HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/20 PUBLIC SAFETY/VITAL SERVICES MINUTES•
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Special Meeting of the Citizens Oversight Committee for
Bakersfield Public Safety and Vital Services Measure (PSVS)
Of the City Council - City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
12:00 p.m.
City Hall South
1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301
City Council Chambers
MINUTES
SPECIAL NOTICE
Public Participation and Accessibility
June 2, 2020 Bakersfield PSVS Committee Meeting
On March 18, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20, which includes a waiver of Brown Act
provisions requiring physical presence of the Committee members or the public'in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on guidance from the California Governor's Office and Department of Public Health, as well as the County
Health Officer, in orderto minimize the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, the City of Bakersfield hereby provides
notice that as a result of the declared federal, state, and local health emergencies, and in light of the Governor's
order, the following adjustments have been made:
1. The meeting scheduled for June 2, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. will have limited public access.
2. Consistent with the Executive Order, Committee members may elect to attend the meeting telephonically
and to participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they were physically present.
3. The public may participate in each meeting and address the PSVS Committee as follows:
• If you wish to comment on a specific agenda item, submit your comment via email to the City Clerk
at City Clerk@ bakersfieldcity.us no later than 5:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the Committee meeting.
Please clearly indicate which agenda item number your comment pertains to.
• If you wish to make a general public comment not related to a specific agenda item, submit your
comment via email to the City, Clerk at City Clerk@bakersfieldcitV.us no later than 5:00 p.m. the
Monday prior to the Committee meeting.
• Alternatively, you may comment by calling (661) 326-3100 and leaving a voicemail of no more than 3
minutes no later than 5:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the Comittee meeting. Your message must clearly
indicate whether your comment relates to a particular agenda item, or is a general public comment. If
your comment meets the foregoing criteria, it will be transcribed as accurately as possible.
• If you wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item as it is being heard, please email your written
comment to the City Clerk at City Clerk@bakersfieldcity.us. All comments received during the
meeting may not be read, but will be provided to the Committee and included as part of the permanent
public record of the meeting.
1. ROLL CALL
Assistant City Clerk Legge: As you are aware, on March 4, Governor
Newsom declared a state of emergency in California due to the threat of
COVID-19. The governor also passed several executive orders, including the
suspension of some components of the Brown Act related to public
meetings like this one. As such. Commissioner Perez Andreessen is
participating by phone
Present: Chair Sanders, Vice Chair Hibbard, Committee Members
Andreesen (participating by phone), Holt, Keller, Louie, Prince,
Rowland, Tobias
Absent: None
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM MAY 26, 2020 OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Michael Turnipseed, Kern County Taxpayer's Association, urged the
Committee to make public safety the first priority for spending Measure
N dollars, provided written materials.
B. Eddy Laine, Sierra Club Kern-Kawea Chapter, expressed concerns
regarding remarks relating to parks and maintenance attributed to him
in the Bakersfield Californian and provided recommendations for
Measure N funding, provided written materials.
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Fiscal Year 2020 -21 Measure Revenue Allocation Recommendations
Staff recommends the Committee find the Phase II allocations are consistent
with the Spending Priorities of the ballot Measure and as such make a
recommendation to the City Council with this finding.
1. Public Safety
a. Police
Chris Huot, Assistant City Manager, made staff comments and provided a
PowerPoint presentation.
Committee Member Rowland received clarification from City Manager
Christian Clegg and Assistant City Manager Chris Huot regarding the
additional positions in the police department being rapid response team
members.
Committee Chair Sanders agreed with City Manager Clegg's
recommendation of the committee discussing the topic of public safety first
in the meeting due to Police Chief Terry time constraints.
Committee Member Tobias confirmed with City Manager Clegg that there is
an element in this year's budget that gives the city better information
regarding spending and the sales tax that can be used in further discussion
regarding a cap or policy for long term commitments from the fund.
Committee Member Rowland asserted he will be making a motion that the
committee recommend to the city council that funds be appropriated for
incentive programs for officer hiring in the next budget year in addition to the
ones that are before us now. Rowland further asserted that prior to voting on
an entire package he would like to see a dollar figure attached to this
package for incentivized hiring.
City Manager Clegg clarified with Committee Member Rowland that the
dollar figure proposed is $500,000. The funds are non -departmental and are
shown through the Human Resources slide, but the funds are an incentive for
police recruitment.
Committee Member Hibbard made a motion to make the recommendation to the
City Council to allocate an additional $500,000 of non -departmental funds to the
Police Department. Seconded by Committee Member Tobias. The motion was
unanimously approved
Committee member Hibbard expressed that public safety should be the primary
focus.
Committee Member Prince asserted that the community came together and
identified what the most important things that the community was facing and
came up with 13 items. Public safety, again is important and was what was used to
push the measure to pass, but it wasn't the only thing that the public actually
came together to discuss. The discussion included additional things that make our
community a great community and things they wanted to see improved.
b. Fire
Committee Chair Sanders opened up the committee for a motion for the Fire
Department proposed on the slide shown.
Chair Sanders requested clarification from City Manager Clegg or Assistant
City Manager Huot regarding the proposed contingent projects and the
status of the contingent $7.24 million dollars. City Manager Clegg clarified
that the projects will be postponed if the revenues are not realized and if
there is an access then the excess will be held in contingency.
Committee Member Rowland asserted that while he is aware everyone loves
firemen, he does not feel it is the right time to increase fire department
staffing and he will not be voting in favor of fire department staffing at this
time.
Michael Turnipseed provided a public statement recommending the current
spending being staff wants and not community needs. Mr. Turnipseed further
expressed the concern of excess hiring and desire to explore technology
that may eliminate the need to hire more staff.
Fire Chief Anthony Galagaza provided further clarification of the fire
department's requests and what is needed to maintain level two.
Committee Member Keller made a motion that the measures under the Fire
Department comply with requirements as deemed appropriate by the PSVS
alignment. Seconded by Committee Member Holt. Motion was approved
with Sanders, Hibbard, Perez-Andreessen and Rowland voting no.
II. Homelessness
Committee Member Hibbard expressed his reasoning for voting no on the
motion and he did not see the nexus between remodeling kitchens and
bathrooms and maintaining the level two.
Committee Member Tobias announced he will be abstaining from the
Homelessness item due to a potential conflict with his employment.
Committee Member Holt that the homelessness item is consistent with the
measures spending and should be recommended to the City Council.
Seconded by Perez-Andreessen. Seconded by Perez-Andreessen. Motion is
approved with Committee Member Tobias abstaining.
Ill. Fiscal Stability
Committee member Hold received clarification from City manager Clegg
that the PSVS and General fund revenues are kept separate and any
expenditures of the funds would require committee review.
Committee Member Louie received clarification from Assistant City
Manager Chris Huot about the $12 million payment to Calpers. Huot
expanded on the $8.7 million dollar savings that will occur over the next 7
years.
Committee Member Rowland made a motion that fiscal stability complies
with the requirements under the measure and should be recommended to
council. Seconded by Keller. Motion is unanimously approved.
IV. Economic Recovery
Committee member Holt expressed his support of the program.
Committee member Prince received clarification from City Manager Clegg
regarding the business assistance and the new community development
department being established by the city.
Committee Member Prince announced that his business falls within the
parameters of the topic and will be abstaining from the motion.
Committee Member Holt made a motion that the economic recovery is
consistent with the spending priorities of the ballot and make a
recommendation to the city council. Seconded by Keller. Motion is
approved with Committee member Prince abstaining.
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V. City Council/Organization Initiatives
Committee Member Keller clarified with City Manager Clegg that the
position of Assistant to the City Manager would be funded through the
Measure N revenues and the employee would be working mainly on the
homelessness issue and projects.
Committee Member Keller made a motion that the City Council/Organization
Initiatives are consistent with the Measures spending. Seconded by Louie. Motion
is unanimously approved.
VI. Development Services
VII. Recreation and Parks
Director of Recreation and Parks Diane Hoover clarified with the
committee the Kaiser Permanente Sports Village Project and the
requirements to receive the grant the department was awarded.
Committee member Holt made a motion that the Parks and Recreation
budget is consistent with the ballot measure and recommends to city
council. Seconded by Prince Motion is unanimously approved.
Committee Member Rowland expressed that he agreed with something
public speaker Eddy Laine stated and that the city should explore solar
parking panels and electric car charging stations.
Committee Member Keller announced he was needed and left the
meeting at 2:48pm.
VIII. Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, Convention Center, and Spectrum
Amphitheater
Committee Member Prince asserted that while the arena is a revenue
generator, it should be included in the general fund and not the Measure
N funds.
Committee Member Louie second by Holt that the Mechanics Bank Arena,
Theater, Convention Center, and Spectrum Amphitheater meets the
guidelines of the Measure N spending. Motion fails with Committee
Member Holt and Louie voting yes and Member Keller absent.
IX. Support Services/Non-Department
Committee Member Holt made a motion that the Support Services/Non-
Department are consistent with the measure spending and recommends to
council. Seconded by Prince. Motion is approved with Hibbard, Perez-
Andreseen, and Rowland voting no and Keller absent.
Committee member Hibbard asserted that many of these positions could
be outsourced and save the city continued cost of employment.
Committee member Rowland agreed.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Committee Member Rowland expressed that next year he would like to
allow the public to have more time to comment on items and the city's
budget.
Committee Member Louie asserted that he would like to have the
additional information regarding the budget and what exactly makes up
the total of $69 million.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 3:14 pm.
ATTEST:
J lie Drimakis,CMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk
of the Council of the City of Bakersfield
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