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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/06/05 CC MINUTES SPECIAL 597 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2005 BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers 1501 Truxtun Avenue Special Meeting - 6:00 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING ACTION TAKEN 1. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Hall, Sullivan, Scrivner Absent: Carson, Benham, Couch, Hanson Mayor Hall recognized Kern County Supervisor Ray Watson, Roberta McCarthy, Administrative Coordinator, Kern County Graffiti Off Program, Bruce Freeman, President, Castle & Cooke California, Brian Todd, Executive Officer, Building Industry Association, Tom Edmonds, Chairman Anti-Graffiti Sub Committee Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee, Bill Jones, Principal, Ridgeview High School, Manuel Berrara, representing Assemblywoman Nicole Para and Ann Cervantes representing State Senator Dean Florez. 2. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS BY COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmembers Scrivner and Sullivan made opening comments. 3. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Presentations by various City staff members regarding implementation of graffiti program. Assistant City Manager Christensen made staff comments and introduced Lt. Bailey, Supervisor of the Bakersfield Police Anti-Graffiti Unit. Lt. Bailey gave a computer presentation and provided information on the Graffiti Habitual Offender Suppression Team, (G.H.O.S.T. Unit) and introduced Officer Matt Hilliard, the full time G.H.O.S.T Unit officer. '-"---"~ 598 Bakersfield, California, April 6, 2005 - Page 2 3. STAFF PRESENTATIONS continued Tony Martinez, Community Relations Specialist, Bakersfield Police Department, spoke regarding the Neighborhood Watch Program and made a computer presentation. City Attorney Gennaro provided information regarding community prosecution and made a computer presentation. Pubilic Works Operations Manager Underwood provided information regarding the City's graffiti removal program and made a computer presentation. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff analyze the cost effectiveness of advertising the Adopt-a-Wall program in newspapers and on billboards. Chief Code Enforcement Officer Fidler gave a computer presentation and provided information regarding improving the quality of life in the City through graffiti abatement. Webmaster Sawyer previewed the City's new anti- graffiti website, www.bakersfieldqraffitLus. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff link Neighborhood Watch pages to the graffiti website. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff link the Special Council Graffiti meeting to the anti-graffiti website. Councilmember Sullivan requested staff provide more buttons to the graffiti website to make the site more user friendly. Councilmember Scrivner suggested the graffiti website be utilized to advertise the Adopt-a-Wall Program instead of newspapers and billboards. Councilmember Carson arrived and took a place in audience. Parks Construction and Facilities Planner Trone provided information regarding discouraging graffiti vandalism of City owned walls and landscaping and made a computer presentation. ACTION TAKEN --- Bakersfield, California, April 6, 2005 - Page 3 3. STAFF PRESENTATIONS continued Assistant City Manager Christensen summarized and made closing comments. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff perform a cost analysis between graffiti removal and landscaping solutions to determine the most cost effective way to control the proliferation of graffiti. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff initiate dialog with developers regarding planting of shrubs and trees to assure planting requirements do not contribute to rapidly increasing home prices. Councilmember Sullivan requested staff investigate the feasibility of utilizing shrubs that will mature to a large size; while plants are maturing use a less expensive sealant on walls that has a life expectancy expiring about the time plants/shrubs are projected to reach maturity. 4. GUEST SPEAKERS a. Comments by various members of the community. County Supervisor Ray Watson made comments and referenced AB-308 which enables governmental agencies to recover actual and punitive damage from perpetrators of various offenses; enlist Superior Court's aid when appropriate, and suggested similar measures be examined by local agencies to mitigate costs to local governments incurred abating graffiti and advocate for State law to enable the process. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff examine the feasibility of an administrative hearing panel. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff analyze the possible endorsement of AS 308. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff arrange a City/County task force to address the graffiti issue. Kern County Graffiti Off Program Coordinator Roberta McCarthy made a computer presentation regarding the County's anti-graffiti program and encouraged seamless service between City and County agencies. 599 ACTION TAKEN 600 Bakersfield, California, April 6, 2005 - Page 4 GUEST SPEAKERS continued 4. Freeman, Castle & Cooke California, Brian Todd, Building Industry Association and Tom Edmonds, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee made comments. Councilmember Scrivner encouraged participation in the Great American Clean-up. Ridgeview High School Principal Bill Jones made comments and introduced two members of the High School's Maintenance and Operations Division, John Fox and Tom Romo. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff assure a Kern High School District principal is included as a member on the proposed Joint Task Force. Recess taken from 8:13 p.m. to 8:18 p.m. 5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS a. Mary Helen Barro spoke regarding the need for providing anti-graffiti information printed in Spanish an on the website. b. Tammie Hilton spoke encouraging the use of vines in discouraging the spread of graffiti. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff investigate utilizing vines on H Street to discourage graffiti. c. Nancy Vibe spoke encouraging volunteers to aide in battle against graffiti. d. John Hill spoke suggesting graffiti be deemed a felony crime instead of a misdemeanor crime. e. Brandi De la Garza made comments and suggested City/County coordination of graffiti reporting numbers. City Manager Tandy made responded. f. Manual Carazales spoke regarding graffiti prevention. g. Irene Sanchez complimented staff on graffiti abatement efforts. _....._.. - u'_ ~_~ ,,__. ..---_....,-- ACTION TAKEN .~..- Bakersfield, California, April 6, 2005 - Page 5 5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS h Karen Davenport requested information regarding utilization of the juvenile work release program and ex-convicts to clean up graffiti. Officer Hilliard responded. i. Carolyn Mitchell complimented staff on graffiti abatement. j. Nancy Peyton complimented the 32-ERASE Program and requested additional service. k. Harlan O'Day made comments and requested information regarding maintenance of railroad control boxes. City Manager Tandy and General Services Superintendent Hollingsworth responded. I. Kelly Bishop, Neighborhood Watch Captain complimented staff efforts. m. Steve Montgomery, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, provided information regarding graffiti removal. 6. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Scrivner thanked all participants in the Special Meeting, particularly staff members Sean Cacal and Rhonda Smiley. Additionally, he expressed appreciation to the media for covering the event. Council member Scrivner encouraged community participation in controlling graffiti. Councilmember Scrivner reiterated his request to staff regardIng implementation of an advertising campaign with medIa partners, including KGOV, targeting graffiti. Councilmember Scrivner requested staff investigate feasibility of making the website and other anti-graffiti literature bi-lingual. Councilmember Sullivan thanked staff and made closing comments. Mayor Hall thanked guest speakers, public and staff for their attendance. 601 ACTION TAKEN 602 Bakersfield, California, April 6, 2005 - Page 6 6. ADJOURNMENT continued MAYO Meeting was adjourned by a ATTEST: CITY CLERK and Ex Officio the Council of the City of Sa ACTION TAKEN