Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Funding Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $5.42 million transfer for police public-safety investments after debate over allocations
Summary
Council approved an ordinance transferring $5,420,000 from general fund reserves to fund police public-safety measures after debate over specific allocations. Two council members voted against the ordinance, citing disagreement with some line items and preferring investments in proven community violence-intervention programs.
The council approved an ordinance to transfer $5,420,000 from the general fund reserve account reserved for weather-related events, emergencies and one-time needs to support police public-safety investments intended to deter violent crime.
Doctor Dudes, administration, introduced the ordinance, saying it "would transfer $5,420,000 from the general fund balance... reserved for weather related events, other emergency, and 1 time needs, to provide police public safety measures and deter violent crime in the city." The measure passed on a roll-call vote after discussion.
Several council members praised parts of the package while warning about other allocations. One council member noted the police chief had requested $500,000 for specific programs but the ordinance included $1.2 million for similar allocations; that council member said she could not support giving more than requested. Other council members raised concerns about funding for services described in the ordinance, including $880,000 for walking people to their cars in the Central Business District and $360,000 for license-plate readers; critics argued those line items were not the best use of scarce resources and suggested investments in evidence-based community violence-intervention programs, jobs and mentoring for youth instead.
Vice Mayor Kearney and President Pro Tem Parks voted against the ordinance; other members voted in favor. A roll-call was recorded and the ordinance passed.
Ending: The ordinance was approved; the administration was asked to provide follow-up accounting by December for unallocated spending and to replace any unspent amounts by June, per council discussion.
