APPENDIX I
Council Meeting
April 16, 2002
The following is a reproduction of the portion of the April 16, 2002 Council Meeting documenting City Council direction to Chief DeForrest’s proposal to develop a strategic plan for the Police Department in lieu of LEMAP:
Present: Mayor, Corky Wilde; Councilors, Winn Wendell, Shirley Kaping, Paul Kellerman, Dwight Coon and Herb Christensen; City Administrator, Bert McClintock; Police Chief Bill DeForrest, City Attorney, Russell Poppe; City Recorder/Finance Director, Barb Scott; Community Development Director, David Renshaw; and Secretary Erica Nicol.
Police Chief DeForrest distributed a memo date April 8, 2002 and a memo dated April16, 2002, both relating to his proposal to perform an alternative to the LEMAP process. He thanked the Council for allowing him the opportunity to serve and the Interim Police Chief. Chief DeForrest reviewed the memo of April8, describing the outline to develop a strategic plan for police services that would be more comprehensive that the LEMAP process. He noted that the Public Safety Committee would be the chief mechanism for receiving community input but he would also speak with any civic groups or citizens would like to be involved. He explained that two documents would be produced, one that describes the existing police services that are currently provided in Junction City, and another describing how Junction City is expected to grow and develop. These two documents would then be merged together to form the strategic plan. Goals and policies would be developed and presented to the Council for adoption. There would also be recommended strategies, which would not be adopted by the City Council as these strategies may change. Chief DeForrest stated all of the goals and policies for the strategic plan would be contingent upon available funding, with each budget year being utilized as the planning process. He asked that the Council direct him, as a Police Chief, to work with the employees of the Police Department, the Public Safety Committee, and the community as a whole, to produce a strategic plan as described in his memo, by September 30, 2002. Chief DeForrest also noted that there is a work plan outline that demonstrates the timeline for the process, attached to the April 16th memo.
Councilor Kellerman asked how the Police Chief, who would be hired after Chief DeForrest, would respond to having a plan laid out that he was not involved in producing. Chief DeForrest stated that applicants should be informed of the situation during the recruiting process. He said that, personally, he would greatly appreciate receiving a document that reflects Council direction, when beginning a new position.
Administrator McClintock reported that she was able to contact Mr. Rob Deu Pree, the person who the Council had selected in November 2001 to perform the LEMAP, but mentioned that Mr. DeForrest is well suited to conduct a more comprehensive study over an extended period of time.
Councilor Kaping said that she approved of the proposal Chief DeForrest presented and felt that it would be a good subject for the Council to discuss at their retreat.
Motion: Councilor Wendell made a motion to approve the proposal as an alternative to the LEMAP, as presented by Chief DeForrest. The motion was seconded by Councilor Christensen.
Councilor Kellerman said that he would like to allow public comment on the proposal.
Ethan Nelson, 733 Maple Street, Junction City, said that he doesn’t understand why public comment is necessary at this point. He said that professionals who have experience with the LEMAP process have advised that Chief DeForrest’s proposal offers more public comment and a better source over a longer period of time.
Mr. Dave Nelson, 840 Oak Street, stated that he felt the alternative to the LEMAP is in harmony with what he would like to see happen. He recommended that an audit be performed on City Operations, as well. He said that he has talked to Chief DeForrest and is encouraged by his sincerity to listen to the community. He said that there has been a huge loss of confidence in the City Government with the loss of Chief Cahill and actions taken by the City Council and City Officials, which raised questions about how competent our City Government is.
Barry Schweigert, 1388 Ivy Street, thanked Councilor Kellerman for allowing the public to comment on the proposal presented by Chief DeForrest. He said that he felt the proposal presented by Chief DeForrest is a positive step.
Councilor Kellerman said that because public safety has been a big issue recently, he felt that having concurrence on all sides is important and that is why he requested that the public have an opportunity to comment.
Councilor Wendell commented that he has recently received several compliments from the community regarding the positive change that Chief DeForrest has brought.
Question: Councilor called for the question on the vote to approve Chief DeForrest’s proposal to develop a strategic plan for the Police Department in lieu of the LEMAP.
Vote: The proposal passed by unanimous vote of the City Council.