05 - COUNCIL MINUTES FROM 07/13/2015

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Regular Council Meeting July 13, 2015 Page 13 officer begins until they can be placed in a car by themselves, it cost approximately $35,000. He said over the last five years it cost the City about $700,000 as a result of the loss of 23 officers from the police department. Mayor Hashmi inquired what it would cost the City if they paid the officers comparable to the closest city. Chief Hundley said if they were to increase each officer's salary by $3,000 the estimated cost would be $180,000. Council Member Pickle asked if it was still a stipulation for an officer to commit to three years upon being hired. Chief Hundley answered in the affirmative and added they stay three years and then leave. Council Member Pickle confirmed with Chief Hundley that he became chief in 2009 and that his budget was 5.6 million and that it had not increased much since that time. Council Member Pickle said he had always felt that if someone wanted to go to Frisco or McKinney; they were going to go anyway. Council Member Pickle said he was opposed to issuance of certificates of obligation for utilities because they needed to come up with the money from somewhere for police, fire and drainage ditches. Council Member Frierson asked when the K -9 unit was last in existence. Chief Hundley said around 2004 -2006. He confirmed with Chief Hundley that a large number of crimes were drug related. Council Member Clifford said he agreed with Council Member Pickle in that they lose people to Frisco because they wanted to move there. He said understood the cost of living was higher in those type areas and that he would like to see a broken down cost of living comparison of the cities, because that was needed in order to be factored into any across the board increase. Chief Hundley said Council Member Clifford was right in that some police officers want to be here because of family. He also said if they made enough money to be comfortable here, then they were less like to go to Frisco. Council Member Clifford said the most difficult part was to retain bilingual officers because they were in such demand. Council Member Plata said he did feel like money was a big factor but questioned if three of four years down the road would they be facing the same issues. Chief Hundley said an increase of salary might not completely stop officers from leaving, but that he felt like it would slow down the turnover rate. 18. Receive presentation on operations plan and budget needs for EMS and IT. EMS Director Kent Klinkerman presented the department's operations plan and budget needs, which included the North District Station being relocated from PRMC North campus, land purchase for the new EMS Station, needed budgeting of funds for the building, life cycle of capital equipment and step increase for paramedics similar to that of other departments. 19. Receive presentation on operations plan and budget needs for the Fire Department. Chief Wright presented the department's operations plan and budget needs, which included the attrition rate of firefighters, needed increase of salaries, and capital equipment needs.