03/25/1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 9,1995 Department to provide this service. The Centennial School District will fund approximately $28,400.00 of this position. The position will be filled with existing personnel. When school is not in session, (which is a time of the year when there are more calls for services), this position will perform the duties of a patrol officer. Chief Pecchia explained that the plan is to implement this agreement for three (3) years. The first two (2) years the officer would be based at the Centennial High School Campus. The program would be moved to the middle school in Lino Lakes for the third year. A neighboring police department would assume this role at the Centennial Campus. Chief Pecchia requested that staff negotiate a one year agreement with the Centennial School District. Council Member Kuether asked what affect would removing one officer from the Police Department have on the Department? Chief Pecchia said that he felt that the program would be a proactive/preventative approach to what is happening in the community. He said he hoped there would be a positive impact on the number of calls and the number of negative activities that children are involved in within the community. After the program has been in operation for a year, the program will be evaluated and a recommendation will be brought to the City Council. Chief Pecchia said that he would not request a replacement for this officer until after the evaluation has been completed. Mayor Reinert noted that it appeared that this request is to enter negotiation to create the position. Chief Pecchia said yes and after an agreement has been reached, the City Council will be asked to take action on that agreement. He said that he will have someone in the school as soon as possible to "get a feel for the program". A job description is already in the process and the School Board has given the Superintendent of Schools permission to negotiate and enter into an agreement. Officer Brandon Young is the person who will implement the program and he is already in the school familiarizing himself with the school and staff. Chief Pecchia said that he is requesting Council action to negotiate the agreement and go forward with the program. Mayor Reinert said he was uncomfortable about putting an officer in the school until an agreement had been negotiated and approved. Chief Pecchia said that the agreement should be completed this week. At this time the officer is just being exposed to the school environment such as meeting teachers and students. Mayor Reinert felt that could be an administrative directive but the actual implementation of the program should not take place until the agreement has been negotiated and approved. Chief Pecchia said that this is consistent with what is happening. Mr. Schumacher asked if this will be a retroactive agreement or will it be effective when the document is signed? Chief Pecchia said that he will negotiate that it be retroactive to the date the officer was placed in the school. PAGE 3