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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/12/2004 B A K E R S F I E L D Al anager Sue Benham, Chair Staff: Trudy Slater David Couch Jacquie Sullivan AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Monday, July 12, 2004 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL CALL Called to order at 1:04 p.m. Members present: Councilmember Sue Benham, Chair Councilmember David Couch Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan 2. ADOPT MAY 24, 2004 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None. 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS None. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DOWN- TOWN WEEKEND SAFETY ISSUES Police Lt. Dave Haskins explained the difficulties being experienced in the downtown with alcohol, violence, and gang-related problems, which require patrolling by six officers and a Sergeant during high activity hours. The level of intensive patrol is one of the highest in the City. He indicated the Police Department has attempted to base its police activity to deal with the types of issues being experienced by businesses in the area. Agenda Summary Report Legislative and Litigation Committee July 12, 2004 Page 2 Chief Bill Rector indicated he felt this was a community policing issue and that a solution can be found by working with the businesses impacted. Valuable information can also be gained by looking at what other jurisdictions do. Chairperson Sue Benham thanked the Police Department for assisting her in trying to deal with the issues. Kenny Reed stated he liked Lt. Haskins's report. He indicated a lot of people in the downtown are ones that do not come in to the bars but congregate and cause problems outside. He stated cities don't want to violate others civil rights so they add more layers of regulation. Lt. Haskins responded to Chairperson's Benham question regarding underage drinking by indicating free of charge training sessions, including one held just this morning, can be held on how businesses can deal with their patrons, including identifying those who are breaking the law. Mr. Reed indicated underage drinking was not an issue in the bars but in areas outside. Mr. Mel Blanton indicated he was a million dollar investor in downtown and that he was against businesses have more regulations placed on them. He was concerned about liquor license restrictions. City Manager Alan Tandy explained there was not an absolute ban on liquor licenses. The City Council gave the City Manager the ability of determine whether the City approves or denies an application for a PC&N, and a determination is made on a case-by-case basis. Committee Members David Couch and Jacquie Sullivan spoke about their experiences at the Marketplace and private security efforts there. Chairperson Benham indicated she felt there was a difference in services provided by different private security companies. Mr. Reed indicated he doesn't want to pay for private security services when he pays for public safety services already. Chairperson Benham indicated she would like to form a temporary task force consisting of herself, a Police Department representative, the City Attorney, the ABC, a DBA representative, and others. Committee Member Sullivan so moved, and it was passed unanimously by the Committee. B. REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND COMMI'D'EE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RESI- DENTIAL CUL DE SAC PARKING Public Works Director Raul Rojas spoke on public works issues that would arise if the City allowed perpendicular parking ("nosedived" parking) in residential cul de sacs. Traffic Engineer Steve Walker presented handouts delineating the City's and the State's regulations on parking and the changes that would be needed to try to accommodate perpendicular parking in relation to turning radii such as increased rights of way. Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes presented a short video on the difficulties experienced by Sanitation truck drivers in "nosedived" cul de sac parking, and mentioned the additional time which would be needed if the sanitation process had to resort to manual efforts in ensuring trash cans are accessible to City trucks. Administrative Analyst Trudy Slater indicated Fire Chief Ron Fraze was opposed to perpendicular parking in cul de sacs due to access of and mobility needed for City fire trucks. Reduced access raised issues with response times and well as increased exposures to vehicle damage, both private vehicles as well as City fire trucks. Other issues included concerns over the increased amount of maneuvering (backing) which Agenda Summary Report Legislative and Litigation Committee July 12, 20O4 Page 3 would be needed and the additional wear and tear this would have on both the streets and the vehicles. City Manager Tandy indicated allowing perpendicular parking for large personal vehicles such as recreational vehicles, motor homes, and others would create issues as well. Mr. Baker responded to the concerns expressed with counterproposals which included limited perpendicular parking at specified times as well as no street parking at specified times (to accommodate sanitation truck schedules). Chairperson Benham thanked Mr. Baker for bringing the issue to the Committee's attention. She felt that the issue had been explored with the Police, Fire, and Public Works departments indicating their concerns. No further action will be taken. C. REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING MONI- TORING MECHANISM FOR HIGHWAY 99 CRUISE AND CAR SHOW. Committee Member Couch indicated that he would talk to City Manager Tandy regarding this issUe and that it should be left at that for now. The Committee concurred. 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. Staff Attendees: City Manager Alan Tandy, Administrative Analyst Trudy Slater; Assistant City Attorney Bob Sherry; Police Chief Bill Rector, Assistant Police Chief Bryan Lynn, Lt. Dave Haskins; Public Works Director Raul Rojas, Traffic Engineer Steve Walker, Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes; Acting City Treasurer Cheryl Perkins Others Present: J. Michael Baker, Kenny Reed, Mel Blanton, Cathy Butler, Art Carlock, Tammy Brown