Amended 7/12/07
LAW ENFORCEMENT
June 14, 2007
Minutes
Members Present: Dale Copedge, Todd Tennis, Victor Celentino, Debbie DeLeon and
Randy Schafer
Members Absent: Dianne Holman
Others Present: John Neilsen, Mary Sabaj, Tom Wiebert, Louis Stadt, Tom
VanDerWoude, Scott Wriggelsworth, Dave Harper, Dale Monnier,
Bruce Gauvee, Hugh Leech
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Copedge at 6:03 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the May 31, 2007 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE MAY 31 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
Limited Public Comment
Mr. Harper, Meridian Township Fire Department, thanked the Committee for the new radio system. The Township appreciates the new system. Mr. Harper then stated the Department has been reviewing the Consolidation issue and the Plant & Moran Study. He commented on East Lansing’s proposal which will be addressed in agenda item 3a. Mr. Harper strongly recommended that the County support the single consolidation for a state of the art dispatch center.
(Comm. DeLeon arrived at 6:05 p.m.)
Additions to the Agenda: None
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. TENNIS, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLWING ITEMS:
1. Sheriff’s Office
a. Resolution Authorizing Ingham County to Enter into a One (1) Year Inter-Local
Agreement with the City of East Lansing and Lansing to Share Proceeds from the
2007 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Award
b. Resolution Authorizing the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office to Dispose of Four
Motorola Radios to the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office
2a. Community Corrections Advisory Board – Resolution Authorizing Submission of a Grant Application and Entering into a Contract with the Michigan Department of Corrections for the Ingham County/City of Lansing Community Corrections 2007-2008 Fiscal Year
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. TENNIS, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
3. Controller’s Office
a. City of East Lansing, Chief Tom Wiebert Presentation on “Dual Dispatch Model”
Mr. Wiebert presented a power-point presentation regarding the Dual Dispatch Model. He stated Plant & Moran was not hired to determine the most effective and efficient way to handle emergency dispatching. Plant & Moran was hired to determine if the proposed consolidation was feasible. Mr. Wiebert stated the information contained in the Plant & Moran study is accurate and the financial projections and formulas are acceptable.
The City of East Lansing disagrees with some key assumptions made in the Plant & Moran Study (Study). Those assumptions are outlined in the Project Background portion of East Lansing’s report which is included in the agenda material. Mr. Wiebert stated the Study did not take into account what would happen if the technology failed in one center without having a back up center. Back up center cots are not included in the final feasibility model. Also, the Study assumes that the consolidated center will be using the Motorola CAD which over ten years is estimated (including upgrades/maintenance) at approximately $2,000,000. A change in software would cost over $700,000 in Year 6, according to the Study.
Mr. Wiebert explained the Dual Dispatch Model (Model) is simply a reorganization of the work load between the two Centers. The East Lansing Center would handle most police dispatching and the Lansing Center would handle all fire dispatching as well as police dispatching for the City of Lansing and Lansing Community College. East Lansing will handle non-emergency calls for client agencies. This will allow for a seamless interface between the client’s CAD and Records by running Visionair CAD and Records. The Lansing Center will continue to use their CAD and Records.
Mr. Wiebert reviewed the Model’s Reallocation of Work Load Operational Assumptions as contained in the agenda material. The total Lansing Center dispatches for 2005 was 147,797; the total East Lansing Center dispatches for 2005 was 118,124. Lansing Center percentage of dispatches for 2005 (dual dispatch center plan) is 56% and the East Lansing Center percentage of dispatches for 2005 (dual dispatch center plan) is 44%.
New solutions are required to partnership effectively between the police departments and the communities which they serve. Mr. Wiebert stated research into what the community wants from the locality is critical to our solution to the problem. Cost effective solutions must be examined. The two possible solutions to the budgetary problem are: combine LPD and ELPD into a new site operated by Ingham County and promote a large reduction in cost by keeping both the LPD and the ELPD 911 Centers so they operate at an increased efficiency by taking into account the communities they serve and reallocating services more effectively.
Mr. Wiebert stated the Study estimates three to five years to implement the consolidation. The Dual Model could be implemented in 18 months.
Mr. Wiebert itemized the following “wins” that would be associated with the Dual Plan:
WINS:
· Revenues would exceed expenditures
· Emergency backup problem solved
· Fire departments – regional response
· Eliminated need to build a new 911 center
· EL and Lansing 911 becomes a revenue source
· FOP bargaining units would not be eliminated
· Opportunity for complete integration of software
· No three to five year delay in implementation
· All 911 employees will keep their jobs
· LPD and ELPD retain control of their 911 Centers
Mr. Wiebert stated East Lansing has been an excellent steward of County dollars. He then expressed his hope that this Committee will consider the Dual Plan. He requested an additional study from Plant & Moran on the Dual Dispatch Plan.
The Committee held a general discussion regarding the presentation. Comm. Tennis requested clarification regarding a few issues. Mr. Wiebert explained the Study’s costs are total costs. He also stated East Lansing would achieve a majority of its cost savings with the Dual Plan by not having to construct a new center. Mr. Wiebert further explained that East Lansing would maintain its current employees and existing employee contracts under the Dual Plan.
Comm. Schafer stated he was very impressed with Mr. Wiebert’s presentation. The Dual Plan would not require additional County dollars. This Committee should consider other options before making a determination on the Plant & Moran Study.
Comm. DeLeon stated she appreciated the presentation to a degree; however, she still has a concern with the concept that two centers would be cheaper to operate than one center. The East Lansing plan appears to be a short-term solution. Comm. DeLeon also stated the Governor is looking for regionalism. The County will continue to incur costs by delaying the move toward consolidation.
Comm. Tennis stated he would like Plant & Moran to review the Dual Plan Model to determine if there are any unintended consequences. Comm. Celentino thanked Mr. Wiebert for his informative presentation. He then asked about the Lansing Call Center. Mr. Harper stated the Meridian Township 911 calls would be routed through East Lansing. The Dual Plan would be cumbersome and ineffective.
Mr. Neilsen stated the Fire Chiefs have expressed concerns regarding the transfer of 911 calls to the East Lansing Center under the Dual Plan. Other concerns include the supervisor to dispatcher ratio and best practices for specific communities.
Chairperson Copedge asked if East Lansing will consent to the consolidation if that is the recommendation of the Plant & Moran study. Mr. Wiebert stated East Lansing would be on board with the consolidation if that is the determination by the study.
b. Resolution Authorizing a Contract with Plante & Moran for 911 Center Consultant
Services and Subcontract with East Lansing
MOVED BY COMM. TENNIS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH PLANTE & MORAN FOR 911 CENTER CONSULTANT SERVICES AND SUBCONTRACT WITH EAST LANSING.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Comm. DeLeon stated she reluctantly supports this Resolution at this time.
Chairperson Copedge requested a written copy of Mr. Wiebert’s presentation.
2. Community Corrections Advisory Board
b. Project Sentry Six Month Report on 2007 Year
Mr. Neilsen stated the BOC authorized Project Sentry services to continue through June 2007. The Board also issued an RFP drug and alcohol testing services. The CCAB was to try to resolve their financial situation.
Ms. Sabaj stated Project Sentry has experienced some improvements. She then stated Project Sentry improved its financial situation in the first five months of the year. However, the program is operating on a skeleton crew and with annual lease payment increases, it will continue to struggle to generate enough revenue to keep the County subsidy within an acceptable range. Various service categories are on the up swing. Ms. Sabaj then stated the lease amount will continue to increase over time. Project Sentry is currently working with a skeleton crew. The lead monitor left on May 1, 2007. Ms. Sabaj stated the manager received a slight salary increase. Continuing Project Sentry will always involve a revenue generating struggle, especially in its current location.
Ms. Sabaj informed the Committee that some of the services which are provided by Project Sentry should be continued if Project Sentry is discontinued.
Chairperson Copedge asked Ms. Sabaj if the Judges have made more referrals to Project Sentry. Ms. Sabaj stated she has not seen a huge increase in referrals from the District Court. She then stated several counties rely on the MDOC for cup tests.
Comm. Schafer stated the rent at the current location is much higher than the previous Project Sentry location. Comm. Celentino stated he agrees that moving Project Sentry to its current location increased costs; however, Project Sentry experienced many problems at the Hayford Street location.
Comm. Tennis asked if Project Sentry could be continued. Ms. Sabaj explained that A.D.A.M. offers a variety of testing locations which is important to the District Court. Project Sentry would continue to receive business from the Circuit Court.
Chairperson Copedge stated he thought Project Sentry would look at other sites to perform testing. Plans to implement an on-line learning program were not pursued due to the uncertainty of continuation. A lot of work went into the development and implementation of the EIP classes at MSU, but to date there have been no referrals. Although it is expected that EIP will improve by the fall, it is clear that it will not be the revenue generator originally anticipated.
c. Resolution to Authorize the Transition from Project Sentry by the End of 2007
MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSITION FROM PROJECT SENTRY BY THE END OF 2007. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
Public Comment: None
Announcement
Mr. Neilsen reminded the Committee that the Board has entered its summer schedule for July, August and September. He also stated there has been some discussion regarding scheduling a joint Law Enforcement/Judiciary meeting for the purpose of discussing jail overcrowding.
Comm. DeLeon wished Chairperson Copedge a belated Happy Birthday.
The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff