HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 01-10-2012 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
January 10, 2012
Mayor Slavik called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Medicine Lake Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on January 10, 2012.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Slavik, Councilmembers Black, Willis, Stein, Bildsoe, and
Johnson.
ABSENT: Councilmember Wosje.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Ahrens, Parks Director Evans, Police Chief Goldstein, Police
Captain Lindman, Community Development Director Juetten, City Attorney Knutson, City
Prosecutor Knetsch, Deputy Clerk Baird, and City Clerk Engdahl.
Citv Prosecutor Update
City Prosecutor Knetsch provided a copy of an annual report in the Council packet for review.
He gave additional comments pertaining to the prosecution of cases. He stated that Plymouth is
viewed favorably by the court system. Plymouth has the largest number of cases at the Ridgedale
facility which is due to the Police Department's strict traffic enforcement. Through his 17 years
of experience, he has heard a lot of compliments of the Plymouth police officers. The officers
have a history of creditability Regarding domestics, he takes a hard stance on those cases and
with compliance checks, they don't plea bargain, and the clerk has to plead guilty.
Police Chief Goldstein added in conversations with his colleagues who use contract attorneys,
City Prosecutor Knetsch and his staff take a hard line on cases, and there isn't a lot of room for
negotiation. They uphold what the police officers enforce in the field. The attorneys also work
with the police officers if they have to dismiss a case because the police officer did something
wrong.
Mayor Slavik asked about cameras in the squad cars and if those tapes are used for court cases.
Police Chief Goldstein replied all squad cars have cameras, and the tapes are kept up 90-180 days
and are used in court cases when needed.
Councihnember Bildsoe asked City Prosecutor Knetsch if there is anything the City needs to do,
such as additional resources to improve efficiency in prosecution that the Council should
consider for the 2013 budget. City Prosecutor Knetsch replied he believes the City has a fully
funded Police Department. He sees no issues. The squad cars are well maintained, and the
evidence room is a "cut above" what he's seen in other departments.
Adopted Minutes 1 of 3 Special Meeting of January 10, 2012
Councilmember Bildsoe asked if the DWI technology that the City uses is still adequate for
court. City Prosecutor Knetsch replied the City is still using the intoxilyzer that was introduced
in 1993. The State has entered into a contract to replace that equipment statewide at an
approximate cost of $3-$4 million. The metropolitan area hopes to have this new equipment
sometime in 2012.
Councilmember Willis stated of the 1,539 cases that were prosecuted in 2011, half of them were
traffic violations. He asked what kind of cases are those. City Prosecutor Knetsch replied
usually they're the "daily double," — no license and no insurance. He stated there's another 800
cases that aren't included in those statistics that are small traffic cases that are petty
misdemeanors and no right to jury trial.
City Prosecutor Knetsch stated the State is in the process of studying security at courthouses and
closing suburban courthouses. He stated in the future, this could be an issue that the Council
needs to take a stand on. If the City could only use the Hennepin County Courthouse, downtown
Minneapolis, there would be increased costs for police officers' overtime, mileage, parking, etc.
A discussion was held relative to a recent article in the MN Post on domestic assault prosecution.
City Prosecutor Knetsch stated this article was comparing how Minneapolis handles these
calls/cases compared to other communities. He stated they spend a considerable amount of time
on these cases, and he mentioned that Home Free provides an invaluable service to the City by
providing advocates who can work with the victims. He stated no two domestic assaults are the
same which makes them difficult.
Police Captain Lindman handed to the Council a draft ordinance for the registration of hotel
guests and requiring a photo identification for anyone 18 and over. He explained that the City is
encountering problems with peddlers/solicitors who reserve a block of rooms under one name at
a local hotel. When there are illegal activities that occur, such as drugs and prostitution, it's hard
to identify the suspects. According to Minnesota Statute 327. 10, every guest in the room must be
registering with the hotel. He stated they met with the hotel operators, and currently, they are
only registering the individual reserving the room(s) in their desk register, not the guests. He
explained they are in violation of State Statute in not registering every guest. City Prosecutor
Knetsch added per the proposed ordinance, the hotels would have the options of photocopying all
guests' IDs, 18 and over, or taking the information and recording it in the desk register. The
registers need to be retained for one year.
The majority of the Council desired more time to review the proposed ordinance.
Councilmembers Stein and Willis requested that this item be added to the study session list.
Future Study Sessions
The Council deleted the study session on March 20 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the fire study. That
item will be scheduled on a future study session.
Adopted Minutes 2 of 3 Special Meeting of January 10, 2012
The Council added discussion of the proposed hotel registration ordinance to the February
21study session agenda.
Adiournment
Mayor Slavik adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Sandra R. Engdahl, (dity derk
Adopted Minutes 3 of 3 Special Meeting of January 10, 2012