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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-08 PSC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 – 3:30 p.m. Zoom Virtual Meeting I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Schaudt called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM. II. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Carole Schaudt Vice Chair Gloria Kirkwood Commissioner Phyllis Harkins (Left at 5:05 PM) Commissioner Terry Kramer Commissioner Doug Luhring Commissioner Martin Nethery Commissioner Frank Taylor Absent: None Also Present: Councilmember Susan Marie Weber Deputy Chief Eddy Moore, Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Bryan White, Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Beverlin, Riverside County Fire Department Sgt. Matthew Koser, Palm Desert Police Department Sgt. Jared Howe, Palm Desert Police Department Fire Marshal James Frater, Palm Desert Fire Marshal Deputy Fire Marshal Sonia Cooley, Palm Desert Fire Marshal Lauri Aylaian, City Manager Lori Carney, Director of Administrative Services Stephen Aryan, Risk Manager Brianne Lawson, Recording Secretary Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 2 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS NONE IV. PRESENTATIONS City Manager Lauri Aylaian provided an update on what has been happening at City Hall over the past several months. She reported that twenty to forty percent of staff are present at City Hall on a day-to-day basis, while other staff works remotely. It is now possible for architects, engineers, and contractors to receive permits by submitting their plans and permit payments online. Additionally, the City now has a fully functional ability for Councilmembers to receive public comment from constituents. Ms. Aylaian then stated that virtual meetings of City of Palm Desert Committees and Commissions are being conducted, and that access to these meetings is provided to the public. Work is being done to make City Hall safe in order to bring back more staff members and the public. This process has been impeded by backordered supplies that are currently in high demand, such as plexiglass shields, cubicle partitions, and temperature scanning kiosks. However, there is no projected City Hall reopening date due to the currently severe status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Aylaian added that Palm Desert is significantly increasing communication with the public, including through social media and the City’s website. The construction on San Pablo has been completed, and work has begu n on Alessandro Alley improvements. Funds that were previously designated for attracting business to Palm Desert have been reconfigured for forgivable loans to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. Ms. Aylaian then stated that district voting has been finalized. This will divide Palm Desert into two distinct voting districts, and will be implemented in time for the November election. The budget has been adjusted to reflect a twenty percent decrease in the projected revenue for fiscal year 2019/2020. The City was able to close the budget gap by the end of the fiscal year by taking about $8.1 million dollars out of the unallocated general fund reserves. For fiscal year 2020/2021it is anticipated that approximately $10 million will be needed to close the gap, which will be taken from the allocated general fund reserves at the end of the year. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 3 Chair Schaudt inquired about extending the front of restaurants to allow more room for outdoor dining. Ms. Aylaian responded that an authorized temporary use permit program has been implemented for restaurants that are interested in sidewalk or parking lot dining. Commissioner Taylor complimented the crosswalk designs used for San Pablo, and then added that he saw an article in the newspaper about Cal State. He asked if the City Manager could share any more information regarding what he read in the article. Ms. Aylaian responded that Cal State is exploring the idea of whether a twenty-fourth standalone campus is needed, and where it could potentially be located. Five different possible locations were identified, one of which was the current Cal State San Bernardino branch campus in Palm Desert. The state retained consultants to study each of the five potential locations, and Palm Desert made a presentation to the consultants on why the new standalone campus should be located here. The reports from the consultants went before the Governor, but then the pandemic occurred. There is now a question of the availability of funding to build a new campus when virtual e ducation is going to be the main focus for the time being. V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of May 13, 2020. B. PALM DESERT SPECIALIZED UNITS End of the Month Report for May, 2020. C. RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT/CAL FIRE End of the Month Report for June, 2020. D. CODE COMPLIANCE Weekend Reports for June 2020. Commissioner Taylor moved to receive and file the items of the consent calendar, with the exception of the Minutes of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of May 13, 2020. Motion was seconded by Vice Chair Kirkwood and carried by a 7-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kirkwood, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Schaudt; NAES: None). Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 4 VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER A. MINUTES of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of May 13, 2020. Commissioner Taylor moved to receive and file the Minutes of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of May 13, 2020. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Luhring and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor; NAES: None; ABSTAIN: Kirkwood, Schaudt). VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Approve to apply for and accept from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, upon grant award, the 2020 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) in the amount of $14,363. Stephen Aryan stated that this is a grant program the City applies for on a yearly basis. The funds are used to defray the cost of the Emergency Services Coordinator position. Commissioner Taylor moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend that the Public Safety Commission approve to apply for and accept from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, upon grant award, the 2020 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) in the amount of $14,363. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 7-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kirkwood, Kramer, Luhring, Nethery, Taylor, Schaudt; NAES: None). B. Presentation by the Fire Marshal on the City’s notification of intent to possibly eliminate additional Fire Marshal services provided under Exhibit D of the current Cooperative Agreement (Contract No. 37050). Mr. Aryan introduced Fire Marshal James Frater, and then stated that there are two ancillary services the City could possibly eliminate for cost savings. These two possibilities are to reduce the Fire Marshal services provided at City Hall, or to change to a privately provided ambulance company. Due to the impact on public health that removing the City’s emergency medical services vehicles would cause, the reduction of the Fire Marshal services at City Hall has been identified as the most feasible option. Fire Marshal Frater provided a presentation on Palm Desert Fire Marshal program service delivery option comparisons. He stated that the City of Palm Desert has issued a 120 day notice of intent to discontinue the Office of the Fire Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 5 Marshal services at City Hall. Currently, the Fire Marshal’s office located at City Hall provides review, permitting, and inspection of special events, investigation of fire safety complaints, meetings with development applicants and customers, counter services, business license inspections, and business fire safety inspections. Fire Marshal Frater listed five options for the Palm Desert Fire Marshal program that have been identified, which included: 1. Maintain current program at City Hall. 2. Maintain current program at City Hall with 50% shared Office Specialist II (City position). 3. Maintain current program at City Hall without optional business fire safety inspections. 4. Maintain current program at City Hall with 50% shared Office Specialist II (City position) and without optional business fire safety inspections. 5. Program becomes provided by County office. Moving the services away from City Hall will mean that customers will be redirected to the County office located by the I-10 freeway. Additionally, service fees will increase as Palm Desert has fixed fees while fees at the County level are higher. After a discussion regarding the impact that removing the Fire Marshal office from City Hall would have on the public, several Commissioners expressed concern that reducing services will have a negative effect on safety. Commissioner Nethery suggested that research could be done on how other cities offer Fire Marshal services, and what fees they charge. Commissioner Luhring then added that he felt more information was needed to make a decision on the matter, and that more data could be obtained through a cost study or through exploring cost sharing possibilities with other cities. The Commission offered and then voted on an alternative proposal that the Fire Marshal staffing at City Hall should not be removed, and that the budget should be looked at again for other areas that could be reduced. Commissioner Kramer moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend to Council that the Fire Marshal services at City Hall not be removed, and to look at other areas for budget reduction. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Kirkwood and carried by a 5-1 vote (AYES: Kirkwood, Kramer, Nethery, Taylor, Schaudt; NAES: Luhring; ABSENT: Harkins). Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 6 VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS NONE IX. OLD BUSINESS NONE X. REPORTS ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION(S) NONE XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Citizens on Patrol Program Mr. Aryan stated that the program is currently on a temporary hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the members are engaging in virtual meetings and trainings. Additionally, the new COPS golf cart has been delivered. B. Legislative Update Mr. Aryan stated that there was no update. C. Police and Fire Departments Battalion Chief Bryan White provided an update on the Fire Department. He stated that call volume initially decreased, but it is back to near normal le vels. A Fire Department employee tested positive for COVID-19 in July. That individual was isolated and sent home. Chief White then added that Station 71 will be featured on Good Morning America as part of a story on pandemic response. D. Staff Mr. Aryan stated that a COVID-19 exposure control plan has been completed for the City. Also, the City has a contract with a cleaning company that sanitizes facilities when staff members have tested positive or been exposed to the virus. Commissioner Nethery requested to have the exposure control plan sent to the Commission. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes July 8, 2020 Page 7 E. Public Safety Commissioners Commissioner Nethery informed Battalion Chief White that he recently had to call an ambulance for his mother, and he was grateful and impressed with the professionalism of the EMS staff. XII. NEXT MEETING DATE – Wednesday, August 12, 2020 XIII. ADJOURNMENT With commissioner concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 5:39 p.m. ________________________________ Brianne Lawson, Recording Secretary Brianne Lawson