Transcript Citizens for Effective Government

Citizens for
Effective Government
Proposal To Our Joint City /
County Elected Officials
On How To Address Our
Regional Public Health And
Safety Crisis
June 27, 2008
1
Citizens for Effective
Government
…is a group of citizens,
businesses, community and
nonprofit organizations,
working in concert with our
local government officials, to
provide collaborative leadership
in addressing the critical needs
of the region.
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Citizens for Effective
Government
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Concerned Citizens
Pikes Peak Association of
REALTORS ®
Greater Colorado Springs
Chamber of Commerce
Pikes Peak United Way
Economic Development
Corporation
Housing and Building
Association of Colorado
Springs
Health Care Professionals
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Downtown Partnership
Council of Neighbors and
Organizations
Trails and Open Space
Coalition
Leadership Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak Behavioral
Health Group
Colorado Springs
Firefighters Association
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Citizens for Public Health
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Local Businesses
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Agenda For Today
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Review of the growing problem with our
community's Health and Public Safety
CEG Perspective of the need for a solution:
– Jan Doran - Public Safety
– C.J. Moore - Public Health
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CEG recommendation and rationale
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Proposed funding plan to achieve success
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Council / BOCC Input, questions & comments
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Regional Public Health
And Safety Crisis
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Safety Crisis

County Crime Trends Increasing
– Criminal Trespassing & Home Invasions
up 52%
– Robberies up 43%
– Sex Crimes up 17%
– Assaults up 28%
– Restraining Order Violations up 33%-many times resulting in death
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Safety Crisis
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One Sheriff’s deputy for every 65 prisoners
Forced to mix non-violent inmates with
violent, creating volatile environment
No new Sheriff patrols since 1990, while
– County population up 43%
– Calls for service up 137%
– Nat’l Sheriff’s Ass’n: 29 new deputies
– NIC: Jail needs 30 additional deputies
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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10-County Budget Survey Sep 2006
M
es
a
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am
Ad
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o
Pu
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Je
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El
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240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
as
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Sheriff Partols FTEs
Sheriff Patrol FTEs per 100,000
Unincorporated Population
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Regional Public Safety Crisis
Regional
Fire Management at Risk
–CS Fire Department struggling to
maintain 8-minute response times
 Workload
increased 72%
 Areas of the City are underserved
 North & South insufficient fire stations
–Wild Land Fire response inadequate
 Personnel
& equipment to fight fires in
County under-funded
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Safety Crisis

Colorado Springs Police had no officers to
respond to nearly half of calls
– Criminal Mischief 65 min response time
– Hit and Run 36 minutes
– Theft 47 minutes
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Dropped 911 calls at 640 per week
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Other municipalities same challenges
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Safety Crisis
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Coroner
– Serves entire Pikes Peak Region
– Autopsy caseload doubled since 1997
No
increase in staff for autopsies or
accident scenes
– Facility is unsafe and substandard
– Staff Put at Risk
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Safety Crisis
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District Attorney
– Criminals released back into community
Many re-arrested numerous times
Courts cannot meet the demands
– Deputy DAs simultaneously handle 250
felony cases
– Unfunded yet mandated 5 new courts to
be staffed in next 2 years
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Health Crisis
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Regional Public Health Crisis

Public Health Department serves the
entire Pikes Peak Region
– Funding for Public Health has decreased
by 31% since 2001
– Infectious disease reported from our
region has increased 200% since 2000
– So far in 2008, public health workers
have stopped 23 serious outbreaks
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Regional Public Health Crisis

Public Health inspections limited due
to lack of staffing and funding
– Increase in child-care facility health and
safety complaints and violations
– Insufficient public pool inspections - six
closed in '07 for E. coli contamination
– Unable to meet state requirements of
inspecting Retail Food Establishments
twice per year
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Public Health Crisis

Unable To Meet Community
Expectations
– Protection from infectious diseases in
our community a priority
– Prevent Disease / Give immunizations
– Protect Our kids - keep child-care
facilities and swimming pools safe
– Keep food safe
– Stop potential epidemics and contagious
diseases before they become a crisis
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Budget Crisis !
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Sp
r in
gs
G
re
La ele
ke y
w
Th ood
W orn
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A r
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Fo
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C o
ol
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A s
rv
ad
a
B
ou
ld
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or
ad
o
ol
C
Percent
Sales Tax Rates
for Colorado Cities (2007)
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Property Tax
$450
$400
Specific Ownership Tax
Fees For Services
1/3 of the Average
$350
$300
$250
$200
$150
$100
Protection
Investigation
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Je
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on
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Prevention
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$50
$0
as
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Revenue per Capita
El Paso County Has The Lowest
Property Tax Per Person In Colorado
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County Mill Levy Rate Continues To
Decline While The Cost Of
Government Is Rapidly Increasing
County Mill Levy
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Mill Levy
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10
9
8
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Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Are We In A Crisis ?
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Crime continues to rise
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Longer emergency response times
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Sheriff forced to release criminals
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DA unable to prosecute non-felony
crimes
Unable to investigate health complaints
Public safety and health providers
unable to adequately protect citizens
Businesses
report safety is a growing
Protection Investigation
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
Prevention
This Is A Regional Issue !
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County Jail:
– 85% of criminals in jail City residents
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District Attorney Office
– 95% of cases prosecuted City residents
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Health Department
– 90% of cases City residents
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Coroner's Office
– 85% of case load City Residents
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CEG Perspective
Time for a solution !
Jan Doran - Public Safety
C.J. Moore - Public Health
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CEG Recommendation
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To go to the voters in November and ask
them to support A 1% sales tax for health
and public safety
Dedicated to Public Safety & Health with
specified projects, as with PPRTA
Mill levy increase was considered but not
recommended because:
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Current situation with housing market
Gallagher restrictions
The size of the increase to meet needs
Burden not spread to visitors
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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Safer Community Initiative
Capital Projects
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Capital Needs: 153.5 M
1. Regional Criminal Justice Center (Max & Medium)
2. Regional Sheriff’s Ops, Training & Coroner Facility
3. Regional Work Release Facility
4. State Mandated Court Expansion
5. Regional Judicial Complex
6. Sheriff Emergency Vehicle Storage Facility
7. Emergency Operations Facility/Data Center
8. Joint Public Safety Substation (Fountain, Sheriff)
9. Joint Public Safety Substation (CSPD and Sheriff)
Safer Community Initiative
Operational Needs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Public Safety / Police & Fire - City of C. S. 34.0 %
Criminal Justice Center - Operations
17.5 %
Regional Public Health Department
23 %
Other Municipalities (Population Based)
13.5 %
Drug Abuse Enforcement & Prevention
2.5 %
District Attorney
5.0 %
Regional Coroner/Medical Examiner
2.5 %
Regional Office of Emergency Management 2.0 %
Proposed Funding Plan To
Achieve Success (50 / 50 / 10)
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Capital 50% / 50% / 10% ….. Sunset
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Allows for capital to be a pay as you go
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Eliminates Millions in interest payments
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Give operational areas time to ramp up
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Quickly Addresses most urgent needs
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Completes Capital in about 12 years
Prevention
Protection
Investigation
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CEG Requests
City and County
Support for
Safer Community Initiative
City Council and
Board of County
Commissioners
Input,
Questions &
Comments
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