Public Safety Committee discusses city ordinances, hopes to fill two vacancies soon

Maricopa’s Public Safety Advisory Committee met Monday evening to review several ordinances, as well as the city’s emergency plan and illegal emigrant and drug traffic.

The committee advises the City Council and city management in matters pertaining to fire and police protection, emergency medical service, traffic and pedestrian safety, homeland security and animal control. Membership is for a staggered two-year term. Seven members sit on the committee, which is chaired by Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree.

Currently there are two vacancies on the committee. Applications for prospective members are available at City Hall until December 2. In an earlier conversation Murphree noted, “We are looking for people with a broad-based knowledge of the community. No public safety background is necessary. We welcome somebody who walks kids to school rather than a person entrenched in enforcement.”

Ordinances
The city’s alarm ordinance is delayed at the county level. The intergovernmental agreement is not yet signed, but the county is collecting fees and running the program.

Procedures for ticketing illegal parking in red zones and handicapped spaces need to be standardized. The local sheriff’s office is working on an informational report.

Lieutenant Scott Elliott is gathering information from other cities regarding the use of motorized scooters within city limits. The committee will need to set specific definitions and have the policy reviewed by legal counsel. The model currently being studied is the Actual Ban from the City of Phoenix City Code (Sec. 36-64).

Emergency Plan
Danielle Casey, city management assistant, is in charge of organizing the documentation pertaining to each agency’s role in the city’s emergency plan. The fire department’s plan is the basis for all other segments since that agency will have the command center and the communication network. The plan will be completed by the first of the year with a document about two months away, according to Murphree. The document will be posted on the city’s web site.

Illegal Activities
Carolyn and Joe Hoover reported that they are still witnessing drug trafficking in the west Garvey Road area. They were instructed by the sheriff’s office to note license plate numbers and the makes of vehicles and to report them to the sheriff’s office.

Police Services Study
The city is undertaking a study to determine whether Maricopa should have its own police force or should maintain the contract agreement with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. Casey is the city’s contact person for the study. In regard to having a city police force, Arb Campbell explained, “It’s not a matter of if, but when and at what cost.”

Agency Reports
Cindy Inskeep reported that the Maricopa Fire Department’s Command Center will be completed very soon. Inskeep, Joni Ashton and Wade Brannon recently attended a conference in Denver to instruct them as to procedures for National Fire Incident Reporting. Ground will be broken for the Alterra station soon, and 12 new firefighters will be added next week. The department has answered 805 calls so far this year. There were 343 total calls for all of 2004.

Lieutenant Roy Polmanteer indicated that sheriff’s deputies responded to 411 calls in October, of those 20% were alarms. Last year, during the same month, they answered 341 calls. October also saw 32 arrests and 188 traffic stops, including 62 citations and 84 warnings.

The Maricopa substation has received two of its 10 new vehicles and will be getting two motorcycle units through an agreement with the Department of Public Safety. Currently the office is short eight deputies, although six are lateral transfers or in the academy and will be hired. A full time secretary is also being added to the substation.

Several new Block Watch neighborhoods have been added to the program. The contact person for Block Watch is Sergeant Lupe Ibarra at (520) 866-5102. The committee discussed a potential Block Watch proclamation through the mayor and city council.

Shana Kerr reported that the last spay and neuter day was a success. The next one is scheduled for December 8.

Additional Issues
The L.D.S. Church group recently worked on the space near the water tower and the railway tracks. This was done as a Make a Difference Day project to clean up that area, which was being used as a party place for vagrants and others.

Sidewalks were discussed again. Kerr noted, “If you want to ride to Subway or Water & Ice, you have to break the law to do it.” She explained that the lack of sidewalks on both the Circle K and Walgreen’s corners forces bicyclists to ride in and against traffic. The committee passed a motion to bring the issue before the Maricopa City Council for review and proposed action by Public Works.

The December 19 regular meeting of the Public Safety Advisory Committee will be rescheduled due to the holidays.