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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-12 PSC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 – 3:30 p.m. Palm Desert City Hall 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260 Administrative Services Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Nethery called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Martin Nethery Vice Chair Carole Schaudt Commissioner Phyllis Harkins Commissioner Gloria Kirkwood Commissioner Terry Kramer Commissioner Doug Luhring Commissioner Frank Taylor Absent: None Also Present: Mayor Susan Marie Weber Lt. Matthew Martello, Palm Desert Police Department Cpt. John Pingel, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Robert Rose, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lori Carney, Director of Administrative Services Stephen Aryan, Risk Manager Alex Vasquez, Code Compliance Officer Jeff Alley, Citizens on Patrol Niamh Ortega, Management Specialist III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS NONE Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes February 12, 2020 Page 2 IV. PRESENTATIONS A. Update on Palm Desert Cannabis Dispensaries Stephen Aryan stated that there was nothing new to report. B. Review of Code Compliance Weekend Reports – January 2020 Alex Vasquez provided a summary of the January 2020 reports, and stated that all short term rental permits in R1 and R2 zones expired on the last day of December 2019. The swing shift officer has been investigating and following up with the properties that previously had permits in those areas, and this has resulted in seven citations being issued in January to properties that had continued to operate as short term rentals. Lt. Martello inquired if there has been an increase in short term rental violations, since the festival season is approaching. Mr. Vasquez responded that there has been a noticeable increase in properties trying to operate underground, and that the schedules of Code Officers will be adjusted during the upcoming months for the festivals. Commissioner Harkins then asked what will happen to the properties in the R1 and R2 zones now that their short term rental permits have expired. Mr. Vasquez responded that the property owners will need to decide how they wish to use these properties, now that short term rental is no longer allowed in their zones. C. Presentation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Research and Development Unit (ICMA Workload Analysis Proposal) Mr. Aryan introduced Captain John Pingel, adding that he came out of retirement to work on this ICMA Workload Analysis Proposal presentation. Following this, Mr. Aryan provided an overview of the program, and stated that the City of Palm Desert has been working with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Research and Development Unit and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Finance staff to look at various ways that Cities can enhance their services while also saving costs. Capt. Pingel stated that the overall goal for the unit is to make progress on different projects, in order to make improvements within the Sheriff’s Department and contract cities while reducing costs. He then Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes February 12, 2020 Page 3 added that everything presented (including staffing variables and pricing concerns) will be offered as a choice or option to the cities. Capt. Pingel then went on to explain that conversations between City Managers and a police Chief or Captain are often driven by population. This presentation and the findings of the unit are driven instead by data. This makes it easier to determine if a request for staffing is driven by actual need. Capt. Pingel then introduced Lt. Robert Rose, who provided a PowerPoint presentation. Using findings based on a formula he created, Lt. Rose stated that deputies should spend a maximum of 60% of their time on shift handling calls. The remaining 40% of the shift is then needed for work such as report writing, evidence collection, and administrative tasks. This does not leave time to work on proactive enforcement, such as vehicle stops, pedestrian checks, business checks, etc. Palm Desert currently employs fourteen deputies, and ten are needed in order to remain at or below the 60% of shift call handling time. Lt. Rose then provided several different scenarios and options from the PowerPoint presentation which used the potential of work redistribution and the utilization of Community Service Officers. These methods of redistributing work from deputies to CSOs demonstrated the possibility of a significant cost savings for the City of Palm Desert, without sacrificing functionality. Mr. Aryan added that the City of Palm Desert has offered to be a pilot city for this program, and that it will be tested over the course of a few weeks. In response to this, Capt. Pingel commented that the Sheriff’s Department is not going to try to enforce something that is uncomfortable for anyone, and that they just want to show how this program allows flexibility, cost savings, and better service. He then stated that recent hiring phases will lead to there being one hundred additional deputies by August 2020. Lake Elsinore was the first city to use the pilot program, and it is working well there. Palm Desert is the second city, and it will be followed by Eastvale, Norco, and Temecula in the coming weeks. Mr. Aryan stated that the results of this pilot program will be brought back before the Commission in several months. Commissioner Taylor then suggested that this program could be placed on the agenda for the next Commission meeting, to give more time for discussion and questions. Capt. Pingel responded that while they have spoken about money and cost savings associated with the program, they have not Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes February 12, 2020 Page 4 yet discussed the effect on quality of life. He then added that is important to consider those elements and how they would be improved when discussing a pilot program. Mr. Aryan stated that the Matrix study will also be starting soon, and that the results of both that study and this pilot program will be brought forward. V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Public Safety Commission Meeting of December 12, 2020. B. PALM DESERT SPECIALIZED UNITS End of the Month Report for December, 2019. C. RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT/CAL FIRE End of the Month Report for December 2019 and January 2020. D. EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR Monthly Report for January 2020. Commissioner Taylor moved to receive and file the items of the consent calendar. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Kramer and carried by a 7-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kirkwood, Kramer, Luhring, Schaudt, Taylor, Nethery; NAES: None). VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER NONE VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Selection of Commission Chair and Vice Chair. Chair Nethery nominated Vice Chair Schaudt for the position of Commission Chair, and Commissioner Kramer nominated Commissioner Kirkwood for the position of Vice Chair. Chair Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend that the Public Safety Commission appoint Vice Chair Schaudt as Commission Chair and Commissioner Kirkwood as Commission Vice Chair. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Kramer and carried by a 7-0 vote (AYES: Harkins, Kirkwood, Kramer, Luhring, Schaudt, Taylor, Nethery; NAES: None). Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes February 12, 2020 Page 5 VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS NONE IX. OLD BUSINESS NONE X. REPORTS ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION(S) Commissioner Kramer asked Susan Marie Weber about a solar program for Which Palm Springs had their residents opt out. Mayor Weber responded that the Palm Desert City Council had voted 4-1 on joining Desert Community Energy, with herself voting No. Since Palm Desert is now part of Desert Community Energy, everyone who does not wish to be included must opt out individually. Palm Desert has not yet voted to launch, which is what Palm Springs did the other day. Chair Nethery asked if the Commission could receive future reports on the progress of this matter. Mayor Weber responded that reports could not be given under purview of committee, and Ryan Stendell would need to be contacted individually for updates. XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Citizens on Patrol Program Jeff Alley reported that a new electric golf cart has been ordered. This will increase patrol, as well as make serving as a COP possible for more individuals who may have mobility issues. B. Legislative Update Mr. Aryan stated that there was no update. C. Police and Fire Departments Lt. Martello reported that the Point-In-Time count was conducted, with a result of thirty-one. However, there are probably more homeless people than that in the City, and work is being done to find out who to work with and who to contact. Public Safety Commission Approved Minutes February 12, 2020 Page 6 Chair Nethery inquired if the second suspect from the carjacking on El Paseo had been caught. Lt. Martello responded that he would find out, and update the Commission. D. Staff Mr. Aryan stated that new motorcycles are being looked at for the Sheriff’s Department, in order to replace three older models with CalCOPs funds. E. Public Safety Commissioners Commissioner Harkins stated that she would like to speak with Lt. Martello after the meeting, regarding how police officers are responding and treating disgruntled residents. Chair Nethery inquired about the painted crosswalks on El Paseo. Mayor Weber responded that the City paid a consultant to provide some ideas on how to improve El Paseo, and the painted crosswalks were part of a temporary demonstration project to exhibit some of these ideas. XII. NEXT MEETING DATE – Wednesday, March 11, 2020 XIII. ADJOURNMENT With commissioner concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. ________________________________ Brianne Lawson, Recording Secretary Brianne Lawson