These minutes approved at the Public Safety Committee Meeting of 02/27/2024.
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
JANUARY 11, 2024
City Hall
Community Room, 1st Floor
910 Calle Negocio
San Clemente, CA 92673
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Berkuta called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of San Clemente to order at 3:04 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Vice Chair Greenwald led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Committee
Members Present: Chair Nick Berkuta
Vice Chair Michael Greenwald
Mark Rhoden
Scotland Roeber
Gary Walsh
Captain Jay Christian
Chief Rod Mellott (left at 3:58 p.m.)
Absent: Chief Cheyne Maule
Staff Present: Adam Atamian, Community Development Director Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager
Natanya Wilcher, Office Specialist I|
Trevor Milosch, Park Ranger Supervisor
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Donna Vidrine expressed concern regarding homeless living in vehicles and asked if the Committee would recommend a safe parking program to the City Council.
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of January 11, 2024 Sandy Exelby provided statistics on homeless using safe parking in other communities, discussed the new program in Vista, and encouraged the City to implement a safe parking program.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Public Safety Committee Review of Park Ranger Program Enhancements Code Compliance Manager Sorahan and Park Ranger Supervisor Milosch presented a PowerPoint outlining current services, proposed increased staffing, patrol areas, shifts and coverage structure, logistical enhancements including vehicles and office space, and transition from the Community Development Division to the Public Safety Department.
In response to Committee questions, Park Ranger Supervisor Milosch, Community Development Director Atamian and Code Compliance Manager Sorahan discussed the current cost for contract security at $650,000 per year; anticipated staffing costs for four park rangers at $280,000 and part-time at $80,000; anticipated costs for equipment and proposed vehicles; workstations in existing office; administrative support; development of the Public Safety Department; working on radio network; month to month contract with private security; implementation, including required training; salary ranges for the proposed positions; limitations on part time hours.
Chair Berkuta reminded the Committee that it was being asked to recommend resources for a successful program.
The Committee indicated support for the proposed enhancements, implemented with the idea that the program would expand; suggested the priorities were training and communications; discussed required training and suggested contacting County Park Rangers for input; stressed the need for future phases enhancing the program; discussed the need for additional staff to cover sick and vacation and the need for uniforms.
Community Member Cameron Cosgrove suggested increasing the scope; the eed to consider patrolling the T-zone; that rangers could patrol illegal parking ind the need to do more than replace the security company. He stated it was :
great first step but the Committee needed to consider the long term.
Community Member Tom Streeter discussed duties of law enforcement and park rangers and suggested the need for code compliance officers and a City ranger force.
MOTION BY MEMBER RHODEN, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR WALSH, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to recommend the City Council implement the
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Public Safety Committee of January 11, 2024 proposed enhancements, doubling the vehicle requests for two trucks and two ATVS and an additional six full time and six part time staff.
Community Development Director Atamian reported on the upcoming Regular Public Safety Committee Meeting on January 23, 2024 and urged all members to attend.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY CHAIR BERKUTA, SECOND BY MEMBER VICE CHAIR WALSH AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, to adjourn at 4:28 p.m., to the next Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Committee scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall in the1st Floor Community Room at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California.
Respectfully submitted,
Tell date
Nick Berkuta, Chair
Attest:
Dandle I
Danielle Sorahan, Code Compliance Manager