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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-17 PSC Adjourned Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 – 3:30 p.m. Zoom Virtual Meeting https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/82439848316?pwd=aVRBUW8ydlVoZkFRKzJzTEFrbS 9IUT09 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kirkwood called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioner Phyllis Harkins Chair Gloria Kirkwood Commissioner Terry Kramer Vice Chair Doug Luhring Commissioner Martin Nethery Commissioner Frank Taylor Absent: None Also Present: Sabby Jonathan, City Council Member Lori Carney, Director of Administrative Services Stephen Aryan, Risk Manager Chris Gerry, Management Analyst Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor Michael Ornelas, Emergency Services Coordinator Lt. Matthew Martello, Palm Desert Police Department Battalion Chief Mike Beverlin, Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Bryan White, Riverside County Fire Department Jeff Alley, Citizens on Patrol Tom Kirk, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Tom Cox, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Joanna Stueckle, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Erica Felci, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 2 Greg Rodriguez, Riverside County Marcus Cannon, Riverside University Health System Brianne Lawson, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS NONE IV. PRESENTATIONS A. Presentation by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Homelessness Committee. Stephen Aryan introduced Tom Kirk, the Executive Director of CVAG. Mr. Kirk then provided a presentation on CVAG’s homeless program. This presentation included a slideshow, which Mr. Kirk began by stating that the program is called CV 200. CVAG began their involvement with homelessness approximately twelve years ago, and this involvement was inspired by concern from the Eastern Coachella Valley where the majority of services and shelters for the homeless were located. This led to the formation of Roy’s Desert Resource Center with Riverside County, which operated north of the I-10 for about nine years. Jewish Family Services of the Desert ran the operation for CVAG during that time. However, transportation was a challenge due to where Roy’s was located. No bus lines went out as far as the location, so individuals needed to be transported via a shuttle. In 2017 the County of Riverside decided that facility where Roy’s was located would be used for a long-term mental healthcare facility with ninety beds. This long-term facility opened in August of 2020. Following the closure of Roy’s, the Housing First program implemented by the Path of Life Ministries and Desert Healthcare District was adopted by CVAG as a resource to help the homeless. Housing First focuses on housing the homeless as the first priority, and then having wraparound services and case management to help them with jobs, identification documents, social service benefits, drug and alcohol issues, etc. Mr. Kirk then added that when Roy’s was in operation, it did not allow individuals with a major drug problem or mental health issues into the facility. This means that Roy’s mainly helped families and the newly homeless, but not the chronically homeless. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 3 Mr. Kirk then stated that CVAG did not renew the contract with the Housing First program at the end of 2020. A new internal program called CV-200 is now being run by Tom Cox of CVAG. This program originally began as CV-100, and it sought to identify the one hundred individuals who are most frequently visiting the emergency room, or coming into contact with Code Officers and/or the Sheriff’s Department. This list evolved into the CV-200 list as more names were collected. From Palm Desert, thirty people of the two hundred have been helped and are now off of the streets. The CV-200 program officially began on January 1, 2021, with three staff members working under Tom Cox. Mr. Cox provided several example cases where individuals on the CV-200 list were provided with assistance and housing. Mr. Kirk then added that within forty days of the program’s implementation, twenty of the two hundred people on the list are now off of the streets. Mr. Kirk then addressed the comparison between the CV-200 program (based upon the housing first model) and the shelter system, stating that shelters do a great job of addressing the needs of the recently homeless, women, and families. However, they may not do as well of a job of accepting the chronically homeless, especially since the chronically homeless often do not want to go to a shelter. In contrast, the Coachella Valley shelter system may be able help thousands of people within a year, and have multi-million dollar budgets. The housing first model will serve fewer clients and has a budget based upon a $100,000 contribution from each participating city, as well as funding from Riverside County and the Desert Healthcare District. Additionally, the housing first model has a higher cost per client than the shelter system. Mr. Kirk added that it is the chronically homeless who present the highest cost to society, as they take large amounts of police and emergency room time and resources. So although the housing first model is expensive, it provides a higher percentage of successful placements in permanent housing than shelters. Following this, Mr. Kirk stated that CVAG has received a grant to improve the former shuttle from the Roy’s facility and convert it into a mobile access center. This allows more street outreach and work with homeless encampments. Mr. Kirk added that it is anticipated the Desert Healthcare District will provide matching funds again this year. Part of this funding will be used towards taking some of the burden off of local hospitals by working with them on discharge plans, respite care, and rapid resolution programs. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 4 Councilmember Sabby Jonathan thanked Mr. Kirk for his presentation, and then emphasized that the term “chronically homeless” is referring to the people most often seen on the street. This is the population being targeted by the program, and the goal is to transition the individual from homelessness back into mainstream society. This goal is more difficult than handling immediate emergencies or disturbances. Councilmember Jonathan added that there are many moving parts to addressing the issue of homelessness, and it requires the involvement of multiple agencies, staff members, and volunteers. City of Palm Desert Management Analyst, Chris Gerry, then provided an additional slideshow presentation on the City’s homelessness program. Mr. Gerry stated that Palm Desert businesses and residents have contributed to the program, as they have reached out and contacted himself and CVAG about homeless people they see in the community. He continued, adding that the Palm Desert City Council previously approved an agreement with the Riverside University Health System that began in July 2019. This partnership includes the assignment of two Riverside County mental health professionals to conduct continual street outreach. The ultimate goal is stable housing and supportive services. Since inception, the outreach team has encountered over two hundred and seventy-five individuals in the community, and engaged them over fifty-five hundred times for services. Mr. Gerry then added that in regards to engagement, many times it takes years before an individual will decide to take the steps to become stably housed. The key is continued engagement and relationship building. The outreach team has worked with nineteen individuals who have taken the steps to work with a behavioral health clinic or substance abuse treatment center. Mr. Gerry then included several stories of how the outreach team has specifically helped homeless individuals in the community. V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of January 13, 2021. B. PALM DESERT SPECIALIZED UNITS End of the Month Report for January 2021. C. RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT/CAL FIRE End of the Month Report for February 2021. D. CODE COMPLIANCE Weekend Reports for February 2021. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 5 Commissioner Nethery moved to receive and file items C and D of the consent calendar. Motion was seconded by Vice Chair Luhring and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Kirkwood; NAES: None; ABSENT: None). VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER A. MINUTES of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of January 13, 2021. Chair Kirkwood inquired about a date that needed to be corrected in the Minutes of the January 13, 2021 meeting. It was confirmed that the correction had been made, and the amended Minutes had been provided to the Commission and meeting attendees. B. PALM DESERT SPECIALIZED UNITS End of the Month Report for January 2021. Commissioner Taylor inquired about the traffic portion of the monthly Sheriff’s Department report, and why it was not included. Lt. Martello responded that it should have been included, and Mr. Aryan added that the missing portion can be forwarded to the Commission. Commissioner Taylor then commented that it looks like some response times have improved although there have been some budget cuts. Lt. Martello responded that the Community Service Officer (CSO) positions have been increased, which has freed up deputy time to respond to higher priority calls for service. Commissioner Taylor asked if more clarification could be provided once Lt. Martello studies the changes in the reports. Commissioner Taylor moved to receive and file items A and B of the consent calendar. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Kirkwood; NAES: None; ABSENT: None). VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Informational report on FY 2020/21 Police and Fire budgets. Stephen Aryan stated that this report was brought forward due to a request from Commissioner Kramer. The report includes information on the City’s Fiscal Year 2020/21 budget modifications related to law enforcement and Fire EMS services. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 6 Vice Chair Luhring moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the informational report on FY 2020/21 Police and Fire budgets. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Kirkwood; NAES: None; ABSENT: None). B. Recommend the Palm Desert City Council approve a cooperative agreement with the Riverside County Fire Department to provide fire protection, fire prevention, rescue, and medical services for the City of Palm Desert. Mr. Aryan stated that the City’s agreement with Riverside County for fire protection and emergency medical services expires on June 30 of this year. The proposed new agreement has some minor modifications. These modifications include increasing the agreement term from three years to five years, and language added regarding the County’s ability to collect operational costs for any individual that negligently or intentionally causes an emergency response. Mr. Aryan added that there were some other contract considerations to note, including state law introduced in 2015 that requires any public agency to obtain Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approval for new services under the City’s fire protection contract. This means if the City’s agreement expires, LAFCO approval would be necessary to enter back into the agreement. This could cause potential challenges for the City, which may result in a loss of local control. Following this, Mr. Aryan stated that another consideration is that if the City or County voters should ever choose to terminate this cooperative agreement, under state law the City would lose the ability to operate our ambulance system. The City would then be required to go out to bid for EMS care, thereby forfeiting our ability to regulate costs, determine if residents are charged for such services, and having direct oversight on response time. Commissioner Nethery inquired if the agreement has been approved by the city attorney, to which Mr. Aryan responded that the city attorney has not yet looked at the document. The City will receive the city attorney’s approval prior to signing and executing the agreement. Commissioner Taylor asked about the term of the City’s agreement with the Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Aryan responded that the Sheriff’s Department agreement has a five year term, and it expires on June 30, 2024. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 7 Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend that the Palm Desert City Council approve a Cooperative Agreement with the Riverside County Fire Department to provide fire protection, fire prevention, rescue, and medical emergency services for the City of Palm Desert, as approved to final form by the City Attorney. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Harkins and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Kirkwood; NAES: None; ABSENT: None). VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS NONE IX. OLD BUSINESS NONE X. REPORTS ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION(S) Councilmember Jonathan stated there were no reportable actions. XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Citizens on Patrol Program Captain Jeff Alley stated that the COPS resumed patrolling on February 26. Those who are on patrol have received both of their COVID-19 vaccine shots, and seven people are currently actively patrolling. B. Legislative Update Mr. Aryan stated there were no updates. C. Police and Fire Departments Lt. Martello stated that a new Telephone Reporting System (TRS) will be implemented on April 1, 2021. This will have dispatch transfer calls for service that do not require deputy response to the unit currently taking reports over the phone. Lt. Martello added that this new program will not create any new charges to the City of Palm Desert. Chief Bryan White stated that the new ambulance has been received, and the ladder truck is working its way through litigation and should be concluded soon. The new ambulance replaced medic unit #71 and is a full replacement, not a Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 8 remount. The initial plan was to replace medic unit #267, the compressed natural gas ambulance. However, that ambulance ended up being two feet longer than standard and it would not fit on the chassis that was selected for the new vehicle. The new ambulance has now had all DMV and insurance requirements completed, and began running calls this week. Chief White and Chief Beverlin then provided a video presentation on the highlights and safety features of the new ambulance. Following this, Chief White gave an additional presentation on strategic planning for the North Sphere and the arena project. He stated that the Fire Department has been tracking the development of the planned minor league hockey arena, and how it will impact fire services in Palm Desert. This arena will be situated on forty-three acres of unincorporated land near Palm Desert between I-10 and the Classic Club, and it has a projected completion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The arena is anticipated to have seating for over 11,000 guests. Chief White then stated that this will draw Fire Department demand to an area that currently has none. The Fire Department and City staff have come up with a list of conditions to ensure the impacts and the increased demand of the Fire Department services are properly mitigated, and sent them to the arena developer. They are hoping to hear back on the specifics soon. Chief White then added that the Squad 71 vehicle is on track, and it will help reduce the call volume on the Station 71 fire engine. A vehicle has been borrowed from Riverside County, and it will go into service at the station on Monday. Continuing the presentation, Chief White stated that the Fire Department has begun working with their GIS Specialist to analyze coverage and response times. A theoretical fire station was created, and then calls from 2019 and 2020 were attributed to it to give a representation of what that fire station would look like if it were open today. This theoretical station would be located in the University Park area of Palm Desert. If this fire station had been open in 2019, it would have run 1,329 calls. In 2020 it would have run 1,209 calls, a reduced amount that is due to COVID-19. At this time, the calls for service coming from the University Park area are being run by Station 71. This location is outside of the four minute drive time response area, which currently leaves this area somewhat underserved. Lori Carney commented that a town hall meeting with the Mayor took place the night before, and the subject of the arena came up then as well. Eric Ceja in the Planning Department is following the development closely, and making sure that Palm Desert will have an opportunity to comment on any plans that are presented to the County. Ms. Carney also noted that the potential fourth fire Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes March 17, 2021 Page 9 station has been partially funded by part of the Capital Improvements Project Plan. Councilmember Jonathan added that there have been many instances where a developer gets entitlement, and then financing or other issues prevent the project from coming to fruition. Also, the planned arena would be located on County land, and Cathedral City has expanded their sphere of influence to north of the freeway from their City border to slightly beyond Washington Street. This means that if Cathedral City expands into this area, it would share borders with Bermuda Dunes and Indio. Consequently, Cathedral City has their own concerns regarding public safety and the arena if this expansion should occur. A working subcommittee is currently exploring options related to these issues. D. Staff Mr. Aryan stated there were no staff comments at this time. E. Public Safety Commissioners Commissioner Harkins announced that this would be her last meeting, as she is moving out of state at the end of the month. She added that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Commission, her fellow Commissioners thanked her and wished her the best of luck. XII. NEXT MEETING DATE – April 14, 2021 XIII. ADJOURNMENT With commissioner concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 4:46 p.m. ________________________________ Brianne Lawson