OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER - S249
MARCH 20, 2024
REGULAR MEETING
Teleconference Location:
Grand Hyatt Hotel Seoul Business Center
322 Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04347 Korea
The Chair called the regular meeting of the Public Safety Committee to order at 4:12 p.m.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo (Chair)
CouncilmemberTyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones
Vice Mayor Steve Madison (participated virtually)
Nicholas Rodriguez, Assistant City Manager
Javan Rad, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
Chad Augustin, Fire Chief
Anthony James, Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal
Joe Morelli, Deputy Fire Marshal
Bill Huang, Director of Housing
Nathan Press, Program Coordinator for Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT)
PUBLIC COMMENT ON
MATTERS NOT ON THE
AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
INFORMATION ITEM
Manuel Carmona, Deputy Director of Public Health
There were no public comments for items not on the agenda.
It was moved by Councilmember Jones, seconded by
Councilmember Hampton, to approve the minutes of August 2, 2023 (special meeting), August 16, 2023 (cancellation), September 20, 2023 (cancellation), October 18, 2023 (cancellation), October 25, 2023 (cancellation) as submitted. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: None)
SB 1205 ANNUAL STATE MANDATED INSPECTIONS REPORT
L
01 03/20/2024
Vice Mayor Madison was
excused and left the meeting
at 4:40 P.M.
Chad Augustin, Fire Chief, provided introductory remarks and presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
In response to questions by Councilmember Hampton regarding recruitment efforts and the certification process for careers in the fire service, as well as promotional pathways for Fire Inspectors, Chief Augustin stated that the Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services Reserve (E.M.S.R.) program and the Fire Department Explorer program are effective recruitment tools for future Firefighters and Fire Inspectors.
Vice Mayor Madison asked the Fire Department staff to include any recommendations for additional Fire Inspectors to the City Council during the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget hearings in order to be informed about the fire inspection demands of the City.
Javan Rad, Chief Assistant City Attorney, noted that the item on the Committee's agenda was listed for information only, and that staff recommendation and resolution would be presented to the full City Council at a future date.
On order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
BAD WEATHER SHELTER IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS
Bill Huang, Director of Housing, provided introductory remarks and presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Jones requested information on the criteria used to admit community members to the Bad Weather Shelter, statistics on the number of individuals that were unable to access the shelter in terms of capacity, and shared concerns from local residents related to the Bad Weather Shelter program. He also asked staff if residents who congregate in the south parking lot of Robinson Park, the 99 Cents Only Store (Los Robles AveA/illa St.), and near Lake AveA/illa St. use the shelter and available resources.
Nathan Press, Program Coordinator for Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT), shared information about outreach efforts, including providing transportation to the Bad Weather Shelter location, and answered questions. He added that residents who congregate in the locations mentioned above do not access the resources available in the Bad Weather Shelter as much as other individuals.
02 03/20/2024
Councilmember Hampton suggested that staff consider distributing motel vouchers to individuals that arrive on time to the Bad Weather Shelter and meet the criteria for entry but are turned away due to lack of capacity. He also requested that staff consider activating the shelter when the weather forecast is 50 degrees or below, as opposed to the current criteria of 40 degrees or below. Finally, he asked staff to contact adjacent neighborhood residents to ensure that their concerns are being met and present any requests for further funding to the City Council that will prevent people from being turned away from the shelter due to capacity.
Ryan Greer, Friends In Deed Senior Director of Programs, provided information about the enrollment process and criteria for receiving services, the role of the Street Outreach and Housing Team, instances when motel vouchers are used, and responded to questions.
Director Huang shared that scheduled improvements at the Bad Weather Shelter will raise capacity to 70 individuals for the next bad weather season, noted that staff is working with Councilmember Rivas' office to address neighborhood concerns, promoted the Pasadena Citizen Service Center, and stated that staff will consider comments shared by the Committee on how best to move forward.
Mayor Gordo commented on the responsibility to help people access services and mitigate the concerns of the neighborhood that is also heavily impacted. He requested staff organize a roundtable discussion to address these concerns with staff from affected departments including Public Works and Public Health.
On order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
REPORT ON GANG VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION SERVICES FOR FY23 Q4
OUTREACH AND
Manuel Carmona, Deputy Director of Public Health, provided introductory remarks and presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions. In response to a previous request for information from the Committee, he shared that currently, there are five active gangs with approximately 115 members in Pasadena.
Councilmember hlampton commented on the success of the work based on the information presented as part of the quarterly updates to the Committee. He also spoke in support of the Gang Outreach and Violence Interruption Services (GOVIS) program contractors being compensated appropriately due to the hazards of their work.
Lastly, he suggested the City fund financial, education, and training 03 03/20/2024
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
incentives to encourage at-risk youth to remove themselves from gangs.
Deputy Director Carmona clarified that the compensation for the GOVIS contractors is based on the Request for Proposal submitted by Ricky Pickens and is consistent with other programs across the region.
Councilmember Jones echoed Councilmember Hampton's
comments in providing funding, support, and incentives to encourage alternatives to being part of a gang, and supported establishing a pilot program in the next year.
The following individuals provided comment on the matter:
Johnny McCrary, Altadena resident
Jose Camacho, residence not stated
Eldorado Pitts, San Dimas resident
Jason Bobo, residence not stated
Darwin Lee, Altadena resident
Kenneth Bell, residence not stated
Marcus Washington, Inglewood resident
Adriana Bautista, Pasadena resident
On order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
CONSIDERATION OF INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR (IPA)
AND COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION'S
RECOMMENDATION TO PROPOSE CHARTER AMENDMENT
RELATED TO ENHANCING THIE AUTHORITY OF THE IPA (CITY
ATTORNEY)
The Chair announced that this item will not be discussed, with the issue to return as part of a future agenda of the Committee.
On the/jrder of the Chair, the regular meeting of the Public Safety Cofnmitt^e y^as adjourne^t^5:44 p.m.
M_
Mayor Victor M. Gordo,
Public Safety Committeel
^F^n\er Sabha
RecfVding Secretary
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