HomeMy WebLinkAboutCVAG Public Safety Committee Goals FY 2004/2005 Top Five PrioritiesREQUEST:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
COMMUNITY SERVICES/ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
STAFF REPORT
Request for Concurrence with the Public Safety Commission to Support
CVAG's Public Safety Committee Goals for Fiscal Year 2004/05 and
Submit Palm Desert's Top Five Priorities to CVAG.
DATE: March 25, 2004
CONTENTS: Request From Coachella Association of Govemments
DRAFT Minutes of March 10, 2004, Public Safety Commission Meeting
SUBMITTED BY: Sheila R. Gilligan, Assistant City Manager for Community Services
Recommendation: By Minute Motion, concur with the recommendation of the Public
Safety Commission to support the Coachella Valley Association of Governments' Public
Safety Committee Goals for Fiscal Year 2004/05, and submit the list of Palm Desert's top
five priorities.
Background:
A request was received from the Coachella Valley Association of Govemments to consider
and identify goals for the Committee to focus on during fiscal year 2004/05.
At its meeting of March 10, 2004, the Public Safety Commission discussed the request from
CVAG and was unanimous in identifying the top five priorities for the City of Palm Desert.
They are as follows:
1. Support Radio Inter -Operability.
2. Valley -Wide Burglary Suppression Team.
3. Burglary/Property Crime Prevention.
4. Traffic Safety Relating to Senior and Teenage Drivers.
5. Valley -Wide D.U.I. Enforcement and Prevention Education Program.
1
Public Safety Goals
March 25, 2004
Staff recommends the City Council support the five priorities identified by the Public Safety
Commission and communicate same to CVAG.
ed
SHEILA R. GILLI
Assistant City Manager f mmunity Services
Approval:
CARLOS L.
City Manager
EGA
n/a
PAUL GIBSON
Finance Director
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COACHELLA. VALLEY ASSOCIATIONS OF GOVERNMENTS
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE GOALS FY 04/05
On February 26, 2004 PSC members, as well as Police and Fire Chiefs, were faxed a list of
committee goals from previous years. It was requested that they check-off/add on goals
for consideration to the committee to focus on during fiscal year 04/05.
Responses have been received from the following sources:
O La Quints City Councilmember Ron Perkins
O Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron
O Riverside County Sheriff Office/Indio Captain John Horton
O Riverside County Sheriff Office/PlmDsrt Captain Pat McManus
O Fire Chiefs: Steve Sowles; Bury Freet; Ignacio Otero; Mike Mingee
THE FOLLOWING GOALS WERE SUBMITTED:
• Task Force Support (Ron Perk/ns/Gory Jeandron/John Horton)
)(Support Radio Inter -Operability (Pat McManus)
Seek an objective third party to assess communications interoperability and a
Regional Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP/dispatch center). (Fire chefs)
O Valley -Wide Communications Upgrade (John Horton)
XValley-Wide Burglary Suppression Team (Pat McManus)
Burglary/Property Crime Prevention (Pat McManus/John Horton)
(Traffic Safety, Especially as it relates to Senior and Teenage Drivers (John Horton)
• Recruitment and Retention of Law Enforcement Personnel (Ron Perkins/Pat McManus)
• Budgets to Support Public Safety (Gary Jeandron)
a After -School Issues (Gary Jeandron)
O Develop Virtual University Connection with Ben Clark Training Center (Gary Jeandron)
❑ Increase CHP Helicopter Availability and Flexibility (Ron Perkins)
Maintain CHP Aircraft / Helicopter in the Valley (Fire Chiefs)
Goals continue on next page c
Coachella Valley Assodation of Governments
Public Safety Committee Goals rY 04/05
Page 2 of 2
• Second Haz-Mat Unit for the Coachella Valley (Ron Perkins)
Increase first responder capability in hazardous materials (need more political
involvement by CV AG Public Safety Committee to support haz-mat tech/spec level -
thru funding) (Fire Chiefs)
❑ GIS Emergency Safe Routes during earthquakes (Ron Perkins)
❑ Improvement of Traffic on Highway 111 from Indio to Palm Springs (Ron Perkins)
• Increase Usage and Maintenance of Residential Smoke Alarms
Secure funding to purchase, install, service/replace residential smoke alarms for
the elderly and low income residents (Fire Chiefs)
D Develop Valley Wide Disaster Caches (Fire Chiefs)
❑ Develop New Policies/Procedures and Training of the PageAlert System (Fire Chiefs)
❑ Work on Resolving the Hospital Saturation/Diversion Issues (Fire Chiefs)
Valley -wide D.U.I. Enforcement and Prevention Education Program
DOES THE COMMITTEE WANT TO ADOPT THE GOALS OR NARROW IT TO 3
OR 4 GOALS?
March 5. 2004
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DAFT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
MINUTES
March 10, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Nethery called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent:
Commissioner James Butzbach
Commissioner James Larsh
Commissioner Rick Lebel
Commissioner Martin Nethery
Also Present:
Councilman Dick Kelly
Assistant City Manager/Community Services Sheila R. Gilligan
Lt. Steve Thetford
Division Fire Chief Ignacio Otero
Robert Kohn, Director of Special Programs
Steven Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager
Gary Rosenblum, Risk Manager
Guests
Assistant Sheriff Neil Lingle
Assistant Sheriff Gayle Janes
Matt Frymire, County of Riverside, Department of Information Technology
Greg Stoddard, County of Riverside, Department of Information Technology
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B. Fire Department Monthly Report - January, 2004.
Rec: By Minute Motion, receive and file report.
Chief Otero discussed the report. Also discussed were two recent
fires; one at the Reserve in Indian Wells, and the other at Palm
Valley. Both causes were gas barbecue grills being left on overnight.
Motion by Commissioner Larsh, seconded by Commissioner Lebel, to
receive and file report. Motion passed 4-0.
C. Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Public Safety Committee Goals for Fiscal Year 2004/2005
Rec: By Minute Motion, approve the CVAG Public Safety Committee
Goals for Fiscal Year 2004/2005 and forward to the City
Council for final submission to CVAG.
Ms. Gilligan indicated this is the first time the Public Safety
Commission has received this type of information/request from the
CVAG Public Safety Committee.
A question was raised as to whether the "Every 15 Minutes" program
would be presented at the high school this year, and the response
was that it would occur in 2005.
After discussion, the Commission agreed on the following priorities:
1. Support Radio Inter -Operability
2. Valley -Wide Burglary Suppression Team
3. Burglary/Property Crime Prevention
4. Traffic Safety, as it relates to senior and teenage drivers
5. Valley -Wide D.U.I. Enforcement and Prevention Education
Program
Motion by Commissioner Lebel, seconded by Commissioner Larsh, to
recommend support of the above five priorities to the City Council.
Motion carried 4-0.
[Ms. Gilligan introduced guests: Gayle Janes Assistant Sheriff, Neil Lingle -Assistant
Sheriff, and Greg Stoddard and Matt Frymire from the Riverside County Information
Technology.]
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D. Palm Desert Police Department 2000-2003 Crime Stats.
Rec: By Minute Motion, receive and file.
Lt. Thetford provided a report and indicated the goal of the Target
Team is to work closely with the Crime Analyst in identifying patterns.
Motion by CommissionerButzbach, seconded by Commissioner Larsh,
to receive and file the Police Department's Crime Stats report. Motion
carried 4-0.
Vil. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. Interoperability Radio Systems Presentation by Matthew Frymire,
Chief Information Officer -Riverside County Information Technology
Department.
Rec: Oral report.
Mr. Frymire, Riverside County Department of Information Technology,
made a power point presentation consisting of two phases; projects
underway and long term plans. He introduced Greg Stoddard,
Department of Information Technology with the County of Riverside,
who discussed current projects.
Current Projects: Mr. Stoddard indicated that currently the Sheriff
and Fire Departments are on separate systems. Homeland Security
requires better interoperability and coverage for our citizens. Grant
funding is now available which will allow interaction to occur. This
project has been ongoing since July, 2003, and due to be completed
in June, 2004.
There are several RFP's going out. One is for services which involves
getting the different communication sites up and operational and
ready to receive different communications coming together so that
everyone can interact. The State of California Emergency Services
Office has made some changes to the process used in applying for
licensing. They have asked for changes in design, and those
changes have been made. The antenna redesign is complete and
has been resubmitted to the State, and it will be incorporated into
another RFP. Still on timeline.
Long Term Plans: The concept for the future is to develop a regional
radio system where the backbone can be shared by various cities,
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counties, and other government agencies. Shared frequencies can
allow more capacity to others outside another's coverage area.
Funding is the single greatest impediment to the development of a
Regional Radio System. State and local funding is not likely in the
immediate fiscal environment. Federal and Homeland Security
dollars will be required to address public safety radio needs. Grants
and other funding sources need to be made available.
The plan is to lobby for a Public Safety Communications surcharge to
phone bills to fund local Public Safety emergency communications
infrastructure for ongoing growth and support.
The next step would be to form a Multi -Jurisdiction Committee to
define the governance, funding, and technical requirements that
would need to be addressed to implement a regional radio system.
Also required would be the preparation of an RFP for the
development of a Regional Radio System Strategic Plan that will
address the requirements and needs defined by the Committee. The
Committee would solicit the support of Federal, State and local
representatives to develop a regional system, and to provide
assistance in identifying funding sources.
The request from Riverside County Department of Information
Technology is for participation on the Multi -Jurisdiction Committee to
develop an RFP for the Strategic Plan. There is a May timeframe to
get the committee together to work on this so that all needs are
identified. A consultant will be hired to write the actual RFP. From
that, a determination can be made as to the cost. There may be a
need for a General Obligation Bond, another Measure A -type tax, and
possibly the addition of $.05 to the sales tax for a limited period of
time.
A question was raised as to what the current interoperability project
is and what it does to improve interoperability. The response was that
it is a band -aid. Bottom line is that law enforcement has not been as
capable as Fire over the years in radio communication. Today, in
Riverside County, the Riverside County Sheriff cannot talk to other
police departments. If there was an issue where Palm Desert had to
work with the City of Cathedral City, they could not communicate, and
the same is true for the cities of Indio, Palm Springs, Desert Hot
Springs. The need is great for an interoperability system in order to
respond to public safety emergencies. There are two separate
pieces; one is the band -aid for today and the next is the vision for
tomorrow.
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Public Safety Commission ` AFT
March 10, 2004 MINUTES'' '
The Federal Government has recognized that there are homeland
security issues in Riverside County. Riverside County is the only
Sheriffs Department in the United States to garner money for
homeland security. A Special Enforcement Bureau will be added with
twenty-eight new Deputy Sheriffs. In terms of Riverside County, the
ability to communicate does not rest in the unincorporated area of the
county; it rests in every community, whether the County provides law
enforcement services or it is provided by the individual municipality.
The need is to be able to get on the police radio and be able to talk
to another jurisdiction to ensure public safety needs are being met.
That is not possible right now. Law enforcement also cannot talk to
Fire counter -parts in the event there is a need for both emergency
entities at a particular scene.
Ms. Gilligan suggested that if the Commission wanted to take action,
it could move to forward this item to the City Council indicating a
presentation was made to the Public Safety Commission and it is in
support of moving forward with the RFP.
A question was raised as to whether the presentation had
been given to the Cove Commission, and the answer was no.
Presentations have been made to City Managers, Police
Chiefs, and Fire Chiefs in the County.
The Commission asked that a recommendation be made to CVAG
indicating its strong support for radio interoperability projects.
The County Department of Information Technology will ask CVAG to
form a sub -committee with all cities represented.
Motion by Chairman Nethery, seconded by Commissioner Larsh, to
recommend to the City Council that it support the Interoperability Radio
Systems Program and participate in the CVAG Sub -Committee in
moving forward with the RFP. Motion carried 4-0.
The Commission requested that the communication with the City
Council include the statement that a presentation has been made to
the Commission, and it is in full support of the program and
participation in the sub -committee.
Ms. Gilligan reported that after receiving direction from the
Commission at the February meeting, a letter was sent to the City
Council commending both the Fire Chief and Police Chief for their
commitment to the community, active involvement in the Public Safety
Commission, and for the level of excellence they bring to the
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community.
A question was asked of Gary Rosenblum as to whether the
proposed interim solution would resolve his concems about
communication between the Emergency Operations Center
and Public Works in the event of an emergency. Mr.
Rosenblum stated that depending on the type of digital
patching equipment, the City should be able to be connected
either through telephone or radio systems. He will coordinate
this effort with Lt. Thetford.
B. Discussion of Public Safety and Public Welfare Ordinances
Rec: By Minute Motion, continue to April, 2004, Public Safety
Commission Meeting.
Motion to continue the discussion of public safety and public
welfare ordinances made by Commissioner Larsh, seconded by
Commissioner Butzbach.
Ms. Gilligan mentioned that Steve Aryan, Assistant to the City
Manager, will head up this project. A suggestion was made to form
a sub -committee to include a member of the Public Safety
Commission, Commissioner Lebel, the City Attorney, and Steve
Aryan. Commissioner Butzbach volunteered to serve on the
Committee.
Sub -committee members will be: Commissioner Lebel, Commissioner
Butzbach, City Attorney Dave Erwin, and Steve Aryan.
Motion carried 4-0.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Trauma Intervention Program, Inc. - Selection of Advisory Committee
Member.
Rec: By Minute Motion, make an appointment to the TIP Oversight
Committee and direct staff to notify Councilmember Benson.
Ms. Gilligan reported that the Trauma Intervention Program was
started by CVAG and the City participates monetarily. Councilwoman
Benson is the City's representative for that group. This organization
helps victims and families in emergency situations.
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Lt. Thetford mentioned that TIP differs from P.A.C.T. where trauma
intervention is given from a clinical standpoint. TIP volunteers lend
support to people at a time of need. It is an extremely beneficial
volunteer program.
Ms. Gilligan asked Commissioners to call her with recommendations
of those who would like to serve on the Oversight Committee.
No motion made. Ms. Gilligan will be contacted with names of those who may
be interested in serving on the Oversight Committee.
IX. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION(S)
Ms. Gilligan reported that the City is still working on the General Plan. It is
hopeful the City Council will take final action on the General Plan on March
15.
X. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. Citizens on Patrol Open House - March 15, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.,
74-833 Joni Drive.
Commissioners were invited to attend.
B. March 6, 2004, Public Safety Forum
Although attendance was not what was hoped for, good information was
exchanged and there was an excellent article in the Desert Sun on the
Forum.
There was discussion that although a disappointing turnout from the gated
communities, the Commission felt it was an important event. It was
suggested that future Forums include all residents.
C. Low -Moderate Income Home Buyers
Public safety issues relating to low -moderate housing projects were
discussed. Lt. Thetford said that the City is progressive in this area; one
example being the Crime Free Multi -Housing Program. Issues are handled
quickly.
Ms. Gilligan shared that the City makes this a huge priority because it wants
to meet the needs of its community.
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XI. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Butzbach, seconded by Commissioner
Larsh, to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 5:25
p.m.
Karen Russo, Recording Secretary
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