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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
<br />PUBLIC SAFETY
<br />Minutes of Special Meeting (Working Session)
<br />August 10, 2011
<br />CALL TO ORDER
<br />The meeting was convened at 6:15 P.M. at Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza, Police
<br />Community Room, Santa Ana, California.
<br />ATTENDANCE
<br />Council members present: Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, and Sal Tinajero.
<br />Staff present: Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire Chief Dave Thomas, Assistant City Attorney Teresa Judd,
<br />Deputy Chief Carlos Rojas, Commander Ken Gominsky, Commander Doug McGeachy, and Loretta
<br />Tafoya, Recording Secretary.
<br />Public sign-ins: Irma Macias, Gustavo Garcia, Albert Castillo, Kerry Gallahgher, Lucero Chavez, Theresa
<br />Dang, Cristy Burton, Miguel Hernandez, Ramona Espinoza, Jose Espinoza, Jose Espinoza, Paty
<br />Modueno, Guadalupe Perez, Josefina Duarte, Alma Segous, Maria Rosa Lopez, Maria Jacinto, Francisco
<br />Bravo, Oscar Sanchez, Aracel, Cazales, Silvia Hernandez, Carl Benninger, Francisco Barragan, Debbie
<br />Phares, Mondragon Miguel, Yadira, Lucero, Hermelindo Saldana
<br />SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS
<br />APPROVAL OF MINUTES
<br />Minutes approved of the July 26, 2011 meeting.
<br />IMPOUND POLICY UPDATE
<br />Committee member Alvarez introduced the activists from OC congregation Community
<br />Organization and OC May Day Coalition that represented the community on the revised impound
<br />policy. Miguel Hernandez, Lucio Chavez, Paty Madueno, Scott Sink, and Teresa Dang.
<br />Deputy Chief Rojas reviewed the comprehensive policy that balances statutory law, individual
<br />rights, case law and public safety.
<br />• Recommendation #1 - Officer allows at least 25 minutes to contact another licensed
<br />driver. Deputy Chief Rojas stated the proposed policy will mandate officers to consider
<br />waiting a reasonable amount of time for a licensed driver to respond. Council members
<br />also stated the 25 minutes seemed like a reasonable time. The city activists wanted to
<br />keep "25 minutes" in the policy. Assistant City Attorney Teresa Judd suggested leaving
<br />the wording "reasonable" due to legal issues.
<br />• Recommendation #2 - Officer to allow a licensed driver who is on the scene to drive the
<br />car. DC Rojas stated the proposed policy will allow for a licensed driver to take the
<br />vehicle under specific circumstances.
<br />• Recommendation #3 - Have the driver sign a liability waiver in order to eliminate the
<br />requirement for officers to consider towing a vehicle due to high crime area. DC Rojas
<br />stated this recommendation will not be included. This will open the officer, police
<br />department and the city to potential liability.
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