Missoula City Council Public Safety, Health and Operations Committee Minutes

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

9:30 A.m. - 10:10 A.m.

Council Chambers (in person) or TEAMS (virtually)

Attend in person: City Council Chambers, 140 W Pine, Missoula MT

Members present:

• Mirtha Becerra, 
• Daniel Carlino, 
• John P. Contos, 
• Gwen Jones, 
• Kristen Jordan, 
• Mike Nugent, 
• Amber Sherrill, 
• Sandra Vasecka, 
• and Heidi West 

Members absent:

• Stacie Anderson, 
• Sierra Farmer, 
• and Jennifer Savage 

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1.

ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS

1.1

Roll Call

1.2

Approval of the Minutes

1.2.1

Minutes of the August 9, 2023 PSHO meeting

​​​​​​​​The minutes were approved as submitted.

2.

PUBLIC COMMENT

3.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

3.1

Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG 2023) MOU

Jake Rosling

Assistant Chief Jake Rosling gave committee members the background history on the grant. The city has benefited from the grant since 1992. The plan for the money is to continue the police department's subscription to an online warrant program for municipal and District Court and also continue online training. The department also wants to purchase a rapid mobile drug impaired driving test equipment, a couple of the purchases will go towards recruitment and retention of current and future employees, and towards background management software.

• Moved by: Amber Sherrill

  Set a public hearing for September 25, 2023, for notification of JAG 2023 grant application and approval of the required MOU with Missoula County for the application.

  AYES: (8)	Mirtha Becerra, Daniel Carlino, John P. Contos, Gwen Jones, Kristen Jordan, Mike Nugent, Amber Sherrill, and Sandra Vasecka
  ABSENT: (4)	Heidi West, Stacie Anderson, Sierra Farmer, and Jennifer Savage

  Vote results: Approved (8 to 0)

3.2

Cameras and Digital Evidence Agreement

Mike Colyer

Chief Mike Colyer presented the requests of Axon body-worn cameras and digital evidence software. The hardware in the purchase would include body-worn camera upgrades and upgrades to the interview room cameras. The software in the purchase allows for data to become more streamlined. This software has a number of advantages such as a built-in automation system that our current system does not have, such as being able to turn on when a taser is activated, or when drawing firearms, or speeding vehicles, etc. Reliability is the last piece of the need for this purchase. Currently, we routinely experience battery failures with our body-worn systems. Axon would solve this with a longer battery life. 

• Moved by: Amber Sherrill

  Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Axon to enter a five-year agreement for Axon for body-worn cameras, vehicle cameras, interview room cameras and digital evidence management.

  AYES: (9)	Mirtha Becerra, Daniel Carlino, John P. Contos, Gwen Jones, Kristen Jordan, Mike Nugent, Amber Sherrill, Sandra Vasecka, and Heidi West
  ABSENT: (3)	Stacie Anderson, Sierra Farmer, and Jennifer Savage

  Vote results: Approved (9 to 0)

3.3

Electronics Technician – IBEW Local 233 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Angela Simonson

Angela Simonson, the chief Human Resources officer presented the details of the agreement. The union found in the Communication Shop and is part of the Public Works and Mobility team. The negotiations came to an agreement that results in a 3.2% budget increase for fiscal year 24 that is within the approved budget, so there's no need for a budget amendment to be made. 

• Moved by: Mirtha Becerra

  Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the three (3) year CBA for IBEW Local 233

  AYES: (9)	Mirtha Becerra, Daniel Carlino, John P. Contos, Gwen Jones, Kristen Jordan, Mike Nugent, Amber Sherrill, Sandra Vasecka, and Heidi West
  ABSENT: (3)	Stacie Anderson, Sierra Farmer, and Jennifer Savage

  Vote results: Approved (9 to 0)

3.4

Ordinance revising MMC 8.02 adopting the Missoula City-County Health Code by reference to incorporate revisions to Regulation 3 “Solid Waste Management as approved by the Missoula City-County Board of Health and amending 8.28 to repeal the Bear Buffer Zon

Amber Sherrill

Shannon Therriault, Environmental Health Director for the Missoula City-County Health Department gave a presented requested changes to the ordinance. She provided the wording changes to the regulation that would occur, should the changes be approved. There was discussion regarding violation penalties. 

Jamie Jonkel, a wildlife specialist with the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks gave examples of instances where bears are coming into town because of the abundance of food for them. He states that Missoula has an abundance of fruit trees and people owning chickens also entices the bears. 

• Moved by: Daniel Carlino

  Set a public hearing on October 2, 2023 and preliminarily adopt an ordinance revising Chapter 8.02 Missoula Municipal Code entitled “Missoula City-County Health Code Adopted by Reference” to adopt the revised version of Regulation 3 “Solid Waste Management” as approved by the City County Health Board on August 17, 2023, and to amend the Missoula Municipal Code Section of 8.28 “Rubbish and Garbage” to repeal the Missoula Bear Buffer Zone requirements and to change the penalties for violations from criminal misdemeanours to civil infractions.

  AYES: (9)	Mirtha Becerra, Daniel Carlino, John P. Contos, Gwen Jones, Kristen Jordan, Mike Nugent, Amber Sherrill, Sandra Vasecka, and Heidi West
  ABSENT: (3)	Stacie Anderson, Sierra Farmer, and Jennifer Savage

  Vote results: Approved (9 to 0)

4.

ADJOURNMENT

10:10 a.m.