Approved 12/1/05

LAW ENFORCEMENT

November 10, 2005

Minutes

Members Present:         Debbie DeLeon, Deb Nolan, Dale Copedge, Marc Thomas, Randy Schafer, Don Vickers and Board Chairperson Mark Grebner

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Steve Dougan, Bryce Alford, Karen Chadwick, Wendy Ring and Suzy Carter

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson DeLeon at 6:10 p.m. in the Personnel

Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the October 27, 2005 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 27 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Copedge

Additions to the Agenda

4b.       Revised Resolution

1.         Community Corrections Advisory Board – Interviews

The applicant, Adrian Johnson, was not present for his interview.

2.         Controller’s Office – Resolution Authorizing 2006 Agreements for Community Agencies

Mr. Neilsen stated this Committee has received two applications for Community Agency funding.  These two agencies are the Lansing Area Safety Council and the New Way In, Inc. The agencies received funding in last year’s Community Agency budget process.  Mr. Neilsen further stated the Controller’s Office has recommended a flat appropriation for the Law Enforcement, Judiciary and County Services Committees’ Community Agencies.  The Human Services Committee will receive a three percent increase over their 2005 appropriation. 

The Board of Commissioners did not direct that Community Agencies must meet the Board’s priority of meeting basic needs to receive funding.  The directive stated meeting basic needs was a priority emphasis for 2006.

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO RECOMMEND FUNDING  THE TWO AGENCIES AT THEIR 2005 LEVELS;  $3,393.00 FOR THE LANSING AREA SAFETY COUNCIL; AND $6,107 TO THE  NEW WAY IN INC.

Ms. Carter, Lansing Area Safety Council, (Council) addressed the Committee regarding the Council’s mission.  The Lansing Area Safety Council provides safety education and resources for traffic safety for people in the tri-County area.  However, a majority of the resources are expended on Ingham County residents.    In response to Chairperson DeLeon, Chairperson Grebner stated the Council has been in business since the late 1970’s.    Ms. Carter explained the Council receives state funding through a CET grant. 

Ms. Carter addressed questions from the Committee at this time.  Comm. Thomas asked about the number of people who participate in the Council’s babysitting course.  Ms. Carter stated approximately 100 students participate in the course each summer.  She also explained the Council’s car seat program loans car seats mainly to out of town visitors.  This is a short-term loan program.  Comm. Thomas inquired as to how the Council receives clients.  Ms. Carter stated the Council uses press releases and referrals from families to inform people of the Council’s services.  Comm. Vickers stated many area Fairs distribute information regarding the Council to their visitors.

Comm. Thomas asked what the Council would do if it did not receive its requested amount of funding.  Ms. Carter explained that the Council could not provide the same level of services without the requested funding. 

Comm. Nolan asked Ms. Carter if she has tried to work with Homeland Security regarding possible grants.  Ms. Carter stated she would check into this resource. 

The discussion regarding the Council’s services and programs continued.  Ms. Carter stated the Council provides as many resources as possible to area residents.  Comm.  Vickers stated the Council’s safety patrol annual picnics include diverse groups of youth. 

Chairperson DeLeon stated her concern regarding the increased demand for human services.  She then stated it would be appreciated if agencies obtain funding from other resources when possible so that the County can appropriate its Community Agency funding to actual basic needs.  Ms. Carter stated she is willing to address any suggestions from this Committee.

Comm. Thomas stated the Council’s new parents program is a particularly important effort which ties in with some of the Ingham County Health Department’s programs.  He suggested the Community Agencies could be more direct in approaching other organizations to meet a more targeted audience.  The Board of Commissioners has to make some tough decisions regarding funding due to the County’s own financial situation. 

Comm.  Copedge asked if the Council’s requested funds would target specific programs.  Ms. Carter stated the dollars currently are not targeted toward specific programs.  The Council could change its directive to address more specific needs in the future.  Comm. Nolan stated it may be a good idea for the Council to redirect its focus toward meeting human needs in the future.  She then suggested the Council could come back next year with hard data regarding any new programs. 

Comm. Thomas stated this Committee could agree on a specific use of the Community Agency allocation and put that into a contract with the Lansing Area Safety Council.  Mr. Neilsen could work out the details with the Council. 

Comm. Schafer stated the Council is only requesting $3,393.00 from a total allocation for this Committee of $9,500.00.  The Council has provided services to area residents for many years.  It has a diverse membership on its Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors would best know where to allocate its funding from the County.  Comm. Schafer stated he supports the Council’s funding request as he knows it provides valuable services for the community.

Comm. Thomas suggested that, due to this Committee’s slight sense that the Council does not meet the County’s priority emphasis; staff could work with them to redirect their efforts to address the County’s area of emphasis. 

Ms. Ring, New Way In, Inc., (Agency) addressed this Committee regarding her Community Agency funding request.  Ms. Ring explained the Agency has provided services to offenders for the past 30 years.  The Agency assists offenders in the Ingham County Jail approximately one week prior to their release dates to address employment concerns.  These services are also provided to the area prisons.  The Agency hopes that by speaking with inmates prior to their release, they will be more likely to do the right thing rather than to re-offend. 

Comm. Thomas asked how the Agency determines if it is meeting its goal of getting inmates back to work upon release.  Ms. Ring explained many of the inmates are tracked for up to one year after their release.  Ms. Ring then stated she has appreciated the County’s past funding of New Way In, Inc. 

The Committee consented to a Friendly Amendment that the Lansing Area Safety Council will target at-risk populations.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

3.         IJIG’s Committee – Resolution Authorizing a Pro Temps Contract Extension for the Integration Phase of the Integrated Justice Information System

MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. THOMAS, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PRO TEMPS CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE INTEGRATION PHASE OF THE INTEGRATED JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM.

Comm. Schafer expressed his concern that this contract has been extended numerous times.  Mr. Neilsen explained the project is completed.  However, the integration phase is an on-going process.  He further explained this position was requested in a past budget process as a permanent position.  It was not funded.  The person filling this position is a retired person who is happy with the current arrangement.  Mr. Neilsen explained the integration process for Comm. Nolan.

Chairperson DeLeon asked if projects are being completed in a timely manner by Mr. Ferguson.  Chairperson Grebner stated projects may not be completed on time, but they are not abandoned as in past practice.  He then stated that when Mr. Ferguson retires, the County will find a way to do the same work.

Comm. Schafer stated the Board does not normally approve resolutions for a specific person. 

MOTION CARRIED with Comms. Schafer and Vickers voting NO.

4.         Controller’s Office/911 Advisory Committee

a.         Resolution Authorizing Contracts with Lansing and  East Lansing for the 911 Center’s 2005/06 Operations and Amending the 911 Emergency Telephone Dispatch Services Fund Allocation Policy

MOVED BY COMM. THOMAS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS WITH LANSING AND EAST LANSING FOR THE 911 CENTER’S 2005/06 OPERATIONS AND AMENDING THE 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE DISPATCH SERVICES FUND ALLOCATION POLICY.

Mr. Neilsen explained this Resolution authorizes changing the cap of 80% of the annual revenue being used for operational contracts and 20% for management and system improvements to 85% of the annual 911 revenue being used for operational contracts and 15% for management and system improvements to alleviate a structural funding problem.  The Resolution also authorizes a fiscal year 2005/06 operational contracts with Lansing and East Lansing at 95% of their costs. 

Comm. Schafer expressed his concern that the costs in this matter continue to increase for the County.  The Board needs to address the land-line issue.  Comm. Schafer stated he is strongly opposed to returning to a 20% or 15% arrangement.   

Comm. Thomas requested clarification regarding the change in the percentages.  Mr. Neilsen explained this may be an opportune time to change the numbers because we have almost completed the 911 project. 

Comm. Schafer stated if the County wants to consolidate 911 Centers, there should be an incentive for the consolidation. 

Comm. Nolan suggested this Committee continue this discussion in more depth during a future meeting.

MOVED BY COMM. THOMAS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS WITH LANSING AND EAST LANSING FOR THE 911 CENTER’S 2005/06 OPERATIONS AND AMENDING THE 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE DISPATCH SERVICES FUND ALLOCATION POLICY.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

b.         Revised Resolution Authorizing a Grant Match for the City of Lansing’s COPS Interoperable Voice and Data Grant

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE REVISED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT MATCH FOR THE CITY OF LANSING’S COPS INTEROPERABLE VOICE AND DATA GRANT.

Mr. Neilsen explained the Resolution authorizes up to $42,500 to be spent from the 911 funds as the twenty-five per cent match in the COPS grant for the purchase of the City of East Lansing’s CAD mapping system. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

c.         Recommendations from the 911 Advisory Committee on the Board of Commissioners’ Referrals for the 911 Radios

Mr. Neilsen stated the 911 Advisory Committee has recommended that all radios for Ingham County agencies be funded through the COPS grant.

MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Announcements:           None

Public Comment

Ms. Timmon expressed her disappointment regarding some results of the recent elections.  She then expressed her concern regarding telephone calls to her home.

The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff