2001-11-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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191 Police Chief Tim Longo presented the Police Department's Strategic Plan. Chief Longo said his goal is to infuse community policing throughout the organization, and listed the four tenets of community policing: arrest problems and offenders; reducing crime and the fear of crime; solve on-going problems; and improve the quality of life in Charlottesville. Chief Longo noted that crime is down in the City by 13% over the past year. ChiefLongo listed the following as identifiable focus areas: drug activity; gun violence; healthy neighborhoods; youth; and public trust. Ms. Richards said the Plan is a very impressive, comprehensive plan, and asked about the issue of bias based policing. Chief Longo said that issue is a very pressing challenge, and he has sent a message to the department and community that race based policing is discriminatory, unethical, and illegal, and will not be tolerated. Mr. Lynch asked about efforts to diversify the department, and ChiefLongo said it will take some time to be successful in this effort, and the department will have to be very aggressive in its efforts. Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Chief Longo said that some things have already been accomplished, but a time line has not been established for the goals, though some technology oriented issues will likely be more long term. Mr. Caravati noted that trying to achieve the goal of police officers having more discretionary time to devote to community policing will require a change of behavior on the part of citizens. ORDINANCE: LIVING WAGE FOR CONTRACTORS' EMPLOYEES (2na reading) Mr. Brown noted that two proposed amendments were suggested for the ordinance at the last meeting after the ordinance was moved, inserting language from Mr. Lynch and including an annual review of the living wage during the budget process. Ms. Richards made a motion to include paragraph #6, and said that she interprets the review of the wage as meaning that it will not go lower than $8 an hour. Mr. Toscano seconded the motion and the amendment was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano. Noes: None. Mr. Lynch made a motion to include amendment #7, noting that he thinks the intentions are clear about the annual increase. Mr. Cox seconded the motion. Ms. Richards said she would like to see language inserted that reflects that the living wage would be adjusted upward. Mr. Brown noted that any change in the $8 per hour would require an ordinance change. Mr. Toscano suggested that the language be changed to say the figure may be increased as necessary, and Mr. Lynch and Mr. Cox accepted the change to the amendment. Mr. Caravati said he favors the language in lieu of a two-year sunset clause. He said the City is treading on new territory and there may come a time when it will be necessary to change the ordinance, noting that there is no information on the impact this ordinance will have. Mr. Caravati said he sees this as a line item every year in the budget. He said he would prefer to have a two-year sunset clause, but will support the amendment.