The motion was seconded by Councilmember
unanimously with Councilmember caballero
abstaining.
salinas and carried
and councilmember Ish
Councilmember Meurer thanked the city Staff to incl-ude Afan Stunpf, Paul ogden, Larry Bussard and David llora for their support in the 1oo Block Project. She said it was good to see the private sector and public staff working together to accornplish a common goal. She stated that Steve coldfarbls work had been excel,lent and that she appreciated his dedication to the project,
Mayor Styles congratulated city Staff for their comrnitrnent to theproject and he echoed Councilmernber Meurerts statement that Steve coldfarb had done outstanding work on the project. He also thanked Brian Finegan for his work with the project and he assured the development team of the steinbeck Partners that the city council" was supporting the commitnent to seeing the 100 Block Project ac-conplished.
THE sAI,,INAA REDEVEI,OPI.TENT AGENCY A}ID TITE CITY COUNCIIJ RECESAED FOR FIVE }IINUTEA IflIILE UIYOR/ CIIAIR}IAII STYI,ES AND AGENCY SECRETARY DOUGIITY 8IGIIED TIIE DDA FOR TIIE 1OO BLOCK PROJECT.
CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 9:30 P.M.
CONSIDERATIONS
1. Anti-Cruisins ordinance for the Citv of Safinas.(06 10 0030/ 04 40 0020) Henry Yoneyama presented his report to the city council, a copy ofwhich is on file in the City clerkrs Office. He voj,ced that over the years, the cruising that takes place on Friday and Saturday nights on South Main Street, has been characterized as a tradi-tion, a recreation or a harmless pastirne, with deep seeded roots inthe conrnunity. He said that there had been an active cruise on Sunday night, srhich congested E. Alisa1 Street, between Madeira Avenue and Sanborn Road, He added that this cruise becane unpopu- lar due to numerous acts of violence which cuLminated in a nurder.
Mr. Yoneyama stated that in 1988 an ad hoc committee was formed tostudy cruising and in March 1989, the committee presented its f ina1 report. He said that the report contained 17 recomnendations forpofice action and included increased enforcement efforts and the enactnent of a cruising ordinance. He voiced that over the last fev/ years, the criminal activity in both cruising areas escafated from rninor disturbances, traffic violations, alcohol offenses, Iittering and noise conplaints. He reiterated that the E. Alisalcruise no longer occurs, however, the pattern of violence and !/eapon offenses continues on south llain street.
l.,lr. Yoneyama stated that due to the violence and problems which have resulted frorn cruising, the owners of the Main street center -2 5-
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and the Payless Plaza Shopping centers, Kirkorian Development, have requested the Police Department take actj-on to recommend a cruising ordinance. He added that these concerned groups have pointed out that the issues pertaining to cruising have already been discussed before the Traffic Commission and Staff !,/as requested to bring the matter directly to the City Council. He said that in an effort to ascertain public opinion on a cruising ordinanc, Kirkorian Development conducted an inforrnal petition drive. He voiced that this effort resulted in obtaining 767 signatures in support of enacting a cruj-sing ordinance. He stated that the issue before the City council- vras whether a cruising ordinance be enacted. He further stated such an Ordinance would allow the Police Department to take a positive step towards curbing or elirninating cruising within the city lirnits.
council-member Armenta asked Mr. Yoneyama if he knew who served on the Ad Hoc Committee and asked if there were any members on the committee who did participate in cruising activities in the city of Salinas,
Mr. Yoneyama stated that he did not have a list of the committee nember nanes at this tine although he understood that members $rere a combination of conmunity leaders and Salinas youth.
Councilmember Meurer voiced that she did not recollect the names either however, the connittee was appointed by the Mayor.
Jack Booth, 911 B. Bl,anco Circle, representinq the o\^/ners of Payless Plaza, Nob Hill center, and Lucky Shopping center, stated that in the last fehr years there has been an increasing problem with the cruise taking place on South Main Street. He said that there has been a series of vandalism, graffiti on buildings and a general crowding of parking lots $/ith those who sit in their vehicles. He voiced that he had met with City staff to include the Potice Departnent to discuss nethods in which to alleviate the situation. He said that the stores have hired off duty policemen as private guards, who have been paid by the centers to patrol on Friday and Saturday evenings, as temporary neasures' He stated that the only effective measure has been the poJ.ice patrol that took place" He said that the shopping centers have been subsidizing the off duty patrolman for approximately $1100 per month for the patrol service. He added that he felt that it was not proper to charge double to the rnerchants for police protec-tion.
lr1r. Booth stated that he placed peti,tions in the concerned stores to determine the opinion of the customers regarding the cruise activity. He voiced that the business in these stores has dropped over the past few years due to the cruise. He said that he sat infront of the Lucky Store last Saturday and obtained an additional 2oo siqnatures of customers who signed the petition against the cruise activity. He said that these 2oo signatures were in addi- tion to the petition of 7oo signatures that were included in the -26-
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Council report. Ile voiced that many of the attitudes of SalinasCitizens was that they hrere afraid to leave their own homes or thatthey would visit other cities for their weekend entertainrnent.He stated that this proposed ordinance r,/as not an anti-kidordinance but an ordinance that !,rould address the crime problenthat has been causing loss in revenue and costing the Cityadditionat funds for additionaf police protection. He added thathe had letters from the surrounding merchants on South Main Streetthat are on the file in the city clerkrs office.
Vince Cardinalli, 39 Peach Street, asked that officer yoneyana clarify that the same problen existed on E. A1isa1 Street and lranted to know if this problem sti11 existed.
Mr. Yoneyana stated that this cruise that took place on E, AfisalStreet has stopped due to the increased violence level. He saidthat a homicide occured nid summer in t991. He added that it was believed that cruisers stopped participating in this cruj.seactivity due to the fear of injury.
Ur. Cardinalli voiced that he had a concern as a parent in regardsto what would be considered trcruising[ if he went 1ooking for hischild and happened to pass by the check point several tirnes. He asked hohr this type of situation would be handled and what s/ouIdconstitute a concerned parent not cruising, but trying to find thelocation of his/her child. He said that according to the languageof the proposed ordinance such a situation rnight be consideredcruising.
Mr. Yoneyama explained that the procedure for the ordinance wouldbe as follows; an checkpoint would be established and if a personwas noted for passinq by several tines within a specific amount oftj,me, he would receive a written notice that would warn him of apossible viofation of the City Code; after the warning was issued,the person would be subject to a citation.
Vince Cardinalli stated that the language shoul,d be cfear leavingno room for misj,nterpretation. He said that enforcing the new ordinance might stop the cruising but the question rernains on wherethe kids will- go for recreation. He voiced that if the CityCouncil did enact an ordinance, then al,ternatives for the kidsshould be addressed. He pointed out that the city Council- hasprovided the Breadbox Recreation Center for the youth in the EastSalinas area and asked that council provide some facility for theother parts of Salinas.
Stephanie Atigh clarified that the penalty for violating theproposed Anti-Cruising Ordinance would be an infraction and ininfractions, arrest does not take place, but the issuance ofcitation does occur. She said that the only way that an arrestwould take place would be if someone refused to sign the citation.She voiced that the concept of the proposed ordinance was notunique or original, but was provided by state Vehicle Code to any -27 -
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city who wishes to adopt an
ated that this ordinance hras
that the City Council would
they adopt it.
anti cruising ordinance. she reiter-not original and she did not beLieve be opening itself to liability should
his
Dan Abbott, General Manaqer of Foster Freezet south Main, stated that he participated in the Ad Hoc Conmittee in 1989. He said that he worked with Jeff Johnson, Andrev, Bender and other members of the committee whose initial response from cruisers was that they had little interests with establishing alternatives in the cruising activity. He voiced that nany of the cruisers on South Main Street were participants from out of to$/n. He said that in banning cruising the need for an alternative for the youth would remain in Salinas. He stated that there was a difference between loitering and cruising and that loitering should be included in the anti-cruising ordinance language.
Jim Hendricks, owner of Bay Video and Stereo & Mailboxes, Etc. and speaking as chairman of the Board of the Steinbeck Federal Credit Union, voiced that there lrras concern for the safety of custoners and his stores.
Matthew Brish, 915 Baustista Drive, said that the najority of cruisers were not crininals and that he grew up in an area where an ordinace existed that stated that no nore than t$ro peopl-e rrrere allowed to walk dohln the streets after dark. He stated that the Police force was tripled due to the enforcernent of this ordinance in that area. He voiced that he did not feel that fingers should be pointed at cruisers for the cause of crimes in any particular area .
Andrew Bender, North Salinas Resident, stated that he served on the Ad Hoc conmittee in 1989 and that the conmittee deligently worked to reach a fair alternate to cruisers. He said that the committee becarne inactive due to changes that lrere occuring in the Council elections changing fron At Large to District and the Citizens Advisor position was elininated from City staff. He voiced that the comrnittee was divided into subconmittees and he was able to concentrate on the economic aspect of the issue. He stated that he contacted surrounding cities who had an active cruising ordinance and they stated that businesses recovered after the enforcement of such an ordinance. He said that the Ad Hoc Cornmittee made a presentatj,on to the Traffic Commj.ssion and the Recreation Park Comrnission, whj-ch resulted in the formation of the bicycle cornmittee as an aLternate recreation. He stated that the econornic and resj-dential concerns outweigh the rights of the cruisers and their recreation.
Councilmember Ish asked Mr. Yoneyama if the PoI j.ce Departnent had determined the percentage of cruisers from out of town. He added that he understood that about 50? of the cruisers were from surrounding cities.
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Mr. Yoneyana stated that the Police Department believed that a vast rnajority of cruisers v/ere from other cities al-though a survey was not conducted.
Councilmember lsh voiced that he would support the proposed ordinance because cruj,sing has affected the city economically and for this reason he would introduce the ordinance.
Council-mernber Meurer stated that she would support the adoption of the ordinance \^/hen it returned to council on June L6t ]-992.
Councilmernber Collins echoed Councilmember Meurer and councilmember fshrs sentiments and said that he would support the adoption of the ordinance on June L6, L992.
Councilmember Caballero voiced that she agreed r+ith Councilmember Meurer and added that the ordinance would not stop the criminalactivity, but was an issue of whether certain areas of the city was being isolated because of the cruising activity. She expressed her own frustration when she would forget that it was Friday or Saturday night and turned do$rn South Main Street and became a part of the cruising traffic. She said that she v/ould support the proposed anti-cruising ordinance.
Councilmember Salinas stated that he used to come from Watsonville in the 1970's to join the cruising activity however, the present cruising results in viofence with weapons. He said that he would support the adoption of this ordinance on June ]-6, L992.
Councifmember Armenta voiced that he was a forner cruiser on South Main Street himself. He stated that his concern v,ras the age group involved in the former ad hoc cornnittee and said that if the age group consisted of 3 youth and 12 adufts, this would present an unfair age group balance. He said that out of the recorded 26 violations, bet$reen February 1991 through April 1992, 20 of these violations were involving weapons. He voiced that he would support the ordinance for adoption on June L6, !992.
Mayor styles stated that in Iooking at the severity of the crimes on Friday and Saturday nights he wouLd support the ordinance. He said that alternative recreation should be looked at for the Salinas Youth.
Councilmember Salinas suggested that the
alternatives to the cruising activity in
Youth com[ission discuss
SaIinas.
COUNCII,!.{E!,TBER REPORTS
Councilrnernber fsh requested that on the Agenda for June L6, L992 that an itern be included regarding the discussion of the rate increase at the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency.
Councilmernber Collins voiced that Councilmenber Armenta nade a 6/ele2
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