09/04/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/4/Z001 ~ pretty much pay for fire and police and other general government operations, is like an umbrella fund. .Anything that isn't specifically designated anywhere else goes to the general operating fund. Mr. Gallagher asked if the mainrtenance of the vehicles is paid for on the STOP program at all in any way. Mrs. Copfer said no, and this is an open issue. The department is looking at a way to charge a fee to that. The most relevant way would be to charge mileage. However, the vehicles are not driven that much. It's almost an indiscernible increase of maintenance costs from before or after. She is wrestling with that as there is a labor cost associated with further defining pennies. It is being looked at as something to add to the cost of that program, but it has not yet been determined officially. Mr. Gallagher said he does not know how anyone could say that this is a self paid for program when those expenses for the vehicles, and maybe even something as little as uniforms, aren't even being budgeted into that STOP program. Finance Director Copfer noted the officers do not require a special uniform to work on the STOP program. They wear their normal uniform which is part of their union contract and is their property. Councilwoman Kasler commented that Mr. Gallagher needed to understand that there has to be a period of time where this program is looked at. If there is to be a charge for weaz and tear and maintenance on a vehicle, Mrs. Copfer has said that is being looked into. When that is determined, if it's possible to determine and if it is a figure that is discernible, then it will he charged back to that fiuxl. It is importam for all to understand that the revenue that is collected for that program is used not only to pay for the officers' time, wages, benefits and everything that is charged to them being out on the road, but it also has produced revenue that has provided for a bike patrol and provided for other services to the city that then do not get charged to the general fund. Safety Director Jenkins said he wanted to point out that there is a bit of an offset with this. Having the extra policemen on the road does put us in a position of having a first responder that perhaps is closer and more able to deal with a situation. And there have been a number of occasions where an officer on the STOP program has responded to something that would typically be funded out of the general fund at no cost to the general fund. Those situations have resulted in some significant arrests in the City of North Olmsted. Cindy Clark, 23478 Olmsted Drive, expressed concern about the lack of activities in the city for teenagers. The kids do not have a place to "hang." They aze not allowed to hang out in the mall if they are not making purchases. She is concerned. that a library levy was passed, but we can't pass a school levy to get our kids what they need because everybody complains that their taxes will go up. She doesn't begrudge the senior citizens anything, but we keep falling short on our kids and our kids are our future. The elected officials have the power to do something about this. President Saringer noted that we do have city parks and a Recreation Cemer. Councilman Limpert noted that Council and the administration have been supportive of school levies. City Council does not have the authority to do anything about the condition of a school building. They have tried to increase facilities for youth and continue to be supportive of the schools. Councilman Dailey suggested that perhaps a youth task force could be formed to look at addressing 8