Dec. 9 Finance Committee meeting transcript

The below transcript was created using automatic speech recognition software (whisper-large) from a video recording of a meeting. It is unedited and contains spelling and other errors.

Chicopee City Council - Finance Committee
Decemeber 9 2024 Meeting

[Speaker 1]
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to call to order the. Finance committee for December 9th, 2024 in a city of auditorium 274 front street chicka be roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Answers look lamb here, say the Roski here. Here here Brooks here.

[Speaker 1]
Here, thank you participating this evening on zoom. We have of the finance committee is consular Shane Brooks. Okay, if everybody could please mute your phones, if you could make sure they're muted for this, this evening's meeting, I would just ask tonight when you guys are up here at the table and anybody around here just to speak loud enough because we left out so that you guys can all get together there.

But the Mike's here for recording on my desk. So, if you can, please start and get close to the mic. So, everybody pick up on the machine.

Thank you. Okay. And today we have in for department heads.

We have a superintendent this Batista here this evening for item 1. we also have present from the police department. If you could help me out sergeant or lieutenant sergeant.

Sergeant, could your sergeant post and. Kim Clark, right? Okay.

Okay. That's a department here to you today in compliance with the open meeting law. The city of chicka is broadcasting live and for future broadcast this meeting on TV.

Is there anyone in the audience or on zoom recording this meeting? Seeing none, we will move into. Number 1 of the agenda.

Okay. Item number 1 order that the sum of 75,000 dollars be here by appropriated to the following name account wastewater expense account for special services account number 6004412 dash 538000 set amount is to be taken from the available funds in the following name. Wastewater salary accounts, chief operator, 50,000 assistant chief operator, 15,000 operation assistant 10,000 for a total of 75,000 dollars and this evening we have the department supervisor list.

You have the floor.

[Speaker 3]
So, I guess I, I would like to close.

[Speaker 1]
Please.

[Speaker 3]
I guess I'm not sure fully sure why this was sent to finance. I'm not sure about what the questions are, but so this appropriation request has to do with 3 different items. The largest item being that there are certain parts of the city where we send sewer out to other plants that are not within.

And so, that was 1 of the biggest items that we sent to finance, and that was 1 of the biggest items that we sent to finance in Chicopee so 1 of them being South Hadley and they South Hadley the town increase their sewer rate by a decent amount, which left us short 26,000 for this fiscal year obligation. So, that was 1 of the. Big ticket items, then our Jones Ferry home station improvement project has gone on.

Longer than we would like, and so we've incurred additional engineering service cost for construction administration. And so this is the final amendment that completes to complete the project. And then we have some old polymer and some contaminated Palmer due to a spill within at our plant.

So, and we had to clean it up. And so we have to dispose of it and polymer is considered a hazardous material. It's something that's used to help remove the water solids.

Um, and so we're trying to get rid of all of that and we did get a price for that effort. And so it just left. We are, you know, we didn't have enough in our special services account to cover all of these additional expenditures.

And, um, since we have some vacant positions, rather than taking it out of our fund balance account, we decided, let's transfer funds from salaries because we won't we won't be using that considering. We're already nearly halfway through the fiscal year. And so knowing that, even if we were to hire somebody.

Soon, we would still have enough to complete that fiscal year for that salary line item. So, I guess I'm, I'm not sure if anybody has any questions.

[Speaker 1]
About this request any questions from the floor. Any concert?

[Speaker 8]
No, the. Ask her the person who counselor who asked about the request. He was concerned about taking money from salary accounts.

To put them into regular accounts, he just wanted the clarification that you just gave and he just wanted to make sure in case we hired a new chief operator. For the rest of the year that we had money to pay him, he didn't want to.

[Speaker 3]
And, you know, as, you know, like, you know, the budget is for the entire fiscal year. So when. You know, so much of the fiscal year has gone by, you know, you're not going to expend.

All of the funds in that account and so rather than taking it from our reserve, we're trying to use money that's already in our budget. So. Right.

[Speaker 8]
Yeah, and I think, you know, he just wanted the explanation. That's what he had said on the floor that evening. So I just, he's not here.

[Speaker 3]
So, and I always want to make. Everybody aware that if there's ever a question, you know, feel free to reach out and I can answer it. So we don't have to go to finance committee.

[Speaker 1]
Yeah, I agree. Any other question any questions from zoom. Any questions from zoom?

Okay. I'm going to speak for just about a minute. The reason this was brought, I was in favor of sending this to this committee this evening is the 1 and final time.

I've let it known to a lot of the counselors already moving forward. I'm not going to support sending stuff to any departments. Most departments, if they don't do some homework, they can reach out to the mayor's office.

They can reach out to department heads. That's what needs to be done 1st to see if they need that answer because it's important because some of this stuff that could be held up could get us into a little bit of wishy washy and paying our bill. So, I'm in favor if they did their homework and talk to her and still had questions.

Absolutely. I'm for public hearings, but most of the time I've called most department heads. I don't need to send it to a subcommittee.

I've made up my mind because of the information I got. So that was the only reason I did support it coming here tonight and I agree with you, Liz, if they would just reach out to your department or any other department, whether to police the fire, any of them, they're always willing to work with me or anyone else. So, I'm hoping they do that in the future.

When I 1st, began the present board, I was the 1st thing I said, please reach out to department heads and anyone to try to get your answers before coming to this meeting. So, thank you. Okay.

Is there anyone here for public input on this item? Is there anyone here for public input on the floor? Is there anyone on zoom for public input?

Is there anyone on zoom for public input? If no, not, I'll make a take a motion to close public input motion to close motion made a 2nd to close public input. Roll call.

Please.

[Speaker 9]
Councilor slam yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes. Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes, and the motion passes. Okay. Now we'll take a roll call.

I'll take a motion to approve motion to approve the order as stated motion made a 2nd to approve item. Number 1 of tonight's agenda. Any other comments from the floor and the comments from zoom seeing none roll call.

[Speaker 9]
Councilor slam yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. And and the motion passes. Thank you.

Liz. We're being here today. Saving.

Okay. We'll move into the next item item. Number.

[Speaker 12]
2, give me a 2nd here. There's not an order here.

[Speaker 1]
Oh, it's somebody there's something on top of it. Order that the sum of. 61,781 dollars and 97 cents be be in here by appropriate to the following name account human resource salary account for chief human resource office slash directors account number 11520001 dash 514010 set amount is to be taken from the available funds and the stabilization account.

83001008 dash 59980. Okay, so this is the 1 that was brought forward to us this evening. Is there someone here from the mayor's office that would like to speak on it?

Yeah. Chief of staff Michael piece you have the floor.

[Speaker 2]
Thank you president will flam this is a request to have a transfer to have funds put into the salary line account for the. Chief HR human resource officer position we took the funds out of that account to hire a consultant. We did hire a consultant that came in way below the anticipated amount, and we were lucky that we were able to get a consultant to do the work at that rate.

So, that did leave us with. A deficit in the salary account, so in order to post and to fill that position, we do need to have the funds transferred. And the mayor is very appreciative of the work being done by the HR department without a chief human resource officer and down several positions.

They've been working diligently, they've been working incredibly hard to maintain the human resource capacity of the city and keep things going. He presented a letter that he wished me to read to the, to the committee and if I could read the letter.

[Speaker 1]
It's a copy of it for the record.

[Speaker 2]
Okay. It's a dated today's date and it's to the department of human resources, city of to the human resource department staff. I'm writing to extend my heartfelt appreciation for your exceptional performance during a period marked by significant challenges and a lack of leadership.

Your unwavering dedication, resilience and professionalism. Have been instrumental in navigating these difficult circumstances. The manner in which we have stepped up to the plate, ensuring the continuity of operations and maintaining high standards is truly commendable.

Your efforts have not only sustained the department, but have also set a remarkable example of commitment and excellence. The positive impact of your work resonates throughout our city. And we are profoundly grateful for your contributions.

Please know that your hard work has not gone unnoticed as a city. We hold deep respect and gratitude for the exceptional job you've done and look forward to your continued success in serving our employees in the community with sincere appreciation. John.

I'll view. He wanted to make sure that everyone understands that the work they're doing is really appreciated. They've been an integral part in keeping our city going forward from a human resource standpoint, but the funding of this position is, is gotten to a state where we really need to get the, the, the requisition out there and advertise for the position to provide some leadership for that department.

And that's the reason for the request. If there are additional funds left over in the, the account that was used for the. The consultant, those funds will go back to the general fund at the end of the year.

So, we're asking the money to be taken out of stabilization at this time.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you any comments from the floor. Any comments from zoom any comments from zoom. Okay.

Mike, just just to clarify, because it was asked that we while ago, why are we taking this money when we had a 100,000 dollars and the mayor had mentioned at our last meeting that that was all coming back to the console the way we're doing it now is a lot cheaper than what would have happened if we do this. This process was not followed.

[Speaker 2]
Correct that's the process that we was recommended. That's the process we followed. We wanted to get the consultant in quickly.

So we did the transfer out of the salary lines, leaving no funding in the position. Now that we're in a position where we can post the position and get a candidate in and start the process. We want to move forward.

So you're, you're correct in your statement.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Okay. Any other comments?

Okay. Now we'll. Look for public input is anyone here for public input regarding this item number 2.

Is there anyone on zoom for public input? I'll take a motion to close public input motion to close motion made a 2nd to close public input roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes, in a motion passes. Okay, on the item for. Passage this evening, I need a motion motion to pass item 2 this evening motion made a 2nd to pass item 2 on our agenda this evening.

Roll call please. Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. And the motion passes, give us 1 2nd. We just got to sign off on some of these.

[Speaker 7]
So, everybody understands we have to sign each 1 as we thought. Let me see. Okay.

All right. I just want to make sure.

[Speaker 12]
That's a Brooks is holding on zoom.

[Speaker 1]
We'll write it in and emotion passes.

[Speaker 13]
Okay, let's kill that 1.

[Speaker 1]
okay. Item number 3. Order that the sum of 447,461.

Dollars and 0 0 cents being here by appropriate to the following name account, please expense accounts for computer software account number 12100002 dash 551010 set amount is to be taken from the available funds in the stabilization fund 8301008 dash 59980. Okay, gentlemen, what we'll do here is introduce everybody and then when you go around a 2nd time, if any questions are asked, just give your name. Just for the record, so your name and address for the record the 1st time.

Okay, so we'll move. Okay, Sergeant, you have the floor introductions down. Yeah.

Introduce everybody 1st and then so, for the record, so you can write them down. Very good.

[Speaker 4]
Jeff Couture sergeant for the police department. Officer Eric.

[Speaker 1]
Yeah, if he could just say, just let him go around the room and give your address.

[Speaker 10]
Also, which also check release department. Kevin Watson representative from axon.

[Speaker 1]
Address please you need to give your address. We need to have your address or your business.

[Speaker 10]
Representative from axon enterprise.

[Speaker 2]
Okay, Matthew post sergeant from the police department. Jim Clark police department. Like, peace chief of staff for the mayor.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Okay, if you guys want to just give an overview, just a simple 1 for now. I want to.

This is was asked to be brought forward because of the amount of money and we would do that anyways, but just given a quick overview, I appreciate what you guys did for us and giving us the tour and all the responsibilities of what's going on with this. So, just a quick overview and let the counselors ask questions and we'll move from there. Thank you.

Sorry.

[Speaker 2]
Well, we did, so the merit introduces order, my piece chief of staff, the mayor's office, the merit introduced this order working with the. Police chief major and the police department, deputy chief Watson and Jeff culture, they found this to be a really incredible program in doing the research. We had already gotten the approval from the city council for the training program with which officer culture.

Runs currently, it's a virtual training program. It's extremely successful. I think some of you saw the program.

In action, and also we had already purchased the fuses center, which is a. The camera center, and it allowed us to have eyes on the street and have a neighborhood crime locked virtually in the city. So I could.

Respond more efficiently to incidents, but this will take us further and this will add additional resources to our police department. So, the real time crime center is an information center. It's a powerful safety public platform.

It is a centralized technology driven unit within our police department designed to provide real time information and analytics to support our patrol officers. Please police operations and investigations. The information center takes in information, various sources, including stationary cameras.

Cameras and police vehicles, mapping data, automatic license plate recognition. Alert sources alarm systems and dispatch centers. The analyst in this crime center and the information center within look at all the information.

And distribute the most useful information to the officer to aid them with incident response. Also, the date and information sources improve. Investigation so the data is used to help with the investigations after.

Incidents resolved officers are empowered to review all the digital evidence. Resources and department systems, helping them to solve crimes more quickly and more efficiently. The real time information center will help support crime reduction.

A real time crime information center creates opportunities for public safety teams to use intelligence and automation, allowing them to work smarter and faster. It leads to faster responses and more in depth investigations. There's also an opportunity to identify crime hotspots.

Trending patterns and process improvements in our. System, all of this can be a better. To deter individuals who are bad actors and reduce offenses across our community.

Also feel that the real time information center will streamline incident response. When an incident occurs, everything from a 9 1, 1 call and dispatch information goes to a live video. In various sensors data stream into the video walls.

That are monitored by the operations center in the real time information center. This helps to quickly understand what's happening and effectively deploy resources to mitigate situations. Overall, there's less guesswork and greater automation, helping to improve response and efficiency of our officers.

The real time information center will also speed up investigations. A real time information center can save countless hours of investigative work while increasing clearance rates. Having a central depository of collecting, managing and storing citywide data makes it easier to compile evidence during and after incidents.

And a digital evidence and management system that help maintain the data integrity and the privacy when sharing information. A real time information center will improve officer efficiency in our opinion. Having a real time information center means public safety operations can provide data driven virtual assistance.

To in field officers, this allows responding officers to understand what's happening and better prepare for the situation. Operators can also monitor nearby cameras and ensure everything goes smoothly. The virtual support helps keep officers out of harm's way during everyday incidents, or any large city events.

A real time crime center also enhances citywide collaboration. Within a real time crime information center, police and public safety teams share the same view of what's happening across the city. They can also forge partnership with private businesses and residents requesting access to public facing cameras during investigations.

Connecting to the video cameras into other sensors. And city agencies helps broad their view and give them better information. The data can also lead to additional insights and can enhance everything from disaster recovery to sustainability.

So, for these reasons, we believe the real time crime center would be a great addition to the police force. There are approximately 150 real time information centers being used by police forces across the United States. And the number of is growing as more and more people.

Adopt this tool as part of their technology. So, that's just an overview of the reasons why the mayor's going forward with this. Thank you, Mike.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Sergeant, is there anything else you guys want to bring up or.

[Speaker 4]
That he didn't bring up just more specifically some of the items, the software and the devices that we'd be getting as part of this package. There'd be body cameras issued to every officer to be able to utilize on community. Engagements each officer would be assigned their own taser device.

And for increasing officer safety. Unlimited data storage, which obviously is a large part of. Data gathering where are we going to store this for future use and that would be taken care of.

By axon based on this agreement. Maintenance and user software, which mean the licensing aspect of it. So each user would have licensing and software to be able to integrate this technology.

The hardware included refreshes regularly as new products come out. We'll be 1st to implement those as well and everything comes on a 5 year warranty. This helps with integration and implementation of the real time information center.

And actually, I will be partnering with us for training and implement implementation of all of these items and software. So that is seamless for us at no additional cost.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you if you could, let's just go on the subject of each mayor's order. So this is about the software right now. So then we get into the other things.

Please follow along that way. Okay, for discussion, so actually, okay.

[Speaker 2]
President will find that part of this part of this package is the. Is the software with 3D equipment? Sergeant coaches explaining it does include the tasers and the.

The body cameras in this order that it's before you right now.

[Speaker 1]
Okay, this is this your computer software.

[Speaker 2]
It's part of the software.

[Speaker 1]
Okay. Just make sure we follow the thing on the agenda. Please.

Yes. Okay. We'll go around the table counselor first.

[Speaker 8]
Yeah, no, I just wanted to reiterate that the tasers are part of this. Order for software. Yeah, thank you.

I just want to make sure.

[Speaker 1]
Consular was the girl ski.

[Speaker 5]
Yeah. Sorry to coach here.

[Speaker 4]
How long will it take to get this whole program institute and started if the contract can be signed by the end of the year and products start to be shipped out to us between 30 to 45 days we can start with the training and implementation. And hopefully by June of next year, or or or sooner, we'll be able to start utilizing these things and integrate everything with the ecosystem, which means I'll be able to work together.

[Speaker 5]
Also was brought up about storage. Are you at the police station?

[Speaker 4]
Is that where it's going to be all stored cloud based storage cloud based? So we wouldn't need any additional technology or software within the department.

[Speaker 12]
Consular ballot here.

[Speaker 6]
Yeah, I thought it was quite fascinating. Now, is everybody going to be trained to utilize all this or is this just going to be more of the people who are computer savvy at 1st? Or how is that going to work?

[Speaker 4]
We envision the training on these items to be. Involved deeply involved for each officer and having the manufacturer as a partner with us to help with the integration of it, and the training of our personnel should make it more seamless.

[Speaker 6]
Okay. Yeah, I think, you know, because it looks like Springfield's had this up and running for a while, but no, it's my understanding that this is going to be a similar version, but maybe not quite as extensive as their version. Can can the gentleman from axon tell it tells that.

[Speaker 10]
Yeah, this is Kevin Watson. Kevin Watson with axon enterprise to answer the question. Springfield does use a different vendor, but the features function capabilities will be very similar.

If not improved on that.

[Speaker 6]
Okay. All right. Thank you.

Gentlemen.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you any other comments from the floor any comments from zone. Any comments from zoom. Okay.

So I'll just speak for a 2nd on this 1. So, it's important that we, that we, I put this this evening, because there's a deadline to try to get this done before the end of the year. So I work with the police department and the police department and the mayor's office and that to get this done as soon as possible because the rate in that changes next year and it's very important that we get this done if we're going to do it because.

We don't want to get into more expenses that we need to. So hopefully we'll have an answer by our next meeting. That's why this meeting will be from finance.

We'll go there and then we'll have the final meeting. So, with that said, public input on this item. Is there anyone here for public input on item 3?

Is there anyone on zoom for public input on item 3? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to close public input motion to close public motion made a 2nd to close public input. Roll call.

Please.

[Speaker 9]
Yes, yes, yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes, and a motion passes. Okay, give us a minute to sign off on it. Shane will write you in on favor.

[Speaker 11]
Okay, you still did a motion to approve though. President.

[Speaker 1]
Oh, I'll take a motion. Thank you. It was right here in front of me.

Motion to approve. You want to make the motion chain? Sure motion to approve as written motion made a 2nd to approve as written.

Roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. And a motion passes. Okay, item number 4.

Order that the sum of 43,250 dollars and 0 cents be in here by appropriate to the following name and account police salary accounts for information and technology system engineer. Set amount is to be taken from available funds in the stabilization fund account 83001008-599980.

[Speaker 2]
Okay, so my chief of staff, you're going to present the mayor introduced this order again along with the police department and the chief major and deputy chief Watson. This is now to get personnel to fund the real time information center. We need the data analysts.

We need the software individuals and the supervisors to now run the system. The 1st item is for the technology individual. To help with the technology, and we had worked with our it department.

They feel that since it's so specialized and it's so unique that it really doesn't fit into the city. I. T.

department and request this. A civilian person be appointed to that position and Mike, could you when you talk a little bit more closer to you?

[Speaker 1]
Please?

[Speaker 2]
Sorry.

[Speaker 1]
No, that's all right. It's just because the recorders up here. We really need to get everybody.

Okay. So, I don't know if there are any anyone else.

[Speaker 4]
Did you want to add anything to that? No, this is reiterate said it would be a civilian position so that the officers can be on the street. And you can do this job.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Okay, is there anyone here for public input on item number 4? Is there anyone on zoom for item 4?

Is there anyone on zoom for public input on item 4? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to close public input motion to close public motion. May 2nd to close public input.

Roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Councilors. Yes. Yes.

Brooks.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes, and the motion passes. Okay.

Any comments from counselors on the floor and the comments from zoom. Oh, console debris.

[Speaker 8]
Yes. So the, the amount you're looking for for the engineer, this is for basically half a year, or is this. This job going to be implemented when we get the software up and running, or is this gentleman or woman going to be part of the, uh, getting it up and running.

[Speaker 4]
I'm not sure exactly what the higher date would be, but the salary would be for the end of this fiscal year.

[Speaker 8]
So, June 30th, but, you know, when they're actually going to start.

[Speaker 2]
So, if this were to Mike, if this were to be approved, you would have to post for the position, go through the process of hiring, which may take some time. So we're not exactly sure when the person will be on board, but. Once the contract sign in the in the programming is available, we need the individual to start learning the programming and learning how it will operate to integrate it into our current system.

So the, the faster the person is hired, the better we'll be in moving this along and getting this in place.

[Speaker 1]
Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Any other comments from the floor. Any comments from zoom any comments from zoom seeing none. I'll take a motion.

Motion to accept the item for motion made in 2nd, that item for the agenda be approved this evening. Roll call, please answers.

[Speaker 9]
Yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes. Yes, and emotion passes.

[Speaker 13]
Okay, that's okay. Item 5.

[Speaker 1]
Order that the sum of 57,500 dollars being here by appropriate to the following name and account police salary account for real time investigation crime analyst supervisor. Set amount is to be taken from available funds in the stabilization fund account number 83001008. That's 599980.

Okay.

[Speaker 2]
Chief of staff Mike, he's a mayor's chief of staff again. This is now the supervisory position. This is the share of critical importance that we get a qualified individual, because they're going to be the basically.

Running the data center, doing the data analysis and helping with the data analysis, integrating the analysis of data with our police force and our officers to make sure that they get the information they need to help save lives officer lives and civilian lives. The supervisor will help also with the policies and procedures. So, if we could get someone on quickly, they can start setting up the system from a policy and procedure standpoint.

It's half a year salary, but again, we would like to get someone in place to begin the development of the, of the information crime center and get things started.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Any is there anyone here for zoom? I mean, for public input.

Is there anyone here for public input? Is there anyone on zoom for public input on item? Number 5.

Is there anyone on zoom for public input on item 5? I'm seeing none. I'll take a motion to close public input motion.

The close motion made a 2nd to close public input. Roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes, and a motion passes.

[Speaker 6]
Mr. President, excuse me, are we going to have to make a motion to approve? Oh, I thought it was closed public input.

[Speaker 1]
Yeah, we just can bring that. Yeah. I'll take the motion now.

Okay, well, motion to approve item number 5 as stated motion made a 2nd to approve item 5 of the agenda this evening. Roll call please answers.

[Speaker 9]
Yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes.

[Speaker 12]
Yes. In a motion passes, and it's going around the.

[Speaker 1]
Order item number 6. You know, that's a sum of 35,000 being here by appropriate to the following name account, police salary account for real time invest investigative crime analyst set amount is to be taken from available funds in the stabilization found account number 83001008-599980.

[Speaker 2]
Mike piece, so the mayor asked now that we get additional staff there to help with the monitoring of the real time information center. So, this will be 1 staff member for a, for the half a year of salary and also, I believe the sheriff's department will fund a 2nd. Salary, so we'll have 2 individuals at the analyst position civilian employees is.

Sergeant coaches said we want to keep police officers on the street doing police work. And this will be data analyst any other comments from the.

[Speaker 1]
Okay, is anyone here for item number 6 for public input. Is there anyone here for public for item number 6? Is there anyone on zoom for public input for item number 6 on the agenda.

Is there anyone here for public input from zoom seeing that I'll take a motion to close public input motion close public motion made a 2nd to close public input. Roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
I was there's a plan.

[Speaker 1]
Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Yes. Yes.

And the motion passes. I'll take a motion to. Motion to approve item number 6 is stated motion made a 2nd day.

We approve item number 6 on the agenda this evening. Any other comments from the floor anyone's from zoom seeing none roll call.

[Speaker 9]
So, counselor left lamb.

[Speaker 1]
Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Brooks. Yes.

[Speaker 12]
And the motion passes.

[Speaker 7]
We're doing good and I get up. So, and the motion passes.

[Speaker 1]
Okay, item number 7. Order that the sum of 147,000 dollars be in here by appropriate to the following name account, please expense account from computer software account number 1 to 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2 dash. 551010 set amount is to be taken from the stabilization account 83001008.

That's 599980. Chief of staff, you have the floor.

[Speaker 2]
Yes, the mayor has submitted this order. This is in addition to the. Package deal, so working the police department working with axon had developed a package deal because we had already purchased the training and we had.

Purchase the fuses camera system, they put together a package deal to reduce the cost of the items you've just purchased in prior order. This is an add on, which wasn't part of the package deal. And this will add additional benefits for our department.

If if approved, the departments have experienced increased calls. We've seen an additional demands and extensive reporting requirements placed on our offices and on our department. So, the offices are seeking efficient programs to document their calls and provide services to the public.

This will take the time spent on writing reports away from the officers and allow them to. Do more training and keep the public safe and spend more time actually doing police work. The benefits of this program, we believe will increase in translation services in a real time.

Way for our officers, the body cameras will have translation services provided through software, which will allow them to communicate with individuals who are. Challenged with English, or do not understand English or languages that. The officers know, so this additional advice will help.

Them with the logistical and language. Issues there's automated detection. On video, so as soon as an officer engages the dash camera and the body camera will.

Activate so that it will be then flowing into the crime information center and document the call and document the incident. It will help us with evidence reporting. I know 1 of the counselors had mentioned that it's it's very difficult to do redaction on video transcribing of.

Evidence to be complied with under a freedom of information act report. And this system will has features in it that will help us do the redaction. And make for a speedier and more accurate reports.

And translation of evidence, you're reporting it. It's compliant and meets all evidence standards as well. It will help officers with their forms reporting.

It will do transcriptions of incidents. So, the officers will have accurate draft reports that they can then work off of all the reports will be reviewed by individuals and will be reviewed by their supervisors and placed on file. So there is a review by the officers and supervisors.

It doesn't do the complete report just as a draft. And the data analysis will then be fed into the. The real time information center, so that the data will be retained and we can do.

Review and data analysis on the information contained in the. The reports also policies for the department will be online. So, if an officer in a stressful situation has a question on the policy and how they're supposed to proceed, they can request the policy and it will be reported back to them as well.

And that's just an overview. I don't know if there's more. I think I got it all sergeant.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. You guys all set. Okay.

Not yet. I'm gonna do public input. Is that okay?

Is there anyone here for public input for item number 7th on our agenda? Is there anyone in the audience is there anyone on zoom for public input on item 7? Is there anyone on zoom for item 7 for public input?

Seeing none I'll take a motion to close public input motion made in 2nd to close public input. Roll call. Please.

[Speaker 9]
Counselor is the left. Yes. Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Brooks. Yes. Yes, and the motion passes.

[Speaker 8]
Council the break. Yes. What's the useful life of this software?

Is it a yearly thing, or is it we can get multiple years out of this software.

[Speaker 10]
Kevin Watson with axon the software is a yearly subscription.

[Speaker 1]
Okay, thank you. Consular consular here. I'm sorry.

[Speaker 6]
Yeah. Thank you. Yeah.

Thank you gentlemen for the presentation. I think that language translation features tremendous. I think that's really going to be helpful out there because.

With different people coming in, and some people have trouble with the language. I think that's a great feature and. I think redaction and some of the other having the information regarding policies.

Out in the field, I think that's excellent. So this way here, hopefully it'll cut down on issues. And also get more more officers back out in the field quicker instead of getting tied up with paperwork.

So, I, I'm in favor of this. I think this is a home run. Thanks for the presentation and and I'm hopeful once the bugs, of course, get worked out that it's going to be a really good good system.

Thank you.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments from the floor?

Any comments from zoom? Any comments from zoom? Okay.

I just have a couple of words. So, I just want to take a moment and say, thank you guys for again for the presentation. We spent quite a bit of taxpayers money this evening, but I want the residents to know that we had done a thorough walk through presentations and back and forth.

All of us, we just didn't come in here this little presentation here this evening from the mayor and from the, from the vendors here this evening. We all had that great presentation and we, I think we've all learned a real lot there. Thank you guys very much because that really helped the city council to understand this year to be able to talk to the residents.

The importance of this, I, I, I look back from way before this, when we started with the, getting the mayor coming in front of the city council and the finance committee for the phones, getting every city, every police officer a phone. That's available to them and the other process of other stuff. So, I agree with consular ballot here and console debris.

I think the language thing is going to be a great thing as well as report writing. It's a, it's very important. People always say to me, say to me sometimes.

Hey, how come there's two cruisers in the corner over there? They're always in the corner, but they got to understand when the officers has to do his report. He has to do his report right away to remember that he's got to go to court with a lot of this stuff.

So, it's important that he does. And the supervisor goes over and reads the whole thing. So, this is going to be able to help them much better and clarify it.

So that when they go to court, we're ready to go. So this is one of the ones I think is very important and well, well spent money and I'm going to agree. Hopefully.

And I think it will put out some of our officers back on the street that we're critically trying to do. We try to fill all the positions where we support a hundred percent of trying to get that up to the one twenty that we need to have, but it goes up in flux awaits all the time. But I think this is 1 of the things that's going to help and that made up quite a bit of my mind after that presentation, hopefully getting some people on the streets.

We're always complaining about police officers. We have stuff with traffic. We have that.

So hopefully this is what's going to happen with the police department. I kind of feel like this is like having another 3, 4 officers to do the work. So that's what it is quite a bit of money, but this is the way that most cities and states are going and police departments.

I looked around at some others that have the system. So I'm in favor of it tonight, but I just want to make sure people understand that we did get a good presentation. It wasn't just here tonight.

Okay.

[Speaker 5]
Consular Zygorowski just just 1 comment about 2 and a half years ago. I filed an order to get body cams for the police department. It was under the past chief and I knew at the time.

We would be ahead of the game. We're just getting out of the stone age. That's where it amounts to by doing all this.

Some people, some residents or somebody might question. Why are we spending close to? I did it some quick figure, maybe most of the million dollars that do all this.

And the 1 question I had to ask is these body cams. Is this going to be on the cruisers? Also are strictly the officers.

[Speaker 4]
It'll be a combination Jeff could be placed. It's a body cameras on each individual officer on their body and 20 dash cameras in. 20 different cruisers throughout the city.

Okay.

[Speaker 5]
So I just want to clarify that because some people will question us guaranteed because we're spending this money, but I think it's. It's not only going to make the officer safe, it's going to make the citizens out there. It's going to be a better response time.

It's going to protect our citizens and our officers both. So there's, you know, I've always been supportive of public safety and I think this is a home run again. I hope it's successful.

I hope it gets implemented with. I know we're going to have some problems getting people, but we'll give it a chance to get off the ground. And I have all the, I support you.

100%. Hopefully, it's gonna gonna be a positive things for our city.

[Speaker 1]
Thank you. Okay, and the only other thing I wanted to mention real quick was item number 3 on there the tasers because I got phone calls and we just buy tasers, but people don't understand time flies. These are almost expired coming up.

And the new tasers that are coming in are more, more active, very direct. So it's going to actually help the officers as well. So, you know, I, the number 3 is very important to they all are, but 3, 2 is before, you know, anybody uses their gun, they at least can use their tasers.

That's the most important thing is to use that 1st and that's how they're trained. So, I'm in favor of all this this evening. All right.

Councilor Brooks, you have anything? I didn't see your hand up or nothing.

[Speaker 11]
Yeah, I just have 1 quick question. Sergeant Kutcher. Do you anticipate the union contract having to be reopened to implement the body cams or is this going to be a non issue?

[Speaker 4]
No, it's already been agreed upon.

[Speaker 11]
Great. Agreed upon. Yeah, I know that.

Yeah, I'm all set. Thank you very much.

[Speaker 1]
I'll take a motion to motion. Motion to approve item number 7 motion made a 2nd to approve item number 7, our agenda. Roll call please.

[Speaker 9]
Councilors Laflambe? Yes. Zagorowski?

Yes. Balakir?

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Brooks?

[Speaker 14]
Yes.

[Speaker 1]
Yes, in a motion passes. If you couldn't make sure everybody signs it.

[Speaker 7]
Thank you, Katie.

[Speaker 2]
President Laflambe, you're all set with us.

[Speaker 1]
Yeah, we're all set with you folks. Thank you for coming this evening.

[Speaker 2]
Thank you.

[Speaker 6]
All right, thanks gentlemen. Thank you.

[Speaker 1]
They wanted to wait till we all signed off. Okay, I'll take a motion to approve the minutes.

[Speaker 5]
Motion to approve the minutes of September 12, 2024.

[Speaker 1]
Motion made a 2nd to. Accept the minutes of September 12, 2024. Roll call please.

[Speaker 9]
Councilor Laflambe?

[Speaker 1]
Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Zagorowski? Yes. Balakir?

Yes. Brooks?

[Speaker 1]
Yes.

[Speaker 9]
Yes, in a motion passes.

[Speaker 1]
I'll take a motion to adjourn. Motion made and 2nd to adjourn. Roll call please.

[Speaker 9]
Councilor Laflambe? Yes. Zagorowski?

Yes. Balakir?

[Speaker 1]
Yes. Brooks? Yes.

[Speaker 9]
LaBrie?

[Speaker 1]
Yes. In a motion passes. Have a good evening everybody.