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PRHSPSC MINS 07-14-2009 City of Federal Way City Council PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERV ICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:30 p.m. SUMMARY Committee Members in Attendance: Committee Chair Jeanne Burbidge and Committee members Mike Park and Jim Ferrell Council Members in Attendance: Councilmember: Linda Kochmar Staff Members in Attendance: Brian Wilson Interim City Manager, Amy Jo Pearsall, City Attorney, Interim Chief Andy Hwang, Ray Gross EOC Manager, Mary Hobday, Emergency Management Specialist, Greg Fewins, Community Development Director, Lynnette Hynden, Human Services Manager, Cary Roe, PRCS Director, and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant II. Chair Burbidge called the meeting to order at 5:33p.m. Public Comment: None. Commission Comments: Jaye Zern, Chair of the Diversity Commission stated that she was here in support of the memo regarding the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, and to answer any questions that the committee may have. APPROVAL OF SUMMARY Council member Park moved to approve the June meeting summary. Council member Ferrell seconded. Motion passed. BUSINESS ITEMS Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Ms. Hynden stated that after the MLK Celebration this year Ron Walker stepped down as the Chair of the MLK Celebration Committee. He had been involved with the committee for ten years. When he stepped down, the MLK Celebration Committee dissolved. The role of the Diversity Commission has been to offer support with funds and volunteering. It was the MLK Celebration Committee that put the event on every year. The Diversity Commission put together a sub group to explore whether or not they would have the momentum, the manpower and the funds to put together the event. The sub-committee met for several months. A lot of time and effort went into fundraising by the MLK Celebration Committee. The student forum was $4000, student scholarships were $5000 and the event itself was $3000. There were also in kind services; the school district provided the facility, buses to transport the students, and janitorial services. The Diversity Commissions yearly budget is $4000, and they have been giving the MLK Celebration Committee $1500. The Commissions recommendation is to continue their participation in a supporting role of the MLK Celebration should another private entity show interest and take the lead in organizing the event, including fundraising. The Diversity Commission would also like to work jointly with the Arts Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission to preserve the MLK Celebration artifacts. They would like to have the Community Flame on display more than just once a year. Council member Burbidge stated that she was a volunteer for the event when it first started. At that time it was not connected with the Diversity Commission, it was a separate group that put on the first Celebrations. There were not any student forums. There were essay contests and poster contests. There was some fundraising that occurred. It was a more compact event and it was less expensive. Ms. Hynden stated that it was very difficult to raise money this past year. Many of the donors said that they would not be donating to the event next year. Council member Park was also a volunteer when the event first started, and at that time there were between 10-15 citizen volunteers. Ms. Hynden stated that no one previously involved with the event has offered to take on a leadership role. Council member Ferrell stated that he will not approve a work plan that does not include the MLK Celebration. He feels that it is a very important event for the Community, and we need to figure out how to get it done. Council member Kochmar suggested scaling back the event, and finding someone that would be willing to chair it again. Council member Park stated that he believes the Diversity Commission did not want to walk away from the event, that they want to work on the event, but not be the PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Tuesday July 14, 2009 Summary Page 2 main group that organizes the event. The Diversity Commission is not able to fundraise. Council member Ferrell suggested forming an ad hoc committee. Interim City Manager Wilson stated that a key piece that is missing is somebody to take on the leadership role. The committee wants the event to continue. Mr. Wilson suggested that no action be taken at this time; staff will discuss the event and come back to Committee with more information. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Ms. Hobday reported that this plan was adopted in 2003. FEMA requires that these plans be reviewed and updated on a 5 year cycle in order to continue in the regional plan. King County Office of Emergency Management is the lead agency for the regional plan. They have the responsibility of revising the plan. The first step is providing them with a letter of intent that we will continue. There are two primary benefits to participating in the regional hazard mitigation plan: 1) FEMA approved plans will have access to pre and post-mitigation grants. 2) Eligibility to receive post-disaster mitigation funds; this is in addition to the standard declared emergency disaster recovery funds. Council member Park moved to approve the Resolution to continue participation in the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan of King County. Council member Ferrell seconded. Motion Passed. Federal Way Police Department Response to Gang/Youth Violence Interim Chief Hwang addressed what the Federal Way Police Department is doing in response to the increase in gang violence. There has been an increase in gang violence in this region and in the Country. There were 83 homicides in King County last year. There were two Homicides in Federal Way in 2008 that were gang related. These two incidents prompted the Police Department to reverse that trend. There has not been a gang related homicide in 2009 in Federal Way. Interim Chief Hwang stated that what is different about gangs today is that they are very mobile. No community is immune from gangs. There are 16 active gangs in the region. The King County Police Chiefs have made a commitment to address gang and youth violence, and gang detectives are communicating and sharing information. The decrease in gang/youth violence in Federal Way can be attributed to the following five areas: 1) Restructuring the Organization, 2) Graffiti Abatement Program, 3) Safe City Program, 4) Special Operations/Projects, 5) Targeted Enforcement. When looking at crime rate per capita, we are the 4th safest city. When looking at looking at Western Washington with a population between 50,000-100,000 people we are rated the 2nd safest city. In 2009 index crimes for the 1st quarter are 1,172 this is the lowest 1st quarter index crimes we have had in the history of the agency for the past 13 years Agreement between Federal Way Police Department and Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority for the PATROL Task Force Interim Chief Hwang reported that the Federal Way Police Department received a grant in the amount of $800,000 from WATPA to work with other jurisdictions to reduce auto theft in our region. The team is made up of Auburn, Kent, Bonney Lake, King County Prosecutors Office, Renton and Federal Way. Interim Chief Hwang stated that the team is doing tremendous work along with other regional teams, and there has been a downward trend in our region. The term of the Agreement is from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The team is comprised of one Lieutenant, four detectives and two employees from the King County Prosecutors Office. Proposed Interlocal Agreement Regarding Distribution of Proceeds from the Sale of Bellevue Property and Indemnification of Bellevue Ms. Pearsall stated that this is to disperse funds from the sale of the property in Bellevue and will finance the purchase of the property in Des Moines. Council member Ferrell moved to approve the proposed Interlocal Agreement regarding proceeds distribution from the sale of Bellevue property, and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute said agreement. Council member Park seconded. Motion Passed. The City’s portion of the purchase is a little bit over $900,000. Ms. Pearsall stated that they are hoping to purchase the property for the South King County Jail Facility and start the grading soon. Pending Items None NEXT MEETING – August 11, 2009 5:30 p.m. in the Hylebos Conference Room ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.