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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Public Safety Commission - June 13, 2012CITY OF PALM DESERT REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETI APPROVED MINUTES ti WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 3:30 p.m. A Palm Desert Sheriffs Station 73-705 Gerald Ford Drive Palm Desert, CA 92211 c o Phone: (760) 836-1600 ti I. CALL TO ORDER LL a � Vice Chairman Kirkwood convened the meeting at 3:*3 �wW II. ROLL CALL U C w U Present: Absent: v Q Vice Chairman Gloria Kirkwood Chairman James E Commissioner Doug Luhring Commissioner Martin Nethery Also Present: Mayor Pro Tem William Kroonen EMS Captain Scott Visyak, Riverside County Fire Department Lt. William Sullivan, Palm Desert Police Department Stephen Aryan, Risk Manager Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs Mary P. LaCross, Recording Secretary Ill. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 4 0 L MS. JOSANNE SMITH, Vice President of the Homeowners Association at Palm Desert Country Club (PDCC), distributed written information comparing crime statistics and arrest reports between Palm Desert Country Club and the Desert Fountains Michigan Avenue Apartments (located behind the Albertson's grocery store) from January through May, 2012. She noted that total residences within Palm Desert County Club (excluding Desert Fountains) was 1,539, and the percentage of arrests was 1.5% per residence. The total number of units within Desert Fountains Michigan Apartments was 248, and the percentage of arrests for that same time period was 11.3% per apartment. She said while the PDCC community received great support from the Police Department and the Citizens on Patrol, a lot of the criminal activity was occurring in the middle of the night, including drug incidences. PDCC residents were extremely concerned, felt there had been no positive response yet, and asked if the City could perhaps get a little heavier -handed. APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 13, 2012 Mr. Aryan responded that a letter was sent from the City to the property owner of Desert Fountains, and staff was in the process of scheduling a conference call between that owner, the Police and Fire Departments, and City Staff, hopefully in the next week or so. Once that conference meeting has been held, an action plan would be prepared, and he would report back to the Public Safety Commission and City Council. Commissioner Nethery noted that he had read all of the emails and letters back and forth between the entities and the information submitted by Ms. Smith and said that if he were a resident of PDCC, he would see those statistics as positive — there are a lot of arrests because the Palm Desert Police Department is on top of the situation, and it is high profile for the Public Safety Commission, the Palm Desert City Council, and the Police Department. He said if it could be stepped up, one would see more arrests, while fewer arrests would mean the Police Department was not on top of it. Lt. Sullivan stated that he had been increasing patrols out there. He introduced Sgt. Chris Olsen, who is now in charge of that area. He said Sgt. Olsen, along with a six -man team, were specifically addressing issues in the PDCC area and had logged 170 hours of patrol time in the last month and a half. Sgt. Olsen noted that the enforcement consisted mostly of weekends and nights. There were two officers per car, patrolling two to three nights per week, and they were focused not just on that specific apartment complex but also on several other apartment complexes throughout the City. He said the higher arrest rate noted by Ms. Smith might be a direct result of that increased patrol. Lt. Sullivan added that he would be trying something new in the next few weeks or so, an experiment he would put into effect as part of his Master's thesis — a pilot project to try and reduce the crime in that area. Commissioner Luhring noted that three to four months ago, Ms. Phyllis Harkins had expressed concerns from the PDCC residents, and since that time, police presence had been stepped up in that area. He felt this was a positive thing. Lt. Sullivan stated that as part of the Crime Free Multi -Housing Agreement, the individuals who recently robbed an elderly woman and stole her purse are being evicted and sent back to Arizona. 2 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 13, 2012 IV. PRESENTATIONS GANG TASK FORCE Lt. Sullivan introduced Deputy Tristan Baraness, who gave a Power Point presentation about the Gang Task Force. Deputy Baraness stated that the goal of the Gang Task Force was to combat gang violence. He noted while there were no gangs actually based in Palm Desert, there were gang members residing within the City limits. He also said there are only 12 members of the Gang Task Force and an estimated 30 active gangs in the Coachella Valley with approximately 2,000 active gang members. COMMERCIAL ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE Vice Chairman Kirkwood recessed the meeting at 4:32 p.m. to the parking lot for Commissioners to view the Police Department's new Commercial Enforcement Vehicle. She reconvened the meeting at 4:39 p.m. V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes of the Public Safety Commission Meeting of April 11, 2012 Rec: Approve as presented. B. Palm Desert Specialized Units End of Month Reports for April and May 2012 Rec: By Minute Motion, receive and file. C. Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Reports for February, March, and April 2012 Rec: By Minute Motion, receive and file. Commissioner Nethery requested that Items B and C be pulled for separate discussion under Section VI, Consent Items Held Over, as he had questions regarding the Palm Desert Specialized Units End of Month Report for April 2012 and the Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Report for February 2012. Upon motion by Commissioner Luhring, second by Commissioner Nethery, the remainder of the Consent Calendar was approved by a 3-0 vote, with Chairman Butzbach ABSENT. 3 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 13, 2012 VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER B. Palm Desert Specialized Units End of Month Reports for April and May 2012 Upon question by Commissioner Nethery, Mr. Aryan responded that if there was additional information that could be provided by the Police Department regarding the Business District Team summary of activity, it would be provided to the Commissioners via email. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the Palm Desert Specialized Units End of. Month Reports for April and May 2012. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Luhring and carried by a 3-0 vote, with Chairman Butzbach ABSENT. C. Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Reports for February, March, and April 2012 Commissioner Nethery noted that the first item on page 5 of the February report indicated the location of the incident; however, the second item indicated that a "patient was struck by a vehicle traveling north on Portola" but did not state where on Portola the incident happened. In addition, the third item discussed a gas leak but did not indicate the location of said leak. He said it would be helpful to the Commission to have this information. Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, received and file the Palm Desert Fire Services Monthly Reports for February, March, and April 2012. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Luhring and carried by a 3-0 vote, with Chairman Butzbach ABSENT. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST TO UTILIZE VENDORS ON AN AUTHORIZED MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE VENDORS LIST FOR REPAIRS TO CITY -OWNED POLICE VEHICLES, COMMUNICATION, RADAR, AND LIDAR EQUIPMENT Mr. Aryan reviewed the staff report, noting that this is basically a housekeeping item each year. He added that it would also be going to the Palm Desert City Council for approval at its meeting of June 14, 2012. 4 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 13, 2012 Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend that the City Council authorize the Police Department to utilize vendors on the Authorized Motorcycle Maintenance Vendors List as presented in the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Memorandum dated May 22, 2012. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Luhring and carried by a 3-0 vote, with Chairman Butzbach ABSENT. VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None IX. OLD BUSINESS None X. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION(S) None XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Citizens on Patrol Program 1. Monthly Reports for March, April, and May 2012 2. The C.O.P.S. Caller for March, April, and May 2012 Ms. Riddle noted the Monthly Reports and the C.O.P.S. Caller publications in the packets and offered to answer any questions. She noted that Citizens on Patrol members were starting to leave, which meant that patrol hours would be decreasing for the summer months. B. Legislative Update Mr. Aryan noted that the Legislature would be recessing for the summer, and staff would continue to monitor bills, notably those dealing with redevelopment agencies. C. Police and Fire Departments 1. Law Enforcement Improvements Lt. Sullivan reviewed the report in the packets relative to implementation of the three-phase response to residential burglaries and major thefts. 5 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING 2. Four Shift Patrol Schedule JUNE 13, 2012 Lt. Sullivan distributed copies of the Four Shift Patrol Schedule, noting that per the Union contract with the Riverside Sheriff's Association, it is mandatory that patrol deputies work ten-hour shifts. He stated that while crime was increasing, the number of officers on the street was not, and this four shift patrol schedule would help to maximize patrol coverage where it was most needed. He said this schedule would be reviewed periodically, and changes would be made if necessary. 3. Captain Visyak noted that he anticipated delivery of the new ambulance for Station 33 in July and that he would go and pick it up and bring it back to the station. D. Staff 1. Commission Summer Schedule Mr. Aryan noted that the Commission was typically dark the months of July and August, reconvening in September, unless an issue arises that necessitates a meeting. 2. Update on Purchase of Police Department Motor Units Mr. Aryan noted that the plan was to purchase the new Motor Units before July. While that was still the goal, it was necessary for staff to solicit bids. He said he had prepared a bid package several weeks ago, and the bid opening was set for June 19, 2012. 3. The Fountains Apartment Update Please see discussion under Section III — Oral Communications. 4. Workers Compensation Mr. Aryan noted that, at the next meeting in September, Commissioners will be asked to complete forms for Workers Compensation so that they will be covered at any City events/functions attended as a representative of this Commission. 2 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 13, 2012 E. Public Safety Commissioners Upon question by Vice Chairman Kirkwood, Mr. Aryan responded that there was no timeframe yet for filling the vacancy on the Public Safety Commission and that staff was still reviewing applications for potential candidates. XII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nethery moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:00 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Luhring and carried by a 3-0 vote, with Chairman Butzbach ABSENT. Mary P. La ro , Recording Secretary 7