The Dublin City Council approved the order of elections, reviewed the curfew ordinance and racial profiling report and discussed the sale of city property in a short regular meeting Monday night.
The seats of Darrell Curry and Sammy Moore are up for re-election May 1. For the election to be held, an election order and a contract with the county had to be approved for the city to hold elections for the positions.
The council members present unanimously approved both votes. (Darrell Curry and Eric Bullard were absent.)
It was noted that the cost of elections had risen slightly, but that the city could cancel elections if they only draw one candidate to each position.
Dublin Police Chief was present to address the city curfew and annual racial profiling report. Ray recommended keeping the curfew as it has been for several years: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Council member approved it unanimously.
The profiling report uses annual traffic stop data to determine if any race is being unfairly treated or targeted by a department. Chief Ray reported that there were no racial profiling complaints issued against the city in 2020 and physical force was not used in responding to any of the city’s 1,412 traffic stops in 2020.
Ray reported that the race of the driver was only known in 10 of the stops, largely because the officer recognized the vehicle.
Ray also advised that there were 102 vehicle searches following traffic stops with contraband found in 33 of those searches.
City Manager and former Dublin Police Chief Bobby Mendez noted that the profiling report was much more detailed as new guidelines for this year called for more detailed information.
Mendez spoke to the council at the beginning of the meeting about the sale of three city lots around Thompson’s Custom Meats and Processing. Mendez said Thompson is looking to buy alleyways in the purchase because they want to have more control over traffic in the drop-off area. They are agreeable to easements though as some city infrastructure is underneath those alleyways.
Mendez said the sale is being pursued per a previous City Council order but they are having to research ownership of one of the lots. It is largely thought that the city already owns the property since taxes have not been paid on it in decades but a deed was not readily accessible.