March 19, 2007

MARCH 20th CITY COUNCIL MEETING

• The City Council will recognize one city employee for being one of two finalists in the Most Fit Texan contest.  The contest is held in conjunction with Governor Rick Perry’s Texas Roundup.  Salvador Gonzalez works in vehicle services as a labor supervisor for the City of Midland.  Last year, he represented Midland in Austin as the Most Improved Employee.  He ran his fist marathon and took home third place in the Clydesdale division.  His story has inspired many as well as making him stand out among thousands of entries.  It began with him walking and changing his diet after learning he had unhealthy sugar and cholesterol levels.  His motto now – It Can Be Done!  Media Contact: Salvador Gonzalez at 685.7460
• The City Council will consider the purchase of 31 additional in-car video cameras to be used by the Midland Police Department.  The cameras will replace older analog technology in patrol units.  The first phase of this replacement began several years ago.   Each camera costs approximately $4,485 with the software license an additional $200 per car.  Media Contact: Price Robinson/Deputy Chief Field Operations at 685.7593
• The Midland Soccer Association is contributing $15,000 to the City for the purpose of purchasing additional benches and canopies around three soccer fields at Beal Park.  The association is also going to add fence netting along the north side of the park to protect houses from stray balls.  Media Contact: Monette Burke/Director of Community Services at 685.7354
• The City Council will consider adopting the 2006 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.  For the past year, the City has worked with KDC-Turner to prepare the Plan.  Public input was received through a mail out of 10,000 surveys to random residents, public meetings, and meetings with special interest groups.  Information from residents will help guide and structure livability in Midland for the next several years.  The Plan also includes a detailed look at staff and maintenance issues, potential for open space and the growth of the city, and cost estimates for projects to be considered over the next few years.  Media Contact: Scott Swigert/Parks & Recreation Manager at 685.7370
• Hogan’s Run – that’s the name being recommended to the City Council for Midland’s off-leash dog park.  A total of 692 entries were received during the month-long competition.  Both the Animal Services Advisory Board and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board recommend Hogan’s Run.  The City Council will consider the name.  Announcement of the winner of the naming contest will be made following approval.  Media Contact: Monette Burke/Director of Community Services at 685.7354

2006 RACIAL PROFILING REPORT
The City Council will listen to a report by the Midland Police Department regarding the 2006 Racial Profiling Report at the March 20th City Council Meeting.  This is the fifth year of the report with the M.P.D. collecting data on all traffic contacts since 2002. 

In summary, the numbers reflected that: the percentage of Caucasians, Asians, and Native Americans that came in contact with police in a traffic related incident where a citation was issued was lower than the comparison percentages; the percentage of African-American and Hispanics, and Asians that came in contact with police in a traffic related incident where a citation was issued was higher than the comparison percentages.   In a five-year comparison of traffic related searches, an increase in percentage was detected among Hispanics while a percentage decrease was noted among Caucasians and African Americans.  Compared to 2005, searches in 2006 were down 5% for Caucasians, 1% for African-Americans, and up 5% for Hispanics.  Hispanics were arrested the most in traffic related contacts, 45% compared to 34% for African Americans, and 21% for Caucasians.

The M.P.D. complies with every requirement of the law.  The department assigns and allocates police officers based on calls for service.  Calls for service are not categorized by race and ethnicity.  The department receives many calls for service in minority and lower socio-economic neighborhoods.  The increase number of officers in a particular area increases the number of traffic stops that will be made.

The data does not take into consideration local issues dealing with gangs (multiple and repeat traffic stops/searches), weekly cruising problems on Florida Street, Washington Park (littering, drug use, disorderly conduct), Reyes-Mashburn-Nelms Park (cruising, littering, assaults, disorderly conduct), public nuisance issues in and around the apartment complexes at Neely and Midland Drive, nor the drug problems in the area commonly referred to as “The Flats.”  It is a known fact that African-Americans and Hispanics overly represent a majority of contacts in these areas.

Employees continue to attend racial profiling training.  The department has equipped all patrol cars with in-car video cameras.  The M.P.D. does not condone “exploratory” searches.  Since August 1, 2004, officers are required to articulate a reason, in writing, for asking for consent to search.  Although not required by law, the department has taken this step to insure consent searches are not conducted because of the public’s lack of understanding of the law and their right to refuse a consent search.  If the officer is unable to articulate a reason for the consent request, the officer is not authorized to ask for owner consent to conduct a search.

The department received one complaint alleging possible racial profiling in 2006.  That complaint was exonerated.

OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING
The City is now taking applications from agencies that want to seek funding in the City of Midland 2007-08 Fiscal Year budget.  Each year, the City budgets funds for Hotel/Motel, City Development, and Non-Departmental activities.  Applications are due Monday, April 9, 2007.  Currently, 21 agencies are receiving funding through this process. 

The three categories include (1) Promotion of Tourism and the Hotel industry, i.e. Commemorative Air Force, Arts Assembly of Midland, Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau, (2) Promotion of Growth and Development, i.e. Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Midland College B.E.D.C., and (3) Agencies that are an extension of city services, i.e. Teen Court and D-FY-IT of Midland.

Current applications are for funding in the FY07-08 Budget Year, beginning October 1, 2007.  The respective citizen advisory board will review Hotel/Motel and City Development funding requests.

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