Agenda Packets - 2003/04/28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No:10 B3 Meeting Date: April 28, 2003 Type of Business:CB WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Police Chief Mike Sommer Item Title/Subject: Council requests for weekly statistical reports on moving violations speeding, plates expired, overnight parking, etc. Date of Report: April 22, 2003 Background: At the April 14, 2003 Council meeting a request was made for the Police Department to provide reports on administrative offenses, moving violations, speeding, expired license plates, overnight parking, etc. to the City Council on a weekly basis. The Police Department currently submits reports to the City Council covering this statistical information, quarterly. Staff could compile the data manually and prepare a separate weekly report for the Council if this is deemed a priority assignment for staff. This would entail additional staff time and duplicating records that would normally be included in the quarterly report to the Council. Staff understands traffic issues are of great importance to citizens and to the Council. Concerns surrounding traffic issues comprise approximately 80 percent of the complaints citizens have in their city. This is evident within the City of Mounds View, but is certainly not unique to Mounds View. The level of concern over traffic issues is evident in large cities such as St. Paul, cities across the state of Minnesota, and across the country. The problem is complex, unremitting and continuous. Solutions involve early driver education, community awareness, street planning and design, road markings and striping, signage, and enforcement of traffic laws. The dilemma of complaints over the driving habits of citizens requires constant attention. Staff appreciates that the Council would like the Police Department to be responsive to traffic concerns and focus attention on traffic violators to the extent we're able to do so. Staff of the Police Department will be both proactive and reactive to the needs of citizens regarding traffic complaints. Recommendation: Staff seeks clarification on the request for weekly statistical reports. Weekly statistic reports provide only a narrow picture of enforcement trends. The value of such a small sampling of data to the council would be limited. Staff will continue to produce quarterly statistical reports to the Council including information pertaining to traffic citations. If the Council would like staff to be directed to prepare weekly reports rather than, or in addition to quarterly reporting, staff seeks direction as to the amount of information requested and the form of the report desired. Respectfully Submitted. ______________________ Police Chief Mike Sommer