HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 02/09/1999 - WorkshopI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
Council Workshop Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of February 9, 1999, which were approved
by the City Council on February 16, 1999.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 16th day of February, 1999.
rmando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
MINUTES
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
City Council Workshop
February 9, 1999
12:08 p.m.
PRESENT
Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem Melody Cooper*
Council Members:
Javier D. Colmenero
Dr. Arnold Gonzales
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Edward A. Martin
Dr. David McNichols*
ABSENT
Alex L. Garcia Jr.
City Staff:
City Manager David R. Garcia
City Attorney James R. Bray Jr.
City Secretary Armando Chapa
Police Chief Pete Alvarez Jr.
Mayor Neal convened the workshop in the Basement Training Room of City Hall.
City Secretary Chapa called the roll and verified that a quorum of the Council was present.
*Council Member Cooper arrived at 12:10 p.m.
City Manager Garcia explained that the police resource utilization study, which was initiated
about seven months ago upon the Council's direction, was being presented. He introduced Mr. Jerry
Needle of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), who was the key coordinator of
the study. Police Chief Alvarez said the study contains a wealth of information which his department
will be examining.
Mr. Needle said that 10 people were on site in Corpus Christi and they observed a variety of
aspects of the Police Department. He noted that the study is entitled "Achieving the Commitment --
An Action Plan for Community -CCPD Collaboration." He said the study itself is very detailed and
it is accompanied by an executive summary, from which he based most of his remarks during the
workshop.
Mr. Needle said the Corpus Christi Police Department is serving its citizens professionally
and competently, and has made major inroads in reducing the rate of serious crime, including drive-
by shootings. He cited three influences which are reshaping or will reshape the CCPD policing
environment: an intensifying agenda of crime -reduction initiatives; an unprecedented infusion of
resources; and a transition to community -oriented policing. He commented that the CCPD is well
positioned to take on the organizational transformation that lies ahead.
Minutes
City Council Workshop
February 9, 1999
Page 2
Mr. Needle went on to discuss the CCPD's policing style; goals, objectives and values;
professional standards; and the organizational climate. He said that since the Police Department has
only recently incorporated the concept of community policing, the department remains traditional
in its policing style. With regard to the organizational climate and morale, Mr. Needle said there is
a lot of pent-up energy for change, adding that the climate is free of "corrosive relationships."
He also discussed staffing levels, noting that the CCPD has 592 budgeted positions, 580 of
which are filled. In order to continue serving the community adequately, the consultants recommend
a total staffing level of 613, as well as fewer captains and more lieutenants.
Mr. Needle then referred to the priority recommendations in the executive summary, which
fall into three categories: actions to transform the philosophy of the CCPD and to sustain the
transformation; actions to reinforce crime prevention and control efforts; and actions to build overall
organizational capacity and to enhance the productivity of resource investments.
*Council Member McNichols arrived at 12:35 p.m.
Under the area of philosophical transformation, Mr. Needle discussed the following
recommendations: accelerate the conversion to community policing; master change -management
concepts and strategies; form community -oriented policing districts (COP districts); establish
geographic/command accountability for the COP districts; and explore the financial feasibility of
constructing decentralized public safety/government center facilities, possibly three of them.
With regard to crime prevention and control, the study recommends that the department
develop a comprehensive community justice plan; ensure that Crime Control and Prevention District
augmentations move forward quickly, giving due consideration to reexamining each planned
allocation; increase the number of patrol line officers from the present level of 223 to 229 and adopt
other changes to eliminate workload and manpower disparities; create guidelines to manage and
maximize the effective use of uncommitted patrol time; improve the crime analysis function;
increase resources for family violence prevention efforts; and consolidate the Special Services units
(JET, narcotics, vice) and Organized Crime to form a more flexible operations capacity.
In order to improve capacity -building and productivity, Mr. Needle discussed the following
recommendations: prioritizing seven proposals for reorganization; develop a structure of measurable
goals and objectives; position the training function of the department to deliver "future -oriented"
courses in community policing and other issues; prepare an information technology master plan; and
manage and reduce the workload and calls for service through a variety of steps, such as
consolidating the jail processing function with the Sheriff's Department.
Responding to Council members' questions and comments, Mr. Needle emphasized that the
study is not a "report card" of the Police Department but rather it is meant to raise the level and
Minutes
City Council Workshop
February 9, 1999
Page 3
quality of the debate on several issues. He further discussed specific aspects of the report, including
morale, decentralization of services, and community policing.
Council Member Martin suggested that the City Manager come back in a few weeks with
ideas on how to implement elements of the study. Mr. Martin also asked when the decision was
made to begin using community policing concepts. Chief Alvarez replied that when he was made
chief in 1996 gang violence was rampant, and he and the staff began discussing the idea of
community policing but it has not been officially adopted by the department. He added that the IACP
report contains much information that can be utilized as well as some that he is not comfortable with.
Council Member John Longoria discussed the staffing issue, and City Manager Garcia said
they need to examine the deployment of officers to maximize efficiency. Council Member
Colmenero commented on community councils and Council Member Cooper addressed the issue
of a comprehensive community justice plan.
Mayor Neal thanked all those in attendance, and he agreed that a strategy needs to be
developed to address the issues raised by the report. He then declared the Council workshop
adjourned at 1:35 p.m. on February 9, 1999.
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