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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Public Safety Commission 05/11/2005-VI- C 5 CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION APPROVED MINUTES Wednesday, May 11, 2005 Administrative Conference Room CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Chairman Larsh. II. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioner James Butzbach Vice Chairman Rick Lebel Commissioner Martin Nethery Chairman James Larsh Also Present: Absent: Commissioner Gloria Kirkwood Councilman Richard S. Kelly Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM for Community Services Homer Croy, ACM for Development Services Mark Greenwood, City Engineer Robert Kohn, Director of Special Programs Stephen Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager Steve Thetford, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police Department Ignacio Otero, Fire Chief, Palm Desert/Riverside County Fire Dept. Craig Anthony, Riverside County Fire Chief David Avila, Fire Marshal Mary P. Gates, Recording Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes of the April 13, 2005, Public Safety Commission . Meeting Rec: Approve as presented. B. Letter to CVAG Advising of Public Safety Commission's Ratification of the City of Palm Desert Public Safety Goals for Fiscal Year 2005/06 as Submitted by the Police Chief Rec: Receive and file. Commissioner Butzbach moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Lebel and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Report - March, 2005 Chief Otero reviewed the report, noting that calls for service had decreased this month by 12% due to winter visitors leaving the desert. Commissioner Nethery questioned the statistics for Station #71, which noted that two-thirds of the calls had response times of five minutes or less, with an average response time of 4.7 minutes. Chief Otero responded that Station #71 is the busiest station in the City. While many of the calls had response times of 3-4 minutes, there were some in the 6-7 minute range for the north side of the City. Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, he responded that there is still a volunteer company composed of approximately 15 individuals who work out of Station #71. Vice Chairman Lebel moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Fire Services monthly report for March, 2005. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. 2 APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 B. Palm Desert Target Team Monthly Statistics - April, 2005 Lt. Thetford reviewed the report and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Target Team monthly statistics for April, 2005. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. C. Palm Desert Station - Traffic Collision Statistics for March, 2005 Lt. Thetford reviewed the report, noting that he was still working on the DUI statistics to get a full year into the database for comparison. Commissioner Butzbach noted that he had attended the recent "Every 15 Minutes" event held at Palm Desert High School in March. He felt an outstanding job had been done by everyone involved with this program. Commissioner Butzbach moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Station - Traffic Collision Statistics for March, 2005. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. D. Presentation by Public Works Department Staff Relative to the Possibility of the City of Palm Desert Taking Over Control and Ownership of Highways 111 and 74 City Engineer Mark Greenwood reviewed his report dated May 11, 2005, and offered to answer any questions. Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, he responded that the Cities of Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City had both taken over control and ownership of their respective portions of Highway 111 approximately five years ago. The City of Rancho Mirage reported 100% positive results, and the City of Cathedral City reported overall positive results as well. With regard to Palm Desert, all improvements to both Highway 111 and Highway 74 over the last ten years had been made by the City of Palm Desert, done with Measure A monies and City funds. He noted that the City of Indian Wells had recently passed a resolution of intent to take over its section of Highway 111 and requested joint participation by the City of Palm Desert in the legislative approval process. Commissioner Butzbach asked whether there was any involvement with the Cities of Indio or La Quinta at this time. Mr. Greenwood responded that although discussions had been held with the City of 3 APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2006 La Quinta, there was concern about Point Happy where the mountainside is going down onto the Highway. He added that the City of Indio had neither staff nor the ability to consider the issue at this time. Upon question by Commissioner Nethery, Mr. Greenwood responded that he was not aware of anything like the City of La Quinta's concerns that would create significant problems for the City of Palm Desert, other than usual maintenance. Commissioner Butzbach asked whether there were any capital improvement projects scheduled for the next five years or so, and Mr. Greenwood stated that everything had been completed at this time. Upon further question regarding synchronization, he responded that the cities were trying to coordinate the signals along Highway 74. Upon question by Commissioner Nethery relative to additional staffing, Mr. Greenwood responded that the general ratio is 50 signals per technician, and Palm Desert's was currently at 65 signals. If the City were to take over jurisdiction of Highways 74 and 111, that would add 13 signals (12 on Highway 111; 2 on Highway 74) and would bring the total number of signals to 80; therefore, staff would need to request one additional technician in order to maintain the signals. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, approve staffs recommendation to recommend to the City Council that it start the process of assuming jurisdiction of Highways 111 and 74. Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Lebel and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. Consideration of Proposed Cooperative Agreement with the County of Riverside to Provide Fire Protection, Fire Prevention, Rescue, and Medical Aid for the City of Palm Desert (continued from the meeting of April 13, 2005) Mr. Ortega reviewed the staff report dated May 11, 2005, and offered to answer any questions. Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, he noted that the cities were negotiating with the County of Riverside for the structural fire tax and pass -through. With regard to fire prevention and customer service to the business community, County Fire Chief Craig Anthony expressed concern with the comment on page 4 of the staff report that "The current policy of the Fire Department is to cite now and resolve through the 4 APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 enforcement of the law including closing down the business." He said that was not the policy of the Fire Department, as it was very proactive with fire prevention activities. He said the report also referred to complaints, and he said he had requested information about those complaints so that he could respond; to date, he had not received them and could not, therefore, respond to them. He felt having City Building officials and the Fire Marshal in the same building was ideal; however, he had been unable to accomplish that in the City of Palm Desert. He said fire prevention and all the programs that go along with that are a big deal to the Fire Department, and it involved a lot more than merely transferring the responsibility of three people (two Fire Systems Inspectors and one Fire Safety Specialist) somewhere else. He added that fire prevention was a fundamental part of the Fire Department. He suggested moving forward with co -locating the Fire Marshal staff with City Building officials and trying that first before removing Fire Marshal services from the Fire Department and transferring them to the City of Palm Desert. He added that with regard to arson investigation, transferring Fire Marshal services to the City of Palm Desert would mean some extended response times and the use of people from further out of the immediate area. Vice Chairman Lebel said at the last meeting he had questioned what else the Fire Marshal does besides inspection work because he was concerned with what the City might lose by considering transferring those services. At Chief Anthony's request, the Fire Marshal had prepared a report (on file and of record in the Community Services Division), which had been distributed to members of the Commission. Fire Marshal David Avila reviewed his report and offered to answer any questions. With regard to the statement in the staff report about the Fire Department citing businesses, he explained that imposing a $50 administrative citation was done as a last resort. He said they were not looking to cite people; their intent was to create compliance and make Palm Desert a safer place. He noted that in addition to inspection work, he automatically serves as Battalion Chief when the individual in that position is on vacation, out ill, in training, etc. This is at no extra cost to the City, since he is already on duty. Vice Chairman Lebel said he was concerned about arson investigation and asked what would happen if there were a major incident in the City of Palm Desert. k APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 Chief Otero responded that an arson investigator would have to be brought in from Indio or outside the Coachella Valley (i.e., Perris or Riverside). Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, Mr. Croy responded that there currently was no room within City Hall for the Fire Marshal staff. Upon question by Commissioner Nethery, he said he was not aware of any other city in the Coachella Valley that directly provides the Fire Marshal services. Chief Anthony added that the Perris was the only city within Riverside County that directly provides these services, and it has done so since 1999. Commissioner Nethery asked where this idea originated and if it was the result of complaints from the public, complaints from developers, an issue of saving money, etc. He asked if there was a perceived problem that led to this consideration. Mr. Croy responded that it was a matter of cost savings as well as other issues, such as customer service and coordination of services. Commissioner Nethery asked if staff felt these issues could be addressed by having Fire Marshal staff at the City, assuming there is sufficient space for that. Mr. Croy responded that he felt that would be a good recommendation from the Commission. Chief Otero noted that he had met with Mr. Croy to discuss these issues, and it was agreed that having someone at the City would help resolve those issues. He added that the Fire Department planned to move the Fire Inspectors to the station at the Town Center after July 1, 2005, when the Cove Commission is dissolved. After additional discussion, Vice Chairman Lebel moved to, by Minute Motion, approve the City -provided fire inspection services via the cooperative agreement with the County of Riverside, retaining the 52% of the Battalion Chief services and adding Fire Safety Specialist and Fire Inspectors to the contract for the total cost of $302,125, with a recommendation that the City explore relocation of the Fire Safety Specialist position to the Building Department. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend adoption of the budget in Exhibit "A" of the staff report as presented, which includes the items contained in the motion above. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Butzbach and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. C-j APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 With regard to the Memorandum of Understanding, Commissioner Nethery noted that Section III A stated, "The Commission shall consist of a membership of two elected officials or their alternates, also elected officials. Each member of the Commission shall have two votes on the Commission, and each vote shall be vested in and be exercised by an elected official or his or her altemate." He asked whether this should really state "...elected officials from each citv or their alternates..." and "Each member gft of the Commission..." Mr. Ortega agreed. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as amended (Section III A to read: "Membership: The Commission shall consist of a membership of two elected officials from each city or their alternates, also elected officials. Each member city of the Commission shall have two votes on the Commission, and each vote shall be vested in and be exercised by an elected official or his or her alternate....." Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Lebel and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. Vlll. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION (S) None X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Update on the Citizens on Patrol Program Mr. Kohn distributed copies of the Citizens on Patrol (COPS) report, noting there were four new members currently going through the 13- week academy in Palm Springs. The addition of these members would bring the total number of COPS volunteers to 17. He also distributed copies of the newly created brochures. Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, Mr. Kohn responded that no donations of funds had yet been requested or received; however, John Fanning of the COPS program was currently working with Jessup Auto Plaza on donation of a patrol vehicle. Lt. Thetford noted that the Sheriff s Department was very pleased with the COPS program and its volunteers. 7 APPROVED MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MAY 11, 2005 B. Progress Report on AB 1127 Relative to Establishment of Conference Call Courts (report to be provided) Mrs. Gilligan noted that Senior Management Analyst Pat Scully would be meeting with Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia in Sacramento today to discuss AB 1127, and a report would be made at the next meeting. C. Summer Meeting Schedule Upon question by Commissioner Nethery, Mrs. Gilligan responded that the City Council typically cancels its second meeting in July and first meeting in August each year, and City Commissions are typically dark in August. However, the Public Safety Commission could determine which meeting, if any, to cancel. Upon question by Vice Chairman Lebel, Chief Otero responded that the Fire Department would continue to provide the same monthly report to the Commission as it has been providing, including statistics from the Fire Marshal's office. Any additional information the Commission wishes to have included could be provided as well. XI. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Butzbach moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:15 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kirkwood ABSENT. Mary P. , Recording Secretary 0