HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/05/07 Item 20``r~i.
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CITY OF
CHULA VISTA
Councilmember Patricia Aguilar
City Of Chula Vista
276 Fourth Avenue
Chula Vista, Ca 91910
619.691.5044 - 619.476.5379 Fax
MEMO
DATE: May 2, 2013
TO: Mayor Cheryl Cox, Councilmembers Rudy Ramirez, Pamela Bensoussan, Mary Salas
CC: City Clerk Donna Norris, City Manager Jim Sandoval
FROM: Councilmember Patricia Aguilar , /
RE: Public Safety Workshops ~~~~~~.~~~, l
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to request your support to place an item on the agenda of the next City Council meeting to
discuss which outstanding public safety issues should be discussed in a public workshop format, and
which can be handled by informational reports and/or memoranda from the City Manager.
On March 5, 2013 the City Council voted to replace the work of the Public Safety Subcommittee with a
workshop format involving the full Council, to be held in the evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.
On April 12, 2013 I wrote to Police Chief Bejarano inquiring when he thought public safety issues would
be coming forward to Council. He replied that he planned to present the Matrix II report in June, with an
update on Matrix I (patrol staffing) in August/September He also indicated that a proposed verified alarm
response ordinance would be brought to the Council on May 5 (but I assume he meant May 7).
On April 19, 2013 I wrote to a memo to the City Manager offering my suggestions for the agendas of what
I assumed would be two upcoming workshops. (I did not copy any councilmembers on this memo
because I was concerned about possible Brown Act violations.)
The table below summarizes the suggestions in my April 19 memo:
o..«1r,ro a~~nth Rafaty Wnrkshoo Anenda Items
June Au usVSe tember June OR Au usVSe tember
• Matrix Phase II • Updated calculation of Review of actions being taken
• Update on patrol staffing proactive time to deal with neighborhood
'
relative to those s and
impacts of Diamond Jim
recommended in Matrix Phase I Wild Wooly's bars
• Review of plans for increasing Analysis of feasibility of
proactive time in patrol expediting ALS training
• Information on number of
authorized positions in PD
compared to filled positions
• Information on recruitment efforts
in PD
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On April 29, at my regular weekly meeting with the City Manager, I asked if he planned to reply to my
memo, and we held a brief discussion about his intentions. Then on April 30 I received a written reply,
which was distributed to all of you, along with my original April 19 memo (both attached). In this memo,
the City Manager explained that he plans to provide a "report" at a regular Council meeting sometime in
June on Matrix Phase II and staffing levels in the Police Department. He also indicated that in the very
near future he would provide the Council with a "memorandum" regarding recruitment efforts.
With regard to my suggestion that neighborhood impacts of Diamond Jim's and Wild Woolleys be
agendized for a workshop, he indicated that the Chief will contact me (only) to give me an explanation
regarding these neighborhood-based concerns. Regarding expediting ALS, he indicated that Fire Chief
David Hanneman will do an analysis of options and provide it to the Council once it is completed.
Finally, he indicated that the first real workshop will take place in late summer/early fall, and will be
limited to a discussion of (what he assumes will be) gains in proactive time in patrol as calculated by
Matrix.
I am writing because I am concerned that the Manager's intent to provide a "report" and "memorandum"
on Matrix II and recruitment issues, and tc have the Chief discuss the neighborhood bar issues only with
me, is not consistent with the Council's intent to have a public dialogue on public safety issues in public
during evening hours.
So I am respectfully requesting that the Council agendize an item for discussion at our next Council
meeting to recommend to the Manager which public safety topics can be addressed by reports or memos,
or contact with an individual Council member, and which public safety topics should be covered in a
workshop format in the evening to maximize public participation opportunities.
Thank you for your consideration.
20-2
MEMO
Office of the City Manager
DATE: April 30, 2013
TO: Patricia Aguilar, Council Member
FROM: James D. Sandoval, City Manag
SUBJECT: Public Safety Workshops Me ndum
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CHU1nX~I5TA
I am writing in response to your memo of April 19, 2013 entitled Public Safety Workshops and pursuant
to our conversation yesterday.
The Matrix Phase II report will be presented to the Clty Council at a regular City Council meeting in June
of this year. We will also present an update on the patrol staffing levels that were recommended in the
Matrix Phase 1 Report . We will, at that time, also provide an update on the number of positions
authorized by the City Council in the Police Department budget and the number of positions that have
been filled.
In the very near future, I will provide City Council with a memorandum that explains the efforts we have
been making on our patrol staff recruitments, as well as, the success we have had to date.
It Is our intention to hold a workshop late summer/early fall in order to provide an update on the gains
in proactive time based upon the many changes we have made in patrol operations and the additional
staffing. The workshop will be held after Matrix has had the opportunity to perform the analysis of
proactive time later this Summer.
In your memorandum and in our telephone conversation you expressed concerns about establishments
such as Diamond Jim's and Wild Wooleys bars and impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods. I have
spoken with Chief Bejarano and he assures me there has been a significant amount work done by the
Police Department as well as other city departments in efforts to ameliorate these concerns. Chief
Bejarano will be contacting you to explain how the concerns have been dealt.
Finally, in your memorandum, you stated that you were "somewhat disappointed about the proposed
two year phase-in" for ALS Emergency Services. Fire Chief Dave Hanneman, at the recent GMOC
meeting, stated that he will look at options that might be available to allow the phasing to occur in a
more expeditious manner. once Chief Hanneman has done his analysis and determines what options
may be available, we will provide them to the full City Council,
cc: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
Dave Hanneman, Fire Chief
David Bejarano, Police Chief
Gary Halbert, Assistant City Manager
Kelley Bacon, Deputy City Manager
20-3
~~~~~ Couneilmemher Patricia Aguilar
~~_ Cily Of Chula Vista
~.N w 276 Fourlh Avenue
Chula Visla, Ca 81910 M E M O
CINOF 619.691.5044-619.476.5379 Fax
CHULA VISTA
DATE: April 19, 2013
TO: City Manager Jim Sandoval
CC: David Bejarano, David Hanneman, K I y Bacon
FROM: CouncilmemberPatriciaAguilar ,
RE: Public Safety Workshops
Dear Jim,
As you will recall, on March 5, 2013 the Council voted to replace the Public Safety
Subcommittee with a workshop format involving the full Council, to be held in the
evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
As I understand it from Chief Bejarano, the first workshop will be held in June, with a
review of the Matrix II report being the primary agenda item; to be followed in
September with an update on Matrix Phase I, to include an updated calculation of
proactive time in patrol.
The chief also informs me that tentatively the Verified Alarm Response program will
come to the Council on May 7. (Actually he said May 5, but I assume he meant May 7.)
To ensure that the workshops are productive for the Council and welcoming for our
citizens, it is my hope that the format will be conducted in a way that provides the same
opportunities for "give and take" and informal public dialogue and interaction that made
the subcommittee meetings popular with citizens and other stakeholders.
Finally, I would like to offer some suggestions for the content of these workshops, as
follows:
Police Department Issues
In addition to a review of Matrix Phase II, I am hoping the June workshop will also
include:
1. An update on patrol staffing levels relative to those recommended in Matrix Phase I
2. A review of the city's plans for increasing proactive time in patrol
20-4
3. An update on the number of positions authorized by the Council in the Police
Department budget relative to the number of filled positions
With regard to item 3, I think it would be helpful for the Council to understand the types
of recruitment methods being employed, available data on the effectiveness of these
methods, and results of research on recruitment efforts that have proven effective
elsewhere.
Another outstanding issue that the Public Safety Subcommittee was reviewing when it
ended was what to do about establishments such as Diamond Jim's on Third Avenue.
This bar, and there are similar ones in the city, creates serious late-night nuisance
problems for surrounding neighborhoods. (hope this issue can be added to a workshop
agenda in June or September so the Council can hear from affected neighbors and
discuss options for minimizing these problems.
Fire Deoartment Issues
I am overjoyed that the Chula Vista Fire Department will be providing AL5 emergency
services to our community, but I am somewhat disappointed about the proposed two-
year "phase in" for these services. I am interested in seeing a possible budget planning
option that would apply more of the early resources to getting our firefighters into school
quickly so their services can be made available to the public sooner.
So I am hoping that either the June or September workshop will include a discussion of
options to expedite ALS training. Specifically, I urge you and Chief Hanneman to
closely examine significant early expenditures in the ALS budget, such as those for
specialized vehicles, to identify expenditures that can be delayed in order to fund ALS
training more quickly.
Thank you for your consideration of these matters.
20-5
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May 7, 20]3
Fred Rowbotham
Chula Vista Police Officers Association
P.O. Box 848
Chula Vista, CA 91912
Dear Mayor & Councilmembers,
I am writing to formally support Councilmember Aguilar's agenda item #20, which
requests that the Council place an item on the next council agenda to address the format
for handling public safety topics.
There are issues that are crucial to public safety in Chula Vista that deserve an open,
public discussion. Specifically, the release of the Matrix II report, and an update on
police staffing levels are consequential issues that will provide a crucial assessment of
our city's ability to maintain public safety.
In accordance with that sentimenC, the Council has agreed to hold regular public safety
workshops during evening hours that include the entire council.
To continue the practice of simply presenting reports or memorandum violates the spirit
of the public safety workshop by curtailing the opportunity for discussion and input.
A definitive process to identify which subjects can be addressed by a report and those
that require thorough discussion would help facilitate a more productive and helpful
approach to our city's public safety needs.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
~~LCd ~Of~(sdGC2Gtt?Z
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President, Chula Vista Police Officers Association