City Council notes – 2/23/2010

Notes from tonight’s Fort Wayne City Council Committee Session meeting.

All present except for Councilman Mitch Harper.

Note – Councilwoman Karen Goldner’s Gender and Genetics ordinance will not be introduced tonight.

Fort Wayne Police Chief Rusty York is before the Council.

Homicides were down by 7 over the previous year.  Starting in 1999 – 20, 20, 23, 24, 19, 22, 25, 18, 24, 25, 18

Homicides are one of the most difficult crimes for us to impact because they are spontaneous and related to drug and gang activity.

Rapes down from 96 in 2008 to 75 in 2009.  Robbery was up from 479 in 2008 to 485 in 2009.  Looking at the history, robberies have been increasing.  There was a spike at 609 in 2001, which was due to bank robberies.

Assaults are up from 216 to 298.  Partly due to a change in domestic law.  In a domestic law situation, putting hands on someone’s neck, it is an assault.

Councilman Harper has arrived.

Burlaries are down from 2,410 in 2008 to 2,269 in 2009.  The reductions are not by chance, they are the result of hard work in looking at trends.

Larcenies is down from 7,230 in 2008 to 6,683 in 2009.  He thinks they’ll be able to keep it down because of their approach.  Vehicle theft is down from 666 in 2008 to 427 in 2009.  Car manufacturers have corrected design defaults making it more difficult to steal cars.  Riding lawn mowers are in this number.  Arson is down 96 to 75.  (check this number)

8.25% total decrease over same period in 2008.  There has been 7% increase in violent crime with a 9.5% decrease in property crimes.  Over 31 year history, lowest in volume.

Council President Marty Bender, also a FWPD Deputy Chief, is commenting on the decrease in crimes, but increased deterioration of economic conditions.

Councilman Glynn Hines is asking about prepaid gas pumping.  Rusty is responding that they went to gas outlets two years ago to suggest  going prepay.  Drive offs have been virtually eliminated.  Hines is commenting on the importance of individual citizens coming forward to share knowledge of crimes.  There are numerous cases at the Allen County Prosecutor’s office that can’t go forward because no one will come forward.

Councilman Tim Pape is asking for closure rates on homicides.  75,000 residents have been added through annexations, yet the crime rates have lowered.  “We’re headed in the right directions.”  To be competitive, need to drive crime rate even further which can be done by investing further in public safety.  Very difficult to cut public safety without endangering public safety.

Chief York is commenting that the neighborhoods that are most involved are the ones with lowest rates.

“Prior Approval Request” for Till Road

Related to the State Road 3 project.  T-E Incorporated was lowest bidder by $16,000.  DNR has to issue permit, but won’t between April 1st and June 1st.  Initially financed by City, however, will be reimbursed by INDOT.

Passed, 9-0.

“Prior Approval Request for Road Salt”

Price trending is driving the request.  Brad feels supply and demand is increasing costs.  Plus increases in mining costs.

Councilwoman Liz Brown is asking about last year’s use which was 10,000 tons, this year about 5,000 tons.  This would allow the purchase of another 3,500 tons.  They may not even have to purchase.  They don’t stockpile.

Passed, 9-0.

R-10-02-11

Passed, 9-0.

Regular Session

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