Roll Call: Present: Ald. Sevenich, Walther, Hanson, Wiza, Robinson, Barr, Trzebiatowski, Molski, Barber, Moore
Excused: Stroik

Also Present: Ron Borski, Bill Zimdars, Jeanne Dodge, Leif Erickson, Robert Brilowski, James Zdroik, James Krems, Don Jankowski, Doug Warner, Jim Gifford, Charles Gussel, Lonnie Krogwold, Tony Patton, Jerry Borski, Robert Steinke, Harvey Olson, Marion Flood, William Peterson, Dwight Stevens, James Clark, Roger Wrycza, Bo DeDecker, Wally Zywicki, Dave Medin, Philip Peterson, John Rendall, Kevin Ruehl, Jami Gebert, Dick Purcell, Sandra Curtis, Chuck Kell, Shirley Simonis, Blair Ward, Ken Tronnier, Doug Radtke, David Hickethier, John Finn, Kathy King, Jay Gordon, Mary Taylor, Mark Barnes, Louis Molepske Sr., John Graettinger, Gary Speckmann, John Gardner, Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette), Matt Lehman (WSAU)

2. Salute to the flag and invocation.

3. Presentation and discussion on Justice Center project by Don Jankowski and Mark Goldman Associates.

Don Jankowski, Chair of the Space and Property Committee, introduced himself and talked about the committee's role in looking at sites and the possibility of a Justice Center for Portage County. He provided a brief background of the problems with overcrowding going back to the initial 1999 plan for a new jail that eventually failed.

Chief Morris provided an overview of the benefits of co-locating of the County Sheriff and City Police Departments. He focused on the benefits of having a shared infrastructure and facilities. He also stressed the importance of community input.

Sheriff Charewicz talked about the overcrowding statistics of the current system in place. He stated that in 2002, the cost of transporting inmates to other counties due to overcrowding was $225,454. In 2003, the cost rose to $322,265. An exclusive contract with Clark County in 2004, the costs dropped to $304,187. So far in 2005, it has cost $150,244 in housing inmates out of the county. Average transportation costs are around $27,000 per year. He continued, stating that the jail population is expected to increase by about 5% a year. DLR analysis estimates that by 2014 we will need 200 beds and by 2024 that need will increase to 300 beds.

Bob Gibson from Goldman & Associates discussed what is happening with the study currently underway and what they hoped to accomplish. He said their goal is to provide a study that looks at the entire justice system and provide the users with better tools to manage it. Specifically, allowing each of the components to have tools to improve the management process of their portion of the system.

Len Witke, an architect with Mead and Hunt, went through the handout. He stated that a co-location was the key to the study. It reinforces good government and good policing, but also economy of space savings and how the two departments will be able to work together to solve crimes and make the community safer.

4. Meeting Adjourned 5:45 P.M. The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the City until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.