Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Public Safety Committee met on October 7, 2014, at 1:00 p.m., with Henson Chair presiding. The committee addressed six agenda items, including approval of the previous meeting's summary, three items that were deferred for future consideration, one informational presentation, and one item that was removed from the agenda. During the meeting, the committee took 7 votes and heard 3 public comments. Key actions included approving the September 16, 2014 Committee Summary, deferring discussion of sky lanterns, a taxicab ordinance, and ridesharing services to a later date, and receiving an informational presentation on community corrections staffing matters including staff turnover, staff-to-inmate ratios, and exit interview findings.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 7, 2014:

• Peggy Henson
• Kevin Stinnett
• Chuck Ellinger
• Shevawn Akers
• Bill Farmer
• Harry Clarke
• Ed Lane
• Jennifer Scutchfield
• Steve Kay

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

All motions brought before the meeting passed unanimously.

September 16, 2014 Committee Summary 5:33 Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Ellinger, to approve the September 16, 2014 Committee Summary as amended. Passed unanimously.

Substance Abuse Coordinator Position 5:33 Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Clarke, to approve the Substance Abuse Coordinator Position proposal. Passed unanimously.

Taxicab Ordinance Deferral 5:33 Motion by Henson to defer discussion of the Taxicab Ordinance until the next meeting. Passed unanimously.

Agenda Amendment 6:20 Motion by Henson to amend the agenda to move Sky Lanterns, Taxicab Ordinance, and Ridesharing Services to the December 2, 2014 meeting. Passed unanimously. A special meeting may be called in November if state e-regulations are released.

Division of Police Home Fleet Policy Removal 6:20 Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Ellinger, to remove the Division of Police Home Fleet Policy from Items in Committee. Passed unanimously.

Substance Abuse Coordinator Removal from Committee 39:22 Motion by Stinnett to remove the Substance Abuse Coordinator from Items in Committee. Passed unanimously.

Adjournment 39:53 Motion by Stinnett to adjourn. Passed unanimously.

Public Comment

Council members raised several concerns regarding Community Corrections staffing and operations during the meeting.

Staff Turnover and Retention

Council Member Akers inquired about staff turnover in Community Corrections, specifically asking why correctional officers would leave for higher-paying positions in police or fire departments 27:28. Akers noted that recruitment efforts are driven by budget cycles and observed that many officers use corrections as an interim step before transitioning to those other agencies.

Future Planning and Budget Preparation

Council Member Stinnett addressed Director Ballard directly, requesting a comprehensive plan to address turnover, staffing ratios, and pay increases in preparation for the next budget cycle 32:20. Stinnett emphasized the need for actionable strategies to address these staffing challenges.

Employee Representation

Council Member Akers asked whether correctional officers have a formal council or representative body through which to voice concerns 36:36. Director Ballard responded that monthly meetings are held with the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) executive board to discuss issues affecting officers.

Contested Items

Regulation of Ridesharing Services

Council members debated the regulatory framework for ridesharing services, with disagreement centered on whether ridesharing drivers should be subject to the same rules as traditional taxicab drivers. Some council members argued for uniform regulations to ensure equal treatment across both service types, while others held different positions on this approach. The council did not reach a resolution on this matter during the meeting. Instead, the item was deferred pending state regulations that were expected to address ridesharing oversight at a higher level of government.

Staff Turnover in Community Corrections

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding high staff turnover within the Community Corrections department. The debate focused on the financial and operational consequences of losing employees, including costs associated with recruitment, training, and service disruption. Director Ballard participated in the discussion and acknowledged the challenges the department faced in retaining staff. While Ballard noted that efforts had been made to improve training and employee morale, he indicated that these initiatives had not yet been sufficient to resolve the turnover problem. The council did not adopt a specific resolution to address the issue during this meeting, though the discussion highlighted the need for improved retention strategies.

September 16, 2014 Committee Summary

The committee reviewed and approved the summary of the previous meeting held on September 16, 2014. 5:33

Outcome

The committee approved the summary as amended, with the motion passing unanimously and without dissent.

Key Participants

Stinnett and Ellinger were the key speakers on this agenda item. The motion was seconded before being brought to a vote.

Sky Lanterns – Clarke

6:20

This agenda item was deferred to the December 2, 2014 meeting. The deferral was necessitated by pending state e-regulations that require further development before the matter can be properly addressed.

During the discussion, a motion to amend the agenda was introduced and passed unanimously. Key speakers on this item included Henson, Clarke, and Ellinger.

As part of the deferral decision, the body noted the possibility of scheduling a special November meeting if needed to address this matter before the December meeting date.

Community Corrections: Staff Turnover; Staff Inmate Ratio; Exit Interviews

Director Ballard presented data on staffing challenges in community corrections, focusing on three key areas: staff turnover rates, compensation comparisons, and findings from exit interviews 9:00.

Staff Turnover

The presentation highlighted significant turnover in recent years, with rates ranging from 42 to 45 percent. This high turnover was identified as a critical issue affecting the stability and effectiveness of community corrections operations.

Exit Interview Findings

Analysis of exit interviews revealed the primary reasons staff members leave their positions:

• Pay and compensation levels
• Shift work requirements
• Family-related issues

Salary and Compensation Analysis

Director Ballard presented comparative salary data between community corrections positions and similar roles in other states and agencies, demonstrating how compensation levels may be contributing to recruitment and retention challenges.

Recommendations

The presentation included several recommendations to address these staffing concerns:

• Tracking new academy graduates to monitor career progression and retention
• Improving training programs
• Exploring salary increases to enhance competitiveness
• Establishing staffing standards to ensure adequate staff-to-inmate ratios

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, providing the meeting participants with data and analysis regarding community corrections staffing challenges and potential solutions for consideration.

Taxicab Ordinance – Lawless

6:20

The committee discussed a taxicab ordinance during this agenda item. Key speakers included Henson, Stinnett, and Lawless.

The committee determined that the item required further consideration before proceeding. Pending state e-regulations were identified as a factor affecting the discussion. Rather than move forward with a decision at this meeting, the committee agreed to await guidance from the state before taking action on the ordinance.

Outcome: The taxicab ordinance was deferred to the December 2, 2014 meeting.

Ridesharing Services – Henson

6:20

The committee discussed regulatory approaches to ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, examining whether these services should be regulated under the existing taxicab ordinance.

Key Discussion Points

The committee, led by speakers including Henson, George, Miller, and Andrea, considered the regulatory framework for ridesharing platforms operating in the jurisdiction. The primary question centered on whether current taxicab regulations should apply to these emerging transportation services.

Concerns Raised

Committee members raised concerns about regulatory inconsistency between traditional taxicab services and ridesharing platforms. Enforcement challenges were also identified as a significant issue, with questions about how existing regulations could be effectively applied to ridesharing operations.

Outcome

The committee deferred the item to December 2, 2014, pending state e-regulations. This deferral allowed time for state regulatory guidance to be developed before the committee made a final determination on local ridesharing regulation.

Items Referred

39:22

The committee reviewed referred items during this portion of the meeting. Key speakers Stinnett and Ellinger participated in the discussion.

The committee considered a motion to remove the Substance Abuse Coordinator from the referred items list. The motion passed unanimously.

Outcome: The Substance Abuse Coordinator was removed from the list.