Public Safety Committee > Minutes

MINUTES OF THE

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

HELD ON JULY 11, 2007

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT APPROXIMATELY 6:07 P.M.

PRESENT:                CHAIRMAN PATTI

                                        ALDERMAN STRAUBE

                                        ALDERMAN NESSLING

                                        ALDERMAN RIESTERER

                                        ALDERMAN GROCHOWSKI

ALSO PRESENT:    CHIEF KOLETSOS

Chairman Patti presented the minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting.     Alderman Grochowski made a motion to accept the minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting; seconded by Alderman Nessling.  Alderman Riesterer had a few corrections.   Chairman Patti called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The minutes were approved.

Unfinished Business;   Chief Koletsos said there was erroneous information on the bond sale numbers.  He passed out an information sheet.  Chief Koletsos said that the high side numbers are not part of the project.  The project was figured at the low side numbers.  This fits into our budget.    

Under New Business;   Chairman Patti said she was approached at Northlake Days by a resident who lives on the 100 block of Lavergne.  He complained to her about people blowing the stop sign on this block.  He suggested putting speed bumps on the street. She told the resident that we are not going to be putting speed bumps on Lavergne because we will have to put them on every street in the city.  She told him that traffic studies have been done and Chief Koletsos has provided copies on the findings.  Chairman Patti said that we can put the traffic calming device on the street to measure.  Chief Koletsos said that the trailer has been down for about a month.  We cannot find a battery to run the computer.  We may have to look into getting a new one. 

Chairman Patti said that she has spotted a frayed rope at 528 Jerome that is hanging on a branch over Addison Creek.  This rope has been there for a long time and she is afraid that unsupervised children will decide to swing on this rope and injure themselves.  Chief Koletsos said he will send someone over to remove this rope. 

Chairman Patti said that she has received numerous phone calls regarding firework debris falling into yards.  She has told the residents to contact the police department to tell them that fireworks are being shot off. 

Chairman Patti apologized for the Noise Ordinance not being in their packets. She gave everyone a copy before the meeting. Chairman Patti read the Ordinance out loud for the people in the audience.  She asked the committee if they want to change the times or leave it as is which is no later than 10:00 pm.  Jennifer Buczkiewiz, 327 Major Drive, said the time is not an issue for her. She is just concerned that D.J.’s are being hired for home parties and it is loud.  Chairman Patti said that the ordinance is good, but it seems that it needs to be enforced.  She said that the only way this ordinance can be enforced is to call the police department with the address where the loud music is being played.  Alderman Riesterer suggested that a police officer be sent to the person’s house who is making the complaint so that he can hear the loud music for himself and then go issue a ticket.  Jennifer said that she does not want her neighbor to know that she is the one who called.  Jennifer also said that she has called several times about the same incident and says that the police dispatch has gotten cocky with her and said that it is within the ordinance and they are not doing anything wrong.  Chairman Patti made a recommendation to contact Chief Koletsos regarding this.  She also suggested a fine structure for these offenses.  It was suggested that first offense be a warning; second offense be $250.00; third offense be $500.00; anything after that will be $1000.00.  Chief Koletsos asked if this will be a separate fine structure for this ordinance and Chairman Patti said yes it would be separate.  Chairman Patti would like to present this to the City Council.      Alderman Grochowski made a motion to develop a fine structure; seconded by Alderman Riesterer.

Chairman Patti brought up the subject of having police presence at weekend soccer games.  Alderman Grochowski asked at the recent council meeting if we get reimbursed for having police officers at soccer tournament.  The answer was yes. 

Donna Castio said that she has a petition signed by 25 people on her block to put speed bumps on her street.  She lives between Roberta and Geneva.  Chairman Patti said she will take this before the city council. 

It was suggested that we put basketball courts in King Arthur.  Chief Koletsos said this is just calling for more gang activity in that area. 

Chief Koletsos passed out a list of surplus equipment at the police department.  He would like to get approval to sell this equipment.  He would like to get this on the agenda for the next council meeting.  Alderman Grochowski asked if any of this equipment could be used for Public Works vehicles.  Chief Koletsos said that he thinks they are all set with their equipment, but he will go back and check with Dale Roberts.

Chief Koletsos talked about the Reverse 911 system.  This allows multiple calls at one time, citywide, alerting residents of a disaster, water boil orders, crime alerts and any other type of situation where the public needs information.  The yearly fee would be about $7,500.00.  This will give us 18,750 minutes of calling with each call being under 1 minute.  This system can also be activated from a lap top in case something happens to city hall or the police department.  Chief Koletsos would like this to be presented to the City Council.  Alderman Grochowski made a motion to bring this to the City Council; seconded by Alderman Riesterer.  The motion carried.

Chief Koletsos discussed the loud music situation stating we have a diverse culture in town and we need to educate the residents on how to be good neighbors.      He suggested

having a citywide civics class that would be similar to our citizen police academy.  When we have a situation that is ongoing, we could suggest that these people go to this class.  If they do attend this class and they do not make an additional offense, the fine could be reduced or dropped.  Chief Koletsos suggested that we incorporate this into our fine structure.  Alderman Grochowski feels that this class should be offered for the first offense. 

Chairman Patti said that she has finally completed the Northlake Directory.  The cover is being designed now.

Starting the in August, the first Wednesday of the month, Public Works Committee will be combined with Public Safety at 6:00 P.M.                   

There being no further business, Alderman Riesterer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Straube.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:38 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Joanne Floistad, City Clerk