Laserfiche WebLink
Motion carries. <br />2. Briefing on Garage Conversions, Illegal Residential Construction and Pre -Sale <br />Inspections — Interim Executive Director, Planning & Building, Karen Haluza (Strategic <br />Plan No. 5, 4D). <br />Ms. Haluza provides a handout with background information about garages and the laws the City <br />has on the books as it relates to garage conversions. She explains that Planning & Building has <br />been doing research and analysis with OCFA and Code Enforcement regarding garage <br />conversions and illegal occupancy. There have been five fires since April 20, 2012, to June 19, <br />2014 with no history of deaths or injuries from garage conversions. Ms. Haluza states that garage <br />conversions create an unsafe situation, and this topic is a top priority of the City's community <br />preservation program. Garage conversions also affect the quality of life in areas as it relates to <br />parking issues, overcrowding, and deteriorated landscaping. Code Enforcement responds when <br />the City gets complaints, however, some neighborhoods don't complain due to the percentage of <br />illegally occupied garages. Community Preservation Coordinator Alvaro Nunez explains the <br />process the City takes: 1) receive complaint; 2) letter sent to property owner; 3) educate them on <br />requirements; 4) schedule an inspection; 5) they are given due notice; 6) apply fines. <br />3. Recruitment Efforts (Update on Hiring at the Police Department) — Police Admin. <br />Manager Robert Carroll (Strategic Plan No. 1, 111) <br />Police Admin. Manager Robert Carroll has a handout updating recruitment efforts for the Police <br />Department. Currently there are 24 police officer vacancies, primarily the result of retirements <br />and promotions. A subcommittee has been developed to identify best practices and improve <br />processes when recruiting police officers. One change is to run continuous recruitments for <br />police recruits /officers on -line and to have a strong web presence. The Department is also <br />working on a recruitment video, marketing material, and holding job fairs. The long term <br />strategy is to create a recruitment pipeline using the Police Department's own explorers, cadets, <br />and other personnel. The number of Background Investigators has increased to assist with the <br />amount of applicants. <br />4. Community Oriented Policing Overview (Police Department's Current Policing <br />Program) — Commander Gominsky (Strategic Plan No. 1, 1A) <br />Commander Gominsky gives an update on current efforts regarding the Police Department's <br />community oriented policing strategy. Although the Police Department can check on what best <br />practices are nationally, we need to go out and engage with the community to see what they <br />believe community oriented policing should be. We heard about restorative justice; a lot of <br />13C -9 <br />