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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-12 PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT CITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT MINUTES September 12, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 5:39 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: Jose Solorio Juan Villegas MEMBERS ABSENT: Sal Tinajero STAFF PRESENT: Cynthia Kurtz, CMO Robert Cortez, CMO David Valentin, PD James Schnabl, PD Ken Gominsky, PD Robert Carroll, PD Tamara Bogosian, CA Candida Neal,PBA Jorge Garcia, CMO Randy Black, OCFA Judson Brown, CD Alvaro Nunez, PBA Yessenia Aspeitia, PD Elizabeth Plotnik, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Jose Rea, concerned constituent, Madison Park NA Connie Hamilton, concerned constituent, South Coast NA Nancy Lutz, concerned constituent, Washington Square NA Susan Van der Roest, concerned constituent,Washington Square NA Ginelle Hardy, concerned constituent, Heninger Park NA Mary Thornton, concerned constituent, Wilshire Square NA Tom Lutz, City Liaison, Washington Square NA Chris Schmidt, concerned constituent, Windsor Village NA 1 PUBLIC COMMENTS Jose Rea, resident of Madison Park neighborhood, shares letters written by the Health & Neighborhood Alliance, in support of installing security cameras in the parks. He believes all the parks in the City need to be made safer, before adding additional parks. He also comments on Mariscos Hector, by stating he does not support an expansion of their liquor license. Connie Hamilton, concerned constituent, requests an update from the Police Department on the body worn camera program. She also inquires about the status of a customer service survey of the Police Department's response times and overall service, as this idea was once proposed but hasn't come to fruition. Ms. Hamilton also comments on fireworks, asking they be made illegal, and shares her gratitude for action taken to address the CA Lodge. Lastly, Ms. Hamilton suggests OCFA implement a plan for residents to use FRS radios to communicate, in case of emergency. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes from July 11, 2017 Meeting. 2. Update on Recommended Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance— Candida Neal, Planning and Building {Strategic Plan No. 5, 3} Planning Manager Candida Neal addressed the Council Committee with an update on a draft ordinance for accessory dwelling units, in response to community members' input during the initial ordinance update period of late 2016 thru early 2017. She discussed the issues of parking, lack of open space, and overcrowding and provided criteria and standards to address each issue. While the state law says that criteria should not be related to parking, an exemption can be made for accessory dwelling units, within half a mile of public transit, to not be required to have parking provided. Manager Neal explains that the City can specifically define "public transit" to limit where the exemption would apply. She gives suggestions of standards that would ensure ample open space, and states there are sufficient water and sewer resources to support accessory dwelling units. Candida also addressed the concern of insufficient police services, stating that while the issue has been discussed, restrictions cannot be made that would inhibit the development of new accessory dwelling units, and that therefore criteria for police services needs to be researched further. PUBLIC COMMENTS (pertaining to Item No. 2) 2 Nancy Lutz, resident of Washington Square neighborhood, comments on the development of accessory dwelling units in the City, sharing her concern about insufficient services. She suggests that the ordinance require unit occupants be the owners. Susan Van Der Roest, resident of Washington Square neighborhood, shares her concerns about public safety. Given the lack of officers and delay in response to calls for service, Ms. Van Der Roest suggests that public safety be more strongly considered. She also suggests asking the State of California for an extension in drafting the ordinance, to allow more time for community input. Ginelle Hardy, resident of Hedinger Park shares her appreciation of the draft, but seeks clarification about whether the permitted detached unit is required to be within the residence or free-standing. Ms. Hardy also inquires further about exemptions. Mary Thornton, resident of Wilshire Square, requests additional time for community input, and agrees with comments made by other speakers. Ms. Thornton adds that, to ensure privacy, neighbors should be allowed review applications prior to a unit being approved. She inquires about illegal units and minimum lot size. Tom Lutz, City Liaison of Washington Square, inquires about the necessary sense of urgency in creating the ordinance, as he was never informed in meetings. He also requests that City staff provide the Washington Square neighborhood association a presentation about the development of accessory dwelling units, to properly inform residents. Manager Neal provides a response to public comments, stating that the units are required to be owner-occupied, and that there are exemptions for pre-existing units. She also notes that additional presentations will be scheduled at neighborhood association meetings, to answer any further questions and gain public feedback. Lastly, Manager Neal states that staff will continue to research criteria pertaining to privacy, and clarifies why these units are considered affordable housing. ACTION: Chairman Solorio: requests that Planning and Building Staff continue to review criteria pertaining to parking, to ensure any provisions made are in line with State laws requirements. Chairman Solorio also directs Staff to consider possible insufficient Police services, especially in more dense areas of the City, to ensure public safety needs are not made worse by new accessory dwelling unit developments. Chairman Solorio also requests that follow up be provided about what items, aside from open space, were considered. 3 (Item No.4 is taken out of order) 4. Update on Mariscos Hector and Impact to Neighborhood—Planning and Building, Public Works and Santa Ana Police Department {Strategic Plan No. 5, 4} Commander Gominsky reviews recent police-related issues pertaining to the activity that has taken place at the Mariscos Hector location, located at 1208 E. McFadden, stating that it is located in the 18th most active police grid in the City. As this location is requesting to change its alcohol license, the police department reviewed the activity in and around the business, to provide recommendation as to whether or not to approve license change. Manager Neal added that while the Planning Commission has not taken any action, this business is operating within the parameters of their Conditional Use Permit. She added that if there are concerns, the business owners and Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (A.B.C.) can be contacted. ACTION: Chairman Solorio: requests that recommendations made by the Police Department, as well as suggestion to contact the owners and A.B.C., be taken to the Planning Commission for serious consideration. Additionally, Chairman Solorio requests a written memorandum be provided for further clarification, with an update for each location, as there are multiple locations in the City with the same business name. Co-Chair Villegas: states that complaints of parking and drinking were shared at a recent Minnie Street neighborhood meeting, and therefore the business's alcohol license should not be changed. Co-Chair Villegas suggests continued monitoring of the activity,before the Planning Commission makes a decision on the potential alcohol license change. 5. Update on Open Government/Police Operations— Chief David Valentin {Strategic Plan No. 1, 2} Chief Valentin addresses the Council Committee with an informational overview of a new link to be created on the Police Department's webpage, entitled "Open Government". The purpose of this link is to enhance transparency of Police Operations, by providing the public with the following information: Use of Force, Community Complaints, and FBI Part 1 Crime Data. 4 6. Update on Police Officer Hiring—Deputy Chief Schnabl and Manager Carroll {Strategic Plan No. 1, 2} Manager Carroll presents the Council Committee with an update on Police Officer hiring, by reviewing the number of vacancies compared to filled positions year-to-date, as well as the number of additional officers that are projected to be hired. Manager Carroll also shared additional considerations, such as a Lateral Incentive Program, additional funding for marketing, and additional staffing for the Background Unit that would aide in hiring more officers. Deputy Chief Schnabl adds that Santa Ana Police Department will not lower its standards, unlike other police agencies. Chief Valentin clarifies that a shorter academy would be a possibility only for Park Rangers and not Police Officers, as they would have a different classification with different standards. ACTION: Chairman Solorio: suggests considering a bonus program for recruits, in addition to a lateral recruitment incentive. He also suggests changing job classifications as a solution to hiring individuals to work as Park Rangers. Co-Chair Villegas: states that he does not support a shorter academy or lowered standards for police officers,but continues to stress the need for hiring more officers. • (Item No.3 is taken out of order.) 3. Homeless Planning—Presentation—Judson Brown, Community Development Homeless Prevention, Intervention and Mitigation—Robert Cortez, City Manager Office {Strategic Plan No. 5, 3d} Housing Division Manager Judson Brown provides the Council Committee a presentation on homelessness in the City and County, sharing the current population of homeless, common causes, and average costs to address homelessness. Included in the presentation is a recap of how the City and County has responded to homelessness and what funds are budgeted to reduce homelessness. Manager Brown noted that two main causes of homelessness are loss of job and lack of affordable housing, and provides suggestion on how the City can continue to partner with local agencies and approval referral agencies, to provide City's homeless with career counseling, housing vouchers, etc. City Manager Kurtz provided an overview recommended actions to be implemented, noting that coordination with the County of Orange, neighboring cities and organizations is essential to 5 addressing homelessness. City Manager Kurtz also seeks the Council Committees approval of creating a City Homeless Services Manager position and taking it to City Council. Co-Chair Villegas inquires about the Needle Exchange Program, to which Robert Cortez explains that the current agreement is set to expire in February 2018, and a potential renewal process is being reviewed. The Exchange Program provides 20 new needles, for every one old needle, with a maximum of 200 per week. Additionally, Robert Cortez notes that an amendment to increase the frequency of trash pickups and pressure washings will be proposed at an upcoming City Council meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS (pertaining to Item No. 3) Chris Schmidt, concerned resident of the Windsor Village neighborhood, shares his support of the recommended action and creating a City position to address the homelessness. He shares details of an incident in which the County responded to assist in a homeless encampment fire, as an example of why the need for creating a position and action plan is necessary. Chairman Solorio makes a motion to recommend Staff's proposed action plan to City Council. MOTION: Solorio SECOND: Villegas VOTE: AYES: Villegas, Solorio NOES: None (0) Motion carries. ACTION: Co-Chair Villegas: Shares his support of creating the Homeless Manager position, but also requests that additional individuals be hired to address individuals with mental health concerns, to ensure 7-day week coverage. Co-Chair Villegas also requested more follow-up for individuals with mental health concerns, and for continued cleaning and trash pickups in the Civic Center. Chairman Solorio shares that the County has 100 acres of land near the Great Park, to be used for institutional purposes, including a homeless shelter. Therefore, he requests advocacy for using this land for a shelter. Additionally, Chairman Solorio requests support for the Fairview developmental center becoming a mental health facility. After sharing some examples of tactical ideas to addressing the homeless, Chairman Solorio requests an email update from SAPD and OCFA with the number of calls for service, year-to-date, that are related to homelessness. 6 Chairman Solorio notes that a Special Meeting will be held to discuss implementation of future marijuana policy items. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Co-Chair Villegas thanked the staff and everyone present for their hard work. Chairman Solorio agrees with Villegas' comments. FUTURE ITEMS ADJOURNMENT—8:03 P.M. DAVID VALENTIN Acting Chief of Police ep 7