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Home My WebLink About2016-09-27 PUBLIC SAFETY CITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT MINUTES September 27, 2016 CALL TO ORDER: Ross Annex, Room 1600 City Hall, 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, California 4:30 PM ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: David Benavides Sal Tinajero STAFF PRESENT: Mark Lawrence, CMO Carlos Rojas, PD Dave Anderson, OCFA Laura Rossini, CAO Francisco Gutierrez, FMSA Sergio Vidal, FMSA Waldo Barela, FMSA Jason Viramontes, PD Ken Gominsky, PD Jose Gonzalez, PD Robert Carroll, PD Julie Castro-Cardenas, CMO Eileen F. Greene, Recording Secretary PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Smitty Ed Murashie Chris Schmidt Connie Hamilton PUBLIC COMMENTS Smitty, represents Civic Center Roundtable, had three questions for the PD: 1) do police officers in the civic center have to carry business cards; 2) when can someone request a supervisor; and 3) is there going to be a written procedure for the Courtyard opening for the homeless? Ed Murashie, resident, expressed thanks for meeting with the PD regarding the illegal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. Noted that not all 20 applicants have opened as of yet, and questioned setting a deadline for those who haven't. Suggested working with Sheriff's Dept. regarding police body worn cameras. He questioned if the Police Department could implement some type of warning to alert the community, perhaps on NextDoor app, about foreseeable problems in their areas. Chris Schmidt, resident Windsor Neighborhood Association, voiced displeasure with Dispatch, particularly reference people parking illegally on the street. He said Traffic Engineering/Public Works require citations to see the problem. For Community Oriented Policing, aid that he has worked on the community forums and that PD's partner, Chapman University, did not do their part to move forward with the community survey. On Police Officer hiring, he inquired as to whether full time park rangers would be hired due to illicit behavior in the parks. Connie Hamilton, resident Southcoast Neighborhood Association, suggested a customer survey done with people who have interactions with police, whether it involved a call for service or the customer came into the police station. Volunteers in Policing could head up the survey. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of 2-22-16 Meeting Motion: Approve the Minutes of 2-22-16 meeting. MOTION: Benavides SECOND: Tinajero VOTE: AYES: Benavides, Tinajero NOES: None (0) Motion carries. AGENDA 2. City Surplus Budget Review (Surplus Budget Presentation)— Francisco Gutierrez, Executive Director, Finance and Management Services Agency {Strategic Plan Goal No. 4, 3b and 3c} Francisco Gutierrez, Executive Director, FMSA, reported on the City's current surplus projections budget review and accrual of all expenditures for F/Y 15-16. The allocation schedule in reference to revenues received and services rendered was discussed. Director Gutierrez explained the recommended amounts the City Manager will be presenting to City Council reference public safety needs and the assessment appropriation funds. 3. Police Officer Body Cameras (Project Update) —Commander Jason Viramontes {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, if and b} Commander Viramontes updated the Committee on the Body Worn Camera Program. He summarized the RFP process and identified two vendors who will provide cameras for the pilot program—Taser Axon and Discover IT Solutions. The pilot program is effective September 19`t''October 12t • There are several items being considered for these cameras including officers' assessment of the camera, sound quality and technical presentation. Full implementation for use of the police body worn cameras is anticipated for February 2017. 4. Customer Service Improvements Related to Police Operations (Innovation and efficiency to improve customer service throughout the Police Department)— Commander Jose Gonzalez {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, 1 and Goal 7, 1} Commander Jose Gonzalez described several different strategies as the four police Bureaus: Field Operations, Investigations, Communications (part of the Admin Bureau) and the Jail Bureau respond to ways to improve customer service to the public. Each Bureau has taken an approach to train employees, offer classes to the public, improve services technically, and create efficiency when responding to requests for service. 5. Community Oriented Policing (Update on Community Survey) — Commander Ken Gominsky {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, la} Commander Gominsky reported on the four phases of the community survey project: 1) community forums which were held in the spring of 2016, 2) focus groups comprised of individuals who attended the forums to fill out information forms; 3) researchers develop a community survey, and 4) researchers review the agency and scholarly literature to produce a "best practices" report for the Department. The Department has partnered with Chapman University to establish and report on this survey; however, Chapman University took a sabbatical during the summer and a contract amendment is being worked on at this time. 6. Police Officer Hiring (Update on Recruitment and Hiring of Police Officers) — Police Admin. Manager Robert Carroll {Strategic Plan Goal No. 1, li} This item was continued to the next Public Safety meeting. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee members continue to be cognizant of the ongoing discussion related to public safety as it relates to police officer staffing and the use of police body cameras. They were excited about the implementation of the body worn cameras coming up in the beginning of the new year. Committee members want to continue to strategize and look at all options pertaining to customer service needs. Hand-in-hand with customer service needs is the Community Oriented Policing survey. Committee Chairman Benavides requested that this item be brought up again when the new timeline is established with the research partner, Chapman University. The last item on Police Officer Hiring was moved to the next Public Safety meeting as a future item. ACTION ITEMS 1) On Item #2 (City Surplus Budget Review): Chief Rojas will do research on patrol staffing. Committee members want the report to include the best way to patrol the streets of Santa Ana. Chairman Benavides said to analyze and look at all options, other opportunities that will benefit the community. Chief says he will take a look at all schedules, including the present 3-12 schedule for patrol officers. 2) On Item#4 (Customer Service): Chairman Benavides directed Chief Rojas to do research on best practices on this item and bring back to this Committee. FUTURE ITEMS Police Officer Hiring Community Oriented Policing ADJOURNMENT—6:45 P.M. r -liei CARLOS ROJAS Chief of Police