Public Safety Advisory Committee approves by-laws and terms of service

The first order of business at Monday’s Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting was the approval of the group’s by-laws as well as setting service terms for appointed committee members. The committee consists of one member of the Maricopa City Council and six citizen representatives who are appointed by council. Non-voting advisory members from the Maricopa Fire District and the Sheriff’s Office also sit on the committee.

After some discussion the group added railroad and hazardous material issues, disaster preparedness and traffic control to the list of concerns possibly needing to be addressed by the group. Members elected Cindy Inskeep recording secretary.

Term limits for appointed members on this committee as well as on other city committees currently are for two years. However, the Public Safety Committee has been in existence for two years. If all members were now completing two-year terms, there would be no one left on the committee.

Committee member Arb Campbell suggested that individuals serve their two-year or three-year term, stay off the committee for a year and reapply if so desired. “It doesn’t matter how many years as long as it’s a staggered term,” noted Campbell. By increasing the terms to a staggered three years, as suggested by representative Joe Trujillo, the committee would always retain two-thirds of its membership.

Campbell and Greg Morrow will go off the committee on July 1 of this year. In 2007 Inskeep and Shana Kerr will take their leave, while Carl Diedrich and Trujillo will serve until 2008.

Ordinances, Issues and the New Drug-Free Coalition
Both the parking and motorized scooter ordinances are still under review by the City Attorney. The city’s emergency plan is formulated and in process although it has not yet gone to the committee or council for review.

“We know where they’re going and crossing,” noted Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree, referring to local illegal immigrant traffic. “With the city moving and the trailer park off Garvey Avenue being vacated, the problem should soon resolve itself.”

Murphree also summarized the first meeting of the Maricopa Drug-Free Coalition (see related story). “We had an awesome turnout. The people on the committee are so willing to jump on this,” he stated. “The focus is already on Maricopa as a caring community.”

Vice Mayor Brent Murphree, the Public Safety chair person, takes notes while committee member Arb Campbell (left) listens to the discussion.

Safety Concerns
The lack of sidewalks on the corner of SR 347 and SR 238 presents a real safety issue. Likewise, there is a lack of street lighting there and in several of the housing developments. The Public Works Committee is reviewing that problem. Very short turn signals on several traffic lights are another hazard as are people waving development signs on street corners.

Lieutenant Scott Elliott informed the group that DPS has now turned over the enforcement of SR 347 within the Maricopa city limits to the local sheriff’s office. As of this month local deputies are responsible for enforcement on that stretch of roadway. Elliott explained, “When something happens, my guys are really dedicated to that area.” Situations like inoperable traffic lights or automobile accidents leave the substation very shorthanded in responding to calls from the public.

Agency Reports
Maricopa firefighters responded to 130 calls in April, up from 63 a year ago in the same month. The majority of those calls, 94 of them, were for emergency medical services. The new fire station at Alterra will be completed in July, and additional firefighters will be hired. As of July 1, Phoenix Alarm will be dispatching all fire calls (see related story).

Sheriff’s deputies issued 184 citations in April, including 45 arrests, six of them juveniles. They answered 630 calls, up from about 400 in April last year. The highest number of calls came in the following categories:

Alarms (mostly false), 103 calls
Disorderly conduct, 39 calls
Theft, 39 calls
Accidents, 37 calls
Suspicious persons, 36 calls
Domestic violence, 26 calls
Burglary, 20 calls

The Public Safety Advisory Committee will meet again on June 19 at City Hall.