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Public-safety update: staffing gaps, e-bike education push and block cameras coming online
Summary
Council received a public-safety update noting vacancies in dispatch and patrol, a plan for e-bike/ebike education following new state law, and that the city's block-camera program should be operational by mid-July.
Councilmember Shorten reported on public-safety staffing: dispatch has an overhire as one dispatcher departs in July, one candidate is in background checks for the jail vacancy, and patrol has two positions to fill with two officers in field training. Shorten said staffing adjustments will be used to cover summer events and that SROs and detectives may be redeployed as needed.
Shorten and police staff also discussed local regulation of e-motorcycles and ebikes, noting overlapping state RCW provisions and the intention for a municipal ordinance to clarify local rules and enforcement mechanisms, including the ability to hold parents responsible in certain circumstances. Shorten said the police department will launch an e-bike education push on the new law, and staff said the city’s block camera system should be operational by mid-July.
These items were informational; the council did not take formal action on staffing levels during the meeting.
