MONROE - A 2008 directive for police services to be billed back for special events that require extra police services will be reconsidered.
The measure was retained by a 2-1 vote Monday at a Public Safety Committee meeting, but the plan will now go through the committee again July 6, in order to be presented before the Common Council as a whole later that day. The committee did not make a recommendation to the council at their meeting Monday.
Some aldermen have asked that the issue be discussed and voted on by the council, according to Carol Stamm, city clerk, after Tuesday's council meeting.
The directive, a part of the city's special events application, requires the police department to charge for its services when an officer is requested by organizers of an event that charges admission or is serving alcohol.
Council was scheduled Tuesday to act on one resolution approving four special events, but Alderman Dan Henke moved to amend the motion to remove the police service billing directive from two of the events, Monroe Main Street's Concerts on the Square and Monroe Balloon Rally.
Because alcohol will be sold at those events, police service was required.
Henke objected to the billing of city police service, because both events served the community, he said.
Henke's motion to amend was seconded by Thurston Hanson and passed by a 7-3 vote. Aldermen Charles Koch, Mike Rivers and Paul Hannes voted against the amending motion.
The amended resolution passed on a voice vote.
During the portion of the council meeting set aside for aldermen to make brief statements, Alderman Keith Ingwell presented the issue of paying for police services at special events.
"We shouldn't be doing this," he said about charging for police presence. "Look at all the people they bring into town."
Ingwell specifically identified the Monroe Balloon Rally and its coordinator, Matt Urban, who, Ingwell said, "has paid for things out of his own pocket" to make the rally successful.
"And we have the guts enough to say, give us $60 - or whatever it is," Ingwell said.
"Ditto," Alderman Charles Schuringa said, agreeing with Ingwell's statement.
Ingwell was the only one of the three Public Safety Committee members to vote against continuing the directive Monday, and noted that special events bring people who shop at the stores into the city.
Hannes and Koch are the other two aldermen on the Public Safety Committee.
Koch voted to keep the directive saying the cost for supplying an officer at the events is taken out of the police department budget
Police Chief Fred Kelley brought the issue to the committee after hearing from special event organizers concerned that the cost cuts into the funds they are trying to raise.
Organizers for events may choose to hire private security personnel or arrange for city police service through the police department. Kelley said hiring private security becomes expensive, because the cost includes the personnel's benefits costs.
The city charges the hourly overtime rate for the officers, which is currently about $30 per hour.
The police and fire departments have discretion to modify the cost, depending upon facts and circumstances.
Schools are charged for an officer when requested at admission events, Kelley said.
The measure was retained by a 2-1 vote Monday at a Public Safety Committee meeting, but the plan will now go through the committee again July 6, in order to be presented before the Common Council as a whole later that day. The committee did not make a recommendation to the council at their meeting Monday.
Some aldermen have asked that the issue be discussed and voted on by the council, according to Carol Stamm, city clerk, after Tuesday's council meeting.
The directive, a part of the city's special events application, requires the police department to charge for its services when an officer is requested by organizers of an event that charges admission or is serving alcohol.
Council was scheduled Tuesday to act on one resolution approving four special events, but Alderman Dan Henke moved to amend the motion to remove the police service billing directive from two of the events, Monroe Main Street's Concerts on the Square and Monroe Balloon Rally.
Because alcohol will be sold at those events, police service was required.
Henke objected to the billing of city police service, because both events served the community, he said.
Henke's motion to amend was seconded by Thurston Hanson and passed by a 7-3 vote. Aldermen Charles Koch, Mike Rivers and Paul Hannes voted against the amending motion.
The amended resolution passed on a voice vote.
During the portion of the council meeting set aside for aldermen to make brief statements, Alderman Keith Ingwell presented the issue of paying for police services at special events.
"We shouldn't be doing this," he said about charging for police presence. "Look at all the people they bring into town."
Ingwell specifically identified the Monroe Balloon Rally and its coordinator, Matt Urban, who, Ingwell said, "has paid for things out of his own pocket" to make the rally successful.
"And we have the guts enough to say, give us $60 - or whatever it is," Ingwell said.
"Ditto," Alderman Charles Schuringa said, agreeing with Ingwell's statement.
Ingwell was the only one of the three Public Safety Committee members to vote against continuing the directive Monday, and noted that special events bring people who shop at the stores into the city.
Hannes and Koch are the other two aldermen on the Public Safety Committee.
Koch voted to keep the directive saying the cost for supplying an officer at the events is taken out of the police department budget
Police Chief Fred Kelley brought the issue to the committee after hearing from special event organizers concerned that the cost cuts into the funds they are trying to raise.
Organizers for events may choose to hire private security personnel or arrange for city police service through the police department. Kelley said hiring private security becomes expensive, because the cost includes the personnel's benefits costs.
The city charges the hourly overtime rate for the officers, which is currently about $30 per hour.
The police and fire departments have discretion to modify the cost, depending upon facts and circumstances.
Schools are charged for an officer when requested at admission events, Kelley said.