HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-01 PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENTCITY OF SANTA ANA
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT ABs NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER:
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS ABSENT:
October 1, 2018
Ross Annex, Room 1600
City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive
Santa Ana, California
5:25 PM
Council Committee members:
Sal Tinajero
Juan Villegas
01".
STAFF PRESENT: Raul Godinez II, CMO
Robert Cortez, CMO
David Valentin, PD
Tamara Bogosian, CAO
Steven Mendoza, CDA
Hafsa Kalca, CDA
Jessica Valencia, PD
Jeff Adams, OCFA
Robert Carroll, PD
Fuad Sweiss, PWA
Elizabeth Plotnik, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Laura Perez, concerned constituent
Esther Fonseca, concerned constituent
Eric Mull, concerned constituent
Charles Walter, concerned constituent
Chris Schmidt, Windsor Village NA
Janelle McLoughlin, concerned constituent
Mark McLoughlin, concerned constituent
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PUBLIC COMMENTS
Laura Perez, concerned constituent, shared her concerns and frustration about prostitution activity
taking place in her neighborhood. She stated that she is being harassed and wants the police
department to increase enforcement.
Esther Fonseca, concerned constituent, provided a brief summary of the loud and raucous noise
ordinance and the current enforcement efforts taking place. Ms. Fonseca shared her frustration that
police officers are not issuing citations.
Eric Mull, concerned constituent, shared that another fire had occurred in his backyard and asked
what was being done to address the fires in the Santiago Creek.
Charles Walter, concerned constituent and neighbor to Mr. Mull, shared his concerns and
frustrations regarding the fires in Santiago Creek, and noted that he is thinking of moving because
of the lack of enforcement.
Chris Schmidt, Windsor Village resident, feels as though his part of the City isnt getting the same
amount of attention as other neighborhoods are.
Janelle McLoughlin, concerned constituent, shared that another fire had occurred behind her home
again and that it took OCFA 20 minutes to arrive, due to having trouble locating the fire. Ms.
McLoughlin asked how to report fires in the future to avoid delay in response.
Mark McLoughlin, concerned constituent, shared the same comments as his wife Janelle, and
asked for a guideline of how to report fires and provide the accurate location.
AGENDAITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes from the July 10,2018 Meeting
2. Discussion of OCFA Board Member Villegas' Proposed Amendment to OCFA Fire
Services Contract to: a) Allow City Input in Selection of Santa Ana Division Chief
and b) Discuss Procedure to Evaluate Existing Contract and Service Alternatives —
Co -Chair Villegas
Co -Chair Villegas discussed the selection, and perceived bias of selecting new OCFA
Division Chief Jeff Adams and the newly implemented fire services contract. Co -Chair
Villegas shared his frustration about the selection made while stating the City should have
a say in who is selected and noted that the Santa Ana Fire Department should be brought
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back. While noting the City has had seven fire Chiefs within the past six years, Co -Chair
Villegas asked that OCFA provide the City some stability and consistency with regard to
Chief.
Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez provided reasons and financial explanations as to why
the Santa Ana Fire Department was taken away.
ACTION
Chairman Tinajero and Co -Chair Villegas both asked that staff provide a report on other
contract options, as well as look into implementing the Santa Ana Fire Department.
(Item Number 9 taken out of order)
9. Update on Police Officer Recruitment and Hiring — Manager Robert Carroll
{Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, li}
Manager Carroll presented the Council Committee with an update on Police Officer hiring,
by reviewing the number of vacancies compared to filled positions year-to-date, as well as
the number of additional officers projected to be hired the remainder of 2018. Additionally,
Manager Carroll discussed upcoming recruitment events and shared that the effectiveness
of each event would be tracked, moving forward.
Additionally, Manager Carroll introduced the Committee and Staff to Corporal Pedro
Duran, and shared his dedication to recruitment.
The Council Committee shared dialogue with Staff about recruitment/retaimnent efforts,
asked questions and offered support of recruitment efforts.
(Item Number 4 taken out of order)
4. Revisions to SAMC 10-153 (Loud and Raucous Noise) — Assistant City Attorney Tamara
Bogosian {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, lc}
RECOMMENDED ACTION — Recommend to the City Council staff's proposed
revisions to SAMC 10-153
Deputy Chief Gominsky provided a brief summary of the proposed revisions, as discussed
in previous Council Committee Meetings, and requested that they be taken to full Council.
Chief Valentin added that he met with the constituents who requested the revisions and
agreed with the recommendation to move it to full Council.
MOTION: Villegas SECOND: Tinajero
VOTE: AYES: Tinajero, Villegas
NOES: None
Motion carries.
(Item Number 6 taken out of order)
6. Update on Prostitution -Related Enforcement — Deputy Chief Ken Gominsky
Deputy Chief Gominsky provided the Council Committee with an update on recent
prostitution -related enforcement efforts. He shared the total number of arrests made and
citations issued within the past two months and noted that correspondence had been made
with businesses located in the Harbor/Hazard neighborhood.
(Item Number 8 taken out of order)
8. Homeless Update — Hafsa Kaka, Homeless Services Manager {Strategic Plan Goal
No. 5,3d & No. 1, le)
Homeless Services Manager Hafsa Kaka presented the Council Committee with an updated
overview of recent projects that have taken place to address homelessness: Quality of Life
Team (QOLT) and Santiago Creek Clean -Up. Additionally, Hafsa provided an update on
the implementation of an Emergency Homeless Shelter and shared details about the recent
Community Safety Forum held by Urban Peace Institute. Lastly, Hafsa shared the ongoing
general homeless services efforts taking place.
3. Discussion Pertaining to Draft Ordinance Re: Narcotics and Gang -Related Crime
Eviction Program — Deputy Chief Eric Paulson & Assistant City Attorney Tamara
Bogosian
Deputy Chief Paulson presented the Council Committee with information pertaining to a draft
ordinance that would address Gang and Narcotics Crime Eviction. Deputy Chief Paulson explained
that this ordinance would combat illegal activity, promote safety and eliminate nuisance in the
community, while holding landlords responsible for activities that occur on their property. Tamara
Bogosian added that this ordinance would be used as an additional approach in addressing crime
and recommended that it be brought back for further discussion.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Chairman Tinajero supported Co -Chair Villegas' position about the OCFA Fire Services Contract
and stated that it appears as though other cities are treated differently by OCFA, due to Santa Ana
being a minority city.
Co -Chair Villegas added that there may have been bias in selecting the new OCFA Chief. In
regards to the Homeless Update, Co -Chair Villegas noted that Judge Carter is impressed with the
city's efforts in addressing homeless concerns. Co -Chair Villegas also inquired about OCFA's
delayed response to the fires in Santiago Creek, to which Chief Adams provided clarification and
shared his plan for addressing the concerns. Additionally, Co -Chair Villegas had open dialogue
about the fires with members of the public who were present, and asked for additional police patrol
in the Creek.
The Committee members were engaged in the discussions, expressed interest in the presentations,
and thanked staff for their hard work and the public for their attendance.
FUTUREITEMS
ADJOURNMENT — 6:47 P.M.
DAVID VALENTIN
Chief of Police
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