These minutes will be considered for approval at the Public Safety Committee Meeting of 11/28/2023.
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
October 24, 2023
City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, CA 92673
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Berkuta called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of San Clemente to order at 3:02 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Member Rhoden led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Committee
Members Present: Chair Nick Berkuta
Vice Chair Michael Greenwald
Mark Rhoden
Scotland Roeber
Chief Cheyne Maule
Captain Rod Mellott
Absent: Member Gary Walsh
Captain Jay Christian
Staff Present: Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager Natanya Wilcher, Office Specialist
Adam Atamian, Community Development Director
Special Guests: Pete Van Nuys
4. SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS / PRESENTATIONS
Presentation by Pete Van Nuys on Advancing E-bike Safety in San Clemente Chair Berkuta introduced Pete Van Nuys.
Mr. Van Nuys provided information and materials on e-bike safety and discussed the need for parental involvement and education.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023
5. MINUTES
A. Minutes from the Regular Public Safety Committee Meeting of September 26, 2023
MOTION BY VICE CHAIR GREENWALD, SECOND BY MEMBER ROEBER AND CARRIED 3-0-2, Chair Berkuta abstaining and Member Walsh absent, to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting of September 26, 2023.
6. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Tom Streeter discussed difficulty in catching e-bike violators and suggested body worn cameras for private security and code enforcement.
Cameron Cosgrove suggested expanding the park ranger and enforcement program and provided his proposal.
The Committee concurred with the need and indicated it would consider the proposal.
7. REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Care Ambulance Performance Measures FY2023 Q4
Member Roeber indicated he and Chair Berkuta met to analyze the ambulance response to determine compliance with the contract. He stated the contract was in effect until 2026, at which time the Fire Authority would work on consistent contracts throughout the County.
Vice Chair Greenwald suggested working with Faulk on understanding the contract and expectations.
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan stated the contract was managed by the City Manager’s Office.
B. OCFA Performance Measures FY2023 Q4
Chief Maule provided details of the fourth quarter. In response to Committee questions, Chief Maule explained the issue of wall time; and confirmed the number of inspections.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Review the Letter of Support Concerning Moms Demand Action Related to Safe Gun Storage
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023 Vice Chair Greenwald concurred with the proposed action.
Chair Berkuta discussed the need for gun safety in homes.
Member Rhoden expressed concern with the demand that guns be locked and unloaded.
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN to submit the proposal to the City Council amended to delete Section 1 (a) (4) (iii). The motion died due to lack of a second.
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN, SECOND BY MEMBER ROEBER, AND
CARRIED 4-0-1, Member Walsh absent, to continue the item pending revisions to the next meeting.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Consideration and Development of 2023-2024 Public Safety Committee Workplan
(1) Communications and Disaster Preparedness Project Update Chair Berkuta recommended retaining the item on the work plan. (2) Homelessness and Best Management Practices for Public Safety Personnel Project Update
Member Rhoden recommended continuing the item, with Goal No. 3 amended to read “Ensure that the safety, welfare, and public right of ways are strictly maintained.”
(3) Legislation Review
Member Rhoden stated there was value with the subcommittee but redundancy with some of the other subcommittees and proposed the item be suspended and reconsidered next year.
Director Atamian stated the Review of Urgent Matters Subcommittee could cover urgent legislative issues. He discussed the City’s review of legislation and indicated the Committee would be provided with the updates.
The Committee determined to remove the item.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023 (4) Neighborhood Watch
Vice Chair Greenwald discussed the completed goals and need to create videos of block captains’ accomplishments.
Director Atamian suggested the Committee receive updates but remove the task from the work plan.
Vice Chair Greenwald recommended retaining the task keeping Goal 4 and modifying Goal 6 to “Increase the number of block captains with goal of expanding citywide”.
(5) Statistical Information and Review
Member Roeber recommended retaining the task and recommended no changes.
(6) Human Trafficking
Vice Chair Greenwald suggested inviting the I-5 Freedom Network to address the Committee.
Director Atamian discussed efforts by the Committee and I-5 Freedom Network to establish a program to deal with human trafficking including a proactive inspection program, hotel recognition program, and to provide outreach. He suggested retaining the task in the work plan.
Member Rhoden provided a suggested purpose, goals and deliverables and indicated he would provide the details to staff.
MOTION BY CHAIR BERKUTA, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR WALSH, AND CARRIED 4-0-1, Member Walsh absent, to authorize Member Rhoden to rewrite the task and submit it to staff.
B. Public Safety Committee Annual Work Plan FY2022-2023 (1) Communications and Disaster Preparedness Project Update Chair Berkuta discussed the emergency planner position.
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan stated the Council would consider the Emergency Operations Coordinator and Public Information Officer position at its December 5, 2023 meeting.
(2) Homelessness and Best Management Practices for Public Safety Personnel Project Update
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023 Member Rhoden discussed efforts to annex the southern part of town. (3) Legislation Review
None.
(4) Neighborhood Watch
None.
(5) Statistical Information and Review
Member Roeber stated they would be requesting the raw data for Quarter 2 and 3 from Care Ambulance.
(6) Human Trafficking
None.
(7) E-Bicycle/Traffic Safety
Member Roeber stated they reviewed the Carlsbad and Huntington Beach models and recommended leaning towards the Carlsbad model.
Member Rhoden explained the distinction between municipal code violations and moving violations.
The Committee discussed the current code related to e-bikes; the need for the new State laws prior to a recommendation; and the direction for the Subcommittee to draft a proposed recommendation to the City Council.
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan suggested consideration of outreach and education; use on sidewalks and bike lanes; and requesting additional direction from Council.
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN SECOND BY VICE CHAIR GREENWALD
AND CARRIED 4-0-1, Member Walsh absent, to request more specific direction from Council on e-bikes in regard to public safety and consider adopting an ordinance outlining any violation of California State law while on an e-bike would classify as an Administrative infraction resulting in training or diversion.
(8) Technology Review
None.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023 (9) Review of Urgent Matters
None.
10. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
A. Police Services – Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Christian None.
B. Fire Services – Orange County Fire Authority, Chief Maule None.
C. Marine Safety – Marine Safety Division, Captain Mellott Captain Mellott reported on safety statistics; staffing; work on encampments; the recent surf contest; bridge closures; construction of restrooms; Red Ribbon and National Night Out; North Beach concession and restroom building project; rookie training academy; new towers; sand replenishment project; and the Great Shakeout.
D. Committee Chair
Chair Berkuta discussed and presented a video on the Laguna Beach Genasys Emergency Warning System.
Captain Mellott indicated a similar system would be a benefit to the City.
Chair Berkuta discussed potential grants funding.
E. Committee Members
Member Rhoden requested an agenda item regarding the safety concerns of a battery storage facility at the end of Avenida Pico, near the Talega community
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN SECOND BY VICE CHAIR GREENWALD AND CARRIED 4-0-1, Member Walsh absent, to bring back an item on the public safety concerns regarding the proposed battery storage facility at the end of Avenida Pico, near the Talega community.
Vice Chair Greenwald reiterated the need to discuss a recommendation to the City Council on gun safety.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of October 24, 2023 F. City Staff
Code Compliance Manager Sorahan discussed staff’s homeless outreach presentation to Council on October 17, 2023, and indicated the two full-time park rangers had been hired and need for future Committee recommendations on the program.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY CHAIR BERKUTA, SECOND BY MEMBER RHODEN AND
CARRIED 4-0-1, Member Walsh absent, to adjourn at 5:35 p.m., to the next Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee scheduled to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers of City Hall at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________
Nick Berkuta, Chair
Attest:
_______________________________
Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager