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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmended Memorandum of Understanding with MSU for Police ServicesCOMMISSION MEMORANDUM REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Lieutenant Rich McLane, Bozeman Police Department SUBJECT: Amended Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with MSU MEETING DATE: July 6, 2009 RECOMMENDATIONS: Authorize City Manager to sign Amended Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with MSU BACKGROUND: In July 2006, the City of Bozeman mutually entered into an agreement with MSU to facilitate the allowing of MSU to assist in enforcement of traffic, parking and animal violations outside of the boundary of the MSU campus and to clarify the relative responsibilities of both parties with respect to the exercise of concurrent jurisdiction. As part of that agreement, both parties mutually agreed that any citations issued by MSU-PD for misdemeanor offenses under state law or municipal ordinance pursuant to this agreement shall be within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Municipal Court. All citations will be processed and filed in that Court in the same manner as citations issued by the Bozeman Police Department. In June 2009, MSU approached the City of Bozeman to discuss the viability of being allowed to auction vehicles seized as abandoned property or in conjunction with MSU enforcement of state and local laws within the limits of MSU. Current Montana Law prohibited MSU from conducting a sale of the vehicles without an agreement from the City of Bozeman. It is of mutual benefit to allow MSU to focus on the identification, removal and subsequent auction of abandoned vehicles found within their boundary, while allowing the City of Bozeman to conduct similar operations outside of that boundary. In this particular instance, separate sale dates and locations allow for control of costs related to the towing, notice and auction of these vehicles. I am forwarding you an amended MOU and agreement with MSU. Changes to note are the addition of the following: 34 COMMISSION MEMORANDUM D. The parties further desire to specifically grant to MSU and MSU-PD independent authority to sell vehicles abandoned on the MSU campus in the place of the City. 6. ABANDONED VEHICLES A. The City hereby agrees MSU should be fully authorized to sell vehicles abandoned on the MSU campus in the place of the City. B. MSU agrees it will follow the procedures for taking vehicles into custody, providing notice and an opportunity for vehicle reclamation, and sale or release of vehicle if not reclaimed and any other requirements by § 61-12-401 through § 61-12-404 et seq. Mont. Code Ann. C. The Parties further agree the proceeds from any sales shall be retained by MSU as reimbursement for its costs and expenses incurred in the removal, storage, custody and sale of the vehicles. Currently, the City has 1 full-time parking officer dedicated to the identification, removal and sale of abandoned vehicles. In 2008, this officer alone handled nearly 900 calls for service related to abandoned vehicles, with approximately 150 removed by impound or turned over to County Junk. The assistance given by allowing MSU to handle their own abandoned vehicles only serves to benefit both parties. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. FISCAL EFFECTS: None identified. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________ Rich McLane Lieutenant, Bozeman Police Department 35 AMENDED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT THIS Amended Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement is made and entered into this ____ day of ________________ 2009 by and between THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, Bozeman, Montana, hereinafter referred to as the “City” and MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY - BOZEMAN, hereinafter referred to as “MSU.” WHEREAS MSU maintains a university police department and the City maintains a municipal police department; and WHEREAS the City is obligated, by state law, to enforce state laws and city ordinances within the corporate city limits; and WHEREAS MSU’s main campus and much of its property is located within the corporate city limits; and WHEREAS §20-25-322 MCA grants MSU Police Department (MSU-PD) authority to enforce parking or moving traffic violations as defined by Title 61 of Montana Code Annotated within the boundaries of the campus or on streets or alleys contiguous thereto provided an agreement is reached between the municipality and MSU; and WHEREAS the City and MSU have had and continue to have an unwritten agreement to provide assistance for each other upon request; and WHEREAS MSU-PD wishes to have the authority to enforce the Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC) , including but not limited to Title 6; Title 9, Chapter 32; and Title 10 on campus and within one mile of campus boundaries for campus related activities, and the Director of Public Safety wishes to authorize MSU-PD to enforce the Bozeman Municipal Code and other legal violations through a form of Mutual Aid Agreement. AND WHEREAS The City and MSU-PD wish to clarify certain elements of the Memorandum of Understanding in existence to better facilitate the exercise of their independent duties as well as their cooperative duties. NOW THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows: 1. PURPOSE A. This Memorandum and Agreement is entered into pursuant to §20-25-322 MCA to authorize members of MSU-PD to issue citations for parking or moving traffic violations as defined by state or municipal laws which occur within the boundaries of campus, or on streets and alleys contiguous thereto, or traffic violations as observed within the city limits of Bozeman while otherwise in the performance of MSU-PD’s general duties, subject to any limitations or conditions specified in this agreement. 36 B. The parties hereto also desire to clarify the relative responsibilities of the parties with respect to the exercise of concurrent jurisdiction with regard to specific property owned by MSU located within the Bozeman city limits. C. The parties hereto also desire to grant MSU-PD authority to enforce the Bozeman Municipal Code on campus, or campus owned or operated property located within the Bozeman city limits, or as observed while MSU-PD performs its duties on behalf of MSU, in particular but not limited to, the enforcement of Animal Control and Alcohol ordinances. D. The parties further desire to specifically grant to MSU and MSU-PD independent authority to sell vehicles abandoned on the MSU campus in the place of the City. 2. PARKING AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS Pursuant to this agreement, the City hereby grants authority to MSU-PD to enforce parking and traffic violations as follows: A. On streets and alleys, within the campus boundaries or on streets contiguous thereto, or as observed within the city limits while in performance of other duties, MSU-PD may issue citations for any moving traffic violation defined by state or municipal laws and consistent with Section 20-25-322 MCA. Specifically, MSU- PD may issue citations for all violations of Title 61 of the Montana Code Annotated, and Section 49-4-302 pertaining to handicapped parking spaces. In addition, MSU-PD may write citations on all traffic violations set forth in the Bozeman Municipal Code. B. On streets and alleys contiguous to campus, MSU-PD may issue citations for parking violations as set forth in Title 10 chapters 32 and 34 of the Bozeman Municipal Code. All parking citations issued on streets located within campus boundaries shall be issued under and consistent with Sections 20-25-311 and 20- 25-312 MCA. 3. BOZEMAN MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES A. The parties to this agreement hereby agree that MSU-PD will be granted authority to enforce all violations of Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC), including but not limited to those contained in Title 9 Chapter 7 entitled Alcohol Policy, Title 6 entitled “Animals”, and Title 10 entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” within the campus boundaries or on property owned, operated, controlled or administered by MSU, including but not limited to any fraternity or sorority house recognized by MSU and located within one (1) mile of campus. B. In all cases where impounding of an animal is authorized under Title 6, MSU and MSU-PD will be responsible for the care of the animal during the impound period. Should MSU or MSU-PD decide to transport the animal to the Heart of 37 the Valley, MSU-PD will be responsible for all costs and fees incurred during the impound as well as for all animals not claimed in the time prescribed by the ordinance. MSU-PD further agrees to reimburse the City for any costs incurred by City for an animal impounded by MSU-PD. C. The parties mutually agree and acknowledge that any MSU-PD officer enforcing these laws or ordinances will be acting under a request for assistance as defined in §44-11-101 MCA. Pursuant to §44-11-102, MCA the requesting agency shall indemnify the responding peace officer, his legal representative in case of death, or the furnishing law enforcement entity for any liability or obligation to indemnify created by 2-9-305 that may result from the assistance furnished. 4. MUTUAL AID A. The parties mutually agree and admit that MSU-PD’s service area is: 1. All property owned, operated, controlled or administered by MSU; 2. Any fraternities and sororities recognized by MSU within one (1) mile from Campus; and 3. Any incidents within one mile from campus provided the incident is “campus related”. For the purposes of this agreement, “campus related” shall mean any activity sanctioned by MSU or which is held in conjunction with an MSU sanctioned activity including but not limited to parties held in conjunction with or in celebration of any sporting event, graduation or any other similar event. 4. While in the performance of duties as assigned by MSU-PD, an officer who observes a violation of law within the city limits is empowered to act under a standing request for Mutual Aid and to take such investigative measures as the situation warrants, including issuing appropriate citations. B. The parties further mutually agree and admit that the City’s service area is all property located within the corporate limits of the City of Bozeman, including any property owned, leased or operated by the City of Bozeman within Gallatin County, and within a five mile radius as provided in §7-32-4301 MCA and §2.40.020(B) BMC. C. When a “call for service” is received by 911/Dispatch concerning enforcement issues within the MSU-PD service area as defined herein, such call will be referred to MSU-PD as quickly as practicable, and only referred to the City when MSU-PD officers are unavailable to respond. D. The parties hereto mutually agree that, upon request of the initial responding agency in an emergency situation, law enforcement equipment and personnel may be dispatched to any point within the boundaries of the City of Bozeman. 1). An emergency situation for law enforcement assistance shall exist if there is an immediate need to protect the health, life and property of the inhabitants and visitors. If, in the judgement of the law enforcement official or designee receiving the request, such conditions exist, the 38 appropriate official or designee may send such law enforcement equipment and personnel to assist the requesting agency. 2). Any request for emergency assistance, except backup unit support, should include, whenever possible, a statement of the amount and type of equipment and number of personnel requested, and specify the location to which the equipment and personnel are to be dispatched. The amount and type of equipment and number of personnel to be furnished shall be determined by the agency receiving the request for assistance, subject to availability at the time of the call. Re-evaluation shall occur as necessary. The determination shall be based on the needs of the requesting agency as well as the needs of the responding agency and any other concurrent emergencies. 3). Officers of the responding law enforcement agency will report to the officer in charge on the scene. Command and control of the scene will be under the direction of the requesting law enforcement agency unless the request is for a specialized unit, in which case the command and control of the scene will be assumed by the responding specialized unit. The requesting agency may also request that the responding agency assume command and control of the scene. The responding agency shall, upon arrival, meet with officer in charge of the requesting agency on scene and shall establish the responding agency’s duties consistent with this agreement. 4). Officers acting within the scope of this agreement are deemed to be providing mutual assistance under §44-11-101 MCA, and while in performance of the duties pertaining to this agreement as a request for assistance have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as a peace officer of the requesting agency. 5. COURT JURISDICTION AND PROSECUTION A. MSU-PD agrees that any citations issued by MSU-PD for misdemeanor offenses under state law or municipal ordinance pursuant to this agreement shall be within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Municipal Court. All citations will be processed and filed in that Court in the same manner as citations issued by the Bozeman Police Department. B. MSU-PD agrees to provide the City Attorney’s office with a current list of all assigned officers and badge numbers as well as a mechanism to contact the officers. All reports generated as a result of any citation written under this agreement shall be transmitted to the City Attorney’s Office upon request. MSU- PD further agrees that all officers will accept subpoenas from the City Attorney’s office as well as other relevant court documents, and will make all court appearances necessary to ensure the full prosecution of all citations issued. Legal advice pertaining to misdemeanors under this agreement shall be obtained through 39 the City Attorney’s Office and MSU-PD will comply with all requirements pertaining to prosecution through the City Attorney’s Office. C. Any costs incurred by MSU-PD for officers to attend trials shall be borne by MSU. 6. ABANDONED VEHICLES A. The City hereby agrees MSU should be fully authorized to sell vehicles abandoned on the MSU campus in the place of the City. B. MSU agrees it will follow the procedures for taking vehicles into custody, providing notice and an opportunity for vehicle reclamation, and sale or release of vehicle if not reclaimed and any other requirements by § 61-12-401 through § 61- 12-404 et seq. Mont. Code Ann. C. The Parties further agree the proceeds from any sales shall be retained by MSU as reimbursement for its costs and expenses incurred in the removal, storage, custody and sale of the vehicles. 7. AUTHORITY This Agreement does not in any way diminish the jurisdiction or authority of any city peace officer regarding enforcement of state or municipal laws on Montana State University Campus or any contiguous streets or alleys. 8. AMENDMENT Any amendments or modifications to this agreement, or any provisions hereunder, shall be made in writing and executed in the same manner as the original document and shall, after execution, become part of this agreement. 9. AMENDED LAWS OR ORDINANCES. If during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement any amendment(s) is made to the statutes and ordinances set forth above, the Parties shall comply with any and all such amended laws and ordinances. 10. TERMINATION This agreement may be terminated at any time upon the mutual written consent of the parties. Further, either party may terminate this agreement by providing the other party thirty (30) days written notice. Said notice will be mailed via certified mail addressed to the other party at: City of Bozeman Montana State University ATTN: Director of Public Safety ATTN: Director University Police P.O. Box 1230 Huffman Building 40 Bozeman, Montana 59715 Bozeman, Montana 59717 11. HEADINGS The section headings contained herein are for convenience and reference and are not intended to define or limit the scope of any provisions of this agreement. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE This amended agreement will become effective on the date set forth above and shall continue in effect until it has been modified or terminated in accordance with the terms set forth in this agreement. MSU-PD citations shall be written into Bozeman Municipal Court as of January 1, 2006. MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY __________________________________ Geoffrey Gamble President Attest: ______________________________________ Secretary CITY OF BOZEMAN _________________________________ Chris Kukulski City Manager ATTEST: ____________________________ Stacy Ulmen Clerk of the Commission 41