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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/07 CITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION, EDUCATION AND YOUTH SPECIAL MEETING APRIL 20, 2007 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER - 3:05 p.m. City Hall - Ross Annex Building 151 Floor Conference Room 1600 Santa Ana, California Councilmembers: Martinez, Sarmiento, Tinajero Councilmembers present: Michele Martinez and Vincent Sarmiento Councilmembers absent: Sal Tinajero Staff Present: Gerardo Mouet, Jill Arthur, Ron Ono, Jose Sandoval, Martha Nunez and Frances Cadenas Public Present: Robert Nelson, Joseph Stokely, Barbara Tallfy, Alejandra Gonzales, Guadalupe Celed6n, Maria Mejorado, Ruth Alcalde, Gregory Bodenhamer, Darlyne R. Pettinicchio, Beverly MacLaren, Arlene Burt, Cynthia Coad, Peggy Bohrer, Deba Bhattacharyya, Rob Richardson, Judith Magsaysay, Manuel Ballestero, Mariel Ballaten, Albert Perez, Don Han, Tim Shaw, Adelina R. Garcia, Jose S. Arias, Hermelinda G. Ortiz and Millie Peralta. 1. Round table discussion with community leaders and agencies regarding Summer opportunities for youth. Michele Martinez welcomed everyone and introductions followed. Darlyne R. Pettinicchio I O.C. Probation Department :>- Kids are becoming part of the Juvenile Detention System :>- Early intervention or prevention by having the collaboration of the parents, schools and the City. :>- Collaborate and Education system can provide social services and after-school programs at the school system. :>- Parents and schools to bring prevention early intervention. :>- Parents early intervention by imposing values to children. Some qroups brouqht toqether are: :>- Family Center on its way :>- Education resources for parents as a collaborate :>- Community Involvement :>- City of Santa Ana :>- County at large :>- We want to make sure we are not duplicating City of Santa Ana Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, Education and Youth - Minutes April 20, 2007 Collaborate = community, school district, City of Santa Ana, County and non-profit organizations. ISSUES . School is almost out for the summer . This year, it is too late to try to work on a bigger concept . What do we want to accomplish? . Where do we start? . What do we target? Darlyne R. Pellinicchio from the O.C. Probation Department commented on the need to provide more coordinated services to youth in order to prevent them from becoming part of the Juvenile Detention System. Ms. Pellinicchio made the point about the need to collaborate between parents, schools, and the City in order to provide early intervention and prevention social services after school. She emphasized that these efforts are key to instill the correct values in children. These collaborative efforts can be made effective by helping the Pio Pico Family Center to provide education resources for parents and encourage their involvement. She stated that the county too can be part of this collaborative, along with non-profit organizations. Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director, PRCSA, CaSA )> Youth Sports Program and Santa Anita Prevention Strategy Handouts. )> A cost effective way is through sports, i.e. tennis, football, soccer, basketball, etc. )> Summer Day Camp )> Leisure Classes )> Santa Anita Collaborate Programs )> Non-profit organizations services Mr. Gerardo Mouet, the City of Santa Ana's Executive Director for the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency emphasized the importance of sports as an effective after school approach and cited the Santa Anita initiative as an example. Mr. Mouet handed out information on the Santa Anita initiative as well as a resource summary list of programs and organizations that offer programs and services for Santa Ana youth. The point was made that sports is a cost effective way to keep youth positively involved in the community after school with proper adult supervision. Mr. Mouet also informed the group that the City is offering this summer a day camp program, the aquatics and other sports programs, as well as leisure classes. Rob Richardson - SAUSD )> School district has the following schools Judith Magsaysay /SAUSD, Pio Pico Elementary )> Summer School Cluster for elementary, intermediate and high schools was presented. )> What is the target? Darlyne R. Pettinicchio / a.c. Probation Department )> Elements/Location )> Provide services to kids to keep them active Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director, PRCSA, CaSA )> Bring services to parents that do not speak English. )> Explain to them how public services vs. private services work City of Santa Ana Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, Education and Youth - Minutes 2 April 20, 2007 children to be walking on the street. She has noticed that kids are being coerced into selling drugs. This is why it is important to have responsible adults at the playgrounds. She is also hoping the lunch program will be available this summer. Darlyne R. Pettinicchio I O.C. Probation Department ~ SAPD probation officers are willing to help ~ Establish early childhood values ~ Build a relationship with kids ~ Parents do not know where their children are ~ If programs are available, children would need supervision Councilmember Michele Martinez ~ Taller San Jose already has some programs Darlyne R. Pettinicchio I O.C. Probation Department ~ Rules need to be reinforced by parents ~ Schools to create a neutral territory. Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento ~ We need responsible participation ~ We need non-profit organizations that will provide quality service ~ Demand is high for programs ~ We don't want to duplicate services Ms. Pettinicchio mentioned that Probation Officers are willing to help. It is important, she said, to establish early childhood values and build positive relationships with kids. It is common for parents to not know where their children are, which is why it is key to obtain supervision for the children. She added that rules need to be reinforced by parents and that schools can offer the community a neutral territory. Councilwoman Martinez mentioned that Taller San Jose offers programs that can playa part in these efforts. Councilman Vincent Sarmiento emphasized that we need responsible participation and that non- profit organizations are key in providing quality services because we recognize that demand for programs and services is high. Good coordination is also important because we want to avoid duplicating services. 3:55 p.m. Councilmember Sarmiento left at this time for another meeting. No quorum 2. Committee members comments No comments stated 3. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 City Hall, Room 831 4. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m. 4a;;;:,dty~ Executive Director I Parks, Recreation an~ Community Services Agency City of Santa Ana Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, Education and Youth - Minutes 4 April 20, 2007 President of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education pointed out the handout that listed the schools that would be providing summer school this summer. Principal of Pio Pico Elementary, Ms. Judith Magsaysay reviewed this handout. Ms. Pettinicchio mentioned that these schools offer the community opportunities to provide services to youth and keep them active. Mr. Mouet highlighted that services to parents that do not speak English is also key to a good strategy and it is important to clarify with the community how services from government is not the only source for services but that the non-profit sector also provides much of the services needed. Manuel Ballestero, SAUSD, Pio Pico Elementary ~ Turning bungalows into rooms ~ Mom's Club that provides services to young mothers ~ Make it a comprehensive center ~ Between now and June 30 provide services ~ Implement programs for kids in gangs ~ The key of having sports programs - makes kids play with each other - not fight with each other. ~ The help of the community facilitates the process ~ Create a prototype Michele Martinez, Councilwoman ~ Recalls how basketball was at her reach - she had something to do which kept off the streets ~ Social Services is another area to research Don Han I Santa Ana Human Relations ~ Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts have different programs Mr. Manuel Ballesteros from Pio Pico Elementary School explained how one of the bungalows was converted into the Family Center. One of the programs in the Center is a Mom's Club that provides services to young mothers. This type of program makes the Center more comprehensive. Another potential for the Center is to implement programs for kids in gangs. Mr. Ballesteros mentioned that a key success factor in sports program is to make sure kids play with each other and not fight with each other. He believes the Family Center at Pio Pico can be a model for other schools. Councilwoman Martinez made the point that sports, in her personal case basketball, can make a difference in keeping youth off the streets. Mr. Don Han from the Santa Ana Human Relations Commission stated that programs from the Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts can also add diversity in service. Rob Richardson - SAUSD ~ The school district can provide different programs. The problem is he is not sure that they would be able to provide the staff for these programs. Judith Magsaysay ISAUSD, Pio Pico Elementary ~ There has to be structure ~ Parents need to be there to participate ~ Parents need to make an agreement with their children not to be walking on the street. ~ Kids are being coerced onto selling drugs ~ Need responsible adults at the playgrounds ~ Not sure if the lunch program will be available this summer Mr. Richardson stated that the School District can provide the venues for these programs but not the staffing for these programs. Ms. Magsaysay added that the programs established need to be sure to have structure and ensure that parents participate. She suggested that parents make agreements with their 3 April 20, 2007 City of Santa Ana Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, Education and Youth - Minutes