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Home My WebLink About2014-06-16 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES June 16, 2014 CALL TO ORDER: Santa Ana Police Department 60 Civic Center Drive, Police Community Room Santa Ana, California 5:30 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: David Benavides Michele Martinez Roman Reyna STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Devin Leonard, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Chris Revere, PD Ken Gominsky, PD Tanya Lyon, CMO Karen Haluza, Planning & Building Margarita Macedonio, CDA Scott Kutner, CDA Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SIGN -INS: Alfredo Amezcua, Attorney PUBLIC COMMENTS Attorney [and resident of Santa Ana] Alfredo Amezcua gives his perspective on community oriented policing. He believes we need a new strategy developed whereby community leaders, residents and even the youth of Santa Ana become significant members working with the police towards public safety. He also believes that we do not need medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Santa Ana. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 3 -31 -14 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 3 -31 -14 meeting. MOTION: Benavides SECOND: Martinez VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Martinez, Reyna NOES: None (0) Motion carries. 2. Patrol Deployment Modeling (SAPD will be joining the University of North Texas in a patrol deployment strategy.) Commander Chris Revere gives a Power Point presentation entitled "Police Staffing — MAPP." The Police Department is entering into a partnership with the University of North Texas to conduct a patrol staffing study. Specifically, the study will show how many officers are needed to adequately police the city of Santa Ana. The Model for Allocation of Patrol Personnel (MAPP) is an Internet -based software program. This is the only model built and statistically validated since the early 1990's and is used by over 50 law enforcement agencies. It takes into account 35 agency - specific variables such as response time goals, degree of visibility with the public, proactive activity, etc. which can be controlled to a certain degree. There are two phases to the model — 1) develop base MAPP using variables from 2013 data, and 2) develop a 3 -5 year staffing plan that allows alteration of the base MAPP plan to reach desired objectives. This model is reliable, scientifically valid, and fiscally responsible and efficient as we move forward. 3. Strategic Plan Update (Review of preliminary efforts regarding Goal No. 1: Modernize the community policing philosophy to improve customer service, crime prevention and traffic /pedestrian /bicycle safety.) Commander Ken Gominsky gives a presentation on community policing. The Police Department will be sending out a survey to see what the community believes community- oriented policing is and their wants and needs. Beginning on July I", the Police Department will partner with various community groups and different entities of the City to come up with this survey in order to reach Goal No. 1 of the Strategic Plan. The survey will be a tool whereby the Police Department can work towards engaging with the community and improving the current community policing effort. The Department is looking at programs already in place such as Coffee with a Cop, Teen Academy, H.E.A.R.T. program, Junior COP, etc. There are currently over 30 different programs; some may need fine -timing to become more effective. 4. Drowning Prevention Awareness (Discuss proper pool safety guidelines and review water safety tips.) OCFA Division Chief Leonard provides a handout and presents a short video to discuss water safety. Most drowning occurs at community pools where everyone thinks that someone else is watching the children. OCFA has asked all their cities, including Santa Ana, to issue a proclamation in support of drowning prevention. OCFA has also presented public education with a program called "Children Drown without a Sound" or "Watch the Water." OCFA distributed necklaces to communities so that everyone is aware that someone is watching the water. Chief Leonard shows a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video to the Committee. The PSA was worked on with the City's Communications Manager for it to have the most impact for the citizens of Santa Ana. It is now being shown at different community and neighborhood association meetings, as well as to managers of large residential properties that have community pools. 5. Mobile Food Vendors (Update and recommendations on mobile food vending vehicles.) Sr. City Attorney Laura Rossini explains that City Attorney Cavalho sent an e -mail to the City Council in April outlining the background on litigation as it relates to mobile vending trucks, making recommendations, and waiting for City Council direction. Chairman Benavides says this item will be put back on the Agenda for the next meeting to have a discussion and presentation on what the items are in that e -mail. Council Member Martinez states that the issue needs to leave Public Safety. She makes a recommendation to Chairman Benavides: 1) address the litigation issue at the Closed Session of the next City Council meeting; 2) create a task force between the County Health Agency, the City's Code Enforcement Team, and the Police Department to collectively address the issue. Committee Member Reyna seconds the recommendation made by Committee Member Martinez. Chairman Benavides agrees to bring the item to the July 1st City Council Agenda, Closed Session. City Manager Cavazos approves. 6. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries /Collectives (General overview of ordinance and enforcement.) Chief Rojas gives a brief synopsis of the Police Department's enforcement efforts regarding illegal marijuana dispensaries. The Police Department plays an assistance role to Code Enforcement due to zoning issues. The Department handles calls for service regarding loitering, trespassing, and various quality of life issues. Interim Executive Director, Planning & Building, Karen Hatuza explains that the zoning ordinance in Chapter 41 of the SAMC makes marijuana dispensaries a prohibited use; currently there are approximately 55 illegal dispensaries in operation. The dispensaries are worked aggressively by both Code Enforcement (citing property owners as well as business operators) and legally (City Attorney's Office filing injunctions). City Manager Cavazos states that the City does have additional revenue to have an enforcement plan to deal with this issue in the future, as it is a priority with the City Council. Sr. City Attorney Rossini advises the Committee that the City Attorney's Office currently has over 30 medical marijuana nuisance abatement cases pending. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Chairman Benavides questioned the Model for Allocation of Patrol Personnel (MAPP) as far as if it could provide a 3 -5 year staffing plan. He asks for a follow -up on the patrol staffing plan and recruitment of new officers. Committee Member Martinez speaks about the General Plan and how as policymakers, they need to be cognizant that most calls for service to the Police Department are from residences. As Santa Ana is going through a growing phase with housing, more officers will be needed. Committee Member Reyna likes that we are embracing technology and a new delivery system for getting out information regarding the recruitment process. Likes idea of the pipeline process whereby recruitment includes Santa Ana high school students, explorers, and cadets. Chairman Benavides wants the PD to work with the City's new Communications Manager when doing outreach to the community. Chairman Benavides suggests putting the PSA regarding water safety up on all social media outlets that the City has and also promote the necklaces. Police Chief Rojas offers to coordinate with Communications Manager Lyon to put the PSA on the Police Department's YouTube channel and Facebook. Committee Member Reyna suggests using Santa Ana park facilities in the PSA. Committee Member Martinez states that an enforcement plan is needed to deal with the medical marijuana dispensaries. She also suggests creating an ordinance making a certain amount of dispensaries legal in a designated area. Committee Member Martinez requests a report on deaths in regards to people converting garages to living spaces and the health conditions it poses. She also wants OCFA to work with the City's Planning Department to address this issue. Chairman Benavides would like to discuss what happens when property is transferring ownership at point -of -sale in reference to garage conversions. Committee Member Reyna wants to talk about Restorative Justice; the SAUSD is looking to embrace this idea. Feels it should be part of the Strategic Plan. He would also like to see the street sweeping issue back on the Agenda, and a solution to the problem of citing residents dropping off their children at area schools. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ➢ Garage Conversion Discussion ➢ Recruitment Process ➢ Patrol Deployment Modeling ➢ Restorative Justice ➢ Transgender Community ➢ Street Sweeping ➢ Towing Contracts ➢ Myrtle /Townsend, the area around ICidWorks Acting Chief of Police