to address the coverage gaps in these areas.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with the committee gathering data on current fire station performance and coverage to inform future planning decisions.

DEM Emergency Preparedness

The Division of Emergency Management presented its emergency preparedness framework during this agenda item 54:37. Pat led the presentation, which outlined the agency's comprehensive approach to emergency management.

The presentation covered four key components of emergency preparedness:

• Planning
• Response
• Recovery
• Mitigation

A central emphasis of the presentation was the importance of community-wide coordination in emergency preparedness efforts. The Division highlighted the critical role of the Emergency Operations Center as a central hub for coordinating emergency response activities across multiple agencies and community partners.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action or debate recorded. The outcome was informational in nature, providing the meeting attendees with an overview of the Division's emergency preparedness framework and operational structure.

Items in Committee

The committee discussed the need for a resolution to reinstate the home fleet policy and examined the legal and procedural implications of renegotiating collective bargaining agreements mid-term. 57:59

Council Members Stinnett, Lawless, Akers, and Lane participated in the discussion. The committee considered the requirements and challenges associated with reinstating the home fleet policy, as well as the complexities involved in modifying existing collective bargaining agreements outside of their standard renewal periods.

The outcome of this agenda item was deferred, meaning the committee did not reach a final decision and postponed further action to a later date.