Approved 10/11/07

LAW ENFORCEMENT

September 13, 2007

Minutes

Members Present:         Dale Copedge, Todd Tennis, Victor Celentino, Debbie DeLeon, Dianne Holman and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas

Members Absent:         Randy Schafer

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Bryce Alford, Dennis Demaray, Tom Ecleberry and Ms. Cates

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Copedge at 6:04 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the August 16, 2007

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DELEON, TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 16 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.   Absent:  Comm.  Schafer

Additions to the Agenda

2.         Additional Information

3b.       Resolution Authorizing Entering into an Infrastructure Maintenance Agreement with M/A-COM, Inc. for the Public Safety Radio System

5.         CATS – Update

6.         911 Bills – Update

Chairperson Copedge informed the Committee that Comm. Schafer may not be present at future Law Enforcement meetings due to a new job responsibility.

Chairperson Copedge stated the road patrol letters were mailed to the Townships.  He requested the Commissioners review their calendars to determine when an October meeting can be rescheduled so that Comm. Schafer may attend to discuss this matter.  Chairperson Thomas explained the Board does not normally reschedule meetings for this purpose.

1.         Sheriff’s Office – Resolution to Accept the 2007 Risk Avoidance Grant (RAP) from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA)     

MOVED BY COMM. TENNIS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2007 RISK AVOIDANCE GRANT (RAP) FROM THE MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (MMRMA).  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.   Absent:  Comm. Schafer

2.         M/A-Com, Inc.  – Update on Progress for the Dropped Calls Issue and Southwest Lansing Enhancement

Dennis Memaray and Tom Ecleberry, Tyco Electronics – M/A-COM, were present to address the Committee regarding this item.  Mr. Bryce Alford, Sheriff’s Office was also present for this item.

Mr. Memaray stated M/A-COM (Company) has been investigating the issue of dropped calls and has made some progress in reducing the percentage of missed calls.  Limiting the allowable control channels to those not experiencing significant harmful external interference has improved the overall system performance.  Unfortunately, the Company is seeing system degrading interference on channels 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10.  Channels 8 and 9 have been clear so far.  Channel 3 has only experienced interference occasionally. 

The latest round of test calls has shown approximately .2% missed calls in reasonable coverage areas.  The addition of the southwest site will further improve the coverage in the South Lansing area.  Some of the equipment for the southwest site has been received. 

Mr. Memaray further stated M/A – COM will provide the labor and hardware necessary to resolve the missed call issue, unless it is determined that harmful external interference is causing the missed call problem.  The Company has no control over interference generated by other properly or improperly licensed users in the UHF band that may be affecting your system performance. 

Comm. Nolan asked if the missed calls go above .2% during peak times.  Mr. Memaray stated the percentage could be .5% during the peak times.  Chairperson Thomas asked when the southwest tower will be completed.  Mr. Neilsen explained the six week time period has passed.  Mr. Memaray stated the officers should be able to use the system by the end of October. 

Chairperson Thomas asked what the 911 Advisory Committee thinks about the dropped calls issue.  Mr. Alford stated the officers are happy that the number of dropped calls has decreased.  Mr. Neilsen stated the Lansing Police Department probably would not say they are happy at this time.  The Department will wait until the new system is complete before making a judgment call. 

Comm. Tennis asked for the reasonable number of dropped calls.  The County should know what it can expect from the system.  Mr. Memaray stated he could not provide a number that would be considered reasonable.  Mr. Neilsen stated the 911 Advisory Committee has indicated 1% of dropped calls is unacceptable. 

This discussion continued.  Comm. DeLeon stated .2% of dropped calls are unacceptable during a six week testing period.  Chairperson Copedge asked about the lag time issue.  Mr. Memaray explained that leaving the radios turned on will not reduce the number of missed calls.  Turning the radios off is not a good idea because it means the officers have to wait for the radios to power up before they can be used. 

Chairperson Copedge thanked Mr. Memaray and Mr. Ecleberry for attending this meeting to address this Committee’s concerns. 

3.         911 Advisory Board

a.         Resolution Authorizing a Contract for Radio Communications Consulting Services with Tusa Consulting Services (TCS)

Mr. Neilsen stated the 911 Advisory Committee is recommending that this Committee hire an independent third party vendor to look into the radio system to see if they can identify the problems resulting in missed calls.  The Advisory Committee has recommended up to $15,000 for this contract. 

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING SERVICES WITH TUSA CONSULTING SERVICES (TCS).

Comm. Tennis stated he is willing to support the Advisory Committee’s recommendation; however, he stated he is troubled with the idea that the current vendor is trying to resolve the problem and is making some progress.  Comm. DeLeon stated she agreed with Comm. Tennis’ statement.  She further stated she would prefer that this Resolution not be considered until the tower is operational.  If the issues are not resolved at that time, then this Committee should consider this Resolution.  Chairperson Copedge stated he shares the above concerns.

Comm. Celentino asked if Tusa would look into radio interference from other sources.  Mr. Neilsen stated Tusa would come into this process with an open mind.  The contract would authorize one week’s service.  Mr. Neilsen stated it may be difficult to identify and resolve the problem in one week. 

Comm. Holman stated it appears this Committee is second guessing our current vendor. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

b.         Resolution Authorizing Entering into an Infrastructure Maintenance Agreement with M/A-COM, Inc. for the Public Safety Radio System

Mr. Neilsen stated the current one-year warranty will expire September 30, 2007.  During the past year, RFP’s were issued and the County received two responses, one from M/A – COM and one from the Lansing Radio Shop.  The M/A COM proposal would continue to support the entire Lansing mobile and portable radio equipment as they have done traditionally.   The Lansing Radio Shop has met the requirements to provide their own end user maintenance and is scheduled to continue that training. 

The 911 Advisory Committee has reviewed the two proposals and is recommending M/A COM on the following basis:

1)  A System Maintenance Contract with M/A-COM, Inc. for the Infrastructure       

      only, for a three-year period.

2)  All individual municipalities/public safety agencies will be responsible to pay for their own radio maintenance contracts.

Comm. Celentino asked Mr. Alford for additional information regarding the 911 Advisory Committee’s determination to have municipalities conduct their own maintenance.  Mr. Alford stated each municipality has its own problems.  If the radios break or the end user items are lost, the municipalities are responsible for the repairs or replacements.

Mr. Neilsen stated the Resolution is only a draft.  The Committee is not being asked to approve it this evening.  This Committee will probably hear from fire and police chiefs of smaller units regarding the cost arrangement.  Mr. Neilsen further stated the 911 Advisory Committee recommended the funding arrangement which was distributed to the Committee at this start of this discussion. 

The Committee held a general discussion regarding this matter.  Mr. Neilsen stated the County has always paid the infrastructure costs for the smaller units of government; therefore, the proposed funding arrangement is new to them.

4.         Animal Control Advisory Committee

a.         Communication regarding Increase in Allowable Expenditure for Emergency Veterinary Care    

Mr. Neilsen provided the historical perspective on this matter.  The County has authorized $25 payment for emergency veterinary care.  This has been the arrangement for the past 23 years.  The Animal Control Advisory Board has recommended increasing the rate from $25 to $50.  The Animal Control Director has indicated she would find the funds in her budget to cover the increase. 

MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. HOLMAN, TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ANIMAL CONTROL DIRECTOR’S REQUEST TO INCREASE THE $25 AUTHORIZATION TO $50.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

b.         Ingham County Animal Control Shelter Advisory Board Appropriation

Mr. Neilsen stated the April 23, 2007 letter indicates the Advisory Board’s budget is $1,500.  The Advisory Board’s budget is actually $500.  The Animal Control Director has been informed of this correction. 

After a brief discussion, the Committee approved the Advisory Board’s request. 

6.         911 Bills – Update

Mr. Neilsen stated the House Appropriation’s Committee wants to combine two bills which is not what the County wants.  The 911 Director has issued a new deadline which is October 15, 2007.  Mr. Neilsen then stated the current legislation will sunset at the end of this year.   

5.         CATS – Update

Ms. Cates stated a meeting was held on August 29, 2007 to review the program’s Jail services.   The meeting centered on what CATS could do differently to divert people from the Jail and to decrease jail bed days.  The meeting was very productive and it revealed that more consistent communication is needed between CATS and the courts. 

Ms. Cates further stated the County could save a significant amount of money if the CATS program was used regularly by the courts.  Another meeting has been scheduled in October to further narrow down what can be done to increase the use of the CATS program to assist the County in its efforts to resolve jail overcrowding. 

Chairperson Copedge stated CATS can provide assessments in three to five days and the assessments can be conducted after an inmate has been in jail for 9 to 28 days.  Once the assessments are completed, it is hoped that the courts can use the list of providers to obtain appropriate treatment for the inmates. 

Chairperson Copedge thanked Ms. Cates for providing the information to the Committee this evening. 

7.         Chairperson Copedge – Update regarding Union Missionary Baptist Church

Chairperson Copedge stated he was contacted by the Church regarding their desire to discuss jail overcrowding with this Committee.  Some of this Committee’s members will meet with representatives of the Church on September 24.  Chairperson Copedge also stated he informed the Church that the Committee cannot make any promises to them while meeting out of the normal committee process. 

Announcements

Mr. Myers informed the Committee that he appointed Mr. Lindsey as the interim Human Resources Director.  He will assume this position following Mr. Hailey’s retirement.

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff