Public Safety Committee  — Charleston, WV
Date: 2025-11-17
Time: 18:00

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 7-21-2025

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department



ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 7-21-2025

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department



ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk




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 MINUTES
 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 6:00 P. M., JULY 21, 2025
 AV ROOM, CITY HALL


Shawn Taylor, Chair, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on
Public Safety to order at 6:00 p.m., July 21, 2025.

Present:
Shawn Taylor, Chair
Chuck Overstreet, Vice Chair
Caitlin Cook
Mary Beth Hoover
Beth Kerns
Bruce King


Absent:
Kathy Rubio



Other Councilmembers Present:
Frank Annie
Emmett Pepper
Joe Solomon




 1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES –
Councilmember Kerns moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 10-21-
2024. Councilmember Hoover seconded the motion. There was no objection, and the
minutes were approved.


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 2. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics.

None

 3. Neighborhood Watch Groups – Naomi Bays –

Councilmember Taylor introduced Naomi Bays, the Executive Director of the West Side
Neighborhood Association. They have been working on a pilot program to streamline
watch groups to be aligned with the Wards. They will work with the Planning
Department and others to divide groups into each Ward. Bays added that they want to
empower the community to hold their own meetings. They would want the watch groups
to report to their Ward Councilmember to send out information. There would be
quarterly combined meetings as well. Bays asked how she could communicate this to
other Councilmembers for their involvement. Bays suggested that the pilot program
should start on the West Side, and it would be important to get Councilmember involved
from the start.

Mayor Goodwin agreed that there are many people that show up to the current
neighborhood watch meetings. There were a lot of good ideas in the presentation.


 4. TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS -

 • Charleston Police Department

Deputy Police Chief Webb added that the new Public Safety building is still in the design
phase. They have started a take-home-car program, and it has been well received.
Regatta and the bike races went well with no major issues. The Department has
changed their recruitment. Changing the singing bonus has been very successful in
attracting hire from other sources. The testing process has been changed so that a
certified candidate no longer has to wait for a testing date. A test can be posted as
needed. They are currently at 161. Councilmember Overstreet confirmed that the age
requirement is 18-40. Mayor Goodwin added that CPD has also done an amazing job
accompanying her on the Administration’s Charleston Walks. Deputy Police Chief Webb
added that he thought it would be better for the Neighborhood Watch groups to
coordinate with a hybrid officer (for example) instead of a Councilmember.

 • Charleston Fire Department

Assistant Fire Chiefs Nicholson and Strickland stated that Regatta went well with noted
improvements for next year. They have received the new ladder truck, rescue truck and
Engine 5. The new boat should be arriving in October. They added that they would like
better communication with the water company. There have been issues in the Oakridge
area, and they have been having a hard time getting feedback from them. They are very
close to having a full staff.


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Mayor Goodwin added that renovations to the fire stations are ongoing.

Councilmember Cook agreed that Police and Fire did a great job during the Regatta and
were very helpful.




Councilmember Cook motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Kerns
seconded. Meeting adjourned.




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