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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20220616 - PSAC MinutesCity of Hastings Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC) Meeting Minutes June 16, 2022 Hastings Police Department Present: Commissioners Dolores Pemble, Bryon Ascheman, Melissa Blackstad and Theresa Auge City Staff: Police Dave Chief Wilske, Fire Chief John Townsend, Community Engagement Officer Whitney Rinowski, Officer Georgeann Freeman-Denn and Officer Matt Green. 1. The meeting was called to order by Dolores Pemble at 6:35 p.m. 2. A motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded. The agenda was approved. 3. A motion to approve the minutes from May 19, 2022 was made and seconded. The minutes were approved. 4. Police Chief Wilske introduced our new police officers, Officer Georgeann Freeman- Denn and Officer Matt Green, to the Commission. Officer Freeman-Denn and Officer Green each provided a summary of their background and experience. The Commission welcomed them to the department and the City of Hastings. Community Engagement Officer Rinowski also introduced herself to the Commission members who she had not previously met. CEO Rinowski provided a short summary of her role and duties. 5. Chief Wilske provided a police department update. - Chief Wilske updated the Commission recent promotions; Kyle Linscheid was promoted to Commander. -Hiring for new police officers is ongoing. Ten individuals applied and four candidates were interviewed. -Chief Wilske updated the Commission on the flashing speed signs. All twelve signs have been installed. Chief Wilske provided the Commission with a map of the locations of the signs throughout the City. Chief Wilske explained that the signs do retain certain data such as speeds of vehicles and that data can be downloaded an analyzed. - Chief Wilske reported that the Pride Parade went well and approximately 2,000 were present. - K9 Officer Vomastek and his partner Sonny competed in the USPCA Region 12 K9 Trials in Monticello June 12th-14th and finished in 2nd place in the category of agility. - Chief Wilske also updated the Commission on the upcoming Special Olympics torch ride in which members of the police department participate. This year the ride will be from Hastings to Rochester. - Chief Wilske was asked about school security issues in light of the recent school shooting in Texas. Chief Wilske reported that the school district and the police department work closely together on security issues and brief discussion was had about the department’s response to the recent inadvertent alarm. Also discussed the role of the school resource officer and some conversations about whether a second resource officer could be added and the budgetary issues involved in that. 6. Fire Chief John Townsend provided a fire department update. -The department’s hiring process for a full-time staff member is also ongoing. The department will be interviewing five candidates with the goal of hire one full-time staff person. Paid on call hiring is also ongoing. -Jamie Stevens has been promoted to the position of Fire Inspector. In addition, three paid on call firefighters were promoted to lieutenants. -Chief Townsend thanked the Hastings Fire Relief Association for its recent donations to the department to purchase additional equipment including UTV and a snowmobile. -The fire study is still ongoing. -The department is working on its budget for next year. There is also a grant that has been applied for and the department is awaiting word if the department will receive it. 7. Old Business -Chair Pemble and Commissioner Auge are working on finalizing the Commission handbook. The Commission discussed proposed edits to portions of the handbook, and it was felt that the existing language was satisfactory. Chief Wilske will arrange to have the handbook formatted and put in a final version so that it can be approved at the next meeting. -The Commission discussed the “Coffee with a Cop” initiative. It was discussed that the first one would be held at Coburns. It was also discussed when the first event should be held. It was noted that the summer can be a busy time both for residents and department and the question was posed as whether this should begin in the fall. CEO Rinowski would look at possible dates. It was also discussed that the fire department could also be involved in this event. Finally, the Commission discussed rotating this event to several venues around the City. -The Commission members went over the punch list for National Night Out. 8. New Business -Chief Wilske discussed with the Commission the BIRD scooters that are being used throughout the City. The statutes and ordinances regulating these scooters were discussed including the ages for users and helmet requirements. Several Commission members raised some concern about the fact that the scooters seem to be left scattered around the City and some have been thrown into the Vermillion River. Chief Wilske reported that the company that operates the scooters has been responsive to concerns. -Commissioner Ascheman would like to step down as secretary. Commissioner Auge was nominated as the new secretary and the nomination was seconded. Commissioner Auge was appointed secretary. 9. Next Meeting: July 21, 2022, @ 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. 10. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.