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Meeting Date: 11/10/93 Agenda Item: P 4 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Discussion and suggestions on community involvement in preparing the RFP for police services SUBMITTED BY: Susan Gherz, Councilmember Sam Jacobs, Councilmember Susan Hoyt, City Administrator EXPLANATION /SUMMARY: On Tuesday, November 9, Councilmember Gherz, Councilmember Jacobs and Administrator Hoyt met to discuss ways to get information from community members to use in preparing the request for proposals for police service. Since police service is important to everyone from both a service delivery and taxpayer's standpoint (it is the most costly city service), a broad -based approach to gaining community input is extremely desirable. Therefore, the first suggested approach to gather information is a citywide questionnaire to be mailed to all residents and businesses. The park and recreation commission and the solid waste commission used this approach successfully to get information. The draft questionnaire includes two open -ended questions and a space for additional comments. The mailing will cost approximately $885 if it includes a return envelope and $700 without a return envelope. To provide opportunities for more personal involvement, a series of four community meetings are suggested. These meetings, would be scheduled around neighborhoods, tentatively in December. The meeting format might include breaking into small groups with each group assigned the task of deciding "what questions or services would you ask a police department to provide in an RFP This is similar to the format used for the city's comprehensive planning process. Finally, if a resident is unable to respond in writing to a questionnaire and unable or uncomfortable attending a public meeting, the option of calling city hall with his or her thoughts is also possible. In conjunction with working on community involvement, the committee is researching different policing models to provide additional insights into how to define a community's options for meeting its policing /public safety needs. ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Discuss the suggestions for community input including the questions in the questionnaire. 2. Direct the committee /staff on how to proceed.