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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/19/2017 B A K E R S F I E L D Staff: Committee Members: Steve Teglia, Assistant City Manager Councilmember, Willie Rivera - Chair Councilmember, Andrae Gonzales Councilmember, Chris Parlier REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE of the City Council - City of Bakersfield Thursday, October 19, 2017 12:00 p.m. City Hall North – Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 A G E N D A 1. ROLL CALL 2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 3. ADOPTION OF APRIL 20, 2017 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT 4. REPORTS A. Report regarding Gang/Graffiti Enforcement – Martin B. Report regarding Safe Streets Partnership Efforts – Martin 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 6. ADJOURNMENT B A K E R S F I E L D Committee Members Staff: Steven Teglia Councilmember, Willie Rivera Chair Assistant City Manager Councilmember, Andrae Gonzales Councilmember, Chris Parlier SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE Thursday, April 20, 2017 9:00 a.m. City Hall North – Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The meeting was convened at 9:00 a.m. 1. ROLL CALL Committee members: Councilmember, Willie Rivera, Chair Councilmember, Andrae Gonzales Councilmember, Chris Parlier City staff: Steve Teglia, Assistant City Manager Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Richard Iger, Deputy City Attorney Viridiana Gallardo-King, Associate City Attorney Lyle Martin, Chief of Police Evan Demestihas and Greg Terry, Assistant Chiefs of Police Joe Mullins, Police Captain Martin Heredia and Jeremy Grimes, Police Lieutenants Ryan Kroeker and Sean Morphis, Police Sergeants Additional Attendees: Karen Goh, Bakersfield Mayor Members of the Public Members of the Media 2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS Ms. Mona Sidhu, a Bakersfield resident, stated she was concerned about the handling of hate crimes in the City of Bakersfield including the prosecution process. She provided documentation (media advisories) related to several recent hate crimes and a copy of the Bakersfield Police Department Hate Crimes pamphlet. /s/ Steven Teglia Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 20, 2017 Page 2 __________________________________________________________ Ms. Nancy Renfro, Co-founder of Community Together Rebuilding Unity Seeking Trust and Transparency (TRUSTT) stated the Bakersfield Police Department is going above and beyond in their effort to control crimes within a two square mile radius west of Chester Avenue to Washington, south of California Avenue to Brundage Lane; she requested the City support the Community TRUSTT group with a greater presence within the mentioned area. Ms. Marilyn Droppers, Co-founder of Community TRUSTT, stated her organization would like to work and collaborate with the City and Law Enforcement on the 21st Century policing principles. She urged the Committee to meet regularly. Ms. Karen Shah, with A Phillip Randolph CDC, provided information on behalf of Kern Council of Government who is conducting a survey and seeking community input on making the streets safer. She also submitted a flyer containing additional information. 3. ADOPTION OF OCTOBER 13, 2016 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The Report was unanimously adopted as submitted. 4. REPORTS A. Report regarding Gang/Graffiti Enforcement - Martin Lieutenant Heredia provided a brief summary of statistical information regarding gang activity. He stated that year-to-date, gang-related shootings have decreased and gun seizures have increased in comparison to 2016. Chief of Police Martin stated that the total of restitution amounts for graffiti crimes has increased in comparison to 2016. There has also been in an increase in the efforts identifying and prosecuting those committing such crimes. Committee member Parlier inquired if the administration or civil penalties process could assist in collecting restitutions. City Attorney Gennaro stated that most graffiti crimes are committed by juveniles and that the attachment of debt to real property has no impact on them. Staff will research the use of state and city law to seek restitution from the juveniles’ parents and report to the Committee at a later meeting. B. Report regarding Safe Streets Partnership Efforts - Martin Captain Mullins reported that the Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership has continued to hold monthly community outreach meetings and gang call-ins with positive results. There are three new organizations that have joined the Safe Streets Partnership; they are: Community TRUSTT, Compassion Christian Center and the Body of Christ organization; and Mothers on Fire. Members of Community TRUSTT have joined members of the Police Department and trained together on Community Trust and Transparency and building a relationship. Members of Compassion Christian Center are assisting women who are at risk by providing them with self-esteem and self-respect tools in an effort to assist them in transitioning out of the gang life. “Mothers on Fire” is a support group for families left to cope and deal with the loss of a child to gang/gun violence. Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 20, 2017 Page 3 __________________________________________________________ Committee member Parlier thanked the Department for all their work as they are essential to the success of the partnership. Committee Chair Gonzales concurred with Mr. Parlier’s comments and requested he be provided additional information regarding any efforts to promote and maintain the partnership. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion Regarding the ShotSpotter Technology – Martin Chief of Police Martin stated staff researched the ShotSpotter technology in 2015 and determined it would not be beneficial to the Department. Since that time, the technology has improved significantly. The Department has applied for a federal grant to initiate a pilot program which will be assessed by California State University Bakersfield to determine its usefulness and effectiveness. The technology would be used in the same two square mile radius mentioned at the beginning of the meeting along with a square mile along Beale and Baker Streets area. Chief of Police Martin stated he would be visiting the City of Fresno for a live demonstration of the technology. Captain Mullins stated ShotSpotter technology identifies gunshot sounds through microphones located on elevated structures; it then triangulates the location of the gunshots and provides it to officers on the streets within minutes. There are approximately nine other cities in California utilizing the technology productively to monitor not only gun violence but celebratory gun firing and gun sale test firing. The ShotSpotter provider requires a three square mile minimum and costs approximately $235,000 for the first year (including installation costs) and $195,000 per year after that. He stated ShotSpotter can be integrated with the current public safety cameras system and will help decrease response times and reduce gunfire. Lieutenant Grimes stated there are currently 12 locations throughout the city when public safety cameras are located; staff has applied for a separate grant to add three additional cameras. The surveillance is used to identify individuals and vehicles fleeing a potential crime scene. Committee member Gonzales asked if the County has been contacted about ShotSpotter technology as there are several pockets within the proposed three mile radius. Chief of Police Martin stated that there have been discussions with the Sherriff’s office and unfortunately, they are dealing with a $2.5-$3.5 million budget deficit making any cost sharing unfeasible at this time. In addition, staff has also had discussions with several other law enforcement partners including but not limited to the Probation and Parole offices. Committee member Parlier requested staff provide an update on the ShotSpotter technology after the visit with the City of Fresno and that staff review funding opportunities, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the general fund, to fund the ShotSpotter technology in year three. Committee Chair Rivera asked when a response was expected regarding the grant and if awarded when the program would launch. Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 20, 2017 Page 4 __________________________________________________________ Captain Mullins stated the grant is scheduled to be awarded in August 2017 and if received the program would be launched by January 2018. B. Discussion Regarding the School Resources Officer Program – Martin Chief of Police Martin stated that the Kern High School District recently held discussions regarding the installation of public safety cameras in the common areas at the high schools. In conjunction, staff reached out to representatives at the Kern High School District to discuss opportunities to enhance the School Resources Officer program. Assistant Chief of Police Demestihas stated that there are currently two full time School Resources Officers serving 79 schools. The program’s mission is to safe guard the lives of children, educators, citizens, and the community. The officers enforce policy, mentor, and do home visits. Staff has also had discussions with the Bakersfield City School District Superintendent to fund two additional Resources Officers to serve the District’s approximately 45 schools, several of which are located within the three square mile radius being considered for the ShotSpotter pilot program. Ongoing discussions also included the possibility of funding a portion of the ShotSpotter technology. Chief of Police Martin added that the ShotSpotter technology could assist the administration staff of schools in lockdown situations that would be altered quicker. Chief of Police Martin provided details regarding a pilot program in which school administrators would be notified when a child has suffered a traumatic experience, i.e. domestic violence, shooting, etc. This will assist teachers in developing and strategizing on different approaches to combat disruptive behavior in the classrooms. Committee member Parlier thanked Chief of Police Martin and Councilmember Gonzales for their efforts in expanding the School Resources Officer Program by utilizing their relationships with several members of the Community. C. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Adoption of the 2017 Committee Meeting Schedule - Teglia The schedule was adopted as submitted with the exception that the December meeting be held on December 14th at 9:00 am; all other meetings are to be held at noon. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS There were no Committee comments. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:58 p.m.