SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Cressman at 7:12 p.m., September 9, 2010.

Attendees:                    Trustees:  Mayor Cressman

 Coleman

Jack  - excused

  McDonald

Polonsky  - excused

Stafford  - excused

Stern

 Attorney:  Gaddis

 Audience: 40

Pledge of Alliance:  Trustee Stern

November Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Polonsky

December Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Stafford

January Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Stern

Item #2:  Approval of Agenda:

Trustee McDonald made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #3:  Consent Items:

1. Approval of Minutes – August 12, 2010
2. Payment\Ratification of Bills – August 2010

Trustee McDonald made a motion to approve the Consent Items as presented, Seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #4:  Awards – Presentation by Chief  Moreland and Chief Ball

            Community Service Awards – Monument Police Explorers

                                                                EPC Sheriff Reserve Section

                                                                Colorado Mounted Rangers Troop 1

            Distinguished Service Award – Chief Shirk, Monument

                                                                  Sgt. Tezak

Representatives from the above groups accepted the awards.

Item #5:  Committee Reports

Mayor Cressman – Mayor’s Report

Mayor Cressman reported that the sidewalks are almost completed. 

Regarding drainage issues, Jeff Hulsman has offered to work with the top in an attempt to find grants.   Council gave approval for contact to be made with Linda Firth, Water Matters, to see if she would be interested in working with Jeff.

Trustees Coleman and Polonsky – Parks\Rec and EDC

Trustee Coleman

-         Attended 2 meetings with the Chautauqua Group – everything is on target

-         Attended the Planning Commission meeting

-         Meet with Josh McCann, Eagle Scout regarding the display case to be placed on Hwy 105.

-         Met with Susan Adams, regarding the Fall Festival.

Trustee Jack –  (by Chief Ball)

Calls for August: 30

10 Medical

5 Fire

6 Wildland

4 Traffic Accidents

3 Public Assist

2 Other

Volunteer Hours: 989.75

Members of the Department and Protective Association participated in the pancake breakfast and BBQ for the Chautauqua event.  Jeremiah Carpenter, David Farr and Dan Reynolds were ball players for the Palmer Lake old time baseball team the Tri Lakes Swans.

The department put on a mitigation training for the Troop 17 Cub Scouts at the Glen Park.  The Cub Scouts learned the importance of mitigation and fire safety while in the forest. 

Chief Ball, Captain Vierling and David Farr provided a first aid booth for the Emergency Preparedness Fair in Castle Rock in partnership with Castle Rock Fire Department.

Officers are working on Pre Incident plans for all the businesses in Palmer Lake.  Business owners have been contacted and are working the Fire Department on allowing the officers and members to walk through the businesses.  The Pre Incident plans will be completed with a CAD program purchased by the Association in connection with the North Group which will eventually be implemented on the MDCs and dispatched out with calls pertaining a specific address listed in the plans.

Officers are also putting together a Palmer Lake Safety Plan for residents.  Chief Ball wants to know who all in our Town is on Oxygen, Respirators, wheel chair bound or bed bound.  The department will be keeping records on these individuals who might need extra aid during a power outage or disaster. 

Chief Ball will be covering for Lt. Ryan Brown’s 24 hour Saturday shift while Ryan is on leave for the AMR academy.  Ryan is expected to return October 1^st. 

The Department and Association will be providing a Wine and Beer Garden for the Taste of Palmer Lake event being put on by the Art Center September 25^th and 26^th.  The Wine and Beer Garden will be in the Centennial Park across from the Art Center.

The Department will be putting the Fire Engine in the Memorial Parade for 9/11 in Lakewood this coming Saturday. 

Chief Ball:

Conducted the monthly department Business Meeting

Attended all mandatory department medical and fire trainings

Participated in all special events held in August

Attended a meeting at Westcott Fire Department to discuss fire code enforcement on residential homes

Attended a North Group Chief’s meeting to discuss a combined training, the response matrix and upcoming amendments election that will effect all surrounding departments

Attended meetings pertaining to the upcoming Wine and Beer Garden

Conducted an officer’s meeting

Attended an MJTC meeting in Frank Town

Attended a 2 day Trauma Conference in Colorado Springs

Attended the mitigation training with the Cub Scouts

Provided a total of 127 hours of Volunteer time to the Department for the month of August

Trustee McDonald – Police

Crime:

30 Case Report numbers were used by PLPD Officers.  Reports were for a variety of offenses and other internal reports, with no pattern discernable indicating any workable crime trends.

Monument Big ‘O’ Tire Store Homicide – On August 9^th, two Monument Officers responded to assist with both MPD and EPSO personnel at the scene of a shooting.  We remained on scene until excused or relieved by EPSO detectives. 

Long-Distance Harassment – A 24 year-old female Palmer Lake resident has reported she is being harassed by both phone and mail from a male she has not seen since she was 14 years-old.  The suspect lives in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, about 1000 miles away.  The PLPD, LAPD Hollywood Area, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Beverly Hills Branch Civil Process Section are currently working to serve an El Paso County Civil Protection Order against the suspect.  

Animal Cruelty - seven month-old German shepherd dog shot – On Tuesday, August 24^th at about 1:30 p.m., a German shepherd puppy got loose from her owner.  The owner entered her vehicle to search the nearby area for her dog.  Within ten minutes the dog returned home and was found to be bleeding from its left chest area.  Assuming the dog had been hit by a car, the owner transported the dog to a local veterinarian.  After an exam, the veterinarian advised the puppy had been shot, by a possible .22 caliber bullet.  There are, as of yet, no leads in this investigation.  Flyers have been distributed, by hand, in the immediate neighborhood and notices were sent to the local print media.     

Felony Child Abuse Suspect Arrested – On Wednesday, August 25^th, Palmer Lake PD was contacted by a 21 year-old woman, a resident of 695 Highway 105.  The woman advised she had “injured her child and wanted to go to jail.”  Sgt. Nikki Tezak responded with both Tri-Lakes and Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Departments.  A four year-old boy had been stabbed or stuck by a metal table fork.  There were four puncture wounds on the tip of the boy’s nose consistent with the tines of a fork.  The boy was transported for exam and treatment.  The mother was taken into custody without incident and booked into El Paso County Jail.  PLPD notified and is fully cooperating with the Department of Human Services in regards to the welfare of the child.  Felony charges have subsequently been filed against the suspect.    

Traffic:

• 25 Traffic Summonses were issued by PLPD Officers for a variety of offenses.
• Four DUI drivers were arrested. 

Dispatch Statistics:

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) Dispatch reported that PLPD Officers self-initiated, or responded to:

• 46 incidents, considered “high-risk”
• NO Priority 2 or “emergent” calls.
• 30 Priority 3 or “urgent” calls.
• 56 non-emergent calls.
• Overall, PLPD Officers handled a combined total of 161 calls for service/self-initiated activities.

The EPSO does not indicate how many calls for service were for areas outside of TOPL, where PLPD officers provided “cover” for EPSO Deputies/Monument PD or other L/E agencies; or “held the scene” before another agency responded to take over the call/investigation.

Administrative & Training:

• An initial search of the PLPD Evidence Room discovered two revolvers without any documentation as to how these weapons came into the possession of the department.  One revolver was found to be a Brighton/Adams County stolen weapon from 22 years ago.  The other was a Nashville, Tennessee stolen weapon from 32 years ago.  Both weapons have been entered into NCIC with updated status accounting for their current whereabouts, and the respective agencies which reported them stolen have been contacted for instructions as to their disposition.  
• Officer James Deyoe returned in a light-duty capacity from his shoulder surgery.
• Two new part-time employees, both experienced, seasoned officers joined us in August, they are:
  • Jason Vanderpool, a former El Paso County Deputy, who left EPSO to open a restaurant in Monument.  Finding he missed police work caused Officer Vanderpool to return in a part-time capacity. 
  • Ryan Busey, a former Colorado Springs PD Officer.  Officer Busey left law enforcement to serve with the Colorado National Guard.  He is assigned to 10^th Group Special Forces out of Utah.
• Officer Ryan Koski attended two separate week-long training sessions:
  • Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, hosted by CSPD.  This 40-hour training block teaches police officers to recognize and deal with people in crisis, or who are mentally ill.
  • F.B.I. Hostage Negotiations Basic Course, hosted by CSPD.  This 40- hour course teaches the basics of dealing with barricaded and/or hostage-taking suspects.

Trustee Stafford – Water – (by Mayor Cressman)

The plans for the Surface water treatment plant are awaiting approval from the State. Steve has made arrangements for IREA to install the 3 phase power to be installed for the Surface Water Treatment Plant.

I attended the 20 August 2010 PPRWA meeting. PPRWA is discussing merging with the Pikes Peak Water Authority. I believe we should merge under the PPRWA name because of a greater opportunity for regional cooperation and participation. I also believe that the PPRWA has more name recognition around the state. The next meeting will be 15 September 2010 at 8:30 AM at the Monument Town Hall. ( I will be out of town for this meeting.) The PPRWA briefing for new candidates for public office, on water issues in the Pikes Peak region was very informative. It was proclaimed a success by all who attended.

I attend the Fountain Creek Watershed meeting 27 August 2010. The bylaws or the district were approved with minor revisions. The next Meeting will be 24 September 2010 in the Fountain Town Hall.

Trustee Stern – Roads

• Most of the month was damage control for the over 4.5” of rain. Many roads were washed out and many ditches and culverts were plugged. Most of the roads have been regarded and most of the ditches have been opened.
• The concrete ditch on Greeley has been completed. Minor ditch work remains at the bottom of Greeley.
• We prepped and mowed for the Chautauqua Festival.
• We have stopped chipping for the season as of September 1^st.

Safe Routes to School Update

1. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the curb and gutter has now been replaced and the project is winding down. We anticipate completion by the end of September and will be ready for the annual “Walk to School” in October. In addition to the sidewalks, we replaced a portion of spillway along the north side of Pie corner in order to divert drainage to the north along Hwy 105. We also, placed a spillway along Glenway at Hwy 105 to enhance the drainage to the south. We assisted a few businesses with drainage issues created by the project.

Staff:  

Need direction on renewal of business license for a daycare.  Daycare was located on Virginia, the applicant has since moved in to 702 Hwy 105.

Com. Dev. Block Grant – Met with Jan Bristol and representatives from EPC and City of Fountain.  Very informative meeting.  Would like permission to hire Leigh Holden to administer the grant.  Leigh was a member of the GSD committee before moving to Denver and would be willing to return part-time not only for the grant but to attempt to revitalize the GSD committee.

Clerk Gray was directed to post the position.

Would like permission to enter into an agreement with White Mountain Software to improve my accounting skills.  Cost approx $5,685 for three month services.  The software will also be updated since there is no longer a requirement to use double entries.

Trustee Stern made a motion to approve entering into the contract with White Mountain Software for training purposes, seconded by Trustee McDonald.  Motion carried unanimously.

Good response to the letters pertaining to the Noxious Weed Grant – we need to think about what we are going to do with the weeds that are in the town’s right-of-ways as well as on the bank below the filter plant.

Matt Stephens offered to send information about the experimental bug treatment being used by the Air Force Academy for the diffused knapweed.

First reimbursement for the construction phase for the SRTS grant has been submitted.

Still trying to get two more bids for the library roof.  A gentleman called today saying he would be putting in an estimate either Thursday or Friday.

Item #6:  Request for New Business License – Humanitarian International Services –

Michael Mastrodonato – 870 commercial Lane

Mr. Mastrodonato stated they are a non-profit working with under- developed countries.  They will have approximately 15 employees.  They will have a trailer stored in the lower parking lot by the retaining wall.

Trustee McDonald made a motion to approve the business license for Humanitarian International Services, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #7:  Request for Sign Permit – Sylvia Amos – Palmer Lake Country Store

Planning Commission approved the sign.  Sylvia stated it would be a chalk board sign in order to change the information.

Trustee Coleman made a motion to approve the Sign Request for Palmer Lake Country Store, seconded by Trustee McDonald.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #8:  Ordinance 5 -2010 – Establishing Application Fee and Licensing For Medical

Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Facilities.

Fees have been established at $500 for the Application Fee, $500 for the Licensing Fee and $250 for a second Application Fee if operating under the same name.

Trustee Stern made a motion to approve Ordinance  5 – 2010 – Establishing Application Fee and Licensing For Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Facilities, seconded by Trustee McDonald.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #9:  Ord 6 – 2010 – Providing for the Care and Maintenance of Sidewalks.

After discussion between the citizens abutting the new sidewalk constructed under the Safe Routes to School Grant, a decision was made to form a committee to talk about the different issues.

Trustee McDonald made a motion to table Ordinance – 2010 to the October meeting, seconded by Trustee Stern.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #10:  Ord 7 – 2010 – Amending the Sign Ordinance Giving Planning Commission the Authority to Approve Sign Applications

Planning Commission will still have the opportunity to refer any sign which could be controversial to the Town Council.  Office Staff has been asked to send the Planning Commission agenda through the group email listing.

Trustee Stern made a motion to approve Ordinance 7 – 2010 – Amending the Sign Ordinance Giving Planning Commission the Authority to Approve Sign Applications, seconded by Trustee McDonald.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #11:   Public Input

Nigel Guyot, Community Health Program Director for EPC Department of Public Health and Environment introduced himself and stated that it was new program to attend the smaller communities meetings to learn about them in order to better serve, especially in the times of unforeseen needs.

Trustee McDonald made a motion to adjourn at 9:22 pm, seconded by Trustee Stern.  Motion carried unanimously.

Approved as written or amended this 14^th day of October, 2010.

John Cressman, Mayor                                                        Della Gray, Town Clerk