PRHSPSC MINS 11-12-2019City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday November 12, 2019
5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Johnson, Committee members Koppang and Moore
Council Members in Attendance: Deputy Mayor Honda
Staff Members in Attendance: Eric Rhoades, Assistant City Attorney, Chief Andy Hwang, John
Hutton, Parks Director, Autumn Gressett, Community Relations/Contract Administrator, and Mary
Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant II.
Guests: Brian Hoffman, Spectra General Manager
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00pm
Commission Comment: None
Public Comment:
None
BUSINESS ITEMS
Approval of Minutes
Committee member Koppang motioned to approve the October 8, 2019 minutes as written.
Committee member Moore seconded. Motion passed.
Monthly Report on PAEC Operations — Information Only
Staff Gressett provided the background information. The PAEC was rented / utilized a total of 15 days
for the month of October. The total number of usage days in October 2019 is down from October 2018,
however the overall rental revenue and food and beverage revenue has increased. The General Manager
attended several meetings in October to speak with local community members about the PAEC. Deputy
Mayor Honda inquired about the naming rights. Mr. Hoffman answered that they are continuing to move
forward with the discussions and they recently hired an Assistant General Manager to help with those
efforts. Staff Gressett added that Spectra have also continued working on other additional sponsorships
that the PAEC didn't have in the past. Council member Koppang requested that future reports on the
PAEC include more information on marketing, sponsorships and the efforts that are being expended.
Public Safety Testing (PST) Third Amendment
Chief Hwang reported that the Police Department contracted with PST to provide Lieutenant Assessment
Center testing. This third amendment is requesting an additional $2,560.00 to cover the administrative
costs of the 2019 Lieutenant Assessment Center testing process. The funding will come from the existing
Federal Way Police Department budget. Committee member Moore moved to forward contract
Amendment #3 of the existing Subscriber Agreement with Public Safety Testing for the
Recruitment and Testing of police candidates to the November 19, 2019 Council consent agenda for
approval. Committee member Koppang seconded. Motion passed.
Theft/Buralary Report
Chief Hwang provided a report on the number of Burglary, Larceny/Thefts committed and the number of
arrests thru the third quarter of 2019. There have been 425 burglaries and 27 arrests and 2,436
Larceny/Theft crimes with 371 arrests. Larceny/Theft includes crimes such has purse snatching,
shoplifting, theft from buildings, motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts. Chief Hwang stated that they
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PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Summary
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are projecting that the overall crime for 2019 will be down about 9% -10% from the previous year.
Discussion continued on the Chiefs presentation including convenience store robberies, shoplifting and
creating positive partnerships with local businesses. Information was also given on the number of arrests
that have been made in regards to aggressive panhandling or pedestrian interference. Chief Hwang stated
that there is not a lot of enforcement that the police can do to prevent panhandling, aggressive begging
and pedestrian interference. This is because of the US Supreme Court ruling that panhandling or asking
someone for money is freedom of speech. The courts have ruled numerous times that it is a protected
activity. If people cross the line and continually ask a person for money or it becomes a safety issue then
the Police will get involved. If a person is begging, 99% of the time the person will comply with the
officer's request to move on. There are very few instances that require an arrest or citing someone under
the city's ordinance. They have not arrested anyone in 2019 for aggressive begging or pedestrian
interference.
Pedestrian Interference Ordinance
Deputy Mayor Honda asked for the definition of aggressiveness. Chief Hwang answered that if a person
is asked once for money and they say no and the panhandler continues to follow them and ask for money
then that is aggressive. Staff Rhoades provided the legal definition of aggressive begging according to
the City's Code; it's begging combined with intimidation. Intimidation includes behaviors of persisting to
beg after being refused and following or approaching the person that has already refused. Staff Rhoades
provided a brief history on the ordinance. Staff Rhoades added that the ordinance is going to be revised
again because the Washington Supreme Court held that a very similar ordinance in Lakewood violated
the first amendment. Regulating the behavior of people asking for money will most likely be found
unconstitutional. The plan is to revise the code to eliminate any references to begging and to focus on the
behavior on intimidation and the obstruction of traffic.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING
December 10, 2019
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:03p.m.
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