These minutes were approved at the Public Safety Committee Meeting of 09/27/22
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
August 23, 2022
City Hall
First Floor Community Room
San mate, CA 92673
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Loeffler called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of San Clemente to order at 3:00p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Vice Chair Hightower led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Committee
Members Present: Chair Rick Loeffler
Vice Chair Charles Hightower
Nick Berkuta
Captain Benfield, Orange County Sheriffs Department
Chief Baryic Hunter, Orange County Fire Authority Division 4 Marine Safety Captain Mellott
Committee
Members Absent: William Hanrahan
Staff Present: Adam Atamian, Deputy Community Development Director Natanya Wilcher, Office Specialist
Special Guests: Gene James, Mayor of San Clemente
Alejandra Baker, I-5 Freedom Network
Todd Forester, I-5 Freedom Network
Brenda Wells, I-5 Freedom Network
SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS/PRESENTATIONS
None.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022
5. MINUTES
A. Minutes from the Regular Public Safety Committee meeting of July 26, 2022.
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR HIGHTOWER, SECOND BY CHAIR LOEFFLER, AND CARRIED 3-0-1 (COMMITTEE MEMBER HANRAHAN ABSENT) to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting of July 26, 2022.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Resident Ruth Martin had concerns about several reported unsafe conditions at San Gregorio Park. She stated that Committee Member Berkuta previously met with her at the location and immediately resolved one of them. Remaining issues in the area include a reported blind curve which the speaker felt caused vehicles to fail to stop at the stop sign, and the Beaches Parks and Recreation's reported overscheduling of special events. The speaker stated that parking overflows into surrounding areas which • the speaker felt causes unsafe pedestrian crossings and blocks area fire hydrants.
MOTION BY CHAIR RICK LOEFFLER, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BERKUTA AND CARRIED 3-0-1(COMMITTEE MEMBER HANRAHAN
ABSENT) to send Urgency Memorandum to the City Council to inform them of the issues raised by the public.
MOTION TO REORDER AGENDA BY CHAIR LOEFFLER, SECOND BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER BERKUTA AND CARRIED 3-0-1 (COMMITTEE
MEMBER HANRAHAN ABSENT) to reorder agenda and move items 8F and 8E up.
REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Communications and Disaster Preparedness Project Update Committee Member Berkuta has been working on identifying Mass Care Centers in case of a disaster. He found the Red Cross has designated 4 local schools.
Director of Safety Beekman for CUSD was not in favor of using his facilities for this purpose. Kiel Koger, Director of Public Works has suggested using the Community Center and the Vista Hermosa Sports Park Aquatics Center. In the event of a disaster Red Cross will staff a Disaster Center, but it's the City's job to He stressed the importance of being prepared prior to a disaster.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022 Committee Member Berkuta mentioned that the Committee Members will begin tours of the City's EOC beginning September 1s!.
Chair Loeffler requested that Committee Member Berkuta be involved with Public Works Director and Emergency Planning Consultant Jacob Green in the development of the City's EOC due to his expertise in the field.
B. Homeless and Best Management Practices for Public Safety Personnel Project Update
Chair Loeffler discussed the success of the recent amendment of Titles 8 and 12 of the San Clemente Municipal Code Regarding Shopping Carts and Publicly Stored Personal Property. In a recent incident, this gave OCSD the probable cause to make contact and arrest an individual committing criminal acts.
Deputy Director Atamian gave an update on staff that assists with the people experiencing homelessness. The Park Ranger staff consists of all new members and currently has minimal enforcement capabilities due to restrictions with training and resources. Paul Pye, Code Compliance Officer, who is also an important resource to deal with the impact of homelessness in the City, is on medical leave. He noted that the 2nd position for a Community Outreach Worker interview process has begun. Once this candidate is chosen they will work with Karlie Hunter to provide outreach and assistance seven days a week.
C. Legislative Review Project Update
Deputy Director Atamian noted that the 2n° reading of the Catalytic Convertor Ordinance will occur at the September 6th , 2022 City council Meeting and will become effective on or about October 7', 2022.
D. Neighborhood Watch Project Update
Chair Loeffler commented on the City's Neighborhood Watch Webpage and updates that he would like to see.
Deputy Director Atamian will meet with Chair Loeffler and Committee Member Hanrahan to gather content to update the City website.
E. Human Trafficking Project Update
Vice Chair Hightower gave an update on the Human Trafficking Project with a PowerPoint presentation containing award incentive recommendations to submit to City Council to consider rewarding and recognizing Hotels and Motels for prioritizing the elimination of human trafficking in their establishments.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022 Alejandra Baker, I-5 Freedom Director read aloud statements from Human Trafficking Victims.
Todd Forester a volunteer with the I-5 Freedom Network spoke on his experience in the hotel and motel industry, recognizing victims and the increase of trafficking happening in these facilities.
Todd Forester spoke about hotel cards that can communicate to victims a method for rescue and intervention. He also mentioned posting signage to encourage and empower guests to report suspicious activity to the hotel to respond to potential trafficking situations.
Deputy Director Atamian gave an update regarding the Code Compliance Department's progress of finalizing a checklist for inspections on targeted business inspections to strengthen massage establishment oversight. Staff is also participating in multiple trainings through Peace Officer Standards Training (POST), the California Massage Therapy Council, and Vice from OCSD.
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR HIGHTOWER, SECOND BY CHAIR LOEFFLER, CARRIED 3-0-1(COMMITTEE MEMBER HANRAHAN ABSENT) to send recommendations of the Human Trafficking Subcommittee to City Council for implementation of Hotel Award Incentives for combatting human trafficking in San Clemente.
F. Traffic and E-Bicycle Safety
Resident Nancy Brady expressed concern with E-bike safety in the City of San Clemente. She requested more educational programs like the "Share The Road" Campaign, or visual aids such as creating broken green lines on roads lacking a defined bike lane to alert vehicles to share the road or slow down.
Chair Loeffler mentioned legislation AB 1946 was recently signed by Governor Newsome requiring CHP to develop safety standards and guidelines for E-bikes that will hopefully address many of these emerging issues.
Deputy Director Atamian mentioned the City has a Mobility and Complete Streets Element of our General Plan which identifies the opportunities that the City Council approved in 2014 with policies geared toward multi-modality opportunities. Implementing things such as sharing the road and green lanes would fall under the City's purview.
Chair ing stry ford the cone an and tai talk nig i for sugaring, on this topic.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022 Mayor James acknowledged multiple issues with the E-bikes. Beyond the City's mitigation, he stated that additional parental involvement and cooperation is needed to educate underage riders to operate the E-bikes in a safe manner.
Captain Mellott mentioned the continuing education and reminders for the Jr.
Lifeguards to promote E-bike safety. He has also collaborated with Captain Benfield to visit schools and speak to 3r through 6th graders about E-bike safety.
He has also updated to San Clemente lifeguard brochures to include reminders.
Captain Benfield has recently shifted efforts to the E-motorcycles, trying to curb the growing trend in less than 30 days by towing and impounding them.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Consideration and Development of 2022-2023 Public Safety Committee Work Plan
The Committee discussed updating the 2022-2023 Annual Work Plan. Deputy Director Atamian read through the individual project names and noted modifications suggested by the Committee members to update the plan according to current needs.
Chief Baryic Hunter left the meeting at 5:25 p.m.
10. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFE
A. Police Services - Orange County Sheriff's Department Captain Benfield B. Fire Services - Chief of San Clemente Fire Services, Baryic Hunter C. Marine Safety - Marine Safety Division Captain Mellott D. Committee Chair
E. Committee Members
F. City Staff
Captain Benfield reported that recent San Clemente Fiesta was largely uneventful from a law enforcement standpoint with no significant incidents occurring.
Captain Benfield is holding a Town Hall Meeting at the Saint Clement's By-The- Sea Episcopal Church at 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente, California on August 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. to address the gang activity that has been occurring at Max Berg Park
Chief Benfield reported on a recent traffic fatality that occurred near Ralph's Grocery Store that was a result of a medical incident that happened to the driver.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022 Chief Benfield reported that Flock is still in a holding pattern and the City has authorized to increase the contract to include 6 more cameras.
Chief Baryic Hunter of OCFA introduced himself as the replacement for Chief Capobianco. He is currently serving as Chief of Division 4 and temporarily overseeing Division 3 until the position is filled.
Captain Mellott mentioned an additional 515 rescues of swimmers in distress rescued by his staff since the last meeting with zero drownings.
Vice Chair Hightower thanked members for their involvement with the Human Trafficking Subcommittee.
Chair Loeffler brought up an emergency letter received by the Mayor from the former Head of LA County Lifeguards stating the lanes are being closed at the pool due to staff shortages. It was suggested to use our Beach Lifeguards to staff the pool. Captain Mellott stated that his staff level has decreased due to the approaching off season as well as their availability. He mentioned they also have trained for a different type of position and most are not interested in tending to those facilities.
Chair Loeffler requested Committee members communicate when they cannot make it to the meetings to ensure a proper Quorum is present for the meeting.
Deputy Director Atamian requested confirmation that Committee Members had been contacted by Public Works for tours of the City's EOC.
Deputy Director Atamian suggested a presentation for any information shared at the next meeting shared by Public Works related to San Gregorio Park traffic issues, how bike lanes are established, and the Mobility and Complete Streets Element for the next scheduled meeting, to which Chair Loeffler agreed.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY CHAIR LOEFFLER, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR HIGHTOWER, AND CARRIED 3-0-1(COMMITTEE MEMBER HANRAHAN ABSENT) to
adjourn, at 5:41 PM to the next the Joint Council/Commission/Meeting to be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wedgewood at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course located at 150 E Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, California.
The next Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 3:00pm in the Community Room at City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of August 23, 2022 Respectfully submitted,
Dilfaffla
Rick Loeffler, Chair
Attest:
Alt
Adam Atamian, Community Development Deputy Director