HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes Retreat 10-02-21Minutes of the Arlington
City Council Zoom Retreat
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Councilmembers Present: Mike Hopson, Marilyn Oertle, Debora Nelson, Don Vanney,
Jan Schuette, Michele Blythe, and Heather Logan.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Mayor Barb Tolbert, Paul Ellis, Jonathan Ventura, Kristin Garcia, Sarah Lopez,
James Trefry, City Attorney Steve Peiffle, and Wendy Van Der Meersche.
Also Known to be Present: Eight YouTube viewers.
Mayor Barb Tolbert called the meeting to order at 9:00 am, and the Pledge of Allegiance and
roll call followed.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Schuette moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember
Marilyn Oertle seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
Mayor Tolbert welcomed everyone and introduced City Attorney Steve Peiffle, who acted as
retreat facilitator. Mr. Peiffle provided ground rules of today's discussion with an overview
of the agenda, regarding the police department's five-year plan, including policing, funding,
staffing, budget, including new legislative changes. Mr. Peiffle then introduced City
Administrator Paul Ellis.
Police Department Five -Year Plan
City Administrator Paul Ellis greeted everyone, and stated that the information to be covered
was included in the notebooks distributed earlier in the week.
Mr. Ellis began reviewing the PowerPoint presentation, beginning with the department's
2018 goals and 2022 overall goals.
• Improve quality of life
• Strengthen community partnerships
• Improve public perception
• Provide exceptional law enforcement services
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop October 2. 2021
Mr. Ellis reviewed current operations, including a brief review of the effects of 2021
Legislative Police Reform.
Mr. Ellis then introduced Chief Jonathan Ventura. Chief Ventura spoke of the difference
between proactive and reactive policing, and the public's perception of police patrol versus
reality. He then continued reviewing the PowerPoint presentation, beginning with Council's
priorities from 2018, and 2021 Legislative Police Reform, with the top five items that are
affecting Arlington police department. He expanded on each of the five following areas.
• Less Lethal Tactics
• Pursuits
• Reasonable Suspicion / Probable Cause
• Use of Force/ Mental Health
• Recording of Interviews
Discussion followed with Chief Ventura and Mr. Ellis answering Council questions.
After a break at 10:22, discussion resumed at 10:31, with Chief Ventura discussing additional
challenges the department is facing:
• Minimum staffing (three)
• Currently occurs 25.42% of time, would need four to reach 100%
• FMLA, military leave, injury, academy, sick leave, vacation
• Response times
• Approaching seven minutes
• Non -emergency call response can take up to several hours.
• Calls For Service (CFS) per officer
• #2 in Snohomish- County-for-calls-pei- officer
• Community police model recommends 66% of officer time proactive
• APD currently at 39% proactive
• Reporting, Training, Supervision to meet requirements of Legislative Reform
(Add lieutenant position)
Discussion followed with Chief Ventura and Mr. Ellis answering Council questions.
Mr. Ellis continued the presentation with three scenarios of staffing models outlining
revenues and expenses, for Police, IT, and Maintenance and Operations. These scenarios
were created for Council to discuss and determine what they would like to see accomplished
in the future. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis and Chief Ventura answering Council
questions.
City Administrator Paul Ellis concluded the PowerPoint presentation with a discussion
regarding the following Action Items for 2022:
• Systems Administration II (IT)
• Promotion to Lieutenant (PD)
• Body Cameras and Tasers (PD)
• Evidence/ PIO Tech (PD)
And not listed above is the proposed Community Resource Officer position to be converted
to Patrol Officer. Lateral police positions and signing bonuses were also discussed.
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop October 2 2021
Councilmembers gave a thumbs up for staff to proceed with 2022 Budget Amendments, as
described above.
Chief Ventura discussed traffic issues reported in the City, and stated that the department
has invested heavily in technology to best use their resources, with lighted signage, and
technology to obtain data to identify problems and direct resources for public safety. Chief
Ventura patrols and performs traffic enforcement himself on Wednesdays. Mr. Ellis spoke
about two areas that assist with traffic control - education and enforcement. He has been
working with Police and Public Works to address the traffic issues. Mr. Ellis proposed to
Council that in the 2022 budget amendments, he include an amendment using construction
sales tax to dedicate $60,000 of capital funding for traffic education to purchase a radar
trailer and signage. He would then contact Public Works for locations where those would be
most beneficial. All councilmembers gave a thumbs up to proceed.
City Administrator Paul Ellis spoke of the future of policing, which includes social services.
He stated that Arlington has five different social services programs that are at different levels
of implementation, with a total annual expenditure of $661,030, with funding mostly of grant
money. Reporting the status of these programs to Council will become a priority in the future.
Other Budgetary Matters
A memo from Mr. Ellis regarding the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) was included to
Council for discussion. The Transportation Benefit District is approaching renewal. The TBD
was put into place in 2013. To continue in 2024, it will need to be brought to the voters on
the February or August 2023 ballot. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis answering Council
questions. A report outlining TBD accomplishments will be coming in the future for
discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
The retreat was adjourned at 12:18 p.m.
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor
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