Metro East Sun

Edwardsville City Council Public Safety Committee met August 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

The regular meeting of the Edwardsville Public Safety Committee was called to order by Chairman Krause at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers with quorum present: Chairman Will Krause and Alderman SJ Morrison. The Chair excused Alderman Chris Farrar.

Public Comment - Mr. Randy Rock spoke about issues regarding bicycle paths verses sidewalks. One of the main issues is cyclists' interaction with pedestrians on sidewalks. Another issue is bike paths not being clearly marked. Having a bicycle and pedestrian plan was suggested. An actual plan for designating bike paths verses pedestrian paths, creating some thoroughfares, some connections to the trails and so on.

Approval of Minutes-Motion by Alderman Morrison, second by Chairman Krause to approve minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting held Monday, July 24, 2017. Motion carried.

Police Department:

Informational items:

•Auction Ordinance presented to ACS.

The Edwardsville Police Department (EPD) is not bringing the auction ordinance through the Public Safety Committee (PSC) but will take it to the Administrative & Community Services Committee (ASC) instead. Every two years the EPD has an auction to sell Surplus vehicles and bicycles in the city and this time there is a small amount of furniture. It is standard that when there is enough surplus items there must be an ordinance identifying the items that are being auctioned.

•Promotional Assessments.

The EPD is doing their promotional assessments this week. A promotional list is made every three years at the police department. Of the six sergeants, there are two candidates are testing to the rank of lieutenant. There are twelve candidates testing to the rank of sergeant. IPHHR is a new company the EPD is working with for these assessments. There should be a preliminary promotional list by the end of next week.

Fire Department:

•None

Old Business:

•An Ordinance Amending Chapter 114, Section 114-302 of the Codified Ordinances of the City Of Edwardsville (Parking Prohibited At All Times).

This ordinance was held over from the Public Safety Committee meeting on 07/24/2017. This is to prohibit parking on the south side of East Park Street between South Buchanan Street and South Kansas Street. Alderman Morrison went through the area during the busy times and agrees that it is a little tight in that area but shares Chairman Krause's concern about losing parking spaces. He feels that it is more congested during the lunch periods and dinner times. He believes that as time goes on and the newness of the restaurants opening and with summer ending that the busyness will die down along East Park Street.

Alderman Morrison motion for approval of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 114, Section 114-302 of the Codified Ordinances of the City Of Edwardsville (Parking Prohibited At All Times), second by Chairman Krause. All were in favor to reject this item. Motion denied,

•Foreclosure contractors being accompanied by police officers.

Chief Keeven spoke with City Attorney Jeff Berkbigler about the feasibility of drafting a city ordinance directed towards out-of-town foreclosing entities and their third party Contractors. Since this is the first issue of a third party contractor entering the wrong house that the police department is aware of, they feel that creating an ordinance would just sit on the books. The committee agreed that an ordinance was not needed.

•"Slow Down Downtown" effort

Chief Keeven had sent some emails to SUE to see if they were interested in helping and creating some posters/signs/brochures for the "Slow Down Downtown" campaign. Brad Cross's group indicated that they had done a study with Public Works some time ago. Chief Keeven will follow up with them in a week or two after they return to school.

New Business:

Informational items:

•Change Order #11 to IMPACT Strategies in the amount of $4,410.00 for the Public Safety Facility.

Change Order #11 is to add a wire mesh partition with a door and lock cylinder in the gun cleaning/rifle storage room for the amount of $4,410.00. This will provide a secure measure to lock up ammunition and firearms. This is the cheaper option instead of a high density type storage system. The mesh will separate the gun room into two (2) areas. One area will be locked storage for surplus weapons and ammunition. The second area would be for gun cleaning and for officers that didn't want to carry their guns/rifles home with them.

The next meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be Monday, August 28, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

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