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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/2020Safe Neighborhood & Community Relations Committee September 17 Agenda Summary Report Page 1 Committee Members Staff: Jacqui Kitchen Councilmember, Willie Rivera Chair Assistant City Manager Councilmember, Andrae Gonzales Councilmember, Chris Parlier SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE Thursday, September 17, 2020 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: Christian Clegg, City Manager Jacqui Kitchen, Assistant City Manager Anthony Valdez, Administrative Analyst III Ginny Gennaro, City Attorney Viridiana Gallardo-King, Christina Oleson, Deputy City Attorneys Greg Terry, Interim Chief of Police Robert Pair, Police Sergeant Daniel McAfee, Jeff Burdick, Police Lieutenants Additional Attendees: Members of the Public 2.PUBLIC STATEMENTS No public comments. 3.ADOPTION OF FEBRUARY 13, 2020 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The Report was adopted as submitted. 4.NEW BUSINESS A.Committee Discussion Regarding Violence Prevention Strategy – Terry Police Chief Terry provided a verbal presentation summarizing the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) Violence Prevention Strategy. There was an increase in violent crimes and a decrease in property crimes in 2020 when compared to 2019. Several community /S/ Jacqui Kitchen S:\Council Committees\2020\Safe Neighborhood and Community Relations Committee\09_September Page 2 JK:pa:mc prevention and intervention programs were developed by BPD including the Police Activities League (PAL) Program, a Junior Police Academy, and the Bakersfield Safe Street Partnership. City Manager Clegg added that the City could provide support of prevention and intervention programs, partner with local agencies to improve neighborhood revitalization efforts. He stated that BPD was recently awarded a grant for $1.5 million dollars from the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program (CalVIP) to further improve and increase direct services to community-based organizations to support evidence-based violence reduction initiatives. Committee member Gonzales stated that the Bakersfield Safe Street Partnership is a good model and inquired about existing needs to strategize and improve community partnerships and local nonprofit partnerships. He also shared feedback from community members who had expressed concerns regarding the rise of crime near illegal gaming casino locations. Chief Terry responded that managing and coordinating outreach efforts to high-risk areas and individuals with community partners and local nonprofits was needed and that CalVIP will address those needs. Lieutenant McAfee stated cooperation from the property owners was necessary to address illegal gambling casinos in neighborhoods which was sometimes challenging. City Attorney Gennaro added that the City Attorney Office’s and BPD have addressed illegal casinos on a case by case basis. Committee member Gonzales requested staff implement an administrative citation process for illegal gambling casinos. Committee member Parlier requested staff contact the California Department of Justice’s Gambling Control Division to explore resources they may have available to assist in addressing illegal gambling casinos. Furthermore, he requested staff research the possibility of expanding the Shot Spotter program as well as additional equipment and technology resources to assist in the investigations of crimes. Committee Chair Rivera commented about re-establishing the Joint City-County Task Force to Combat Gun Violence to assist all the local partnerships in discussing and address ongoing violence issues. 5.DEFERRED BUSINESS A.Street Racing Enforcement Update – Terry Police Chief Terry provided a verbal presentation summarizing the Street Racing Enforcement memorandum provided in the packet. He stated enforcement operations had been conducted and would continue to address this serious public safety issue. Committee member Parlier thanked Police Chief Terry and staff along with the Kern County Raceway for all the efforts to address illegal street racing. He requested staff research if an administrative citation process would be a beneficial tool and report the findings to the Committee at a future meeting. 6.COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee Member Parlier requested staff to provide an update on motorcycle police. 7.ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 a.m.