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Home My WebLink About2015-08-11 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES August 11, 2015 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 5:30 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: David Benavides Angelica Amezcua Sal Tinajero (absent) STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Anthony Espinosa, OCFA John Funk, CAO Ken Gominsky, PD Jason Viramontes, PD Robert Cortez, CMO Jorge Garcia, CMO - Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Tim Rush Alison Stanley Tish Leon Cherie Kerr Irma Macias Eamon Gareet Chairman Benavides pulled items No. 4 (Social Media Outreach), No. 6 (Landlord Penalties) and No. 7 (Integrated Software) -from the Agenda; these items will be continued to a future date. AGENDAITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 5-26-15 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 5-26-15 meeting. MOTION: Amezcua SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Motion carries. PUBLIC COMMENTS Benavides, Amezcua None (0) Tinajero Tim Rush, Wilshire Neighborhood Association, asked the Public Safety Committee to place the issue of fireworks on the City Council agenda, specifically a motion to ban fireworks of all kinds city-wide, permanently. Alison Stanley, resident of Park Santiago neighborhood, seconds the idea of banning fireworks. Ms. Stanley provides a handout to the Committee regarding research she has done on the Internet, along with a grand jury report done in 2008 and Santa Ana's response to it. Tish Leon, resident, is very upset with fireworks and how they disturb the quality of life for the citizens and their animals. She suggested that non -profits could sell their fireworks at Centennial Park. Expressed appreciation of the community forums on the police worn body cameras. Cherie Kerr, resident on Heliotrope, Floral Park neighborhood, explained how her house was ignited and went on fire during the 0' of July holiday. 34 cities in Orange County and Santa Ana is only one of six that still allows fireworks, which are dangerous and unnecessary. She would support fireworks in an area that is safe and courteous to everyone. Ms. Kerr also has a written communication from a neighbor, Peggy Waleri, who is asking to ban all fireworks in the city of Santa Ana. Irma Macias, resident and member of Com -Link, supports banning fireworks in the city of Santa Ana. Eamon Garcet, resident of Floral Park neighborhood, lost his home to an electrical fire in 2008. Mr. Garcet expressed his concern about the fireworks and said that when Ms. Kerr's house was on fire with firetrucks on scene, it was not a deterrent; half an hour later people were lighting off fireworks. He said it was wanton disrespect for property and complete lawlessness. Mr. Garcet is a medical doctor who pointed out the ERs are filled with people who suffer injuries due to fireworks. AGENDA ITEMS (Continued) 2. 4th of July (Update on Fireworks Enforcement) — Commander Ken Gominsky {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2d} Commander Ken Gominsky summarizes an overview of an action report related to enforcement operations which began in early June continuing through the 4th of July holiday. Over 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were seized through social media contacts and undercover buys. Additional staff was deployed geographically this year with an emphasis on the problem areas identified through the tip line and calls for service. Enforcement was two -fold: administrative cites/confiscation of fireworks and criminal cites/arrests. There were 223 calls for service received by SAPD Communications which equates to one firework/skyrocket call every two minutes for eight hours in one night. The Police Department's costs associated with the 4th of July this year was approximately $132,000.00. ACTION: Chairman Benavides requested a report from the Police Department on fireworks: net costs to enforcement, the enforcement plan if the City were to ban fireworks, what the true impact would be, and potential phasing out or reduction of enforcement. The report should include information on the true revenue received by non -profits, how many of them are out there, and the spectrum of the upper and lower end. Finally, include reports from other cities that have either legalized safe and sane fireworks or completely banned them. 3. Body Cameras (Update on Pilot Program) — Commander Jason Viramontes {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, if and 3b} Commander Viramontes provides a power point presentation giving a brief update on what the Exploratory Committees has been doing as the Police Department moves forward with the Body Worn Cameras. A pilot program is being conducted with one of the units within Special Investigations. Six cameras have been purchased from the vendor, Taser, because they are one of the leaders in body cameras. The recordings will be uploaded and information stored on the iCloud, which is a secure data storage site. Policies regarding usage will be directed by the Chief s Office. Community forums have been held, and there will be one more in the near future. At that time, every police district will have had the opportunity to see what the body cameras are about. 5. OCFA Annual Update on Fire/EMS Services — Battalion Chief Anthony Espinosa {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 5b} Battalion Chief Anthony Espinosa talked about the services provided by OCFA in the city of Santa Ana over the past year. There was a 9.5% increase of emergency response incidents in the city. OCFA implemented a state-of-the-art CAD system that enhances response time and service delivery to citizens. OCFA does community outreach by being involved in many community events throughout the year, such as the City-wide Drowning Prevention Campaign, City-wide Fire Alarm Installation Campaign, the clean-up at Santiago Creek, and other events like the Spark of Love Toy Drive during the holidays. Old fire apparatus was replaced, and CDBG funds were used to update and improve some of the stations in the city. Fire inspections for new businesses have increased 20 percent. In line with the City's Five -Year Strategic Plan, OCFA developed a portal in the City's website. An Explorer Program was created and has been very successful with young people. ACTION: Division Chief Leonard will report back with information on how the application process works for the OCFA Explorer Program. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Chairman Benavides states that the Council Committee did receive some written communication which will become part of the record: one from Ms. Kerr who also appeared in person at the meeting and the other from Ray & Evangeline Gawronski. All parties have expressed their opinion to have fireworks banned in the city of Santa Ana. Chairman Benavides and Committee Member Amezcua were in attendance to discuss the above agenda items. The Public Safety Committee is willing to consider a ban on fireworks due to the cost to the city monetarily and taxing the resources of the PD, as well as the lawlessness. They were open to the use of the police worn body cameras, requesting that conversations take place with other departments who have been pioneers using body cameras. The City Manager points out that the Police Department has requested grant funding for body cameras; however, if funding is not received, it will go to City Council for approval. The Committee members were impressed with the increase of new businesses and construction going on within the city. They were also appreciative of OCFA's efforts and collaboration with the community through events and programs. The City Manager emphasized the partnership with OCFA, thanking them for the clean-up project at Santiago Creek. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Social Media Outreach • Landlord Penalties • Integrated Software • 2lst Century Policing • Animal Services • E -Cigarette Regulations Chief of Police