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Home My WebLink About2015-09-22 PUBLIC SAFETYCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES September 22, 2015 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 5:30 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: David Benavides Angelica Amezcua Sal Tinajero STAFF PRESENT: David Cavazos, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Dave Anderson, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Jim Schnabl, PD Chris Revere, PD Robert Carroll, PD Alvaro Nunez, CDA Jorge Garcia, CMO Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Cherie Kerr Alison Stanley Evangeline Gawronski Manuel Pena Debbie McEwen PUBLIC COMMENTS Cherie Kerr, resident, Floral Park neighborhood, questioned progress made regarding the fireworks ban. She wanted to know where the City stands on this item. Alison Stanley, resident, Park Santiago neighborhood, called the Police Department last weekend because of the loud illegal fireworks going off late at night while she was in bed. Ms. Stanley says it is late September already, almost October, and residents still hear fireworks. Evangeline Gawronski, President of Com -Link, the 64 Neighborhood Associations of Santa Ana. All these associations would like the City Council to know that they are hoping for a ban on fireworks in Santa Ana and just have a 4th of July celebration like the one in Centennial Park. Manuel Pena, introduces himself as being one of the Directors of the Westend COP group. Debbie McEwen, resident, French Park area, voices her concern of two Santa Ana gangs, Logan Street and Lopers, taking over her neighborhood. Asking City Council to take a strong stand with the Police Department as to what can be done to keep her neighborhood safe. AGENDAITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 8 -11 -15 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 8 -11 -15 meeting. MOTION: Amezcua SECOND: Benavides VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Motion carries. AGENDA ITEMS (Continued) Benavides, Amezcua None (0) Tinajero 2. 21" Century Policing (Discussion of the President's Task Force Report on 20 Century Policing) — Chief Carlos Rojas {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, lb and III During a prior City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tern Sarmiento asked that the final report of The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing be brought to the Public Safety Committee. Chief Rojas summarized solutions that will help the Police Department and communities strengthen trust and collaboration while working towards community - focused policing. Best practices throughout the nation divided these solutions into six pillars: Building Trust and Legitimacy, Policy and Oversight, Technology and Social Media, Community Policing & Crime Reduction, Training & Education, Officer Wellness & Safety. The Police Department will focus on local government's recommendations, and bring updates to this Committee. The final report will be brought to City Council. Committee Member Sal Tinajero enters the Public Safety meeting at 5:52PM. 3. Recruitment and Downtown Unit Update (Status on Hiring Police Officers and the Creation of a Downtown Policing Unit) — Police Administrative Manager Robert Carroll {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, li and lj} Police Admin. Manager Robert Carroll's power point presentation reported on the recruitment of police officers and progress made to date. In 2015, 37 police officers have been hired compared to 17 in 2014. There are currently eight officers in the police academy, three in the pre- academy, and ten officers in the Field Training Officer program. The City Council has approved hiring four police officers to be assigned to the Downtown; effective the beginning of 2016. Improvements made in order to recruit the best possible candidates include electronic certification and purchasing background software to increase efficiency in hiring. Additional staff has been hired, the recruitment website is continually enhanced and updated, and other marketing options are being explored. 4. Social Media Outreach (Overview of the Police Department's Use of Social Media) — Commander Chris Revere {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2d} Commander Chris Revere reviews the Police Department's use of social media. Cmdr. Revere discusses the benefits of using social media, and the strategy the Department has adopted when using it. There are several social media platforms used by the Police Department to get information out to stakeholders and the community immediately such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. An application that can be uploaded to a user's cell phone, the SAPD app, was created so the commumity can interact with the Police Department. Social media continues to be an effective, evolving tool that will play a key role in the City's Strategic Plan of engaging the community. 5. Integrated Software (Update) — Deputy Chief Jim Schnabl [Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 2a} Deputy Chief Schnabl provides a power point updating the issue of computer software programs. Over the last decade, computer software was purchased as needed and is no longer relevant since these different systems cannot communicate with one another. As a result, redundant data entry is being performed by police personnel. The Police Department decided to purchase and implement a new integrated software system to improve productivity and increase efficiencies and transparency. The Department is currently in negotiations with Tri Tech, a clear favorite because they can meet the Department's needs and their experience working with other larger police agencies. 6. Landlord Penalties (Review of Current SAMC Ordinance in Relation to Rental Properties and Associated Penalties /Fines) — Community Preservation Manager Alvaro Nunez {Strategic Plan Goal No. 5, 4e} Community Preservation Manager Nunez updates the Committee on the Proactive Rental Enforcement Program (PREP). Manager Nunez reiterates the Gold Seal Incentive Program which has been in place to reward property owners who go above and beyond to maintain their properties. Tools in place for those who fail to comply include administrative fees, civil and /or criminal prosecution and the owner is not allowed income tax deductions for substandard housing units /dwellings. Urgency abatements are used when there is a threat to public safety. The presentation included a rental property program comparison between the cities of Santa Ana, Long Beach, Anaheim and Los Angeles. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee members were impressed with the amount of progress made on Agenda items for tonight's meeting. They were enthusiastic about the new recruitment website, the use of social media and moving forward with software that could be utilized and interact amongst all the different City agencies. The Committee members lauded all presenters for their efforts and asked that these items continue to be monitored. Chairman Benavides was interested in when the Police Department will implement recommendations in the final report on the President's task force on Zlst Century Policing. No recommendations were made. ACTION ITEMS • Update on Community Oriented Policing (COP) — the survey sent out, evaluation, definition, and prioritization. • Prop 47 — the effect on criminal activity. • City Attorney's Office provides tools that can be used by Code Enforcement to remedy rundown rental properties in the city. In conclusion, Committee members welcomed the new OCFA Division Chief, Dave Anderson. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Landlord Penalties • 21" Century Policing • Animal Services • E- Cigarette Regulations ADJOURNMENT — 6:53 P.M. CARLOSROJAS Chief of Police