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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - June 29, 1999 SS233 CITY OF LODI INFORMAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING "SHIRTSLEEVE" SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM 305 W. PINE STREET TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1999 An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, June 29, 1999 commencing at 7:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Council Members — Hitchcock (left at 8:15 a.m.). Mann (left at 8:15 a.m.),, Nakanishi, Pennino (left at 8:15 a.m.) and Land (Mayor) Absent: Council Members — None Also Present: City Manager Flynn, Deputy City Manager Keeler, Finance Director McAthie, Public Works Director Prima, Community Development Director Bardam, Police Chief Hansen, Fire Chief Kenley, Human Resources Director Narloch, City Attorney Hays and City Clerk Reimche Also present in the audience was a representative from the Lodi News Sentinel and The Record. TOPIC(S) 1. Public Safety Building COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 1. Gerald Houtsma, 900 Kramer Drive, Lodi, shared his feeling that the new building should be constructed rather than modifying and improving the existing structure. ADJOURNMENT No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:20 a.m. ATTEST: Alice M. I he City Clerk Public Safety Building Capital Improvement Project Presented by: Larry D. Hansen Chief of Police Major Concerns Background Information • The Lodi Public Safety Building was completed in 1967. The population of the City of Lodi was approx. 27,500 and occupied an area of 6.2 Sq. miles. The police department consisted of 44 full time employees and 27 volunteers for a total of 71 personnel using the facility. At that time the entire fleet consisted of ten (10) vehicles. In 1999 the population of the City of Lodi is approx. 57,000 and occupies an area of approx. 12.3 sq. miles. The police department consists of 112 full time employees and 113 volunteers for a total of 227 personnel using the facility. The fleet now consists of 72 vehicles, which includes trailers, motorcycles, and support vehicles. Space Needs • In 1967, the portion of the building occupied by police consisted of 26,000 sf. Of this, 6000 sf is devoted to pistol range, jail and mechanical areas or approx. 24% of the area devoted to police. This equates to approx. 454 sf per person at the time of occupancy. • As of June 1999, the only substantial increase in space has been the relocation of the investigations division to the Carnegie basement, which accounts for an additional 3,500 sf. This equates to approx. 209 sf per person. • Industry standards recommend 250 sf per person. Front Lobby • The police lobby is shared with the Lodi Municipal court, often requiring citizens needing police services to co -mingle with arrestees, parolees, and probationers. • There are no interview rooms readily accessible where officers can conduct sensitive interviews of crime victims. • The furniture and wall and floor coverings are worn and do not present a professional appearance. • The police lobby cannot be secured during non business hours contributing to its use by transients. • The layout is not conducive to good customer service. Dispatch • In 1967, the Lodi Police Department employed a total of 4 dispatcher/jailers, whose duties were limited to police dispatching only as well as jail duties. Typically there was one dispatcher/jailer on duty at any given time. • Currently, the Lodi Police Department employs a total of 16 dispatcher/jailers whose duties consist of dispatching police and fire as well as being jailers. Typically there are 3 to 4 dispatcher/jailers on duty at any given time. • The communications center is 190 sf, which equates to approximately 50 sf per person. This figure is somewhat inflated in that a good portion of the space is taken up by counter space, consoles and electronic equipment. • The proximity of workstations (approx: 3 feet) contributes to severe officer safety issues by creating an atmosphere of confusion due to radio traffic, telephone calls and computer work. • Fixed consoles do not allow for modification and present ergonomic and health problems for communications personnel. Jail • Current design is not conducive to the monitoring of prisoners or the safety of prisoners and/or employees. Modifications to the jail would require meeting current Board of Corrections standards for the construction of jails. This could prove very costly. • Jail is outdated and presents potential liability for the City of Lodi. Property and Evidence • Currently property and evidence is isolated in the basement of the facility and is not readily accessible to the public or department personnel. • There are no provisions to accommodate large items of evidence within the facility. • Due to space constraints, off site locations for the booking of property and evidence have been added creating a fragmented and inefficient operation. • Having multiple locations for the storage of property and evidence compromises the integrity of evidence. Indoor Pistol Range • Poor ventilation contributes to health and safety issues to personnel. • Targeting and trap systems are antiquated and are in dire need of replacement. s Trap system is an environmental hazard due to lead contamination Locker Rooms • Insufficient number of lockers for the number of personnel. Other locations within the facility have been adapted to makeshift locker rooms to accommodate personnel. • Women's locker room is grossly inadequate in size, privacy, and overall condition. • Individual lockers are inadequate in size to meet today's equipment needs such as bulletproof vests, brief cases and other necessary equipment. • Access to showers and toilets requires crossing public and prisoner movement areas. Building Security • Existing design does not provide for clear delineation of public and secure areas. • Current design provides easy access to entire building. • Due to design prisoners must be released through secure areas. • The absence of a sally port creates an officer safety issue and an escape risk. • There is no secured area for employee and official vehicles making them vulnerable to vandalism and exposing employees who work late shifts to danger. With the cost of replacing a patrol vehicle at $47,000 this represents a substantial investment on the part of the city which needs protection. Parking • Inadequate number of parking spaces for the size of the fleet. • The fleet has grown from 10 vehicles in 1967 to 72 vehicles in 1999 with the addition of only ten designated parking spaces. ADA Requirements • Elevators, bathrooms, doors and various work areas are not in compliance with current ADA standards. Patrol Areas • Currently there are two interview rooms located in the secure area of the building. Often times both are in use, requiring other officers to search for alternate locations to interview victims. Current layout is not conducive to a productive and efficient work environment. For example, evidence is located in the far reaches of the basement, while report writing and watch follow up is located on the first floor. • Currently officers are required to use interview rooms as juvenile holding facilities, which is not conducive to proper monitoring. Building and Mechanical Systems • HVAC system is grossly inadequate and has not operated properly for the past ten years. Complaints have been filed with Cal OSHA and the City of Lodi. According to HVAC experts replacement of head end equipment alone will not solve the problem. • Electrical systems are inadequate and severely overloaded. • Plumbing leaks can be found throughout the building. For example, when fire personnel take showers, water leaks into the patrol briefing room, upstairs toilet leaks into hallway near dispatch and when jail toilets overflow, water leaks into officer's lockers. Interior Condition • Ceilings, lighting, floor and wall coverings, bathroom fixtures and windows are in poor condition and in dire need of repair or replacement. • Overall condition of the building lacks a professional appearance and presents a poor image to citizens. • Overall condition of the building affects morale, pride and organizational esprit de corps.