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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/21/2008 • B A K E R S F I E L D 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, August 21, 2008 11:45 a.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1501 Truxtun Avenue Second Floor, City Hall South Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Meeting called to order at 12:03:14 PM 1. ROLL CALL Committee members: Councilmember Irma Carson, Chair Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan and Zack Scrivner Advisory members: Walter Wiliams, GBLA City staff: John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant—City Manager's Office Steven Teglia, Administrative Analyst— City Manager's Office Harvey L. Hall, Mayor Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Bethewel Wilson, Associate Attorney Jefferson Billingsley, Associate Attorney Bryan Lynn, Assistant Police Chief Capt. Lyle Martin, Bakersfield Police Department Lt. Joe Bianco, Bakersfield Police Department Donna Kunz, Economic Development Director Allen Abe, Assistant Recreation and Parks Director Others: John Roberts and Susan Lerude, Kern County Probation Karen Goh, Garden Pathways Marques Stansberry, Ebony Counseling Center David Williams Media 2. ADOPTION OF JUNE -19, 2008 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report August 21, 2008 Page 2 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update regarding Gang and Graffiti Enforcement— Rector Assistant Police Chief Lynn reported that, year to date through August, there have been 15 homicides, 4 of which are gang related. Ten of those have been cleared. Captain Martin reported that, year to date, the gang unit has made 548 felony and 360 misdemeanor arrests, and 104 guns were seized. There have been 41 gang shootings. The GHOST unit made 180 graffiti arrests. There have been 14 calls to the gang tip hotline; whereas in 2007, there were only 5. Lieutenant Bianco reported on a recent case in Northeast Bakersfield that was solved with the teamwork of the Police Department's Special Enforcement Unit, the FBI and Sacramento City and County gang units. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Status Report— Kern County Probation Department Probation Chief Roberts reported on the Department's increase in staffing levels. He also updated the Committee on a recent event at Heritage Park, where information and services were provided. Susan Lerude, Director of Probation Programs, reported on the new Bridges Academy program. It is an early intervention program in collaboration with the Superintendent of Schools that has now expanded into Arvin and Lamont, and soon to be introduced to North Kern. it is made available to youth who no longer are sent to the Youth Authority for significant crimes. it is located in the Westchester area, next to Employer's Training Resources behind Rosemary's Creamery. Students are referred by Probation Officers. The focus is on education, whether it is vocational, or with the goal of obtaining a GED certificate or High School diploma. There is also a job coordinator, child psychologist, recovery specialist and licensed mental health therapist on staff. Committee Chair Carson asked for more information, so that it can be disseminated to the community. B. Update regarding Transitional Housing Project— Kunz Economic Development Director Kunz reported that both transitional housing projects are moving forward. A proposal was received from Golden Empire Housing to provide transitional housing for youth on probation or leaving the foster care system that will include 40 individual units with case managers on site. S:\Council Committees\2008\08 Safe Neighborhoods\August 21\Aug 21 -ASR.doc JWS:al Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report August 21, 2008 Page 3 The second project will be dormitory style with a communal kitchen, funding for which will be considered by the City Council in approximately one month. Collaborating with Bethany Services, the focus will be on youth and families on the verge of homelessness. A referral system will be addressed through an operating and development agreement. Advisory member Williams stated the need for gang transitional housing and services for those who want to change their life, but have never been arrested, so are not in the system. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Advisory member Stansberry of Ebony Counseling Center, and Karen Goh of Garden Pathways, gave updates on their respective prevention programs. Committee Chair Carson said that the prevention programs have been very successful. Karen Goh will provide an update of Project 180 at the next meeting of the Kern County Board of Supervisors. 7. ADJOURNMENT 12:56:49 PM S:\Council Committees\2008\08 Safe Neighborhoods\August 21\Aug 21 -ASR.doc JWS:al