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BRAD HALPERN
Mayor
RAY PEARL
Mayor Pro Tern
NED F. DA VIS
Council member
KELLY HONIG
Council member
SUSAN McSWEENEY
Council member
MINUTES
Study Session Meeting of the City Council
September 28, 2022
CALL TO ORDER:
This Study Session Meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Halpern on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 4:34 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Halpern led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Also Present:
Councilmembers Mcsweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
None
City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Deputy City Manager Eskandar, Administrative Services Director Wilson, Planning Director Forbes, City Clerk Mann, Administrative Analyst Mott, Lost Hills Station Captain Seetoo, Lieutenant Roman Foss, Detective Angela Lopez, Sergeant Marcos Escalante, Sergeant Brandon Painter and Deputy Brian Knott.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Mcsweeney moved to approve the Agenda as presented.
Councilmember Honig seconded the motion.
YES:
NO:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers Mcsweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
None
None
None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
City Council Study Session Minutes
City of Westlake Village September 28. 2022 2
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
STUDY SESSION:
1. Public Safety Review and Discussion
City Manager de Geus introduced the Study Session, thanking Lost Hills Station Captain Seetoo and other Sheriff personnel for attending. He mentioned that the Study Session was intended to address public safety efforts, recent crime trends, and ideas for future public safety strategies.
City Manager de Geus reported that the City of Westlake Village contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASO) to provide citywide policing services. He stated that Westlake Village spends approximately $3. 7 million annually, 26% of the annual budget on public safety related costs as public safety is the highest priority for the City Council. LASO is one of the largest police departments in the country and contracting with them provides access to many services without the accompanying overhead for equipment and facilities.
Annually, the City purchases minutes for service, which then provides access to all other special services as needed (SWAT, K-9 units, forensics, etc.).
Lost Hills Sheriff's Station is the local station, servicing the cities of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, and the local portions of unincorporated LA County. Deputy City Manager Eskandar is the City's staff member assigned to Public Safety and Emergency Services.
Lost Hills Sheriff's Station Captain Seetoo introduced Sheriff staff members in attendance: Lieutenant Roman Foss, Detective Angela Lopez, Sergeant Marcos Escalante, Sergeant Brandon Painter and Deputy Brian Knott.
Captain Seetoo began with reviewing Part 1 Crimes, serious crimes that the Federal Government monitors and compares by cities across the nation. Captain Seetoo stated that crimes in Westlake Village are down. She reviewed residential burglaries, reporting for 2022, there have been ten residential burglaries which includes one attempted burglary. Captain Seetoo noted that over 50% of the incidents were no-force burglaries, meaning doors or windows were left open or unlocked allowing the burglar easy entry into the home. She reminded residents to ensure their property is locked when they leave their homes.
Captain Seetoo reported that Lost Hills Sheriff's Station personnel will be attending Homeowner Association Board meetings to discuss crime and crime prevention methods. Other efforts included developing a pamphlet on how to protect property, reviewing best practices of other police departments to modify the Sheriff's station best practices, developing social media posts to inform residents what they can do to implement safety measures, and investing in technology to assist with solving crimes.
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City Council Study Session Minutes
City of Westlake Village September 28, 2022 3
STUDY SESSION (continued):
Captain Seetoo reviewed three cases and shared how they were solved. All cases involved multi-agency partnerships, resulting in increased suspect charges and successful arrests.
Captain Seetoo reviewed Westlake Village calls for service and shared analysis to ensure resources are being deployed accurately. This analysis will be provided to the City Manager yearly to establish and ascertain any adjustments in services.
Captain Seetoo discussed how residents can partner with law enforcement for a safer community including locking doors and windows, creating a Neighborhood Watch Program, calling the Lost Hills Station when a resident sees something unusual before posting on social media, investing in smart garage doors, lightbulbs and doorbells that allow homeowners to use smartphones to view their home remotely and, to turn on lights when away giving the appearance of an occupied home, stopping mail delivery when away, and coordinating package pickup with neighbors.
Lastly, Captain Seetoo presented items for City Council consideration as future enhancements to assist with crime prevention: automatic license plate reader cameras, increasing Volunteers on Patrol, extra Sheriff Patrol units, investing in investigative technology for detectives, funding a Regional Crime Analyst for the Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments (COG), conducting a Safety Symposium and lastly, the five C's (Citizens, City Manager, City Council, Cops and Coffee) allowing residents to meet and discuss issues/concerns with City staff, elected officials and Sheriffs deputies.
City Council discussion included: reasons why crime rates were lower during COVID, potential criteria for homes chosen for burglaries, appropriate response if one confronts a burglar, increasing communication between residents and the Sheriffs Department, improving and increasing residential awareness of new developments, and ways to make the City safer.
Sheriff's staff reported that during COVID, residents were home, so burglaries decreased. There were noted trends for crime at dinnertime is when burglars' entry occurs, especially in homes without proper lighting or with doors or windows unlocked, and without dogs present. The Sheriff stated that if you come home and see a burglary in process, leave immediately and call 9-1-1. Many burg la rs also enter through the second-floor window.
Captain Seetoo stated that Sheriff activity reports will become more frequent with the City Manager, while working towards_daily reports. She noted that traffic enforcement saturation has been deployed in the City to continuously address speeding concerns.
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City Council Study Session Minutes
City of Westlake Village September 28, 2022 4
STUDY SESSION (continued):
City Council encouraged Captain Seetoo to share "wins" with residents on a more frequent basis. Sharing wins can become a deterrent to stop certain activities, like speeding and loud engines. Councilmembers commented that sharing when a crime has been solved, reduces residents' anxiety.
City Manager de Geus thanked Captain Seetoo and the Sheriffs staff for the presentation. He reiterated that Westlake is a safe community, but to keep it safe takes work, perseverance, commitment, and communication. He commented that the City has work ahead related to communication. City Manager de Geus expressed appreciation for the increased communication with the Sheriffs Department stating that Public Safety is extremely important, and the additional communication will assist in the City's efforts. LASO staff are working on a Safety Symposium, planning more Coffee with the Cops events, and enhancing the Volunteers on Patrol program for which the City received a grant to purchase a new vehicle for the Volunteers on Patrol program. Staff will be back with updates on this important topic.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m. to the Regular Session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. l§rad
~ Halpern, Mayor
Attest:
Antoinett~~ity Clerk