HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-29-08
SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Minutes of Meeting
January 29, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was convened at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic
Center Plaza, 4th Floor Conference Room, Santa Ana, California.
ATTENDANCE
Council members present:
Council member absent:
Claudia Alvarez and David Benavides;
Sal Tinajero
Staff present: Assistant City Attorney Paula Coleman, Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire
Chief Marc Martin, Police Deputy Chiefs Tony Levatino and Tony Harrelson, Police
Community Services Specialist Mike McCoy, and Recording Secretary Janet Chop.
Public present: Beatrice Calderon, Shirley Harrelson, Don Harrelson, Dan Gleason,
Beatriz Sosa, and Thomas Gordon.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved Minutes of the November 27, 2007 meeting.
2. POLICE DIRECTED PATROL TEAMS
Dep. Chief Levatino gave a brief overview of the Directed Patrol Teams in each
Division of the City and how they operate. Each team focuses on issues that
pertain to their specific area using a problem solving approach.
3. DOWNTOWN ISSUES UPDATE
Dep. Chief Levatino continued his report of the ongoing issues in the downtown
area and how the Civic Center Patrol and also the Downtown officers are
responding to the needs of the merchants. He further stated that the Health
Team is working to resolve homeless issues by identifying the problems people
are having and referring them to the proper avenue for help.
Committee member Benavides requested that communications remain open and
work together with the merchants to resolve their police problems, such as issues
with the homeless and burglaries in the area.
4. TOWNSEND AND BISHOP PROJECTS UPDATE
Dep. Chief Levatino also reviewed the Townsend and Bishop Projects. The
Townsend Street task force has been formed with multiple agencies involved and
are still in the analysis phase. He will report back with updates as the team
progresses. He reviewed what the Bishop Street Task Force has been doing
along with other agencies to improve the complex.
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5. REPORT ON GRAFFITI ARREST CONSEQUENCES
Dep. Chief Harrelson reviewed disposition of graffiti arrests and the
consequences imposed by the court for juveniles and adults. He gave a
sampling of the last two months of the normal penalties of fines and community
service that were imposed. The Committee had questions regarding specific
offender cases and requested that the item be brought back to the next meeting
to show the final outcome on the individual cases.
6. CITY HALL SECURITY
PCSS Mike McCoy presented a City Hall and Ross Annex security proposal that
would address security concerns of public access to the facility. The Committee
felt the proposal was not cost effective and would present a burden to city staff.
They recommended that other steps be taken to secure the building. The Police
Department will work with each Department to take measures to secure their
floors. ACA Paula Coleman will investigate alternative legal options for securing
the floors in these buildings.
7. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ASSESSMENT NEEDS
There was no change at this time. The Committee was concerned regarding
how the State's financial crisis will impact the City's public safety resources.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The citizens present spoke regarding graffiti and associated issues, fireworks
booths, and the status of the Underage Drinking Resolution.
9. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
No further comments.
10. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
A. Fireworks for July 2008
B. Study of SAMC Chapter 11, Dance Ordinance
C. 2007 Crime Rate Statistics
D. Downtown Issues
E. Graffiti Arrest Updates
F. State Impact on Police and Fire Department Resources
G. Fire Department Items of Interest
11. NEXT MEETING DATE: February 26,2008, 5:00 PM, Santa Ana Police Facility,
60 Civic Center Plaza, 4th floor conference room, Santa Ana, California.
ADJOURNED: 7:00 PM
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PAUL M. WALTERS
Chief of Police
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