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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/16/2009 B A K E R S F I E L D q Committee Members W �—~ Irma Carson, Chair Staff: John W. Stinson Sue Benham 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 16, 2009 11:45 a.m. City Hall North— Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Meeting called to order at 12:04:34 PM 1. ROLL CALL Committee members: Councilmember Irma Carson, Chair Councilmembers Sue Benham and Jacquie Sullivan Advisory members: Stephanie Campbell, Cornerstone Group Ann Batchelder, Employers' Training Resource DeVon Johnson, OGPC Prodigy City staff: John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant— City Manager's Office Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Bethelwel Wilson, Associate City Attorney Lyle Martin, Assistant Police Chief Capt. Greg Williamson, Bakersfield Police Department Additional Attendees: Jeremy Wright, NAACP and Senator Florez' office Susan Lerude, Kern County Probation Russell Albro, Kern County Sheriff's Office Karen Goh, Garden Pathways Tiffany Alvidrez, Kern High School District Michelle Diaz, Student David Williams, Tony Williams and Kenneth Johnson, N.B.A.K.C. Media Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 16, 2009 Page 2 2. ADOPTION OF MARCH 19, 2009 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update regarding Gang and Graffiti Enforcement — Police Chief Rector Police Captain Martin gave the update. Statistics for the gang unit through the end of March include 234 felony arrests, 1,685 parole/probation searches and 41 guns seizures. In 2007, the Department as a whole seized 1,428 guns, compared to 1,456 in 2008. This averages 2.5 — 3 guns per day. An anonymous tip lead to the arrest of suspects in a recent incident and recovery of a stolen firearm. The Police Department applied for a grant through the federal stimulus program to hire 22 officers. The results will not be known until September. Recruitment for officers is ongoing, regardless of ethnicity. Avenues of outreach include a Junior Officer Program provided by the Police Activities League (PAL), and a criminal justice academy at both the Regional Occupational Center (ROC) and South High School. The Police Department has the Explorer program. Additionally, Bakersfield College provides classes to prepare those who may be interested in becoming an officer. B. Report on Kern County Probation Activities — Chief Probation Officer Roberts Deputy Probation Chief Lerude gave a brief presentation on the Risk Assessment Tool, which will focus on clients who are considered the highest risk. A new unit will be created for this program made up, in part, by redirected prevention staff. The Department has a significant budget problem that will affect some of the non-mandated services. An application will be submitted for a Byrne Grant that would provide for a comprehensive re-entry program for youth leaving Crossroads, Camp Owens or Juvenile Hall. They will also collaborate on another grant that involves community policing with the Police Department, Kern County Superintendent of Schools and Project 180. The Victim Witness Assistance program will sponsor National Crime Week on April 28, 2009 and April 29, 2009. A ribbon cutting will be held on May 8, 2009 for the remodeled mentoring room at 5121 Stockdale Highway. This was a project of Leadership Bakersfield. S:\Council Committees\2009\Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations\April\April 16-ASR.doc JWS:al Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations Committee Agenda Summary Report April 16, 2009 Page 3 C. Report regarding the Charrette Summit —Advisory member Campbell Advisory member Campbell provided background on the Summit and gave a PowerPoint Presentation. The Summit will identify primary, secondary and tertiary intervention methods and programs that offer promising approaches to preventing crimes. The event will be held at California State University Bakersfield in September. The NAACP will assist in the endeavor. Jeremy Wright, Vice President of the local NAACP and Aide to State Senator Dean Florez, gave the second part of the presentation. The NAACP will hold a monthly forum to discuss reduction of the level, magnitude and frequency of gang violence within Kern County and the incorporated cities in keeping with the mission of Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence. The forums will include input and data collection from various community groups and individuals. This data will then be used at the Summit, and submitted to this Committee on the Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence, too. Dates for the forums will be May 9, 2009, June 13, 2009, July 11, 2009, and August 8, 2009. Ms. Campbell also indicated the intent to get input from individuals who are or have been incarcerated on gang-related offenses. Committee Chair Carson reminded the Committee and guests of the numerous summer programs that currently exist. These are not only provided by the City of Bakersfield, but the Boys and Girls Club, also. In addition, Ebony Counseling Center is collaborating with the Boys and Girls Club and the Housing Authority on summer programs. 5. NEW BUSINESS 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Advisory member Johnson said that he was excited to hear about what the Probation Department is doing. If non-profit organizations will work together rather than competitively, progress will be made. He also said that there seems to be unlimited funding for suppression, and believes that some of those funds can be redirected towards intervention and prevention. Jeremy Wright said that Senator Florez' office is available to help the Committee. Committee Chair Carson thanked everyone for attending. 7. ADJOURNMENT 1:01:36 PM S:\Council Committees\2009\Safe Neighborhoods and Community Relations\April\April 16-ASR.doc JWS:al