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Home My WebLink About2016-01-26 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES January 26, 2016 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 Sal Tinajero STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Dave Anderson, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Kyle Nelleson, CAO Robert Cortez, CMO Jorge Garcia, CMO Alvaro Nunez, Planning & Building Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Cherie Kerr Tim Rush Claire Braeburn Alex Cook Derek Warden PUBLIC COMMENTS Cherie Kerr, resident, expresses her support of a ban on fireworks. She is anxious to see the fireworks item on the next Agenda, perhaps the City Council Agenda. Tim Rush, resident, also commented on fireworks, a previous Agenda item. He is aware that fireworks are being studied by the City Attorney's Office and inquired as to whether once the study is completed, the results could leapfrog from this Committee and be brought straight to City Council. Realizes non - profits would need notice to make other arrangements for fundraising. Claire Braebum, America On Track, sharing support for incorporating definition of e- cigarettes into tobacco ordinance. E- cigarettes are hazardous and contain toxic chemicals, and seeing an increase in usage by young people in Santa Ana. She would like to see adding language into any existing law that restricts smoking to include e- cigarettes and vape pens. Alex Cook, America On Track, also in support to restrict smoking of e- cigarettes. Ms. Cook gives presentations to the community to show the impact on young people and would like something added to the tobacco ordinance. AGENDAITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 11 -24 -15 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 11 -24 -15 meeting. MOTION: Tinajero SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Tinajero NOES: None (0) Motion carries. AGENDA 2. Body Cameras (Update) — Chief Carlos Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, if and 3b} Chief Carlos Rojas gives a brief update on police body cameras. Input has been received from the public, from the union, as well as the officers. A committee to study this issue was created in January, 2015. Body cameras will be going out to RFP in February, implementation by the end of the quarter, and training to be completed by the end of the summer. Chief Rojas introduces Sgt. Mike Gonzalez who will be running the Body Worn Camera program and dealing with all logistic issues. At this time, Chairman Benavides allows for one further comment from a citizen who arrived late. Derek Worden, CEO of SCSA, a permitted medical marijuana dispensary in the city, asks that the dispensaries be allowed to have armed security guards. Mr. Worden was shot four times as he got into his vehicle outside the dispensary on 11 -3 -15. Mr. Worden is asking for this issue to be revisited in order to prevent something like this in the future. 3. Measure BB (Update) — Chief Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, lc} Chief Rojas gives a brief summary of Measure BB. The city of Santa Ana is the first city in Orange County to regulate dispensaries since Measure BB was passed by 66 percent of the public. Using a lottery system, 20 registered applicants were selected out of 632 who applied for a regulatory safety permit in order to open and operate a medical marijuana dispensary within the city. So far eight dispensaries have been approved, eight are in the process, and four have not contacted the Police Department. The medical marijuana task force consists of 11 members who do enforcement on illegal operations and regulate the licensed permits. 87 out of 109 dispensaries that were operating illegally have been closed. Complaints have been received regarding billboards on the 55 freeway; however, this is not illegal. Measure BB has generated $1.4 million in fees which has funded enforcement efforts. 4. E- Cigarettes (Definition and Current Legislation) — Deputy City Attorney Kyle Nellesen {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, Id} Kyle Nellesen addressed the topic of e- cigarettes with a power point presentation. City Attorney Nellesen gave a definition of e- cigarettes and their contents. Currently, the FDA does not regulate e- cigarettes. State legislation makes it unlawful to sell e- cigarettes to minors. The Santa Ana Municipal Code bans smoking in certain public places, but the definition of smoking does not specifically include e- cigarettes. A tobacco retail permit is required to sell e- cigarettes. City Attorney Nellesen gave a comparison of how other cities address e- cigarettes to include Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, and Laguna Hills in Orange County and Long Beach in Los Angeles County. Generally, e- cigarettes are regulated the same as tobacco and tobacco products. 5. Pulse Point (Software Downloaded to a Smart Phone if CPR is Needed to Increase Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates) — Chief Dave Anderson {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2d and 6a} OCFA Chief Dave Anderson describes a new application that can be downloaded to anyone's smart phone in the event that CPR is needed nearby. The goal of the project is to increase sudden cardiac arrest survival rates through bystander CPR. Chief Anderson shows a video demonstrating a scenario where CPR is needed while an elderly couple is out shopping. The app alerts nearby CPR - trained bystanders simultaneously with first responders. It directs citizens to the victim and the nearest external defibrillator. Both a message and map are provided. Chief Anderson furnishes two websites where you can get started. Committee members were grateful for the progress being made on the police body cameras as community oriented policing is valuable to the residents of Santa Ana. They believe the use of body cameras will aid in transparency while protecting both residents and police officers. The Committee members applauded the Police Department's handling of the regulatory safety permit process and enforcement which has helped to rid the city of illegal operatives. On Item #3 (Measure BB): Chairman Benavides made a request that staff continue to keep the Committee updated on the implementation of Measure BB at subsequent meetings; that staff consider feedback from the permitted MMD operators and from Council with regard to any modifications that may need to be considered to the approved ordinance. Both Committee members Benavides and Tinajero were impressed with the technology that can be uploaded onto your phone in the event of someone needing medical attention related to CPR. They conclude by thanking staff for their diligence and continued hard work on these items. ACTION ITEMS 1) On Item #3 (Measure BB): City Manager directs the City Attorney's Office to look into amending the Regulatory Safety Permit Ordinance as it relates to advertising medical marijuana dispensaries, particularly on billboards throughout the city. 2) On Item #4 (E- Cigarettes): Committee Member Tinajero recommends an amendment to the current Tobacco Ordinance to include e- cigarettes. City Manager asked the City Attorney if the amended Ordinance would have to go to City Council, and Sr. City Attorney Laura Rossini replies affirmatively. Chairman Benavides requests that City Council consider modifying the Tobacco Ordinance to include e- cigarettes. Chairman Benavides further requests staff look at what other cities are doing and bring the study back to City Council. 3) On Item #5 (Pulse Point): City Manager directs staff to put information on the Pulse Point app on the City's website. 4) Chairman Benavides asked to have an update on Fireworks: whether we change the ordinance or the process. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ➢ Police Body Cameras ➢ Measure BB ➢ Fireworks ➢ Animal Services Chief of Police