Title
Approval of Funding to Conduct a Citizen Survey Concerning Public Safety and Affordable Housing Needs
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the use of up to $25,000 in Council Goal Money to conduct a scientifically valid Citizen Survey
Report
Issue:
Whether to Use City Council Goal money to conduct a citizen survey to test public support for public safety and affordable housing needs.
Staff Contact:
Steve Hall, City Manager, 360.753.8244
Keith Stahley, Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8227
Ronnie Roberts, Police Chief, 360.753.8147
Presenter(s):
Steve Hall, City Manager
Background and Analysis:
Public Safety:
For the past several years, the Olympia Police Department (OPD) has been working to build stronger, trusting relationships with all segments of the Olympia community. In addition, the Department and the City have been responding to concerns and articulated public safety priority needs of citizens expressed through neighborhoods, downtown users, merchants, minority populations and others.
OPD has been able to build strong liaison relationships with a number of groups ranging from the Hispanic Network to the YWCA to the PBIA and many more. The Department has also been innovative in the use of limited resources in meeting community requests. The Department has also undertaken significant training and policy development to lead in the era of 21st century policing principles with focus on fair and impartial policing, crisis intervention training, etc.
Much has been done within existing resources. However, lack of further resources is holding the City back from meeting community needs and expectations. Consequently, the City has crafted a unique set of public safety/community security service proposals in response to what the public has said. They include:
* Walking Patrol - expanded day time and adding night time
* Community Court - co...
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