MINUTES City Council Public Safety Committee Monday, January 6, 2025-3 3:30PM City Hall Council Chambers Members Present: Aaron Baker, Chair, Council Member Mac Morrow, Vice-Chair, Council Member Kevin Gallo, Citizen Member Mayor Mauren Copelof, Ex-Officio Member Wilson Hooper, City Manager Tom Jordan, Police Chief Bobby Cooper, Fire Chief Becky McCann, Communications Coordinator Eden Hinds, Evidence Specialist David Todd, Assistant City Manager Selena Coffey, Assistantto the City Manager Staff Present Guests: Linda Gallo, Kellyn Haight, Kaitlyn Walters, Morris Jenkins, Nick Haseloff (Transylvania Times) A. Welcome & Call to Order Committee Chair Aaron Baker welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at: 3:30pm. B. Certification of Quorum Assistant to the City Manager Selena Coffey certified that a quorum was present. C. Approval of Agenda Motion by Mr. Morrow, seconded by Mr. Baker to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. D. Approval ofl Minutes Motion by Mr. Morrow, seconded by Mr. Gallo to approve the minutes of the November 25, 2024 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. E. Overview of Quarterly Pedestrian Incidents Fire Chief Bobby Cooper provided an overview of pedestrian incidents for the year, with a focus on thel last quarter of 2024. Hel highlighted 4 bicycle incidents in the fourth quarter, one in Silversteen Community Park and others on North Country Club Road, thei intersection of Broad Street and Fisher Road, and Asheville Highway. Chief Cooper noted that the bike path on Asheville Highway is a common location for incidents. The Committee discussed the report briefly. F. Update on Traffic Calming Measures Mr. Hooper reported that staff will be meeting again this week to continue progress on the items on the traffic calming list. He noted that staffhas posted the sign on Fisher Road and collected data and the sign will be moved to McLean soon in order Mr. Todd provided an update on the speed bumps on Probarti noting that the initial plan was to install 10, buts staff had found funding to install 11 in total. He noted that the goal is to geta all installed in January and that staff continues to analyze the intersection oft the railroad at Probart for safety improvements. This was discussed to collect additional data. extensively by the Committee. G. Evidence Audit Report Mr. Hooper introduced this agenda item noting that an evidence audit is required anytime the City hires a new evidence specialist and/or moves evidence to a new location. Chiefjordan commended Evidence Specialist Eden Hinds, noting that she had audited the Department's evidence thoroughlya and meticulously for 7 months. He then provided an overview ofthe evidence audit report highlighting some of the following key findings: Thei industry standard is a 95% accuracy rate and the City'saudit revealed Ate total of 3,543 items are in evidence collection and only 19 ofwhich un- accounted fori items, none ofwhich are attached to active cases and some Only four potential high-risk items that were unaccounted for, ofv which three were: suspected of! being marijuana and the fourth being pills. He reiterated Additional 16 items listed as being destroyed but lacking clear paperwork The department has implemented al barcoding system and designated Ar new property and evidence policy was published in November 2024. that the department has a 99.5% accuracy rate. items as old as the year 2010. that none oft these were attached to active cases. verifying that they were destroyed. storage areas for all items collected. Minutes - City Council Public Safety Committee! Meeting- January 6, 2025 Page 2of4 Chief] Jordan noted thatt the evidence audit was difficult but was necessary to increase the accuracy oft the Department's evidence collections. He noted that the next step is to implement: additional evidence security measures, to include ai new camera system to complement the existing locking system for restricting access to Mr. Gallo asked how long evidence was required to be maintained. Chief Jordan explained thati it varies based on the category of the evidence item. He also noted that moving the evidence will require an additional audit and an independent person, not associated with the Brevard Police Department, will oversee the move. Hei noted that this will likely be someone from the Internal Association of Property Mr. Baker asked about accreditation standards, leading to a discussion about policies and requirements for the destruction of evidence. Chief) Jordan noted that the Evidence Audit Report is a public document, and it has been shared with the Mr. Baker suggested that the report be presented to City Council at least as a part of the consent agenda after having received input from the District Attorney's office. Mr. Hooper again noted that the audit is a public document and is available for evidence. Evidence (IAPE). District Attorney's office as per routine practice. anyone to review. H. Public Comment Kaitlyn Walters, owner of Earth Mountain Bicycle, spoke about safety concerns near the middle school. She noted that there is a significant problem with speeding vehicles along McLean and Fisher Road, especially near the school. She also asked if there was any interest ini illuminating the bike path from thel lab connecting to the middle school due to it being very dark in thata area. She noted that she and friends had felt unsafe due to the darkness in that section and suggested thei installation of biking. Finally, she noted that speeding and illegal u-turns are very common downtown and suggested that the Committee consider addressing these issues. Kellyn Haight spoke about the potential for creating a three-way stop at the intersection of Carolina Avenue and Shipman. She noted that NCDOT had told her that this was City of Brevard issue. She noted that she had also spoken with Public Works Director Wesley Shook about this issue, along with Aaron Bland, Assistant Planning Director, about thei issue. Ms. Haight also noted that the City also needs to ensure that the sight line in this area is clear as well, noting thel large maple tree Mr. Hooper noted that staff will contact NCDOT to verify which portions of Carolina Avenue are actually City-owned versus State-owned because the City's mapi isn't obstructing the view. clearabout this. Minutes - City Council Public Safety Committee Meeting January 6,2025 Page e3of4 Ms. Gallo noted that the stop sign atl Probart has been helpful and residents have Mr. Gallo referenced an email exchange about dogs on Hill Street and asked ift there had been a resolution. ChiefJordan noted that the City's animal control staffwas addressing the issue. Ms. Copelofthen: noted that City staff may need to update the form for reporting barking dogs based on the respective ordinance. Ms. Haight asked the Committee what would be necessary to getat three-way sign installed at Carolina Avenue and Shipman Road. Mr. Hooper shared with her that the state asks for reporting of near misses in the absence of crash reports and encouraged Ms. Haight to report these near misses to the City. been pleased with this safety improvement. . Set Date for Next Meeting The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, January 27,2025 at 3:30pm. - Adjourn There being no further business, Mr. Bakerasked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Morrow made the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Gallo. The meeting was adjourned at 4:31pm. Minutes Approved: SAnaggADRE X Dusc laneo Aaron Baker, Chair, Council Member or Mac Morrow, Vice Chair, Council Member X Selena Assistant to the Manager City ALA Minutes - City Council Public Safety Committee Meeting: - January 6,2025 Page 4of4