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Home My WebLink About2017-0419 Documents Submitted White Paper on Ashland Police Staffing Mayor and Members of the Ashland City Council I ask that you reconsider your decision to hire 5 additional Ashland policemen. That decision was based on inaccurate facts which quite frankly, if had been more thoroughly vetted, would never have been presently last week. Population Growth in Ashland The question is not what the population of Ashland was 20 years ago but is our police department capable of providing adequate safety for our community today? A major underlying assumption justifying more police hiring is that population growth in Ashland over the last 20 years warrants more police. Our quality of life is threatened as police are unable to provide the safety needs demanded by our diverse community. Through the press and presentations to council the city has pressed this version of the facts. However, according to US Census Bureau data the population of Ashland in 2016 (20,861) was actually lower than it was in 2006 (20,974). Over the last 5 years the population in Ashland has essentially been flat never surpassing that 2006 peak. What population explosion in Ashland is the city actually referring to? Keep in mind the number of Ashland police staff has been the same since 2010 at (28) but still one more than the (27) officers in Ashland in 2006 which had the higher population. Despite the hype the facts show the police department is NOT chronically under staffed based on a population surge in Ashland. Maybe the city should be talking about a realignment or reallocation of our police assets to better address staffing in the patrol officer division. Could more staffing for the "boots- on-the ground" patrol division come from other areas of the police department? IACP Data Doesn't Justify Adding Police Staff Furthermore, the city has relied on data from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, to justify the need for police hiring. The IACP used population ratio data (1 policeman for every 1000 residents) as a key metric in its hiring rational. In a July and Sept 2016 presentations to council and in a Sept Mail Tribune newspaper article it was stated that Ashland needed additional officers since current staffing levels are below national averages. It was stated that although "the IACP does not recommend relying solely on factors such as population as logic for hiring, based purely on the city population, the need for additional officers is clear". Yet when I did some detective work myself and reached out to the IACP I was told they had abandoned that model more than a decade ago. In fact, the IACP doesn't recommend using population based justification as a basis for police hiring at all. On the IACP website I found this statement, "Ratios, such as officer-per-thousand population are totally inappropriate for a basis for staffing decisions. Accordingly they have NO place in the IACP methodology". It isn't that the IACP believes that population to officer ratios could be used in police hiring, they says it has NO place in modern police hiring methodology. That's not just in Ashland, but not in any modern police force in America. Cost Projections Miss the Mark Additionally, cost projections are low and inaccurate. The $530,000 per year or $106,000 per officer add-in proposal doesn't reflect the true costs to the city. As outlined in the adopted 2015-17 budget the true costs to taxpayers is $232,330 per officer or $1.16ml a year. The hiring of these 5 new police officers is a classic example of inaccurate cost projections and one reason why the citizens' members of the budget committee urges the city to show detailed cost breakdown for spending in the budget for each department, especially around compensation. Police and salary data outlined in the 2015-17 budget (chapter 3-58) shows the true costs to hire a person in the Police Department is about $134,000 per year. (5 people x $134k = $670k, not $530k). Add the service and material costs (what an officer costs the city outside of labor) of $98,000 per-person-per-year (chapter 3-58) and the math changes dramatically. The actual real cost to taxpayers to hire an officer increases to $232,330 per year. That is substantially higher than the outlined $106,000 per-person-per-year cost projection estimate ($530k/5 people = $106k) in the add-in proposal, if fact it's 119% higher. Add costly items like, more police training, police cruisers, body cameras, protective vests, and ammunition, and the total true costs for the 5 new staff is more like $1.25ml a year, not the $500k estimated by the city. Best Practices Used to Determine Police Staffing At the last city council meeting a speaker described his life on the street and said that "the more you treat a person like a criminal the more he will tend to act like one". If you read the Policy Analysis Report for the City of San Francisco Board of Supervisors published on January 26, 2016 which focuses on best practices related to police staffing and funding, it states some of those same beliefs. The report highlights the "relationship between police staffing levels and crime rates remain uncertain and ambiguous". "Additionally, falling incomes and higher unemployment trends contribute to an increase in property crime. Most would predict that crime should decrease with an increased police presence as individuals would be deterred by the greater likelihood of being caught, but at least four major studies in recent years have surveyed the criminology literature and either found no relationship or a positive relationship between police presence and crime." Maybe our city should be more focused on reducing bureaucratic red tape and reducing prohibitive regulation allowing businesses to come here to prosper, while creating jobs and employment opportunities as a way to combat the spike in non-serious crime in town rather than spending money on hiring more police staff? Other Options to Tackle Crime in Ashland The majority of crime in Ashland, 80-85% in fact, is non-serious, non-sexual and non-violent. Theft is the biggest issue and is a seasonal phenomenon occurring between April and October. Data from the Ashland Police Department over the last 3 years show the uptick in crime coinciding with the influx of summer tourists and travelers. Yes, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has grown and Southern Oregon enrollment has increased, yet over the last few years, the police cadets have been a great solution for the city to deal with the seasonal influx of tourist, travelers and this uptick in crime. The added costs for a summer cadet force is much less prohibitive and matches off exceptional well with our increased summer population. We also have a 25-30 member volunteer police force who could work more closely with the cadets and regular police staff to help. If anything the town should be focused on hiring non- uniform staff like mental health professionals to address the mental health epidemic in Southern Oregon. One things is for sure we could be considering other options than hiring 5 additional police officers. Why should the Police Union hold the taxpayers of Ashland hostage demanding we hire unnecessary staff, to solve a seasonal issue, when the better answer is more effective and increased use of cadets and our volunteers to strengthen policing? I have a family with three young children and of course I want a secure and safe community for them to live. On the other hand I think it's about time our city government begins to show some respect for the Ashland taxpayer. Isn't it reasonable for the citizens to be presented with ALL the facts before a decision like this is made? Why the rush? Why should the onus always be put on the citizens of Ashland to ask the appropriate questions in order to understand how our money is being spent? Shouldn't the Mayor and Council ask those difficult questions for us to insure our money is being spent wisely and efficiently? I think it prudent that before making any more hasty decisions which will add over $2ml alone to the 2017-2019 Police budget, the Mayor and City Council, start asking those sometimes uncomfortable, thought provoking questions around how our money is actually being spent. Shaun Moran, Ashland Budget Committee 4/13/17 Capital Improvements Plan Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-19 Years 1 and 2 1 NO t WAS Planned Resources Roadway Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Street SDC Grants Other fees & rates Railroad Crossing Improvements; Hersey & Laurel $ 45000 $ - $ 450,000 $ - $ 255,642 $ - $ 194,358 Independent Way -Washington St to Tolman Creek Rd $ 1,590,000 $ - $ 1,59000 $ 59000 $ - $ 1,000,000 $ - NMain Refuge Island $ 80,000 $ - $ 8000 $ - $ - $ - $ 80,000 East Nevada Street Extension $ - $ 61494,400 $ 6,494,400 $ 1,194,970 $ 3,00000 $ - $ 2,299,430 Grandview Drive Improvements -Phase II $ - $ 350,000 $ 350,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 35000 City Wide Chip Seal Project $ - $ 93,404 $ 93,404 $ - $ 816,081 $ - $ (722,677) Subtotal Roadway $ 2,1209000 $ 699379804 $ 990579804 $ 197849970 $ 490719723 $ 19000,000 $ 2,201,111 Street Improvements/Overlays per Pavement Manaeement System Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Street SDC Grants Other fees & rates Overlay/Partial Rebuild - N Mountain Ave -Hersey to 1-5 $ 840,000 $ - $ 84000 $ - $ - $ - $ 840,000 Overlay - Wightman Street -Quincy to Siskiyou $ 22500 $ - $ 225,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 225,000 Replave/Rebuild -Hersey St - N Main to N Mountain $ 11000,000 $ 30000 $ 400,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 4,000,000 Overlay/Partial Refuild - N Mountain Ave - E Main to R/R Tracks $ - $ 200,000 $ 20000 $ - $ - $ - $ 20000 Subtotal Street Improvements/Overlays $ 29065,000 $ 312009000 $ 592659000 $ - $ - $ - $ 592659000 Sidewalk/Pedestrian Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Street SDC Grants Other fees & rates Hersey Street - N Main Street to Oak Street (CMAQ) $ 250,000 $ - $ 250,000 $ 62,500 $ 53100 $ - $ 25000 Downtown ADA Ramp Replacement $ 88,950 $ - $ 88,950 $ - $ 88,950 $ - $ 88,950 N Main Street RRFB Installation -Nursery Street & Van Ness Avenue $ 75,000 $ - $ 75,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 7500 Mountain Ave RRFB Installation -Fair Oaks Avenue $ - $ 4000 $ 40,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 40,000 A Street -Oak Street to 100' west of 6th Street $ - $ 155,000 $ 155,000 $ 38,750 $ - $ - $ 116,250 Subtotal Sidewalk/Pedestrian $ 4139950 $ 1959000 $ 6089950 $ 1019250 $ 6199950 $ - $ 5709200 C:\Users\glick[\AppDa[aU,ocalVvticrosoft\Windows\Temporary Interne[ Files\ContentOu[look\XYDTRJU7Vvlas[er CBC Info BN17-19 4/19/2017 4:33 PM an Capital Improvements Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-19 Years 1 and 2 1 1 =kj i,. k r-ft ' Planned Resources Bicycle Project Totals Storm SDC Grants Other fees & rates - - - $ $ $ ,000 Downtown Super Sharrows $ - $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100 Subtotal Bicycle S - $ 1009000 $ 1009000 $ - $ - $ - $ 100,000 TRANSPORTATION 4.,59899 50 10,4329804 1590319754 $ 811 496919673 19000 ,000 891369311 ~ Air ort Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Grants Other fees & rates Pavement Maintenance Program $ 2000 $ - $ 20,000 $ 2000 $ - $ - ort im ~rovements - T~~i~~av Rehabilitation (Environmental S - $ 22200 $ 2225000 $ 222,000 $ - $ - Entitlement Gant - ,\irl l 209000 2229000 242,000 2429000 $ 1 Water Supp1Y Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Water SDC Grants Other fees & rates TID Canal Piping: Starlite to Terrace Street $ 788,000 $ 66400 $ 1,452,000 $ 1,45200 $ - $ - $ - TID Terrace St Pump Station Improvements $ 65000 $ - $ 650,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 65000 Reeder Reservoir Access Road TMDL Compliance $ 116,000 $ - $ 11600 $ 8700 $ - $ - $ 2900 Fork Transmission Line Rehabilitation $ 154 500 $ 154,500 $ 309,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 309,000 East & West Ashland Creek West Fork Bridge Construction $ - $ 12900 $ 129,000 $ 96,750 $ - $ - $ 32)250 TMDL in Reeder Reservoir $ - $ 120,000 $ 12000 $ 90,000 $ - $ - $ 30,000 Sediment Subtotal Water SuPP1Y $ 117089500 $ 11067,500 $ 29776,000 $ 19725,750 $ - $ - $ 190509250 Water Treatment & Storage Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Water SDC Grants Other fees & rates 2.5 MGD Water Treatment Plant $ 1,194,000 $ 13,731,000 $ 14,92500 $ 15492,500 $ - $ - $ 13,4325500 - - 2.6-MG Reservoir & Clearwell Crowson II $ 891,000 $ 7,490!M0 $ 8 381000 $ 838 100 $ $ $ 7 542,900 Permanganate Feed Facility Study & Implementation $ 316,000 $ 316,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 316,000 Subtotal Treatment & Storage $ 2,4019000 $ 2192219000 $ 2396229000 $ 293309600 $ - $ - $ 292919400 C:1Userslglickt\AppData\Local\Microsoftlwindows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.0utlook\XYDTRJU71Master CBC Info BN17-19 4/19/2017 4:33 PM an Capital Improvements Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-19 Years 1 and 2 I ' : I ' 1,0 Planned Resources Water Distribution Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Water SDC Grants Other fees & rates - - - Park Estates Pump Station/Loop Road Reservoir Alternatives $ 637,000 $ 1 967000 $ 2i,604,000 $ $ $ $ 2,604M00 Granite Reservoir Alternatives $ 127,000 $ - $ 127,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 127,000 Radio Read Meter Program $ - $ 12600 $ 12600 $ - $ - $ - $ 126,000 Subtotal Water Distribution $ 7649000 $ 290939000 $ 298579000 $ - $ - $ - $ 298579000 Water Mainline Projects Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Water SDC Grants Other fees & rates SiskiYou Boulevard - Crowson Road South towards I-5 Exit 11 $ 175,000 $ - $ 17500 $ - $ - $ - $ 175,000 Oak Street - Nevada to Bear Creek Bridge $ 273,200 $ - $ 273,200 $ - $ - $ - $ 273,200 Grandview Drive - SkYcrest Dr to Ditch Rd $ - $ 131,250 $ 131,250 $ - $ - $ - $ 131,250 I Lane Morton Street to west end of Ivy Lane $ - $ 357,000 $ 357,000 $ $ $ $ 357,000 - - I Lane South Mountain to FH-16AD-038 $ $ 103000 $ 103,000 $ $ $ - $ 103 000 A Street 1 st St to 6th St $ $ 155000 $ 155000 $ - $ - $ - $ 155,000 - - Parker Street Walker Ave to Llthla Way $ $ 25 000 $ 25,000 $ $ $ - $ 25000 Harmony Lane - SiskiYou Blvd to Lithia Way $ - $ 12,300 $ 12,300 $ - $ - $ - $ 121300 Lit Way - Joy Avenue to Ray Lane $ - $ 6,200 $ 6,200 $ - $ - $ - $ 6,200 Ray Lane - Lithia Way to Joy Ave $ - $ 6,200 $ 6,200 $ - $ - $ - $ 6,200 Subtotal Mainline Projects $ 448,200 $ 795,950 $ 1,2449150 $ - $ - $ - $ 192449150 C:1Userslglickt\AppData\Local\Microsoftlwindows\Temporary Internet FilesTontent.0utlook\XYDTRJU71Master CBC Info BN17-19 4/19/2017 4:33 I'M an Capital Improvements Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-19 Years I and 2 1 I ' I ' Planned Resources WASTEWATER Wastewater Treatment Plant Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Sewer SDC Grants Other fees & rates Outfall Relocation / Fish Screen $ 330,000 $ 330,000 $ 660,000 $ 99,000 $ - $ - $ 561,000 Shading (Capital Cost + first 6 Years of 0&M) $ 631,000 $ 631,000 $ 1,262,000 $ 189,300 $ - $ - $ 1,072,700 Oxidation Ditch Shell $ 2,51000 $ 2,510,000 $ 5,020,000 $ 1,95700 $ - $ - $ 3,062,200 RAS Pump Replacement $ - $ 122,000 $ 12200 $ 24,400 $ - $ - $ 97,600 Subtotal Treatment Plant $ 394719000 $ 39593,000 $ 790649000 $ 292709500 $ - $ - $ 497939500 Wastewater Collection System Y r r 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Sewer SDC Grants Other fees & rates Wastewater Line UPsizing -18" & 24" Parallel Trunkline along Bear Creek $ 71200 $ 712,000 $ 1,424,000 $ 996,800 $ - $ - $ 427,200 Wastewater Line Replacement; 15" Main - Mountain Avenue $ - $ 141,000 $ 141,000 $ 35,250 $ - $ - $ 105,750 Grandview Pump Station Replacement $ 375,000 $ - $ 375,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 375,000 Wastewater Line Replacement; 15" Main - A Street $ 150,000 $ 450,000 $ 6005000 $ 60,000 $ - $ - $ 540,000 Subtotal Collection System $ 192379000 $ 1,3039000 $ 295409000 $ 19092,050 $ - $ - S 194479950 498969000 WASTEWATER 497089000 III 996049000 I I $ Storm Drain Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Storm SDC Grants Other fees & rates $ - $ - 1' Project Totals Grants Other fees & rates ADMINISTRATION - City Facilities Yr 1 Yr 2 City Facility Upgrades & Maintenance $ 177,500 $ 177,500 $ 355,000 $ - $ - $ 35500 C:1Userslglickt\AppData\LocalWicrosoftlwindows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Out] ook\XYDTRJU71Master CBC Info BN17-19 4/19/2017 4:33 PM an Capital Improvements Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-1.9 Years 1 and 2 1rZ ' Planned Resources 1 I ' I ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT Yr I Yr 2 Project Totals Grants Other fees & rates Install New Services & Infrastructure: Cost include new transformers, switch cabinets poles and conductors to service new development $ 30000 $ 3005000 $ 60000 $ 600,000 Electric Utility Upgrades: Cost for repairs and replacement of aging infrastructure identified during routine inspections $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 20000 $ 200,000 SCADA Improvements Routine Maintenance Liscensing and Upgrades $ 700 $ 32,000 $ 39,000 $ 39,000 MAS Design Review and Purchase Study: feasibilty for City ownership, valuation of substation, and R01 $55,000 $ 5500 $55,000 New Distrbution Buss at Ashland Substation $ - $ - $ - $ - Purchase of Mountain Ave Substation $ - $ - $ - $ - Mountain Ave and Ashland Substation Interite Engineering Study and Benefit Analysis $ - $75,000 $ 75,000 $ 75,000 TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFO TECH Yr 1 Yr 2 Project Totals Grants Other fees & rates Expand Fiber Plant from 16 to 24 Node Groups $ 9000 $ 1,000 $ 91,000 $ 91,000 Fiber and Cable Plant Maintenance $ 79000 $ 7,000 $ 14,000 $ 14,000 Fiber and Cable Plant Installation $ 101000 $ 1000 $ 20M00 $ 2000 Data Center Server Capacity Growth (Virtualization) $ 22,500 $ 20,000 $ 42,500 $ 42,500 1299500 .III $ 16795U125 ! III TELECOMMUNICATIONS 41w- Now - -1 9 PARKS & RECREATION Yr I Yr 2 Project Totals Parks SDC Grants F&B fees & rates Repair Perozzi Fountain $ - $ 70,000 $ 70,000 $ 705000 Daniel Meyer Pool - Rebuild and Cover $ 3,250,000 $ - $ 3,250,000 $ 3,2505000 North Mountain Park Nature Play Area $ 1500 $ 15000 $ 165,000 $ 15000 $ 1500 Calle Guanajuato Improvements (Bond Repayment) $ 4000 $ 40,000 $ 80,000 $ 8000 Ashland Creek Park Development Phase II construction $ - $ 35M00 $ 35M00 $ 35,000 Garfield Park Water Play Replacement (Bond Repayment) $ 100 000 $ 100 000 $ 200M00 $ 20000 Resurface/Reclaim Tennis and Pickleball Courts $ 27,500 $ 27,500 $ 5500 $ 551000 C:1UserslglicktlAppDatalLocal\MicrosoftlWindowslTemporary Internet FileslContent.0utlooklXYDTRJU71Master CBC Info BN 17-19 4/19/2017 4:33 PM Capital Improvements Plan Planned Expenditures During BN 2017-19 Years 1 and 2 1 Planned Resources Lithia Park Master Plan $ 230,000 $ - $ 230,000 $ 23000 Winburn Way Sidewalk $ 255000 $ - $ 2500 $ 25,000 Second Dog Park Construction $ 265,000 $ - $ 26500 $ 265,000 YMCA Park Replacement $ 75000 $ - $ 750,000 $ 75000 Master Plan for Park Shop/yard areas; Dog parks; Skateboard Park $ - $ 755000 $ 755000 $ 75,000 Oak Knoll Improvements (Irrigation) $ 35,000 $ 35,000 $ 70,000 $ 7000 Trails and Open Space Comp Plan Update $ 30,000 $ - $ 3000 $ 30,000 Restoration of Beach Creek below Pedestrian Bridge $ 7500 $ - $ 75,000 $ 75,000 Land Acquisition $ 91500 $ 900,000 $ 1,81500 $ 375,000 $ 1,27500 $ 165,000 $ - Project Manager $ 6000 $ 60,000 $ 120,000 $ 120,000 $ - III 1 TOTAL BN 2017-19 CIP $ 21,235,150 $ 42,843,254 $ 64,078,404 $ 9,680,120 $ 10,358,673 $ 2,552,500 $ 42,169,561 C:\Users\glick[WppData\I.ocalVvlicrosoft\Windows\Temporery Internet Files\Content.0u[look\XYDTRJU7Vvtaster CBC Info BN17-19 4/192017 433 PM