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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-14 PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT CITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT MINUTES November 14,2017 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 5:38 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: Jose Solorio Juan Villegas MEMBERS ABSENT: Sal Tinajero STAFF PRESENT: Raul Godinez II, CMO David Valentin,PD Tamara Bogosian, CAO Ken Gominsky, PD Robert Cortez, CMO Yessenia Aspeitia, PD Samantha Soto, OCFA Robert Carroll, PD Elizabeth Plotnik, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Connie Hamilton, concerned constituent, South Coast NA PUBLIC COMMENTS Connie Hamilton of the South Coast neighborhood, asked for an update about the California Lodge, and inquired about the status of illegal fireworks. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes from the September 12, 2017 Meeting. 2. Approval of Minutes from the October 2, 2017 Meeting. 3. Approval of Minutes from the October 10, 2017 Meeting. 1 Co-Chair Villegas makes a motion to approve all Meeting Minutes. MOTION: Villegas SECOND: Solorio Motion carries. 4. Update on Police Officer Recruitment and Hiring—Manager Carroll {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, li} (Continuous Information item) Manager Carroll presented 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 provided an overview of recruitment events taking place, and informed the Committee of the Lead-Corporal being assigned to the Background, who will be overseeing recruitment. ACTION: Chairman Solorio: Asked that the Police Department consider creating positions that don't require POST certification that can assist in Investigative work and Traffic enforcement. Additionally, Chairman Solorio asked that the Recruitment Lead-Corporal attend the next Committee Meeting, for formal introduction. 5. Presentation on Shotspotter Technology—Commander Ken Gominsky {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2a} Commander Gominsky presented the Council Committee with an overview of Shotspotter Technology, a gunshot detection and acoustic surveillance technology that uses sensors to locate and alert law enforcement of gunfire. Commander Gominsky explained how the technology works, and reviewed the potential benefits and challenges the City could face, if the Shotspotter technology was implemented. Additionally, Commander Gominsky identified possible areas in the City the technology could cover and what it would cost. 2 Dialog between Committee and Staff with Shotspotter Representatives Gary Bunyard and Lydia Barrett Mr. Bunyard and Ms. Barrett shared with the Committee and Staff, additional statistics and benefits of Shotspotter, while providing examples of other California police agencies that are currently utilizing the technology. Additionally, Mr. Bunyard and Ms. Barrett presented further explanation of how the technology works and its potential effect on the City of Santa Ana. 6. Review and Possible Action Regarding Draft Ordinance on Abandonment of Homeless Individuals in Santa Ana— City Attorney's Office {Strategic Plan Goal No. 5, 3d} Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez provided the Committee with a verbal update about the concept of drafting an ordinance that addresses abandonment of homeless individuals in the City of Santa Ana. Mr. Cortez explained that, as a result of the amount of services provided to the homeless here in the City, there has been an increase in the number of homeless individuals who have migrated or been transported into Santa Ana. Implementing an ordinance is a potential solution to lessen these impacts. Mr. Cortez added that discussions are still taking place to determine how, when and under what circumstances an ordinance would be implemented. ACTION: Chairman Solorio and Co-Chair Villegas asked that they each be provided a copy of the draft ordinance. Co-Chair Villegas asked that he be kept informed of, and included in, discussion research groups that take place. 7. Review and Possible Action Regarding City of Sacramento's Ordinance on Aggressive Panhandling Chief Valentin presented the Committee with a verbal summary of the only Santa Ana municipal code that closely pertains to panhandling. Additionally, Chief Valentin shared examples of other municipal code city ordinances that address panhandling or offenses similar to panhandling. 3 Chairman Solorio discussed the City of Sacramento's draft ordinance of the same topic, as Sacramento has characteristics and concerns that are similar to those of Santa Ana, and shared that Sacramento is considering prohibiting panhandling in sensitive areas. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Chairman Solorio suggested additional outreach to Criminal Justice students for recruitment, and shared his appreciation of the recruitment efforts that have taken place so far. Additionally, Chairman Solorio shared his support of Shotpotter technology and the benefits it would provide the City, and requested that a presentation be given to the League of California Cities. Chairman Solorio shared his support of both ordinances discussed. Co-Chair Villegas shared his support of the recruitment efforts taking place, stating that word-of- mouth is the best approach in appealing to applicants. Additionally, Co-Chair Villegas shared his support of both ordinances discussed. He also commented on the increase of homeless calls for medical service as a result of the increase of homeless individuals being brought to the City. The Committee members were engaged in the discussions, expressed interest in the presentations, and asked for some items to be brought back for further dialogue. They thanked Staff for their power points presentations. FUTURE ITEMS Calls for Service pertaining to Homelessness Update on Code Enforcement numbers Abandonment Ordinance Panhandling Ordinance Fireworks Enforcement ADJOURNMENT—7:10 P.M. DAVID VALENTIN Acting Chief of Police ep 4