04-05-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmembers expressed concerns regarding the Neighborhood Improvement Program, including but not limited to the following: the effectiveness of the current program, whether the program should be continued, the process of selecting neighborhoods for improvement, negative reactions by the residents in some areas to the entryway portals, the need to tailor plans to specific neighborhoods, infrastructure improvements versus "frills," the possibility of allowing neighborhood consensus to emerge rather than to have improvements forced upon them, and the responsible party for deciding areas to be improved. Councilmembers discussed the components of a "good" neighborhood, including such items as percentage of rentals, schools, intrusion of traffic, and neighborhood shopping. Councilmember Acosta suggested an all-out marketing program of low-interest loans; Councilme~ber Johnson, a door-to-door canvass to identify structures in poor condition and to inform residents of availability of funding. The City Manager indicated he would provide a revised Neighborhood Improvement Program to the Council in thirty days which would incorporate elements suggested by the Council. By unanimous informal consent, the Council agreed to discuss the Code Enforcement Program at its April 7 meeting. Crime Prevention Assistant City Manager Ray Davis outlined the Police Department's objectives with regard to crime prevention, indicating a return to "basics" with the Community Oriented Policing Program, development of a combined fire/crime prevention inspection program for the coming fiscal year and continuation of the SWAT/HYPES program at a 50% staffing level. The Mayor left the meeting at 1:52 p.m. Councilmembers discussed concerns relative to crime prevention, including but not limited to, the West Coast's becoming a main drug distribution center, the ranking of Santa Ana in Orange County with regard to narcotics traffic, the source of funding for the Neighborhood and Downtown Foot Patrol Programs, whether Foot Patrol would be a line item in the Budget, traffic enforcement of speeding violations on arterial streets, and Police involvement in traffic planning. Councilmember Johnson suggested staff think of expanding the Foot patrol Program. Councilmembers Hart and Young expressed concern that tax increment funds were being used for operations purposes. The City Manager explained expenditure of tax increment funds required Council approval. He indicated he would provide information to the Council relative to the funding of the various Police crime prevention programs. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 131 APRIL 5, 1986