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Home My WebLink About04/17/2008 L0"Woo----ft B A K E R S F I E L D 1 � City Council members: UJ 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, April 17, 2008 11:45 a.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Meeting called to order at 12:00:43 PM 1. ROLL CALL Committee members Present: Councilmember Irma Carson, Chair Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan and Zack Scrivner Advisory members present: Walter Williams, GBLA Stephanie Campbell, Cornerstone DeVon Johnson, OGPC/Prodigy David Strong, Corp. for Better Housing Robert Murillo, Neighborhood Watch Captain City staff present: John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant—City Manager's Office Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Justin Crumley, Associate Attorney Jefferson Billingsley, Associate Attorney William Rector, Chief of Police Bryan Lynn, Assistant Police Chief Capt. Greg Williamson, Bakersfield Police Department Lt. Joe Bianco, Bakersfield Police Department Donna Kunz, Economic Development Director Dianne Hoover, Recreation and Parks Director Allen Abe, Assistant Recreation and Parks Director Jinger Todd, Business Manager— Recreation and Parks Others present: John Roberts and Susan Lerude, K.C. Probation Karen Briefer, Employers' Training Resource Karen Goh, Garden Pathways Marques Stansberry, Ebony Counseling Center Vicki Thompson and Alan Paradise, KHSD Various members of the media Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 17, 2008 Page 2 2. ADOPTION OF MARCH 20, 2008 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update regarding Gang and Graffiti Enforcement— Rector Graffiti Police Lt. Bianco reported that a 15-year-old who was recently arrested admitted to 14 graffiti offenses. During the interview, approximately 10 people were identified as the crew, which lead to another arrest. There is a meeting set for Friday, April 15, 2008 that will include Kern County Probation, District Attorney, City Attorney, Bakersfield Police and Councilmember Scrivner to discuss improving methods of documentation, arrests, interrogation and prosecution. Advisory member Williams asked if restitution could lie more with the youth offenders rather than with their parents. According to Lt. Bianco, each case is unique and subjective. Probation Chief Roberts reported that if the offense does not require Court involvement, the offender meets with a Probation Officer, who then dictates informal sanctions like community service. If the matter does justify Court involvement, restitution will be ordered and the parents will be held liable. Advisory member Strong asked about programs to educate offenders following their arrest. According to Probation Chief Roberts, there is no specific program that addresses graffiti at this time. There are, however, different prevention services that are provided for juveniles. Crime Analysis Reports Police Chief Rector reported on a program that has been developing over five years. Currently, crime maps are published weekly. Soon, they will be published daily in an almost real-time dissemination of data. This will not only benefit law enforcement, but the community as well, as it will provide information regarding activities in any given area of the City. The goal is to have a display model within the next month. Gangs To date in 2008, there have been 225 felony and 167 misdemeanor arrests. Approximately 11 guns are seized per month. In cooperation with Probation and Parole, there have been in excess of 1,500 probation/parole searches. There have been 10 shootings to date. In this same period in 2007, there were 19. S:\Council Committees\2008\08 Safe Neighborhoods\April 17\April 17 ASR.doc JWS:al Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 17, 2008 Page 3 B. Update regarding Transitional Housing Proiect - Kunz Economic Development Director Kunz reported that the biggest issue is operational funding. The amount of funds available to operate this type of facility is small. She suggested submitting a Request for Proposals to find out if there are service providers with their own operating resources who would be in a position to run the facility. Staff has found that there are two sources of funds that would be usable: tax increment and federal HOME funds. All monies are allocated for this fiscal year; however, proposals can be accepted anytime for future allocations. Ms. Kunz cautioned that receiving funding for operations will be difficult. Probation Chief Roberts reported that most juveniles who are paroled from the Department of Juvenile Justice have to go back to Court to have their jurisdiction changed to probation. Most return home to live with their family, although one juvenile was placed into transitional home in Taft, but that was the only facility willing to take him in. Committee Chair Carson reported that there are group homes funded by the State. She is working with Mental Health on a pilot program whereby gang enforcement funding is set aside to provide residential treatment individually to those young people who have demonstrated an addiction to alcohol and drugs. Advisory member Williams stated the need to have a facility, not a home, with different services on site. C. Update regarding Parks Programs - Hoover Recreation and Parks Director Hoover presented a slide show that summarized the programs provided by the Department to help prevent some of young people from entering a life of crime or gang. Hard copies of the presentation were distributed. Advisory member Campbell thanked the Recreation and Parks' staff for their assistance with the Easter event at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee member Scrivner spoke about the possibility of offering rewards for reporting graffiti and some lesser crimes that do not qualify for Secret Witness rewards through an anonymous tip line. He asked that staff formulate a plan that would include information on the process to accept donations through the Bakersfield Foundation. Committee Chair Carson asked that the June meeting be held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Advisory member Strong reported on the opening of a new facility on Oswell at Center, behind Ramon Garza School. This facility is available to any community based organization that wishes to use it for outreach. Nathan Curtis at the Cottonwood facility is contact person, and he can be reached at 874.3804. S:\Council Committees\2008\08 Safe Neighborhoods\April 17\April 17 ASR.doc JWS:al Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 17, 2008 Page 4 Advisory member Johnson reported on the basketball program. Committee Chair Carson asked for a report at the May Committee meeting. Susan LeRude with Kern County Probation reported that they started a new summer program in collaboration with Garden Pathways and North of the River Recreation and Parks District in the Oildale area. Youth who have been referred for early intervention and their siblings can take part, and will be bused to the facility. Probation Chief Roberts stated that seven families participated in the first graduation from the Strengthening Families program. Marques Stansberry with Ebony Counseling Center reported that they have been asked by the County for preliminary reports on their prevention programs. They are working diligently with elementary and middle schools on agreements that will provide their staff with campus access. Thus far, agreements with Pauly and Bessie E. Owens Elementary Schools, and Sierra Jr. High School have been secured. Sixty four children are enrolled. Mr. Stansberry also said that there is a youth festival scheduled for May 9, 2008 at California State University at Bakersfield. Karen Goh with Garden Pathways said that there are some great success stories reported by parents who have participated in their mentoring programs. 6. ADJOURNMENT 1:14:02 PM S:\Council Committees\2008\08 Safe Neighborhoods\April 17Wpril 17 ASR.doc JWS:al I