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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/12/06�----- A�'a�fandy, City Ma�Yager Staff: John W. Stinson ;� � B A K E R S F I E L D AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Irma Carson, Chair Mike Maggard Jacquie Sullivan REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE and Community Advisory Committee of the City of Bakersfield Thursday, October 12, 2006 11:30 a.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, California 93301 The meeting was called to order at 11:35 a.m. 1 2. 3. 4. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmembers Irma Carson, Chair, Mike Maggard and Jacquie Sullivan Advisory member present: Dennis Reed, Alpha Phi Alpha ADOPTION OF THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None DEFERRED BUSINESS a. Update regarding gang and graffiti enforcement (Police Chief William Rector) Assistant Police Chief Lynn provided the following update on gang and graffiti enforcement: Graffiti: In September, there were 22 arrests, 14 of which were juveniles, bringing the year-to-date total to 166. There were 71 offenses cleared, which brings the total year-to- date to 544. Clearing an offense means that they have been attributed directly to an offender. There were3 community presentations. Ganqs: In September, 5 guns were seized, bringing the total year-to-date to just less than 100. There have been almost 100 felony arrests. Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee October 12, 2006 Agenda Summary Report Page 2 Police Chief Rector distributed a packet which showed a graphic plotting of shootings. The different graphs showed how many, and of those, how many were gang related, where they occurred, time of day, date, victim gender, ethnicity, and age. This type of update will be provided at each Committee meeting. Chief Rector explained that a shooting is designated gang related when it has been validated by either another gang member, a witness, or information provided directly by the Special Enforcement Unit. Committee Chair Carson asked about the status of installing cameras. The issue will come before Council on October 25, 2006. b. Update on State of Emergency Action Plan (Police Lt. Greg Williamson, and Beverly Johnson) Police Lieutenant Williamson reported that on September 22, 2006, the Task Force met with approximately 15 individuals and organizations that are interested in the prevention side of juvenile and gang violence. Attending were representatives from the Bakersfield Police Department and Recreation and Parks Department; the Kern County Department of Human Services, Probation, Sheriff's Office, and Network for Children; Karen Goh and Manuel Carrisalez representing the faith-based community; Bakersfield High School District; and Ebony Counseling Center. The discussion focused on how all parties can collaborate without overlapping services and provide better interagency communication. Existing programs staffed by members of the Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff's Office include those that address bullying, truancy and pregnancy prevention and intervention. There are 14 officers now teaching the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program at middle schools. This is a program similar to DARE, which focuses on drug prevention. The DARE component is still active in schools. Police Chief Rector stated that there is a proposal to expand the program and hold community meetings to educate entire families. c. Update on Churches United Anti-Gang Rally Pastor Jordan stated that this was a great event that was attended by numerous Churches. He noted that the public was impressed with the amount of City officials who attended. Committee member Maggard asked if it would be helpful to prepare a packet that would be presented to pastors at each Church, and Pastor Jordan believes it would. Committee Chair Carson stated that Karen Goh is putting together marketing material generated from a Ministers' Task Force, who are meeting once a week. The next activity is an anti-gang rally scheduled for October 21, 2006 at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, the same time as the Good Neighbor festival. The plan is to have another rally at Casa Loma Park after the first of the year. This will be coordinated between the City and County Recreation and Parks Departments. Greg Collins voiced his support for rallies; however he believes that it is more important to first identify how to stop gang violence and educate those who have not reached the gang violence stage yet. He also stated that of those in the age group of 17-25 who are committing the Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee October 12, 2006 Agenda Summary Report Page 3 violence, most are trapped in the system and cannot get a good job. He recommended putting a trade school package together to address this issue. Committee Chair Carson responded that the Task Force is addressing this matter, and suggested that this topic could be included in a youth rally held at a location such as the Convention Center. Karen Goh stated that the issues are complex. The group is trying to reach many children at many different levels, from those who have not thought about it to those who are actively involved. The intention is to get as broad a spectrum of people who are not actively engaged to help out, such as Church congregations who could provide mentoring or parenting classes. Committee Chair Carson informed everyone that there is a luncheon with interested Ministers at Hodels on October 18, 2006. d. Discussion and recommendation regarding implementation and direction of Park Watch Program Police Chief Rector introduced Police Lieutenant Lyle Martin, will be coordinating local street efforts in gang enforcement and will begin attending Committee meetings. A memorandum was distributed in regard to park security. Existing resources include a new Neighborhood Park Watch program, patrol of beat officers, Special Enforcement Unit patrol of parks where known gang members congregate, video cameras at several parks to identify vandals, and a contract with Kern Security to patrol parks after hours. The Police Department has considered how to enhance park security. A proposal includes using a model of the Park Patrol unit in force in 1999. Temporary employees would be hired in the Police Service Technician classification. These individuals would consist of reserve officers who are not authorized to go out on patrol and those in the Explorer program who have exceeded the age limit. These individuals have passed all background checks, know police procedures and policies, and have had the necessary training and exposure to citizen contacts. They would act as a liaison between existing resources and neighborhood park watch groups. Radios would be provided in order to contact on-duty units or dispatch. Cell phones would also be provided so that they can be contacted by block captains or park captains directly if immediate advice is needed. These employees would be unarmed. Surplus police vehicles, painted white with Park Security painted in black letters on the side would be utilized. The estimated cost for first six months includes equipment. There are State grant funds available. Staff proposes a six-month pilot program, after which a report will be provided back to the Committee. If it is successful, it is also hoped that it would be included in the FY 2007-08 budget. It was moved by Committee member Maggard and approved unanimously to forward this to Council for approval at the October 25, 2006 meeting. 5. NEW BUSINESS None �� Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee October 12, 2006 Agenda Summary Report Page 4 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee Chair Carson thanked Mr. Johnson for attending. Probation Chief Roberts introduced Susan Lerude, who was just promoted to Probation Division Director, and will be attending future Committee meetings. She is in charge of juvenile probation programs, which are evidenced-based programs, including the gang intervention and suppression team. The Probation Department reorganized the juvenile division into two parts, juvenile probation services and juvenile probation programs. He also announced that there was a large Probation operation on October 11, 2006 that involved more than 60 officers in Southeast Bakersfield. Numerous contacts, arrests and probation searches were made. Drug canines were also on hand. These operations will be conducted on an ongoing basis, although they will not always concentrate on gangs, but on specialized probation case loads. The presence in the neighborhoods had a significant impact. Committee Chair Carson asked for a report at the next meeting. Assistant District Attorney Sparks reported that there are only four Deputy District Attorney's assigned to these issues because of several retirements over the past few months. By January 1, 2007, the staff should increase to seven, one of whom would specifically work on juvenile gang issues. Seven may not be enough, but that cannot be determined until all seven are employed and the case loads are distributed. There are other cities in Kern County with gang problems that need to be addressed, also. Committee Chair Carson distributed the agenda forjoint meeting scheduled for October 18, 2006. Committee member Sullivan stated that approximately 10 years ago, staff was trying to get some of the main gang members together for a meeting. Committee Chair Carson responded that it is an issue of trust. These people will not sit down with those they do not trust. Pastor Jordan and Isaiah Crompton with Stop the Violence are meeting with those who will meet, although the gang members will only meet individually with the group. Pastor Jordan agreed and said that it is a lengthy process because of their lack of trust and their desire to not lose the trust of other gang members. There are many different gangs located throughout the City, and it would be difficult to bring them all together. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m. Staff present: Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; City Attorney Virginia Gennaro; Po�ice Chief William Rector, Assistant Police Chief Bryan Lynn, Lt. Hajir Nurridin, Lt. Greg Williamson, and Lt. Lyle Martin, Bakersfield Police Department; and Allen Abe and Linda McVicker, Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department. Others present: Dan Sparks, District Attorney's Office; Cmdr. Kirk Foster, Kern County Sheriff's Department; John Roberts and Susan Lerude, Kern County Probation; Karen Goh, Garden Pathways: and Greg Collins, Southeast Neighborhood Partnership; and Pastor Jordan and DeVon Johnson, Stop the Violence. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council