Laserfiche WebLink
Administrative Services Director Lasher provided background information and noted that because <br />each of the Council members want to provide input it was redundant to hold a Personnel <br />Committee meeting and then present and discuss that same information with the full Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht stated that he would have concern with even a two percent COLA due to <br />the current economy. <br /> <br />Mayor LeTourneau asked for input on the personnel requests. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked for input on which of the two Police Department requests would <br />be higher prioritized. <br /> <br />Deputy City Administrator Gladhill noted that each of the department heads has prepared their <br />own presentation and perhaps now would be a good time for those to occur, beginning with Police. <br /> <br />Police Chief Katers stated that he asked for both positions because he feels that the department <br />needs both positions. He stated that the Patrol Officer is requested because of the increased calls <br />for service. He stated that increased calls for service result in an increase amount of reporting and <br />paperwork, which results in the Records Technician position. He reviewed the population and <br />calls for service numbers that he uses to determine the number of Officers necessary. He stated <br />that the Police run a tight ship and do not have extra personnel they can slide to cover other duties. <br />He stated that these requests are to ensure that the department can continue to provide the same <br />level of service. He stated that if he had to make a choice, he would want the Patrol Officer but <br />noted that the Records Technician is also needed with the increased reporting and requests for <br />data. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kuzma stated that if there is a potential to obtain outside funding down the road <br />for body cameras, he would support waiting on that purchase. He stated that if body cameras are <br />implemented, additional records staff would be needed for that duty as well. <br /> <br />Police Chief Katers confirmed that if body cameras are in effect and there are a lot of data requests <br />related to body camera footage, additional staff would be needed. He stated that the position <br />request in this budget cycle is based on the current needs of the department but confirmed that <br />position could assist with body camera footage to begin. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley stated that he believed the Records Technician position was related to body <br />cameras and therefore if the body cameras are not included in the budget, he would believe the <br />Records Technician would not be needed at this time. <br /> <br />Police Chief Katers reviewed the duties of the proposed position and noted that his request is based <br />off of the current demands on the department. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove thanked Police Chief Katers for the reductions that the department <br />makes during these budget discussions. She stated that she would feel more comfortable with the <br />st <br />Records Technician position starting January 1 as it sounds like the position is needed and the <br />Patrol Officer is removed from the budget. <br />City Council Work Session / August 10, 2020 <br />Page 3 of 8 <br /> <br />