2014-03-31 PUBLIC SAFETY - Laserfiche WebLink

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5. Homelessness (Overview of Public Safety Efforts Related to the Homeless Population) Ruben lbarra, Commander, SAPD, gives a brief overview of the Police Department's efforts dealing with the homeless issue. There are presently 1,400 homeless people in Santa Ana; 400- 600 of those are living in the Civic Center area. A major concern in the Civic Center is public safety. City and Courthouse employees do not want to go outside to sit and enjoy their lunch because of the stench, and they are wary of being assaulted. This problem is not just in the Civic Center, it is throughout the city. As a result of AB 109, more prisoners have been released into homelessness. The Police Department is looking at taking a two -prong approach: enforcement and compassion. In 2012, there were 2398 calls for service; in 2013, 1808. The H.E.A.R.T. Program identifies those people who want to be helped, and to date 83 people have been rescued. There are over 500 clients in the H.E.A.R.T. program; 254 are active. Commander Ibarra concludes his overview by stating the importance of partnering together with other agencies to address this issue. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Chairman Benavides says we need to identify and assess what programs are already out there as it applies to the item on Restorative Justice. He also mentions it would be helpful for the Committee to see some case studies that have been done with the cities of Oakland and Long Beach and the outcome reached. Regarding partnering with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, questioned if they are already providing the same efforts as the concept of restorative justice. Chairman Benavides would like to review a sample contract of what this type of partnership would be and to see what costs or administrative fees are involved. Committee Member Martinez speaks about the Medical Marijuana item. She is concerned about the marketing of these dispensaries showing Santa Ana as the city to come to for marijuana. Committee Member Martinez would like the City to have a counter measure in order to protect our business community. She mentions that the cities of Oakland and Los Angeles have designated medical districts, and says she would be supportive of such in order to be able to monitor and control the dispensaries from a law enforcement and code enforcement perspective. Committee Member Martinez requests more research and an analysis of the medical districts so the City has more options and choices regarding this matter. Chairman Benavides says the City has three options regarding the Medical Marijuana initiative that will be on the ballot in November: 1) have a competing measure to allow for X- mimber of dispensaries; 2) stay silent and let the ballot go forward; and 3) have a competing measure to reinforce the City's position that we do not allow medical marijuana dispensaries other than through health care agencies.