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Home My WebLink About07/19/2007 B A K E R S F I E L D ~ City Council members: ~ Irma Carson, Chair Staff: John W. Stinson Zack Scrivner Assistant City Manager Jacquie Sullivan REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE and Community Advisory Committee of the City Council -City of Bakersfield Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:45 a.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Meeting called to order at 11:51:02 AM 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council member Irma Carson; Chair Council member Zack Scrivner Council member Jacquie Sullivan Advisory members present: Steven Perryman, BHS Devon Johnson, OGPC Stephanie Campbell, Cornerstone Group Ann Batchelder, Employers Training Resource Wesley Crawford, NANBC Walter Williams, GBLA City staff present: Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson Management Assistant Rick Kirkwood Assistant City Attorney Janice Scanlan Associate Attorney Michael Richards Police Chief, William Rector Assistant Police Chief Bryan Lynn Capt. Lyle Martin Capt. Robert Bivens Lt. Greg Williamson Lt. Joe Bianco Recreation and Parks Director Dianne Hoover Deputy Fire Chief Kirk Blair Others present: Karen Goh, Garden Pathways, Inc. William Andrews, Stop the Violence Wesley Davis Sr., Wesley Davis Jr., Stacey, Mark and Genesis Davis Various members of the media S:\Council Committees12007107 Safe NeighborhoodslJuly 191Ju1y 19 ASR.doc Page 1 2. ADOPTION OF MAY 17, 2007 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update regarding Gang and Graffiti Enforcement -Rector Gangs: For the first six months of 2007, there have been over 900 arrests, 96 guns were seized, over 2,600 probation and parole searches were completed, and more than 3,000 hours were spent assisting other law enforcement agencies. There were 29 shootings compared to 26 in 2006 and 40 in 2005. There have been 9 homicides, 6 of which were gang related. Graffiti: There have been 108 arrests to date in 2007 compared to 83 in 2006. The majority of the offenders are juvenile. There have been 196 cases cleared, compared to 144 in 2006. Chief Rector noted that over 300 children attend the Police Activities League (PAL) Center each day and participate in a variety of activities. At least 8 volunteers per day provide assistance. Captain Martin reported that the gang hotline, 325-GANG, generated significant information that lead to a large investigation. This resulted in three arrests and the seizure of two high-powered weapons. Chief Rector advocated dialing 911 for emergencies. Committee member Scrivner recommended listing the gang hotline in neighborhood watch brochures. He further suggested putting the hotline number on flyers that would be distributed throughout the community by volunteers, and attaching the flyers to the Police Department's crime updates. Pertinent information that would be required by the dispatcher would be listed, also. B. Update of State and Federal Anti-Gang Legislation - Gennaro SB 456 (Feinstein): The hearings have been held; and now that the committee report is prepared, it can be signed and published. There are seven additional co-sponsors, for a total now of 36. The Bill is moving in the Senate, so it probably will pass. Senator Feinstein's aide, Sarah Moffatt, sent a request for letters in support. This Committee has already done that. The City Attorney's office will determine what is needed. SB 550 (Ashburn): This Bill is stalled and will not go forward until next year. Committee Chair Carson advocates promotion of this Bill. Assistant City Manager Stinson noted that the sentence enhancements cannot be enacted until more room is found in the prisons. The City Attorney's office will continue to track this item. AB 802 (Salas): This Bill provides for a significant amount of funding; however, because an appropriation was needed, it was suspended. It may come back next year. S:\Council Committees\2007\07 Safe NeighborhoodslJuly 19\July 19 ASR.doc Page 2 AB 104 (Solorio): This is on the Governor's desk awaiting signature. C. Report on Recreation and Parks Programs to Curb Gang Violence -Hoover Attendance at the pool at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park is up 160% over 2006, and up at all other outdoor pools, also. A grant was received that allowed for free swim lessons and free pool entrance for youth under 18 years of age. The price of general admission was reduced from $2 to $1. There is a Junior Lifeguard program that is also free. Currently, 36 young people between the ages of 10-15 can learn lifeguarding skills. When they turn 16, they can take a class with the goal of obtaining official lifeguard status which can translate into employment. The Recreation and Parks summer brochure lists quite a few programs such as a basketball clinic at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. There are 300 to 500 families attending Movies in the Park. A new program is offered whereby donated bicycles are refurbished and kept by the young people who do the work. A $10,000 grant was received from the Bakersfield Californian for a community garden program at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. This will be an after-school program overseen by a graduate student that will teach youths to plant, cultivate, and use kitchen facilities to cook the food they grow, while learning about nutrition. A multi-sport facility will soon be built in Saunders Park. Roller hockey, basketball and indoor soccer can all be played there. The skateboard park at Beach Park will be expanded soon. Committee member Scrivner asked that the gang hotline number plus pertinent information required by police dispatchers be included in the next Recreation and Parks brochure. Advisory member Williams noted a need for more programs that would educate young people and teach them employable skills. Committee Chair Carson said that there are programs now available at the Bakersfield Adult School and Ebony Counseling Center. Advisory member Campbell said that construction programs have been offered by S.C. Anderson at the Small Business Center, also. 5. NEW BUSINESS None 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee member Scrivner directed the City Manager's office to invite Larry Reider, Superintendent of Schools and a representative from the Kern High School District to future meetings of the Committee. Committee Chair Carson encouraged everyone to attend the July 26, 2007 KCEOC Board meeting. The Friendship House reconstruction will be discussed. A $3 million grant was S:\Council Committees\2007\07 Safe Neighborhoods\July 19\July 19 ASR.doc Page 3 received approximately two years ago to rebuild the facility; but, to date, this has not been accomplished. Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio has scheduled a Joint Gang Task Force meeting on August 23, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in the County Administration building. On September 21, 2007, California Assembly member Jean Fuller is hosting a community renewal summit on gang violence. Also attending will be the Governor's appointee to head up the CalGrip program, along with other State officials. This will be held at the Holiday Inn Select from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch provided at noon. Space will be limited. Advisory member Campbell asked to be notified of special events. At the direction of Committee member Scrivner, those who are interested in being part of an electronic distribution group can provide their a-mail address at the next Committee meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:08:49 PM S:1Council Committees\2007\07 Safe Neighborhoods\July 19\July 19 ASR.doc Page 4