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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/24/2012 County of Kern City of Bakersfield Mike Maggard, Supervisor – Co-Chair Rudy Salas, Councilmember – Co-Chair Karen Goh, Supervisor Russell Johnson, Councilmember Staff: Richard Taylor Jacquie Sullivan, Councilmember Staff: Steven Teglia REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT CITY/COUNTY STANDING COMMITTEE TO COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE May 24, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. Bakersfield City Council Chambers 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 A G E N D A ROLL CALL 1. Public Presentations This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons to address the Committee on any matter not on this agenda but under the jurisdiction of the Committee. Committee members may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed. They may ask a question for clarification, make a referral to staff for factual information or request staff to report back to the Committee at a later meeting. Also, the Committee may act to direct the staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda. Please state your name and address for the record before making your presentation. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES. 2. Committee Member Announcements or Reports 3. Bakersfield Police Department Update (Police Chief, Greg Williamson) 4. Probation Department Update (Probation Supervisor, Jeremy Roberts) 5. Kern County Sheriff’s Department Update (Deputy, Richard Hudson) 6. Q & A / Discussion ADJOURNMENT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (Government Code Section 54953.2) Disabled individuals who need special assistance to attend or participate in a meeting of the Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence may request assistance at the C ity Manager’s Office, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, or by calling (661) 326-3751. Every effort will be made to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Requests for assistance should be made five (5) working days in advance wherever possible. Special Meeting of the Joint City / County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence Minutes February 16, 2012 – 10:00 AM Kern County Board Chambers 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 Roll Call: Call to order 10:05 AM. All members present – Supervisor Maggard, Supervisor Goh, Councilmember Rudy Salas, Councilmember Russell Johnson and Councilwoman Jackie Sullivan. Probation Department Update: T.R. Merickel provided update on realignment and the reintroduction of inmates into the County. He stated that the state originally estimated there would be 483 offenders returning to Kern County. The actual number received was 957. Goh asked what adjustments his department has made to address the increase flow of offenders. Merickel answered they intended to shift more personnel to address that flow and looking forward is hopeful that the State will provide AB 109 funds based on actual offenders as opposed to projections. Johnson asked if a large percentage of these are violating the terms of their release. Merickle answered the numbers were not unexpected. Some things, such as The Day Reporting Center are helping to reduce recidivism. Sullivan asked what the ratio of offenders to Probation Officers is. Merickle answered, approximately 90 to 1. Salas asked if the majority of the offenders are affiliated with gangs. Merickle answeredAtheyAdon’tAreallyAhaveAthoseAstatistics.AASalasAstatedAhe’dAlikeAtoAseeAthatA data available for future meetings. Maggard commented that it is a concern of his that offenders graduated to a higher level of offenses and join gangs.Maggard stated that he inadvertently overlooked the public presentations of the meeting. Public Presentation: Stephanie Campbell, concerned citizen asked if someone could put a team together to assist in applying for grants. She stated she has already identified three potential grant sources. Maggard asked if the city could work on grant applications. Salas stated that the city could help. Goh asked Ms. Castille in the audience if she could work with Ms. Campbell on the subject. Manuel Carrizalas, Stay Focus Ministries provided an update. He stated they most recently had been making presentation at several school assemblies in Delano, McFarland, Wasco and Shafter. He stated that the administration at these schools are experiencing an increase in instances of bullying. Additionally there had been reports of racial tensions at school bus stops in East Bakersfield that now involve the parents. He also briefed the committee on partnerships with Bakersfield City and Panama Buena Vista school districts and that they are recruiting additional mentors for these programs. KernACountyASheriff’sADepartmentAUpdate: Sgt.ADustinADowneyApresentedAaApowerApointAonAoperationsAonAtheASheriff’sAGangA Unit. While summarizing the operations of the Gang Unit, he emphasized how much time their unit spends in preparation for and actual court-room testimony to prosecute gang members. In Kern County for 2011 there were 25 homicides, five of which were gang related. He also stated that there is indeed considerable racial tension between black and Hispanic gangs. He stated that this is an ongoing issue. Salas asked how many of the five gang related homicides were gang-on- gang. Downey responded that all five were. He clarified that the other 20 could have had gang member involvement, but it was directed at someone such as a family member. Bakersfield Police Department Update: Lt. George Gomez, Directed Policing Unit (DPU) provided update on the Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership Gang Call In Program. Maggard asked Gomez to clarify for the audience what a Call-In program consists of. Gomez reiterated the agencies involved in the Call-InAprogramAandAthatAthey’veAbeenAmostA successful with inviting parolees and probationers. Goh talked about how the gang members have a choice to either be involved or not be involved in a gang. Johnson stated that he agreed how successful the Call-In program had been and thanked Gomez. Sullivan asked where the Call-In were conducted. Gomez stated they are held in the communities and the neighborhoods where gang activity is most prolific such as community centers. Lt. Joe Mullins, BPD provided an explanation and briefing on activities of the DPU. KernACountyADistrictA ttorney’sAAOfficeAUpdate: Cynthia Zimmer, who leads the Target Gang Unit shared information about prosecuting Shot Callers and participation in the Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership Program. She stated that 2011 was their busiest year ever with regards to caseloads and were involved in 30 trials. These include Law Enforcement Officers as victims and an increase of gang crime filings. Gang Prevention and Intervention Programs: Cindy Uetz with Kern County Department of Human Services provided an update. She provided an overview on several programs at area middle schools and high schools. She explained the history of Project 180, administered through the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. She also summarized the faith based organizations that provide services such as Aggression Replacement Training (ART) as well as Stop the Violence. Goh commented about investing in prevention instead of a lifetime of crime and incarceration. Cecilia Martinez with Kern County Mental Health provided an update on the contracts with treatment providers and treatment plans. She also talked about increases in expulsion rates in local schools. Update on Gang Violence Strategic Plan: Maggard asked for input from the partners as to what is working, what is not working, and what is working that needs adjustment. He cited significant pressure to find alternative funding for programs that the State is no longer funding, or has greatly reduced its contribution. Kim Albers talked about Garden Pathways and intervention programs that they have implemented in the past, but funding is no longer there. She also acknowledged the challenges facing many of these programs with regards to funding. She stated that since the County is funding Project 180, then perhaps the City could fund an intervention arm. Ms. Castille from New Life Training Center provided an update on their job skill training program. She states they are in need of a grant writer as well. Sal Arias, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Project 180 spoke next and recommends adding a re-entry element to the gang plan. He suggests providing a more refined definition of intervention and prevention. Johnson would like to see the draft before the next meeting a few days earlier. Salas encouraged the partners to contact the committee as we move forward for additional input. Goh encouraged the committee to maintain the time element and a group or person accountable. Maggard stated that perhaps a community wideAeventAisn’tAtheAbestAuseAofAourAresourcesAsinceAitApullsAthoseAwhoAareAdoingA the work away from their core responsibilities. The meeting was adjourned at 11:57 AM. The following documents were distributed at the May 24, 2012 meeting of the Joint City-County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence.