HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Review Follow-Up
Alcala, Abigail
From:Mendoza, Steven
Sent:Monday, March 18, 2024 4:12 PM
Cc:EMT - Directors; Soto, Daniel
Subject:Agenda Review follow-up for Tuesday March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting
Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem and Councilmembers, there were some questions on the agenda that we
wanted to share. The staff responses are reflected in italics and underlined.
Agenda Item No. 9 - This is the quarterly Public Intoxication Report. A Councilmember had some
additional questions regarding the report provided for Item 9 on the March 19 Council meeting agenda;
1. How long does a “misdemeanor cite-out arrestee” spend in the Santa Ana Jail? An individual
detained on a misdemeanor charge may be held in custody for up to 24 hours during the booking
procedure. Various factors play a role in determining the duration of an individual's stay, such
as their level of cooperation during the booking process, the time needed for fingerprint results
to be obtained from the Department of Justice, and whether the individual is fit for
release. Typically, an individual who has been arrested will spend an average of 6-8 hours in
custody, assuming there are no complications.
2. The staff report states: “Jail staff are in direct communication with City Net personnel who
respond to the jail to work with anyone requesting services.” Who is offering services to those
about to leave the Santa Ana Jail if jail staff contacts City Net personnel when somebody
requests services? It sounds like City Net personnel are only at the Santa Ana Jail when jail
staff contacts City Net. All individuals booked at the jail and eligible for citation and release are
interviewed by Records staff during the booking process. The jail staff offers services, and if the
person accepts, City Net is notified. City Net personnel respond to the jail and conduct interviews
with the individual to determine their specific needs. Upon release, City Net staff can meet the
individual outside the facility. In cases where services are requested after hours, individuals may
wait in booking until City Net arrives. Those who decline services are provided with a resource
card and information about City Net.
3. Of the 18 “Medical aid calls for service related to public intoxication”, how many of those spent
time in the Santa Ana Jail? After an arrestee is medically cleared, they continue with the normal
booking process if there is no long-term medical issue. If the arrestee is admitted overnight into
the hospital, the arrestee is cited at the hospital. We currently do not keep track of the disposition
of medical aids, whether they were cited or booked at the Santa Ana Jail.
4. If 60 arrestees were booked at the Santa Ana Jail in December 2023, how were 175 arrestees
offered services? The jail processed 182 citations and 218 felony arrests for December. Not all
the citations or arrests are related to the Intoxication initiative. Of the 182 citations, 175 were
offered services.
Agenda Item No. 10 – This Agenda item is for the automated metering project. A Councilmember had
the following questions;
1. Why are additional funds needed in order to continue moving the project forward? (see below)
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2. Unless I missed it, the staff report does not explain why $1,300,000 from the Water Utility
Production & Supply, Miscellaneous Operating Expenses account and $1,550,000 from the
Water Meter Services, Contract Services – Professional account, for a total of $2,850,000, needs
to be transferred to the Acquisition & Construction, Water Utility Capital Projects, Water Capital
Project expenditure account. In November 2020, the City entered into an agreement with Aqua–
Metric Sales Company for the installation of meter data management and meter infrastructure
as part of the (AMI) project. This was the beginning of a 5 year-long project with an estimated
cost of $30.4 million. Since then, the AMI project has been progressing despite challenges posed
by the pandemic and supply chain issues. The completion of the alpha, beta, and the installation
of over 13,000 water meters to date, marks significant milestones toward the modernization of
our water meter services system. As for funding for the project, we have secured $5.5 million in
grants, and $10.1 million in a low-cost interest loan from the California State Water Resources
Control Board (CSWRCB) to support this project. The rest is a combination of water funds. This
action item in front of you is to add additional funds of $4.5 million previously appropriated to
keep the project on schedule and to take advantage of the improved supply chain for materials
and supplies. While taking advantage of the supply chain improvements, we understand our
expenditure plan will be exhausted at a faster rate but, it will be critical to keep the project moving
along and on schedule. In November 2019 the City Council adopted a comprehensive water,
recycled water, and sewer rate study as part of the water resources long-term financial plan. In
this study, a water debt financing option was factored in to ensure fund resources for this AMI
project. As of now, we are actively exploring the water debt financing option outlined in the
comprehensive rate study. We anticipate in the upcoming months coming in front of you with
action items for this water debt financing for your consideration. This financing strategy aligns
with the long-term financial planning for the AMI project and will complement the funding secured
through grants, loans, and water resources funds.
Agenda Item No. 16 - This is a purchase of GIS data service subscription. A Councilmember had
submitted the following question;
1. Does Lightbox Parent, L. P.’s GovClarity, have anything to do with the Planning Division’s
Property Information Search system? Nabil Saba provided the following response. Yes. The
program is available to every City Agency to use. It is managed by IT.
Agenda Item No. 23 - Adding a Deputy City Manager. A Councilmember had submitted the following
questions.
1. “How will the 17 new full-time professional positions help our residents and businesses receive
quicker and more effective police services? By hiring Forensic Specialists, Police Investigative
Specialists, and a Forensic Services Supervisor, we are investing in specialized expertise that
will enhance our investigative capabilities. These professional staff positions will bring advanced
skills and techniques to the table, aiding in resolving cases more swiftly and accurately. The
addition of Police Service Officers and Dispatchers will help increase the capacity of our
department to respond to emergencies and incidents promptly. With more personnel available
to handle calls and administrative tasks, we can ensure that resources are deployed efficiently,
reducing response times and improving overall service delivery. With additional professional
staff dedicated to forensic services, investigations, and dispatch, we can streamline processes
within the department. This means quicker processing of evidence, more thorough
investigations, and improved coordination in dispatching resources where they are most needed.
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2. Where is the justification to move funding for 12 sworn police officers to fund a Forensic Services,
Supervisor, six Forensic Specialists, four Police Service Officers, three Police Investigative
Specialists, and two Police Services Dispatchers? The staff report provides NO justification. Just
a request for action. While sworn police officers play a crucial role in maintaining public safety,
professional staff can perform specific tasks and functions within the department. By reallocating
funding to hire Police Service Officers, Dispatchers, and other specialized staff, we can free up
sworn officers to focus on core policing duties, such as patrol and crime prevention, thereby
maximizing the efficiency of our overall workforce. The addition of Forensic Specialists and
Police Investigative Specialists will significantly enhance our department's investigative
capabilities. These professionals bring specialized skills and training in evidence collection,
analysis, and crime scene processing, which are essential for solving complex cases. In some
cases, professional staff positions may offer a more cost-effective solution than sworn officers,
particularly for roles that do not require the authority to make arrests or carry firearms. We can
optimize our budgetary resources without compromising public safety by reallocating funding to
hire professional staff where appropriate.
Agenda Item No. 25 - Youth Commission Alternatives. A question came in from a Councilmember
asking;
1. Could Option 3, a Youth Advisory Committee, have the members appointed by the Council,
instead of appointed by staff, and have meetings held with any number of members present and
not subject to the Brown Act? When the council votes to create a commission or appoints
members it creates a legislative body subject to the Brown Act. If the goal is to avoid the body
being a legislative body (so they can meet virtually) the only way is to make the group more like
an advisory group.
We will see you all tomorrow night.
Sincerely,
Steven A. Mendoza
Assistant City Manager
20 Civic Center Plaza (M25)
Santa Ana, CA 92701
T: (714) 647-5246
F: (714) 647-6549
www.santa-ana.org/cda
smendoza@santa-ana.org
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