City Council Work Session Municipal Court and Council Chambers 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite B101 Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lord called the Work Session to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Mayor Georgia Lord; Vice Mayor Bill Stipp; Councilmember Joe Pizzillo; Councilmember Sheri Lauritano; Councilmember Brannon Hampton; Councilmember Laura Kaino
- Absent:
- Councilmember Wally Campbell
- Staff Present:
- City Manager Julie Karins; City Attorney Roric Massey; City Clerk Darcie McCracken
| AGENDA ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION |
1.
CRISIS MEDICAL RESPONSE VEHICLE PROGRAM
Julie Karins, City Manager, introduced the Crisis Medical Response Vehicle Program. Ms. Karins stated that while attending the International City/County Managers Association Conference she learned about a program out of Eugene, Oregon called CAHOOTS – Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets. She shared the presentation with the Goodyear team and proposed the concept for the City of Goodyear.
Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief and Santiago Rodriguez, Police Chief, reviewed the Crisis Medical Response Vehicle program.
Chief Rodriguez reviewed the current state of the Police Department’s behavioral health calls. He stated that the Crisis Response (CR) Vans were called out during large crime scenes or when additional services were needed for victims and their families.
Chief Luizzi explained that the Fire Department typically waited 45-60 minutes for a CR Van when it was available adding that it was difficult at times to have a CR Van come out to scenes. Chief Luizzi noted that when the CR Van was not available, a Battalion Chief was used to fill that role as best as possible.
Chief Luizzi went on to review the call volume for the last three fiscal years. He stated that the call volume for the Fire Department had increased over the last three years and that a steady call volume continued for the Police Department. Chief Luizzi pointed out that there was a 59% increase in behavioral health calls between 2019-2020.
Chief Luizzi reviewed crisis response models from across the country that were run by police or fire departments. He also discussed the resources in the current system stating that the CR Van was a limited resource. He provided the details of the City of Goodyear’s proposed crisis response model that would consist of a firefighter/paramedic and a licensed social worker.
Chief Luizzi expressed that a broad approach was being taken to name the unit and settled on the Community Response Team. He also asked the Council for their ideas on a name for the unit.
Council stated that they agreed with the unit being named Community Response Team.
Chief Luizzi and Chief Rodriguez continued the discussion by reviewing performance management metrics that should be considered and the timeline for the unit’s implementation.
Chief Luizzi also reviewed the one time and on-going costs as well as the salaries for the licensed clinical social worker and the firefighter/paramedic.
A discussion ensued regarding the unit’s hours, workload and what the benefit was of having a paramedic/firefighter instead of only a paramedic.
Council thanked Chief Luizzi and Chief Rodriguez for their research on this unit and how they made it relevant to police and fire to serve the needs of the community.
Council asked if a network had been developed to which residents could be referred. Chief Luizzi replied that a network of resources had been developed through the Community Paramedicine program.
A discussion continued on how mental health issues would be handled by the Crisis Response Team as well as geofencing the program for the City of Goodyear.
Council expressed that this would be a great program and looked forward to the upcoming reports on how the program was working.
Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief and Santiago Rodriguez, Police Chief, reviewed the Crisis Medical Response Vehicle program.
Chief Rodriguez reviewed the current state of the Police Department’s behavioral health calls. He stated that the Crisis Response (CR) Vans were called out during large crime scenes or when additional services were needed for victims and their families.
Chief Luizzi explained that the Fire Department typically waited 45-60 minutes for a CR Van when it was available adding that it was difficult at times to have a CR Van come out to scenes. Chief Luizzi noted that when the CR Van was not available, a Battalion Chief was used to fill that role as best as possible.
Chief Luizzi went on to review the call volume for the last three fiscal years. He stated that the call volume for the Fire Department had increased over the last three years and that a steady call volume continued for the Police Department. Chief Luizzi pointed out that there was a 59% increase in behavioral health calls between 2019-2020.
Chief Luizzi reviewed crisis response models from across the country that were run by police or fire departments. He also discussed the resources in the current system stating that the CR Van was a limited resource. He provided the details of the City of Goodyear’s proposed crisis response model that would consist of a firefighter/paramedic and a licensed social worker.
Chief Luizzi expressed that a broad approach was being taken to name the unit and settled on the Community Response Team. He also asked the Council for their ideas on a name for the unit.
Council stated that they agreed with the unit being named Community Response Team.
Chief Luizzi and Chief Rodriguez continued the discussion by reviewing performance management metrics that should be considered and the timeline for the unit’s implementation.
Chief Luizzi also reviewed the one time and on-going costs as well as the salaries for the licensed clinical social worker and the firefighter/paramedic.
A discussion ensued regarding the unit’s hours, workload and what the benefit was of having a paramedic/firefighter instead of only a paramedic.
Council thanked Chief Luizzi and Chief Rodriguez for their research on this unit and how they made it relevant to police and fire to serve the needs of the community.
Council asked if a network had been developed to which residents could be referred. Chief Luizzi replied that a network of resources had been developed through the Community Paramedicine program.
A discussion continued on how mental health issues would be handled by the Crisis Response Team as well as geofencing the program for the City of Goodyear.
Council expressed that this would be a great program and looked forward to the upcoming reports on how the program was working.
| ADJOURNMENT |
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Lord adjourned the Work Session at 5:38 p.m.
| __________________________ Darcie McCracken, City Clerk |
__________________________ Georgia Lord, Mayor |
Date:___________________ |