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Home My WebLink About2015-11-24 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES November 24, 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 Sal Tinajero ABSENT: Angelica Amezcua STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Dave Anderson, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Jason Viramontes, PD Alma Flores, CMO Judson Brown, CDA- Jorge Garcia, CMO Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary GUEST SPEAKER: Brad Fieldhouse, City Net PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Ed Murashie Cherie Kerr Carrie Mendes Smitty PUBLIC COMMENTS Due to a technical issue with programming the recording device, Public Comments were not recorded; however, the following individuals did make comment on the following items/topics: Ed Murashie — Jack Fisher Park Cherie Kerr — Fireworks Carrie Mendes — expressed concern for her and her daughter's safety walking through the parks in Santa Ana, or using the restrooms, also the riverbed area. Smitty, part of Civic Center Rormdtable, believes that City Net is a start to making progress for the homeless population in Santa Ana. AGENDAITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 9-22-15 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 9-22-15 meeting. MOTION: Tinajero SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Tinajero NOES: None (0) ABSENT: Amezcua Motion carries. Chairman Benavides moves Item No. 6 out of order to the beginning of the meeting. 6. Proposal by City Net to Establish Santa Ana Homelessness Collaborative — Brad Fieldhouse, City Net and Santa Ana Housing Programs Manager Judson Brown {Strategic Plan Goal No. 5, 3d} Judson Brown, Santa Ana Housing Programs Manager, introduces Brad Fieldhouse of Citi Net, a company that is seeking to establish a homeless collaborative with the City. Brad Fieldhouse provides a power point presentation summarizing Citi Net's proposal. By working together with city governments, county agencies, academics, industry experts, business leaders, non-profit organizations, faith communities and philanthropists, Citi Net has a 10 -year Plan to end homelessness in Orange County. Presently, Citi Net is under contract with the City of Anaheim to facilitate their homeless collaborative. The presentation covered local endorsements by different partners, a proposal specifically for Santa Ana including budget costs, and benefits to stakeholders. The meeting resrunes with the Order of items on the Agenda. 2. 21st Century Policing (Discussion of the President's Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing) — Chief Carlos Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, lb and If) Chief Rojas updates progress made on 21St Century Policing with a power point presentation. There are 73 recommendations/action items provided by this executive summary for local government review. To date, 45 have been completed, 18 are pending, 10 incomplete. A comprehensive report will be at the conclusion; this was an update for the Public Safety Committee. Examples of completed recommendations are given during the presentation which included hiring a diversified workforce, adopting policies which require officers to easily identify themselves and the development of a community policing plan. 3. Fireworks (Strategies to Ban Fireworks, Maintain Current Municipal Code or Modify the Municipal Code to Allow a Hybrid Model) — Chief Carlos Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2d} Chief Rojas addressed the three options on fireworks that this Committee had requested research on: a ban on fireworks, a hybrid model, or no change where fireworks would remain legal. Currently, the City allows fireworks and a power point presentation reflected costs incurred this year including enforcement, pre -holiday preparation, PSA's, flyers, etc. The total was close to $57,000. Chief Rojas reported that overall, there would be no significant change in costs if the City were to ban fireworks or have a partial ban due to community outreach that would need to be done, overtime for officers to enforce the ban, and the Sheriffs Department charging a fee to dispose of fireworks. In studying other cities, there was still a problem associated with illegal fireworks being used. 4. Community Oriented Policing (Update on Survey Status and Current Community Policing Efforts) — Chief Carlos Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, la — lj} Chief Rojas updates progress on the Department's Community Oriented Policing philosophy and announces an academic partner, Chapman University, who are on board to develop and publish a community survey. There will be a number of informal forums held with the community, and results will be posted on the website. The Police Department will modernize the community oriented policing philosophy, study best practices nationwide and become more organized as to delivery of services. An annual calendar for COP activity will be completed which will define and identify programs available. 5. Body Cameras (Update on Controversial Issues with the Use of Body Cameras) — Commander Jason Viramontes {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, if and 3b} Commander Viramontes reported on policy issues related to the police body worn cameras. The Department's exploratory committee has studied and evaluated best practices from other agencies and professional organizations. Items discussed were privacy concerns, recording guidelines, officer review of the camera prior to report writing, and public disclosure requests. A comparison with outside agencies that are presently using body cameras affirmed their current policy on these items. Committee members were encouraged with the proposal made for a coalition to address the homeless issue in the city. They would like to continue to explore options as well as partnering with the County. They complimented the Chief on his leadership, transparency and moving forward to reach the goals and recommendations provided within the tis` Century Policing executive report. Committee members were concerned with the effect on non -profits if Santa Ana were to ban all fireworks, while still interested in a partial ban. An action was requested to provide a more in-depth study back to the Public Safety Committee. Committee members were enthusiastic about the progress being made with the Community Oriented Policing and Police Body Camera items and requested to be continually updated as these items move forward. In conclusion, Committee members thanked Staff for putting together the meeting just two days before the Thanksgiving holiday, and thanked members of the community for their dedication to the City. ACTION ITEMS Item No. 3 — Fireworks Motion: Chairman Benavides requests a more in-depth study on a partial ban on fireworks. City Manager Cavazos directs the City Attorney's Office to report on non- profits. Bring back this study to Public Safety Committee before Council. MOTION: Tinajero SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Tinajero Motion carries. Item No. 6 — Homelessness Collaborative Motion: Staff will move forward with the study on homeless collaborative and come back with results to City Council in January. MOTION: Benavides SECOND: Tinajero VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Tinajero Motion carries. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Landlord Penalties • 21" Century Policing • Animal Services • E -Cigarette Regulations ADJOURNMENT — 7:00 P.M. CARLOS -3AS Chief of Police