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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-28 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES January 28, 2014 CALL TO ORDER: Santa Ana Police Department 60 Civic Center Drive, Police Community Room Santa Ana, California 5:40 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: David Benavides Michele Martinez STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Scott Brown, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Paul Satras, OCFA Ruben Ibarra, PD Ken Gominsky, PD Karen Haluza, Planning & Building Alvaro Nunez, Code Enforcement PUBLIC SIGN -INS: Glen Stroud PUBLIC COMMENTS Glen Stroud, Santa Ana resident, concerned about the issue of jaywalking in Santa Ana. He talks about his personal experience of being involved in a traffic collision in January, 2014, with two other vehicles at Fairview and McFadden. In reviewing the police report, it was possibly caused by a jaywalker. Two vehicles were totaled. Mr. Stroud wants to know what the Police Department is doing to address this issue. AGENDAITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 11 -26 -13 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 11 -26 -13 meeting. MOTION: Martinez SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Martinez NOES: None (0) ABSENT: Reyna (1) Motion carries. 2. Santiago Creek Hazard Reduction (Reduce Hazardous Fuels Along The Santiago Creek Area) Captain Paul Satras, OCFA, gives an update on the hazard reduction clean -up between the I -5 freeway and Jack Fisher Park. In order to reduce any fire hazard, the OCFA is clearing out the brush in this area to protect the residences along the creek. OCFA received final approval from Fish & Game to go ahead with the program. The OCFA is involved in risk reduction programs, and a community committee has been formed comprised of OCFA, the Police Department, Public Works Agency, Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Associations to be involved. There have been 3 -4 brushfires in the drainage along the Santiago Creek due to the dry temperatures, winds, and overgrowth of vegetation and grass. It will take one week's worth of work to clear it out and then maintenance once a year. 3. Smoke Detector Project (Fire Safety to Prevent Home Fires) Captain Paul Satras, OCFA, explains how members of the OCFA have partnered with neighborhood associations and the Red Cross for door -to -door outreach programs to install 150- 200 smoke alarms, free of charge, in residences that do not have a functioning smoke alarm to prevent fires. Eventually the OCFA hopes to encompass 350 -400 residences. 4. Pedestrian Safety (Statistical Information Regarding Traffic Collisions /Fatalities During 2013) Commander Ibarra, SAPD, has a Power Point presentation entitled Pedestrian Safety Update. The statistics cover total traffic collisions from 2008 -2013, pedestrian collisions from 2008- 2013, and a breakdown of the total number of fatalities: pedestrian fatalities, pedestrians at fault, and bicycle fatalities from 2008 -2013. Education has become a key element and is offered through programs such as Officer Reggie and pamphlets distributed in both English and Spanish. The Police Department puts on a traffic safety fair, conducts a media campaign, and is looking to do a train - the - trainer program at the high schools. The Police Department has submitted an OTS Grant to refurbish a van for traffic safety involving DUI, distracted driving, and pedestrian safety. The Police Department is presently looking into putting up one - minute clips on social media or a loop to play in the PD lobby and over at City Hall. 5. Receivership (Discussion of the Use of Receivership as a Tool For Extreme Code Enforcement Cases) Alvaro Nunez, Community Preservation Coordinator, distributes a handout regarding Receiverships. A receivership is a legal process whereby the City goes to court to take away the property of a 3`d party. Properties who are candidates for Receiverships are those with a history of non - compliance by the owners and pose an immediate threat to the public or occupants of the structure, hoarder properties, fire damaged properties, vacant and/or abandoned properties, Police Department/Fire referrals, and slumlord /absentee landlord -owned properties. The City is working closely with the City Attorney's Office and Receiverships will only be used as a last resort. 6. Hot Spot Update (Statistical Crime Summary and Progress of Bishop Manor and Evergreen Areas) Commander Ibarra, SAPD, has a Power Point presentation entitled Bishop Manor and Cedar /Evergreen Update. An update for both areas is given regarding calls for service and Part I crimes comparing years 2009 through 2013. Commander Ibarra also discusses a two -fold strategy: enforcement and partnerships. There were two major enforcement operations done in the past two years, one at Bishop Manor and Smokin Aces at Cedar /Evergreen. The Police Department has partnered with Kidworks at Bishop Manor and Lives Worth Saving for Cedar /Evergreen. SAPD also works collaboratively with other City Departments regarding trash pick -up and graffiti removal. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee Chairman Benavides inquired as to whether the Police Department has a partnership with SAUSD on the pedestrian safety issue. Chairman Benavides asked about the model that will be used for the Townsend /Raitt area and requested that an invitation be extended to members of the partnerships we are working with, Kidswork and Lives Worth Saving, to attend the next Public Safety and Neighborhood Association Meeting. Chairman Benavides commended Chief Rojas on restructuring the Police Department. Chairman Benavides agreed with Committee Member Martinez that the issue of the vending trucks needs to be revisited. Committee Member Martinez brought up that there is currently a State Grant regarding the Pedestrian Safety issue for safe routes to schools. For the next meeting, she would like to talk about the shopping cart issue. Committee Member Martinez also inquired as to the current status of, options available, and the steps needed to deal with the federal injunction against vending tnicks. ADJOURNMENT — 7:11 P.M. CARLOS ROJ Acting Chief of Police