HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice February 27 20181 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
3
4 February 27, 2018
5
6 CALL TO ORDER
7
8 Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. in the
9 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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11
12 ROLL CALL
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14 Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Satpal Sidhu
15 Absent: None
16 Also Present: Tim Ballew, Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, and Todd Donovan
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18
19 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
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21 1. ANNUAL REPORT FROM WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF BILL ELFO (AB2018-
22 066)
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24 Bill Elfo, Sheriff, gave a staff report on the dramatic increases in dangerous forms of
25 mental illness and associated crimes, the plans for a remodeled or new crisis triage center,
26 the crisis intervention deputy, lack of funding for the basic law enforcement academy that
27 hinders hiring of needed deputies, ongoing training for active shooter scenarios in the
28 schools, the Spillman and other records management systems, recent crime trends,
29 statistics from comparable counties, the recent arrest in the Mandy Stavik case, the impacts
30 of the drug epidemic and the Drug Task Force, officer safety and crisis negotiation teams,
31 necessary improvements to radio systems, critical failures in the jail and plans for repairs
32 and operations, jail use and jail alternative statistics, changes to the driving without license
33 (DWL) warrant issues, disaster preparedness, and connecting to the minority communities.
34
35 He answered questions on and councilmembers discussed substance use disorder
36 (SUD) treatment centers in Whatcom County, responding to illegal activity on lands owned
37 by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), problems with radio service in remote
38 areas, and the need for access to medical detox services.
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40
41 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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43 1. DISCUSSION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE'S
44 WORK PLAN FOR 2018 (AB2018 -087)
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46 Buchanan referenced a handout he submitted earlier (on file) and gave a staff report
47 on his proposed work plan for the committee, which includes a public participation plan,
48 needs assessment, and jail planning.
49
50 The committee discussed assigning completion dates to the phases, creating a
51 survey for the public, coordinating with the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task
52 Force to not duplicate efforts, the need for jail planning, scheduling public meetings
53 throughout the county, and hiring a facilitator for the public meetings.
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, 2/27/2018, Page 1
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Sidhu moved that the Chair should get proposals or find someone to facilitate the
public meetings, to be done by June.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Buchanan, Byrd, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
Sidhu moved to move forward with the draft plan.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Buchanan, Byrd, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
ATTESfir,o U
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Dana Drown y 4s,f C,6uncg Clerk
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, 2/27/2018, Page 2