The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2017-07-11 PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT CITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT MINUTES July 11, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 5:30 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: Jose Solorio Juan Villegas Sal Tinajero MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Cynthia Kurtz, CMO Robert Cortez, CMO David Valentin, PD James Schnabl, PD Ruben Ibarra, PD Robert Carroll, PD Tamara Bogosian, CAO Lisa Storck, CAO Candida Neal, PBA Ali Pezeshkpour, PBA Alvaro Nunez, PBA Anthony Espinosa, OCFA Yessenia Aspeitia, PD Elizabeth Plotnik, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Chris Schmidt, concerned constituent, Windsor Village NA Lizzie Lyles, concerned constituent, Central City NA Claire Braeburn, Executive Director, America On Track Soleda Valentin, concerned constituent, America On Track Alejandra Cook, Program Coordinator, America On Track Peter Katz, President, Corn-Link Chris Glew, Attorney, Santa Ana Cannabis Association PUBLIC COMMENTS Chris Schmidt, resident Windsor Village NA, comments on illegal parking in his neighborhood. He believes there should be more consistent general enforcement, to stop repeat offenders, and 1 avoid future illegal parking. He also comments on the issue of vandalism and graffiti removal, asking for more consistent enforcement. Lastly, Chris commented on medical marijuana containers being littered in his neighborhood. He suggests that each container be labeled for the possibility of redemption value. Lizzie Lyles, concerned constituent, regarding fireworks on the fourth of July. She is suggesting that they become illegal in Santa Ana, due to the loud noise and interruptions they cause, especially during off-peak times. Claire Braeburn, Executive Director, On Track America, as a follow-up on a housing plan from three years ago, suggests smoke-free multi-housing units. This plan included a smoke-free policy provision. Local surveys show the community is still supportive of such policy, as already 50 other jurisdictions in the nation have a similar policy. Soleda Valentin, concerned constituent with On Track American, also comments on smoke-free housing. She lives in the Minnie Street neighborhood and encourages the city to implement an ordinance regarding banning smoking. Alejandra Cook, Program Coordinator, On Track America, comments on implementing smoke- free housing. She has provided local surveys to the community, also resulting in support of a smoke-free policy. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of the May 9, 2017 Meeting (Item No. 3 is taken out of order.) 3. Update on Police Officer Hiring—Deputy Chief Schnabl and Manager Carrol, Police Department{Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, li} (continuous information item) Police Admin. Manager Robert Carroll updated the Committee on the Department's police officer recruitment efforts. Mgr. Carroll goes over the number of all sworn staffing, as well as current officers in the academy and those already in the training program, for the 2016/2017 Fiscal Year. He also provided an update on the campaign with Sensis Marketing, while listing and showing examples of print and digital advertisements that are currently being used. Mgr. Carroll stated that overall, the quantity of recruit and lateral applicants, as well as the caliber of the applicants,have both increased. 2 Committee Member Tinajero enters the meeting—6:05PM. ACTION: Chairman Solorio: The City has a regional signage program that partners with local business that have digital billboards, to allow for City oriented signage to be posted. Chairman Solorio suggested contacting Main Place Mall and Tom's Truck Center, to utilize their digital billboards for posting recruitment advertisements. He also requested that the font size used for the website on the billboard,be made larger. 2. Update on Options Regarding Medical and Adult Use of Cannabis— Candida Neal, Alvaro Nunez, and Ali Pezeshkpour, Planning & Building {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 1c} Planning Manager Candida Neal addressed the Council Committee suggesting permitted medical cannabis dispensaries have the following uses, in addition to retail: cultivation, manufacturing/processing, distribution, testing and microbusinesses. These uses have been made allowed by the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), passed by State Senate in June 2017, as well as Prop 64. Manager Neal reviews the issues needing voter approval, and makes recommendations for how the Council Committee should proceed. These recommendations include the repeal and replacement of Measure BB with a new ordinance for medical marijuana, allow five additional uses for medical purposes and allow recreational use with voter approval of new taxes. PUBLIC COMMENTS (pertaining to Item No. 2) Peter Katz, President, Com-Link shares his support of allowing grow operations in industrial zones. Mr. Katz shares some statistics as examples of how grow operations will positively affect the city's revenue, and suggests using unrented small industrial buildings for such operations. Chris Glew, attorney, Santa Ana Cannabis Association (SACA), provides Council Committee with a written proposal of how the City can partner with SACA to continue expanding economic growth. The proposal focuses on recreational use, cultivation and manufacturing/production. Mr. Glew requests to schedule a meeting with the City Attorney's Office to establish a plan and present it to Council, in hopes it will avoid adopting a new ordinance to be voted on. Committee Member Tinajero exits the meeting—7:08PM 3 4. Update and Discussion of Homeless Crisis—Commander Ruben Ibarra, Police Department {Strategic Plan Goal No. 5, 3d} Commander Ibarra reviews the updates made to the Police Department's website, drawing specific attention to the links and contacts listed as resources. He adds that 8-10% of calls for service each month pertain to homelessness, and specifies the added benefit of increasing the amount of ride alongs with a County mental health representative. With increased continuous funding in the 2017/2018 budget, focus will remain on outreach and enforcement in hotspot areas, and on collaborations with both City departments and County agencies. Commander Ibarra adds that creating a full-time homeless liaison unit, as well as a City-wide task force, would help allow for more consistent outreach and enforcement, as well as clean-ups of homeless camping areas. ACTION: Co-Chair Villegas: requests that staff look into being more consistent with clean ups. He would like more staffing and more trucks available, to help ensure clean-ups can happen regularly, instead of just once a week. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Co-Chair Villegas thanked the staff and everyone present for their hard work. Chairman Solorio was pleased to see the success of the marketing campaign and its effect on police staffing. FUTURE ITEMS Discussion regarding a possible granny flats ordinance Possible management plans of City-wide parking Fireworks discussion—should it be on the ballot? Fire and Police Departments to establish a plan for next year and what we would do differently. 4 ADJOURNMENT—7:37 P.M. DAVID VALENTIN Acting Chief of Police ep 5