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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2022-7-27CITY OF ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting 3:30 p.m. July 27, 2022 Present: Chair: Kane Commissioners (6) Beem-Miller, Rogers, Simons, Korthuis, Onyejuruwa, Wright Others Present: Acting Police Chief – Joly Deputy Chief - Monticello Common Council Liaison - McGonigal City Clerk – Conley Holcomb Report from Common Council: Alderperson McGonigal reported on the Police Chief Search Committee. Alderpersons McGonigal, Brown and Gearhart are serving from Common Council, there is a WDAC representative. Next meeting is early in August. There is a special meeting of Common Council tonight, regarding a proposed contract with Tompkins County on supporting and funding the Community Justice Center, which is part of the Reimagining Public Safety Initiative. Common Council is deciding whether they will support a sanctioned encampment in the west end. The situation is getting worse on a daily basis. Residents of Nate’s and businesses in the West End are under siege. He will encourage Council to act to make things better. Commissioner Onyejuruwa asked what would a sanction encampment improve? Alderperson McGonigal stated that the sanctioned encampment won’t solve the situation overall but will make life easier for up to 50 houseless individuals, providing running water, showers, toilets, electricity, communal building with cooking facilities, and will be staffed 24/7 by a private management company. This will be a low barrier place to live, folks don’t have to be sober but do have to refrain from violence and cooking methamphetamines. This sanctioned encampment will be similar to Second Wind Cottages but movable and will be at the far southern end of city property (behind Walmart). Social Services provided by the County will continue, the area will be more accessible for emergency response personnel. A preparation and transition to permanent housing opportunities. This would be a long-term commitment for the city. They must physically prepare the property (add the utilities – electric, water, sewer, trash removal) and lease the site. Commissioner Korthuis asked who would pay for the programming? NGOs and County Social Services? Alderperson McGonigal answered yes, and some private funding. The management company would be subject to RFP and bids. Commissioner Rogers asked if this encampment plan goes through, will the remainder of the jungle encampment be disallowed? Alderperson McGonigal stated mostly yes, there may be some areas away from residential and commercial buildings that are still allowed. Commissioner Onyejuruwa asked what happens to the people who already have encampments on the site? Alderperson McGonigal responded that they would be given the opportunity to live in one of the new cabins/trailers. People are coming from out of town, and it is getting increasingly populated. Action is needed. Commissioner Wright asked if there will be a time limit on how long people can live in the primitive housing units? Alderperson McGonigal stated that there are no set limits, but the idea is to get people more permanent housing so the space can be freed for others who need it. Chair Kane stated that what is needed is a wet shelter. Alderperson McGonigal stated that this is short of that… to which Chair Kane responded – no, this will be a very different thing… she believes that this will encourage more people to come in. Alderperson McGonigal stated that a lot of people in the Jungle can’t live in a shelter for one reason or another. This is targeted for those people, as there is no sobriety component, but there will be rules and a safety component. Commissioner Rogers expressed that if an encampment is built for 50 people – there will be additional people who will want to live in the area, and this will create a law enforcement issue. Alderperson McGonigal replied that it is a law enforcement problem now, and there are more than 50 people there now. Commissioner Onyejuruwa stated that IPD is already patrolling this area as part of their shifts. Acting Chief Joly expressed that he has extremely serious concerns about this. Without a strong policy prohibiting camping in the area – this will increase the population of the area and IPD does not have the staffing to deal with it. There are no access roads to get to where people are living now so getting law enforcement and emergency services around the area is difficult. Drug use/drug market out there, burglaries / striping motorcycles, etc. because it is hard for law enforcement to get there. Alderperson McGonigal stated that the encampment would have access roads – but that he doesn’t dispute what the police chief has said. Commissioner Onyejuruwa asked what is currently happening to address it? Alderperson McGonigal stated nothing – not kicking anyone out, DPW has cleaned the area multiple times, but it is recurringly being populated. Residents are getting harassed, businesses are being burglarized, etc. Commissioner Kortuis commented that the Arthaus has services, if they are blowing up with crime, what makes people think this would be any different. Alderperson McGonigal stated that there are no services, and that is the problem. Commissioner Onyejuruwa asked what Common Council is doing about the landlords that are not contributing to solutions to deter this behavior? Alderperson McGonigal stated that the Building Department is aware of problem landlords – some apartments in the city are so bad, no one wants to live in them – but those are the ones that are affordable. Common Council members meeting with staff to discuss this. Rental support is part of Tompkins County Social Services. Building Code violations are the City’s responsibility. Commissioner Korthuis commented that Arthaus is heavily subsidized, the owners don’t seem to care what is happening. A lot of promises they made did not happen – it was just an investment opportunity for them. Alderperson McGonigal stated that developers of Arthaus are also the developers who are building the affordable housing and conference center next to City Hall. Chair Kane commented that regarding issues around criminal activity – law enforcement should be involved in the process. Human Services building downtown just got a metal detector and security detail. If Law Enforcement is not involved, criminal activity will continue. Alderperson McGonigal stated that some of the criminal activity is happening to the residents of the Jungle. This would increase their safety. It is clear that the city doesn’t have enough police officers. Commissioner Onyejuruwa commented that we don’t have enough of the other resources either that Law Enforcement rely on, such as mental health, ACT Tompkins, etc. More officers will not fix the issues alone – that is the start of the conversation. Alderperson McGonigal stated that services that are available are too little and too disparate – REACH, STAP, etc. No coordination of services. There is a need for a Continuum of care; there is collaboration; there is not enough affordable housing in the area. Chair Kane thanked George for the report and stated that the group would be happy to assist in these efforts if they are asked. Report from the Police Department: Deputy Police Chief Monticello reported that the department is continuing their recruitment efforts. They have two retirements coming soon, there are ten vacant positions now. Commissioner Rogers reported that the 1st meeting of the Police Chief Search Committee (on which Commissioners Rogers, Kortihus, and Onyejuruwa are serving) was held recently. The end date for applications is Friday, July 30, 2022. Developing interview questions. Search committee is representative of the Ithaca community. The search is Nation-wide, but applicants will have to be certified as a police officer in New York State to hold the position. Acting Police Chief Joly reported on the following: There will be 12 vacant positions by mid-September. Lateral incentives are being considered for reinstatement tonight at Common Council. There are two people in queue who are interested in transferring to IPD. Phased in wellness program for officer that would include access to a 24/7 gym – physical fitness, stress reduction, mental health. Technology – Flock cameras to assist with tracking vehicles – license plate pictures and vehicle typing – maybe colors – privacy protection Call volume is putting a strain on the department. Commissioner Onyejuruwa how many officers are accruing overtime. AC Joly stated that overtime is being offered on nearly every shift. Commissioner Onyejuruwa expressed that some of the mental fitness is not being overworked, what is being done to try to address this? AC Joly replied that this is something that he’s heard from the officers, officer wellness has been a focus for a long time – officers don’t think the City is serious because so many overtime hours are required of them to provide staffing. They need to find a balance between staffing patrols and offering officers needed time off. This needs to involve nutritionists, psychologists, and other health professionals for a holistic approach to this issue. Chair Kane expressed that by Charter, The Community Police Board can make recommendations to Common Council on budget issues related to IPD. She requested a budget presentation soon, so that they can consider their level of support. McGonigal – IPD’s interactions with the community – GIAC’s 50th Anniversary – series of celebrations over the next 3 months, including this Saturday with a cocktail hour at the space formerly occupied by Lot 10, now called The Upstairs. Tickets are $19.72 (GIAC was formed in 1972). He would like to see IPD participate in some of these events. PBA contributed significantly to the GIAC gym project. MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS: By Commissioner Onyejuruwa: Seconded by Commissioner Wright RESOLVED, That the Community Police Board enter into Executive Session to discuss active investigations. Carried Unanimously RECONVENE: The Community Police Board reconvened into Regular Session with no formal action taken. The Community Police Board unanimously approved the letter of Resolution for Complaint 2022-4 as written. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Julie Conley Holcomb, City Clerk