These minutes were approved at the Public Safety Committee Meeting of 6/28/2022
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MAY 24, 2022
City Hall
First Floor Community Room
910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, CA 92673
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Berkuta called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of San Clemente to order at 3:02p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Committee Chair Berkuta led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Committee
Members Present: Chair Nick Berkuta
Vice Chair Charles Hightower
Rick Loeffler
Captain Benfield, Orange County Sheriff's Department
Marine Safety Captain Mellott
Committee
Members Absent: Joe Janis
Chief Capobianco, Orange County Fire Authority
Staff Present: Adam Atamian, Community Development Deputy Director Kiel Koger, Director of Engineering
Rebekah Brewster, Administrative Assistant
Public Present: Mike Learakos, Abound Food Care
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of May 24, 2022
REGULAR ORDERS OF BUSINESS / REGULAR PRESENTATIONS
A. Informational Presentation on Community Food Insecurity as a Result of a Major Disaster by Mike Learakos, Executive Director of Abound Food Care.
Mike Learakos narrated a PowerPoint Presentation entitled, "The Emergency Meal Program." Mr. Learakos described his experience providing large scale emergency meals to the community during the L.A. Riots. Recently the State of California passed SB1383 requiring commercial food recycling. Abound Food Care provides options for food recycling by operating food repurposing kitchens at culinary schools. They process bulk food into individual prepackaged meals for local nonprofits, helping seniors, people with medical/special dietary needs, and local families displaced by apartment fires or other emergencies.
Mr. Learakos requested that the Committee consider, as part of disaster preparedness, the City provide potential locations for a storage unit that would hold emergency meals.
MINUTES
A. Minutes from the Regular Public Safety Committee meeting of March 22, 2022.
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HIGHTOWER SECOND BY CHAIR
BERKUTA, AND CARRIED 3-0 to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting of March 22, 2022.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Chair Berkuta reported Captain Capobianco had communicated he was unable to attend due to traveling out of state.
REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
None.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of May 24, 2022
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Communications and Disaster Preparedness Project Update Committee Member Loeffler and Chair Berkuta agendized for the next meeting, consideration of disaster preparedness recommendation to City Council to utilize space at the City Yard for emergency food storage and coordinating with Abound Food Care.
B. Homeless and Best Management Practices for Public Safety Personnel Project Update
Committee Member Loeffler educated the Committee on recent ordinances passed by Los Angeles to address homelessness. They restricted camping on the sidewalk when too close to a fire hydrant, obstructs driveways or accessible passage required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or interferes with lawfully permitted events.
C. Legislative Review Project Update
Committee Member Loeffler discussed a recent bill in California State Legislature (AB26), which requires police officers to intervene and report if another officer is using excessive force.
He also discussed Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Los Angeles passing ordinances against bicycle repair on public property as a way to address bicycle theft.
D. Neighborhood Watch Project Update
Deputy Director Atamian reported that the neighborhood watch website, the committee was working on, is now active. Staff will continue working on it.
E. Human Trafficking Project Update
Committee Member Loeffler noted that Priority One of this item had been completed with the recommendations sent to City Council for the May 25, 2022 meeting. The Committee will continue to work on and will make additional recommendations to the City Council on Priorities Two and Three.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of May 24, 2022 F. Traffic and E-Bicycle Safety
Captain Mellott reported that the Marine Safety division had prepared an informational video promoting bicycle safety and notifying the public of the new E-Bike regulations. However, the Beaches/Parks/Recreation Department has not been able to finish signage causing enforcement of the E-Bike ordinance to possibly be delayed until signage was installed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
10. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
A. Police Services - Orange County Sheriff's Department Captain Benfield B. Fire Services - Chief of San Clemente Fire Services, Chief Capobianco C. Marine Safety - Marine Safety Division Captain Mellott D. Committee Chair
E. Committee Members
F. City Staff
Captain Benfield reported that OCSD is sponsoring a Bike Safety Rodeo on Thursday, May 26 from 3:00-5:00pm to educate children and families on safely sharing the roads.
He also reported that OCSD has been using body cameras for several months and are working towards upgrading to synchronize them with the cameras in police vehicles. The camera data has caused additional costs for data maintenance and storage which is detailed in the City budget. He also described a disturbing new crime trend of mass theft of golf carts late at night by criminals using rented moving trucks.
Captain Mellott reported that Marine Safety has recently produced an educational video for National Beach Safety Week. They have also restarted the junior lifeguard program. There was so much interest that all spots are filled and 649 on the wait list. He also reported Marine Safety has performed 63 rescues in the last two months, mostly due to rip tides. Plus City staff is working on beach sand replenishment with funds from a federal grant.
Deputy Director Atamian reported that the City contract for license plate readers is in progress and has been routed for signatures. He also reported that the Committee-recommended Catalytic Converter Ordinance is going to Council for review at the June 21 meeting.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of May 24, 2022 Public Works Director Kiel Koger reported that City staff has identified the Community Center as a mass care site for emergency planning. He is continuing to work with the Beaches, Parks, and Recreation Director to review other potential mass care sites such as the Vista Hermosa Sports Park and San Clemente High School.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY CHAIR BERKUTA SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
LOEFFLER, AND CARRIED 3-0, to adjourn, at 5:30pm to the next Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 3:00pm in the Community Room at City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
Attest:
Adam Atamian, Community Development Deputy Director