Tonight's Monday, October 13, 2014 Takoma Park City Council meeting will include the three agenda items that I want to bring to your attention. Two of the items have been discussed by the Council in previous meetings, while the third item is on the agenda for the very first time. These items include:
> Contract for Website Improvement;
> Police Mutual Aid Agreement with Takoma Park and Montgomery County; and
> Snow Removal and Snow Emergency Protocols.
Takoma Park City Website
Takoma Park's website functionality has been an issue for a very long time. Issues with searching, dead links, updating the website being slow & cumbersome, and finally, the mobile devices component fails. Given the latter, city staff issued an RFP this past July, and there were four responses.
After a careful review, the city staff has recommended a company called Ignition 72. Ignition 72's proposal suggests moving to a new platform that will provide the flexibility and modern technical framework our current site is lacking. Also, Ignition 72's proposal includes provisions for training the city's IT staff support.
The web platform that has been recommended for Takoma Park is a web platform for organizations that have professional website programmers on staff or an ongoing employment contract with a programming organization that can make routine updates, repairs, and/or major upgrades to the website as necessary.
In an effort of continuous improvement and being forward looking, I support the staff recommendation and am excited about our city's new and improved website destination.
Takoma Park Police Department - Mutual Aid Agreement Expansion with Montgomery County
Police Chief Goldberg is recommending an expansion of Takoma Park's mutual aid agreement with Montgomery County which is pursuant to additional authority granted through state law. The agreement acknowledges the fact that Takoma Park provides police service to locations that are not part of the County's regular patrol area and creates operational understandings, protections, and procedures for circumstances when Takoma Park's police department provides aid in the other jurisdictions.
This new agreement will explicitly state that it will in no way modify existing tax duplication calculations between the parties or be used as the reason to modify the current agreement.
Here is language from the agreement: Section 2.5 An emergency and/or a non-emergency situation arises when: (1) an on-duty City
Police Officer/Investigator or County Police Officer/Investigator witnesses, or has probable cause to believe there has occurred, is occurring, or will occur criminal activity which is punishable by incarceration or a serious traffic offense within the jurisdiction or normal patrol area of the other signatory agency; ...
What happens if a Takoma Park resident is arrested in the city by a County officer: 3.3.1 When a police officer makes any arrest within the normal patrol area of the
other signatory agency, that police officer will immediately notify the other police agency; take the suspect for processing to the nearest station of the other signatory agency; take the suspect before a District Court Commissioner, if necessary; and prepare any necessary reports.
3.3.2 All written reports regarding such an arrest shall be done in the format and manner prescribed by the arresting officer’s agency.
Snow Removal & Snow Emergency Protocols
This past winter was aggressive and there were 7 days of recorded snow levels for Takoma Park. The city nearly doubled its budget for snow removal and even at that spending level, additional funding could have been utilized. While there were residents who felt there could have been more money and effort spent on Takoma Park roads and sidewalks, relative to neighboring cites, I feel Takoma Park should receive a 4 out of 5 stars for our efforts given the fact that snow levels were unexpected and therefore, required unplanned financial resources.
In April 2014, the Safe Roadway Committee gave a presentation to Takoma Park City Council that highlighted many of the issues that occurred during the seven snow storms last year. In an effort to achieve 5 out of 5 stars, Takoma Park city staff will make a recommendation after a careful analysis of historic data, the committee's presentation, and a review of current policies and procedures in preparation for Winter 2015.
Tidbit
Will we see you at the Polls?! Early voting in our area begins October 23 through October 30. Research your voting location now, so you can be part of the decision making. Select your representative, review their "care abouts", track record, and be part of the process!
If you don't make early voting, make sure your voice is heard and vote is counted on on November 4!
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