HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-24-07SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Minutes of Meeting
April 24, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was convened at 5:35 p.m. in the Police Department, 60 Civic
Center Plaza, 4th Floor, Santa Ana, California.
ATTENDANCE
Councilmembers present: Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, and Sal Tinajero.
Staff present: City Manager David Ream, City Attorney Joe Fletcher, Assistant
City Attorney Paula Coleman, Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire Chief Phil Garcia,
Deputy Chiefs Tony Harrelson and Pete Jensen, Deputy City Attorney Laura
Rossini, Fire Marshal Lori Smith, Cmdr. Hank Couisine, Sgt. John Follo, Cpl.
Jose Gonzalez, PIS Yolanda Pena, Fire Dept. Education Ofr. Mary Melendrez,
Fire Capt. Dan Moorhouse, Executive Asst. to the City Manager Mark Lawrence,
and Janet Chop, Recording Secretary.
Public present: Teresa Flores; Stanley Fiala.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved Minutes of the March 27, 2007 meeting.
2. IDENTIFY 10 PROBLEMATIC LOCATIONS
Deputy Chiefs Jensen and Harrelson reviewed the locations identified as
problematic in the city. They stressed that the Police Department could
have an impact on them using the Problem Oriented Policing model to
help reduce visible signs of disorder and frequency of crime in the areas.
Committee Member Benavides requested that the 1900 block of W. Myrtle
and the 800 block of S. Townsend be added to the areas being
addressed. Chief Walters stated that these locations would be added and
that the Strike Force Unit would address those locations.
3. GANG INJUNCTION UPDATE
ACA Paula Coleman reviewed the Santa Nita Gang Injunction and the
progress to date. The gang injunction applies to the 134 identified
members of the Santa Nita gang who engage in acts prohibited by the
lawsuit. These prohibitions must occur in the "Safety Zone" and in an area
open to the public. To date, 32 arrests have been made for violating the
Gang Injunction. Half of those arrests involved other crimes in addition to
an injunction violation.
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4. GANG ENHANCEMENTS
At the last meeting, Councilmember Alvarez asked the City Attorney to
look into possible municipal codes regarding graffiti that could aid the
District Attorney's office in getting gang enhancements for sentencing.
The City Attorney stated that graffiti is already one of those violations that
the DA can obtain a gang enhancement on. The only other municipal
code that "might" be a possibility is an anti-gang loitering ordinance similar
to that which other cities are obtaining, but there was nothing else specific
to graffiti.
5. STRIKE FORCE UPDATE
Sgt. John Follo presented an update of the Strike Force, which consists of
10 SWAT Team members. He related the enforcement statistics since the
inception of the Unit: 1448 total arrests; 84 weapons seized,
approximately 95-1/2 Ibs of narcotics seized, 2,342 field interview cards
written, 196 gang members documented, 245 parolees sent back to
prison, and 12 murder suspects arrested. He also gave some sample
cases of the outstanding work the Strike Force is doing.
6. POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING
Chief Walters reviewed a chart showing the Police Department's full-time
employees per 1,000 population. There are currently 386 positions in the
Department with a City population of 351,322. He stated that the use of
technology in solving cases has helped the Department to be as effective
as possible considering that there is approximately the same number of
employees now as in 1988 with a population of 274,600.
7. CENSUS TRACT STATS REGARDING ABC LICENSE LOCATIONS
The ABC census tract information was received and filed.
8. ANIMAL SERVICES ORDINANCES
DCA Laura Rossini reviewed miscellaneous amendments to Chapter 5 of
the SAMC concerning various animal service issues. Incentives will be
given for spay and neuter and micro chipping since they are not included
in the amendments at this time. Committee members will review the
amendments and recommend any suggestions of changes at the next
Public Safety meeting.
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9. FIREWORKS REPORT
Fire Chief Garcia introduced Mary Melendrez who is the Fire Department's
Public Education Officer. Officer Melendrez gave a power point
presentation regarding the Fourth of July activities, which included the City
fireworks ordinance, fireworks booth lottery system, fireworks booth
prevention activities, and the enforcement and educational campaign.
TNT Fireworks donated a grant in the amount of $5,000, which was used
for printing posters, flyers and a billboard to educate the citizens on the
use of fireworks. The Fire Department and Police Department will
continue their partnership to eliminate personal injury and property
damage, along with minimizing the impact that improper use of Safe and
Sane fireworks and illegal fireworks pose on the City's emergency
services.
10. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Stanley Fiala spoke regarding the gang issue in the city.
11. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Fire Chief Garcia thanked the Police Department for their assistance on
the Fireworks Education program.
Committee Member Benavides stated that he was impressed how
Departments work together to solve issues.
12. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
A. Proposed Amendments to Animal Services Ordinances
B. Helicopter Contract Status
C. Fire Department Personnel Chart with Compilation of Needs Data
D. 10 Problematic Locations Relating to Gang Activity
E. Possible Additional Gang Injunction Locations
F. EPIC Commission
G. Proposed Plan to Address Gang Violence
13. NEXT MEETING DATE -May 15, 2007, 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 Civic
Center Plaza, 8~h Floor, Santa Ana, California.
ADJOURNMENT - 8:30 p.m.
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P~UL M. WALTERS
Chief of Police
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