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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Minutes of Meeting
July 22, 2008
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CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was convened at 5:40 p.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic
Center Plaza, 4th Floor Conference Room, Santa Ana, California.
ATTENDANCE
Council members present: Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides and Sal Tinajero
Staff present: Assistant City Attorney Paula Coleman, Fire Chief Marc Martin, Police
Chief Paul Walters, Jail Administrator Russ Davis, Police Commanders Bill Nimmo and
Larry Coleman, Asst. to the City Manager Mark Lawrence, Corporal Jose Gonzalez, and
Recording Secretary Janet Chop.
Public present: John Kelly, Rene Guzman, Rick Niedermayer, Roy and Julie Melcher,
Laura Morfin, Beatrice Calderon, and Esther Trujillo.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved Minutes of the May 27,2008 meeting.
2. -FIREWORKS AFTER ACTION REPORT
Chief Martin reported that there was no loss to property attributed to fireworks.
Commander Coleman stated that the primary goal of the Illegal Fireworks
Suppression Team was to facilitate a safe July 4th holiday for the community by
limiting the amount of illegal fireworks being used throughout the City. He
reviewed the police and fire response to illegal fireworks, detailing the illegal
fireworks confiscated, arrests made, and costs of deployment. For the 4-day
period, the Santa Ana Dispatch Center received 328 calls for service as
compared to 370 calls for service received in 2007.
Corporal Gonzalez reviewed the "Awareness, Education, and Enforcement"
message. Thousands of posters, fliers, and activity sheets were distributed at
school assemblies and neighborhood association meetings to convey the
message. Media coverage was also as widespread as in 2007.
Commander Nimmo reviewed police strategy in the "Little Texas" area for
keeping fireworks out of the Fountain Valley Water District.
Committee members were in support of a community fireworks show.
Committee member Alvarez complimented City Departments for their timely
response to the Grand Jury report.
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3. EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS FROM OCSD
Administrator Davis reviewed the OC Sheriff's Department's intent to be
proactive in terms of inmate population control and ensure they have a workable
plan to deal with spikes in inmate population that usually occur on weekends and
especially holiday weekends. He reviewed the strict parameters with which the
Sheriff can accelerate the release of inmates.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Several residents present spoke regarding fireworks issues, such as noise,
police response, smoke, and danger of aerial fireworks. Others spoke about the
benefit of fireworks sales for the youth in the city.
5. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee Member' Benavides requested that a hotline be established for
citizens to call and also that dispatchers be made aware of booth time limits. He
also would like the EPIC Commission calendar to be a direct link to the Public
Safety Committee.
Committee Member Tinajero thanked the residents for attending and spoke
about the time frames for booths to sell fireworks.
6. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
,A. EPIC Commission 2007 Annual Report Recommendations
B. Other Agency Release of Prisoners
7. NEXT MEETING DATE: Tuesday, Au~ust 26, 2008, 5:30 p.m., Santa Ana
Police Facility, 60 Civic Center Plaza, 41 floor conference room, Santa Ana,
California.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:50 p.m.
GL-ww-
PAUL M. WALTERS
Chief of Police
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