These minutes were approved at the Public Safety Committee Meeting of 8/22/2023
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
July 25, 2023
City Hall
Conference Room A-3
rd Floor
910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, CA 92673
1. CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Berkuta called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of San Clemente to order at 3:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Committee Member Greenwald led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Committee
Members Present: Nick Berkuta
Michael Greenwald (left at 5:02 p.m.)
Mark Rhoden
Scotland Roeber
Captain Jay Christian (arrived at 3:05 p.m.)
Chief Cheyne Maule (arrived at 3:04 p.m. / left at 5:16 p.m.) Captain Rod Mellott (arrived at 3:03 p.m. / left at 5:02 p.m.) Staff Present: Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager Natanya Wilcher, Office Specialist
Jane Mrotek, Assistant Engineer - Traffic
Ryan Kim, Sr. Civil Engineer - Traffic
Special Guests: Brian Kinsey, Public Information Officer for California Highway Patrol of Capistrano Beach Office
4. SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS / PRESENTATIONS
Member Berkuta recognized the outgoing Committee Member Charles Hightower. In response, Mr. Hightower expressed his gratitude to the Committee Members and staff for their diligent work. He commended the public safety
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023 organizations and discussed the e-bike subcommittee's efforts. He also encouraged the continuation of this important work.
A. Presentation by Brian Kinsey, Public Information Officer for California Highway Patrol of Capistrano Beach Office on Bicycle/E-bike Safety Officer Kinsey explained regulations, dangers, and safety for bicycles and ebikes; discussed pending legislation; and displayed a video of incidents around South Orange County.
In response to questions from the Committee, Officer Kinsey addressed topics including helmet enforcement, training and licensing procedures, the use of illegal electric dirt bikes like Surrons, and ongoing efforts to educate students on safety measures.
Jane Mrotek, Assistant Traffic Engineer, discussed complaints from residents and the need for education and signage.
Nomination and Selection of Public Safety Committee Chair and ViceChair
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR ROEBER, SECOND BY MEMBER GREENWALD AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to appoint Nick Berkuta to serve as Chair.
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR ROEBER AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to appoint Michael Greenwald to serve as Vice Chair.
5. MINUTES
A. Minutes from the Regular Public Safety Committee meeting of June 27, 2023
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR GREENWALD, SECOND BY MEMBER ROEBER AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting of June 27, 2023.
6. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Chair Berkuta discussed golf carts parked on sidewalks and indicated he would provide the information to Captain Christian.
7. REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Care Ambulance Measures FY2023 Q3
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023 Chair Berkuta initiated a discussion about the efforts being made to obtain data on ambulance services.
Member Roeber emphasized the absence of penalties for
underperformance in this area.
Chief Maule explained the difference between Fire Department and ambulance data and dispatch.
The Committee collectively expressed concern over the lack of penalties for inadequate ambulance service performance and suggested inviting representatives from Care Ambulance Service to discuss the issue at a future meeting.
B. OC Fire Authority Performance Measures FY2023 Q3
Chief Maule discussed the Third Quarter statistics, including response times.
In response to Committee questions, Chief Maule explained the varying response times; turnaround time for plan checks; new standards for response times; use of Trucks 56 and 59; and tasks of the Administrative Captain.
8. NEW BUSINESS
None.
9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Public Safety Committee Annual Work Plan FY2022-2023 The Members discussed their interest in serving on the subcommittees and determined the following assignments:
Communications and Disaster Preparedness
• Chair Berkuta
Homelessness and Best Practices for Public Safety Personnel • Committee Member Rhoden
Legislative Review
• Committee Member Roeber
Statistical Information and Review
• Chair Berkuta and Committee Member Roeber
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023 Neighborhood Watch
• Vice Chair Greenwald
Technology Review
• Chair Berkuta and Committee Member Rhoden
Human Trafficking
• Vice Chair Greenwald and Committee Member Rhoden
E-bike and Traffic Safety
• Committee Member Roeber and Committee Member Rhoden
1. Communications and Disaster Preparedness Project Update Chair Berkuta discussed the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) tour. He requested a future agenda item to request a full or parttime City employee to coordinate disaster preparedness training.
MOTION BY CHAIR BERKUTA, SECOND BY MEMBER ROEBER, AND
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY: to agendize a recommendation to City Council to add a part-time or full-time city employee as a designated coordinator for disaster preparedness training.
2. Homelessness and Best Management Practices for Public Safety Personnel Project Update
Vice Chair Greenwald thanked staff for its work on homelessness.
Chair Berkuta discussed a tent city growing on the other side of the County line and the impact to City resources.
Captain Christian discussed efforts to deal with the issue.
Vice Chair Greenwald requested staff reach out to San Diego County to assist.
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan stated she had reached out to San Clemente’s Community Outreach Team to coordinate with San Diego, since it was not within the City limits.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023
3. Legislation Review
Member Roeber stated he was interested in following the e-bike legislation on the state level so that San Clemente can implement an enforcement and training program locally.
4. Neighborhood Watch
None.
5. Statistical Information and Review
None.
6. Human Trafficking
Vice Chair Greenwald mentioned the film "The Sound of Freedom," noting its role in raising awareness about human trafficking. He acknowledged the importance of continuing to keep the community informed about this issue.
7. E-Bicycle/Traffic Safety
Captain Christianson reviewed ongoing initiatives to educate riders, especially parents and juveniles, about regulations related to e-bikes. He emphasized the policy not to pursue Surron e-bike riders and noted the positive outcome of schools creating a permitting process for e-bikes.
8. Technology Review
Chair Berkuta discussed the need to manage drone air traffic and requested a future presentation.
The Commission discussed emergency landing for helicopters; and use of drones and restrictions.
9. Review of Urgent Matters
None.
10. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
A. Marine Safety – Marine Safety Division Captain Mellott Captain Mellott reported on the junior lifeguard program and provided marine safety statistics. He discussed the successful 4th of July and Ocean Games; the
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023 new security team; upcoming surf contests; recent recruitments and staff transitions; and the sand replenishment and tower replacement projects.
In response to Committee questions, Captain Mellott explained estimations of visitors.
B. Police Services – Orange County Sheriff’s Department Captain Christian Captain Christian discussed 4th of July Police services and additional efforts at Lost Winds Beach. He discussed recent successes for the Department and staffing.
In response to Committee questions, Captain Christian discussed the use of quads for beach patrol.
C. Fire Services – Orange County Fire Authority, Chief Maule Chief Maule reported on statistics for the month of June and efforts to prepare for fire season.
Chair Berkuta discussed the importance of disaster preparedness.
D. Committee Chair
Chair Berkuta asked about the success of Flock license plate readers and if additional funding was necessary.
E. Committee Members
Member Rhoden asked how many arrests there were on 4th of July. Captain Christian stated it was relatively slow.
F. City Staff
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan stated the next meeting would be in the 1st Floor Community Room.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR BERKUTA, SECOND BY MEMBER RHODEN, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to adjourn at 5:21 PM to the next Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the 1
st Floor Community Room of City Hall at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of July 25, 2023 Respectfully submitted,
______________________________
Nick Berkuta, Chair
Attest:
_______________________________
Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager