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BAKERSFIELD
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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
Thursday, February 4, 2021
1 1:00 a.m.
City Hall South
1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301
City Council Chambers
MINUTES
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Sanders, Vice Chair Hibbard (Participating by phone
arrived at 12:06pm), Committee Members Perez-Andreesen (Participating
by phone), Holt, Keller (Participating by phone), Louie (Participating by
phone), Prince (Participating by phone arrived at 12:08 pm), Rowland
seated at 12:06 pm), Tobias.
Absent: None
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 4, 2021 OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING
Motion by Committee Member Louie second by Committee Member Tobias to
adopt minutes from the February 4, 2021, Oversight Committee Meeting. Motion
was unanimously approved.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chair announced that a staff memorandum was provided transmitting
public comments received offer the publication of the agenda.
A. Riddhi S. Patel made comments regarding defunding the Police
Department and encouraged the Committee to consider the
People's Budget Bakersfield recommendations regarding spending
and investment in the community.
B. Eddy Laine, Sierra club, provided written materials and requested
equitable distribution of parks funding. He further requested that the
Committee pause the process to obtain additional public input.
C. Damon Hunt, DolPiva, spoke regarding collaborating with the city by
offering services at the Navigation Center and requested funding.
D. Michael Turnipseed spoke in support of Mr. Laine's comments and
expressed concerns regarding staffing and creating positions that will
require a continued funding commitment from Measure N. He further
expressed concern regarding funding for housing and the need to
develop a strategic plan.
E. Arleen Waller made comments stating that Measure N dollars should
be allocated to work towards racial equity.
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
F. Fiscal Year 2020-21 Mid -Year Measure Budget Update
Staff recommends the Committee find the proposed mid -year
PSVS allocations consistent with the projects, programs and
services described within the Measure.
Strategic Plan for Old Town Kern and South East Bakersfield - not agenized
Motion by Committee Member Rowland, second by Committee Member Keller, to
recommend to the City Council that they direct city staff to formulate a plan to set aside a
significant amount of PSVS money In the upcoming budget for the revitalization of blighted
areas of Bakersfield, including and focused on Old Town Kern and South East Bakersfield.
Motion unanimously approved.
Digital Public Safety Regional Radio Project
Motion by Committee Member Rowland, second by Committee Member Louie, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Digital Public Safety Regional Radio
Project in the amount of $3 million. Motion unanimously approved.
Co -Chair Hibbard asked whether the overall cost remains $17 million and what the
ongoing maintenance cost associated with the project would be.
City Manager Clegg explained that the costs remains the same, some ongoing
maintenance cost to be covered by internal services funds that will be planned and
budgeted for.
Enterprise Resource Planning
Motion by Committee Member Keller, second by Committee Member Louie, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Enterprise Resource Planning in the
amount of $5 million. Motion approved with Committee Member Perez-Andreesen voting
no.
Committee Member Perez-Andreesen explained that this item will be implemented in
fiscal year 22-23; therefore the $5 million should be allocated to parks.
Neighborhood Parks Deferred Projects
Motion by Committee Member Perez-Andrees en, second by Committee Member Tobias,
to recommend to the City Council approval of the Neighborhood Parks Deferred Projects
in the amount of $3 million. Motion unanimously approved.
City Reserves/Rainy Day Fund
Motion by Committee Member Tobias, second by Committee Member Prince, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the City Reserves/Rainy Day fund in the
amount of $4 million. Motion unanimously approved.
Code Enforcement Rapid Response Team
Motion by Committee Member Keller, second by Committee Member Holt, to recommend
to the City Council approval of the Code Enforcement Rapid Response Team in the
amount of approximately $1 million. Motion unanimously approved.
Differential Response Pilot Program
Motion by Committee Member Tobias, second by Committee Member Keller, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Differential Response Pilot Program in the
amount of $135,000. Motion unanimously approved.
Downtown Security Patrol Expansion
Motion by Committee Member Holt, second by Committee Member Rowland, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Downtown Security Patrol Expansion in the
amount of $100,000. Motion unanimously approved.
Downtown Waste Clean Up Expansion
Motion by Committee Member Keller, second by Committee Member Perez-Andreesen to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Downton Waste Clean Up Expansion in the
amount of $50,000. Motion unanimously approved.
Clean City Initiative Coordinator
Motion by Committee Member Holt, second by Committee Member Prince, to
recommend to the City Council approval of the Clean City Initiative Coordinator in the
amount of $50,000. Motion approved with Member Rowland voting no.
Member Rowland cautioned the Committee, city staff, and the City Council about the
hiring of positions with PSVS funding as it is a long-term, commitment.
Citywide Weed and Nuisance Vegetation Abatement Program
Motion by Committee Member Holt, second by Committee Member Keller, to recommend
to the City Council approval of the Citywide Weed and Nuisance Vegetation Abatement
Program in the amount of $300,000. Motion unanimously approved.
Committee Member Holt recommended that there be a partnership with the Homeless
Collaborate Group identical to other litter abatement programs the city has.
City Manager Clegg clarified that this project is a preventative abatement program that
will spray areas in advance of vegetation and the City will explore whether a partnership
applies in this instance.
Committee Member Prince recommended that the agreement for usage of an outside
private firm be for a one-year term to allow bidding by the public annually. Chair Sanders
supported the recommendation.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Chair Sanders stressed the importance of the revitalization of parks, and asked for
a way to see what priorities are for the community. She made a recommendation
to suggest a way the community can participate in the upgrades in their parks, to
have the community vested in the upgrades.
Committee Member Rowland mentioned with regard to parks and especially MILK
park, that it is not enough to make the grass green and trim the trees, it is also
important to make those parks safe for people and families who utilize the
facilities. He further stated that the option of police officers being stationed at the
parks, increased patrol or even private security be considered.
Vice Chair Hibbard requested a running total of costs of approved positions and
programs to compare where we are and project future needs to make sure our
percentage of Measure N money that's going towards staffing is kept within a
range that is acceptable and the majority is going towards one-time projects, not
part of an ever-growing city budget.
Committee Member Rowland stated that instead of hiring a permanent city
employee, the city should consider contracting some of these services out so we
are only committed a year at a Time to some of these projects and positions.
6. ADJOURNMENT at 1:48 pm
ATTEST
JULIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Offcio Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield