Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-1999 Meeting I PUBLIC SAFETY COI'vL'vIITTEE COMiYllTTEE ROOM - October 25, 1999 3:30 P.Nt PRESENT: B. Young, Mayor; F. Handy, Chairman, B. Kuhlke, W. Mays, S. Shepard members, J. Brigham. R. Colclough, Commissioners, R. Oliver. Administrator, 1. Wall. Attorney, ChiefR. Few. Fire Dept., G. Hewett, IT, R. Acree, Facilities Maintenance, M. Gibbs, Sheriffs Dept. D. Dlugolenski, E1vL'\ Director, 1. Bonner. Commission. ALSO PRESENT: S. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle, S. Eidson, R. Augusta Focus. Clerk: We have two addendum items: 1. Renewal of Ambulance License for Augusta Richmond County. 2. Stop Violence Against Women Grant Program, Grant Match. Mr. Shepard: Move for approval, Mr. Chairman. /vIr. Handy: Second. Motion carries unanimously. I A request to approve an expenditure of 59,966.99 for relocating the data communication lines and associated communications hardware to 901 Greene Street, subject to receipt of forfeiture funds in an equal amount. lvIr. Oliver: As you are aware, the State Probation offices are in the process of moving. They didn't think about their communication needs until a couple of weeks ago. They have decided in conjunction with the IT Department that this is the best way to go and they are willing to pay for it through forfeiture of funds which they will turn back over to us and we recommend approval. lVIr. Shepard: I so move approval. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carries with Mr. Handy out. Discuss space for Law Library and other relocations. I ?vIr. Acree: The State Probation office is ';acating the sp~ce :n the anne:: and I"T needs additional space and part of that will be given to them. The ninth noor where the GIS office is will be used to extend the Law Library, which is the desire of the Superior Court. Additionally, I would like to move my office and consolidate my operations into the balance of the annex. My office will be pretty full in the next couple of years. That leaves us the building that probation is still in. They are vacating the office on Hale and 4th as well, but we have TWO operations in these facilities. one is Indigent Defense and the other is Victims and Wimesses ..\ssistance. I am suggesting that economically we save money by locating Indigent Decerlse to that building. There seems to be some resistance on the part of the Director. Their current tent is 5975 per month. To expand the building to meet their needs for filing snace and the like, because the building they're in was a - .. - .. former residence and not suitable for the type of files that they are currently using. To expand the space the landlord wants a five-year lease and the rent would then go to $1,275 a month. Victims and Wimess Assistance has no problem with their currerlt space but their lease rate is almost $675 a month. We would save $7,200 annually by relocating Indigent Defense rather Victims and Wimess Assistance. 1- lvIr. Kuhlke: And we own that building at Hale and 4th Street') J\rir. Acree: ''lies sir. ~/lr. IZ:lhll,,:.e: If \Ve ::lpprove :h:lt~ do you ~nticip2.te any pre,biems 'v'lith :h:J.t': NIr. Acree: It', one of ,hose locations whe~e not many people want to locate. It's next to the Hale Street apanmerlts. Mr. Shepard: I move that we make the changes so that the Law Library expands into the GIS area and that the other changes as recommended by Mr. Acree be implemented in order to make all that happen. :..i Mr. Oliver: There was some discussion about part of that space being used as a computer research area. 1= Mr. Shepard: I'll amend my motion to say expansion of the Law Library to include all library uses including the use of computer research in that area. Mr. Mays: Second. i'vIr. Kuhlke: ,\l11at is the timing on this, are we looking at the first of the yearO i'vIr. Acree: In all likelihood. Probation just moved out and the space they vacated needs upgrading. Mr. Shepard: I'll amend my motion to say that it is to happen after the first of the year wl1en it can be appropriately staged with all the other options. Mr. Kuhlke: I bring thm up because I'm sure that :Vir. Shepard would like you to communicate that to Judge Fleming. tvir. She;Jard: I'll arne:1d my motion to induce that request. Motion carries unanimously. 1 1 A request to approve 5'7.200 for purchase of3 PC's for E?vIA. :vIr. Dlugolerlski: Tnese computers were purchased by LEPC about five ')r six years ago and none are Y2K compliant. The last one was purchased by GE:vL.\. This one gives up the capability to monitor from different areas in the community. lvIr. Oliver: IT is in agreement that these computers are not worn out but they do need replacing. Mr. Shepard: So move for approval Mr. Chairman. Mr. Handy: Second. One question, why is the cost 52,400 each') Mr. Hewett: This i.,.,cludes the software and 17 inch monitors. lvIr. Mayor: If the LEPC participated in purchasing two of the computers could we request that they assist in the purchase of the two replacement computers? These were purchased for the EwL'\ office, would it be appropriate to go back to them and ask ifthGj would like to contribute to the upgrade of the equipment so that it would be Y2K compliant so we wouldn't have to absorb the entire cost? I lvIr. Hewett: The request could be made, but their donation of the equipmem w the county was an attempt by them to avoid the cost. but we could ask them. lvIr. Brigham: Since GEwL"- put the original computer in there and its GEMP.',', system should we see ifGElvL".. will help us with the funding of the other computeT. Mr. Shepard: I amend my motion to include that the E:YL\ Director pursue potential funding from GEMA and the LEPC. Motion carries unanimously. A request to approve application for Grant to fund Mobile Data Terminals in the Sheriff's Department. :vIr. Oliver: These mobile terminal units wiil permit the officer in the car to go ahead and key in the information to do a background check in the car and make it so thev'!! have less reli~nce upon :he in-house ;Jeople. This is something I :hi;-J;: '.V~ need to move toward. The funding is available, it's a 90%-10% grant. I Ms. Gibbs: The first grant is still in an interest bearing account last year \ve got 5395,528. This grant is for 5483,537 which will also be put in an interest bearing n account until we get the bids from IT. So we're looking at with interest and some drug money close to a million dollars to spend on mobile data terminals. Mr. Handy: Move for approval. I~ /vIr. Shepard: Second. u Motion carried unanimously. A request from the CSRA Humane Society for donation of space at the former City Stockade, located at Lake Olmstead. Ms. Ranette Mayer, President of the C3M Humane Society: We are a non-profit and privately funded organization. We are in the business of aggressively promoting s~ay/neClter :lS a way to control animal population we also are very much interested lrl encouraging and adopIion. We also are more interested in helping who own pets and can no longer Cat.~ for their pets. We see ourselves :lS a parmer with Animal Control and with the other groups in town thaI want to do something with our pet population. We would like to do something with the old Sheriffs Stockade to help offset some of the number of animals that are taken to Animal ControL \Vhat we can do since we are non-profit and privately funded, we are not asking anything from the city in the way of financial backin\!. We have been getting funding from different area foundations. the Knox - . Foundation in particular. We have shared with Jeff KIlO X the numbers as far as rhe finances go and he is on board as far as helping us with lease payments. Wnat we're looking at is to not have to pay le:lSe money. We will also focus on education in schools and with different organizations thrOUghOUI the community. We would be physically located across town from the existing and planned animal control, thereby serving the entire community. We have a consistent. conscientious core of volunteers. This location will serve as an adoption center. \Vhat we are asking for is a long-term renewable lease from the Commission with a minimal annual \ease tee. ~ ~ :.J 1;= i'vIr. Kuhlke: I would like to ask our attomey, what restrictions do we have on properties as far as entering into a le:lSe on them from a time frame standpoint0 Mr. Wall: You have some limitations on how far out you can go and I think be:;ond ten years you're in trouble. I thilL~ you go up to five to ten years and justify it from a legal standpoint. In essence as she mentioned taking some of the load off of arimal control so I think you can justify it. Mr. Oliver: _"...nd I would condition for them to continue to be self supporting. Mr. Hand:;: :'>love for approval for a ten-year le::s.e with a live-yea. G;;t:~11 and to continue to be self-supporting and a five year leS"e' each renewal period.. Mr. Shepard: Second. I 1 Mr. Kublke: wIr. Handy, I'll ask you this, if we present to the Commission that we rent this to the Humme Society, do we put a contingency in there subject to negotiations with the Administrator and the Attorney on the contract and the rental rate? Mr. Handy: That could be added in there. lvIr. Oliver: My suggestion would be to authorize the Mayor to sign subject to the approval of the Attorney and the Adminisrrator. I would see the rental rate being 51.00 a year. The key provisions that I see in the contract other than the terms that you have delineated are going to be as it relates to our having no expense for maintaining the building, proving utilities and this would be conditioned upon them continuing to be- ,.,.,1' supporting. Mr. handy: \Vl1at about the utilities that you just mentioned? ?vIr. Oliver: They would be responsible for all utilities and repairs to the builc~it1g. /vIr. Shepard: I second the amended motion. I wIr. Mays: The only question I would ask is everything off the table in refere::ce to talks that were one time in refererlce to State money that they were trying to work out with the Sheriff s Department in reference to that facility in terms of the homeless situaTIon? Mr. Mayor: I talked to Deputy Chief Strength and they have no plans for the building and have no objections to the Humane Society using this building. Motion carries unanimously. A request for Renewal of Ambulance License for Augusta Richmond County. I lvIr. Oliver: This morning we got notification by copy of a letter that was sent to Ernie Doss saying that the University Hospital did not intend to renew EMS License 12101 which expires on 10/29/99. And that this license is issued to Augusta Richmond County. I did some calling around and the term of this lice:1Se is not necessary for Rural Merro to operate ambulance service. However, Cobb County is currently in litigation with their ambulance provider as it relates to providing those services and the provider contends that as long as the service is being provided by the private sector, the public sector can't get into it at all. \Ve think that by maintaining this license and the cost rJf maintaining this license is 55.350 that it provides us flexibility into the future so that we don't have to make a hasty decision. And we recommerld that we fund the renewal of this license. The license is in our name and we think it is in the best interest of the Mayor, Commission and the community to do that at this particular time. Mr. Shepard: So move. , NIr. Handy: Second. "'01'- ~(-"r;'~c=>' \,'Ir..,r G'O..o..:::: ~:-'~H ~l'ca~lSe de -~"'r '!ClU" ~'L.J.._~....~.~"""" ._~~ .......J....l_....... ~~ .'''' . 1- 0ilr. Olive:: It peffi1.irs :/OU to orIer amoulmce service in the counr:/. /vIr. Kuhlke: The county to operate ambulance service. Bur the ambulance servic~ doesn't have to have that license to operate') Mr. Oliver: It's my understanding that they don't have to have a county license to operate, because thev have a slate license. wIr. Kuhlke: If we ever lost Rurai Metro, then we are already licensed if we wanted to bring somebody else in. Mr. Oliver: We could do th2.t. we could do it ourselves, we could contract with somebody els~ w do. This just keeps our options open. ;VIr. Mavor: Is this a breach of Universitv's conrract with us not to have J. licem~" . - . wIr. Oliver: There is a question and I've asked wIr. Wall and he has to provide the answer to that. But, based on what I heard this morning, Rural Merro does not need this license to operate within the county. What's interesting is that University has another ambulance license, they have TWO. Our conrract is with University Hospital to provide that service. However. Rural Merro is not required to have that license to provide thos~ services. If [hey were required to have that license. it would be fuily [heir rcspor;c',oil.,. I~ Mr. KurJke: I"mjust asking this question, Rural Metro has a license. Tjniv" 'Slt" Hospital has a license and now we have a license? wIr. Oliver: We've always had a license it was assigned to University Hospital and subsequently, they got their own license. /vIr. Brigham: Ifwe assigned a license to University Hospital and they 'r.,"':' 1. conrract with us to provide ambulance service which we allow them to subconmiol, would they be in violation if they don't maintain the license that we assigned to them? Mr. Oliver: That's a question for;VIr. Wall to answer. As a practical matter, as I understand it Rural MeITo is not responsible, who is their subcontractor, to have this particular license. Mr. Kuhlke: Should we put a condition in the motion then, that if in facl the:,' con't 11<.lve to Lio tt ~h:.l[ "ve ne:::d [0 do it, Jut ti:i.:[ needs ~o be r.::se:.lrC~1eC oefore ",V.-~ '.. '."." ~ - tinanc:ai commitme~t to it. I I lvIr. Oliver: I would note that based on what we find out that we're going to have to take action before the Commission meeting because this license has to be renewed by 10/29/99 or it dies. /vIr. Shepard: I'll amend the motion. lVIr. Mays: The unanswered question as to whether or not what we voted for in this original extension to Rural Metro as to whether or not we will be getting out of the subsidy business or it will be going dO'hTI. And we were presented some weeks ago with a situation that would indirectly deal with the raising of rates that we were doing. And I'm wondering with a dead line approaching and a license sitting there, we're talking about a four-figure deal on October 29. I don't see why we're conditioning it to a point that we need to go ahead anJ have it. Both of the other parties have already made up their mind what they are going to do. :VIr. Kuhlke: I tbinle:he motion, :VIr. Shepard. was to go ahead :md apply tor the license or renew it. but make sure that our contract doesn't specify that l'niversity Hospital is not supposed to maintain this or in breach of their contract. But one way or the other by October 29 we will be covered. Motion carries unanimously. I A request from the Sheriffs Department to approve a Stop Violence Against Women Grant Program, Grant Match in the amount of 516,676. Ms. Gibbs: This is the third year that we have had this gram. It's a Violence Against Womerl gran!. We 'lave three investigators under this grant it's a sevemy-live- twemy-five. We've already plugged the figures for this grant and the ten percent on the previous grant into the 2000 budget. ]'vIr. Oliver: I would note that the funds are available in the Sheriffs budget and this requires no new equipment or personnel. Mr. Handy: So move for approval. ?vIr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. \Vlrh GO furi:he: busl:1ess to discuss 'the :nee~iilg ',V;,lS J.djourned. I Lena J. Bonner Clerk ofComrnission /bb I PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - October 25, 1999 3:30 P. M. 1. Approve an expenditure of $9,966.99 for relocating the data communications lines and associated communications hardware to 901 Greene Street, subject to receipt of forfeiture funds in an equal amount. 2. Discuss space for Law Libraty and other relocations. 3. Approve $7,200 for purchase of 3 PC's for EMA. 4. Approve application for Grant to fund Mobile Data Terminals in the Sheriff's Department. 5. Request from the CSRA Humane Society for donation of space at the former City Stockade, located at Lake Olmstead. I I