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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSC Minutes 4-28-16 approvedCouncil Public Safety Committee April 28, 2016 MINUTES Members: Councilmember Kathy Coffey (chair) Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez Councilmember Carmen Mendez The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. Staff: Cally Price, City Manager's Office Capt. Jeff Schneider, Police Chief Bob Stewart, Fire Prosecutor Cynthia Martinez, Legal Brad Coughenour, SunComm Joe Rosenlund, Streets Terri Croft, Police It was MOVED by Mendez and SECONDED by Gutierrez to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2016 meeting. • Updated lighting analysis Rosenlund advised the committee his department is finalizing a report on lighting needs in high crime areas. Not much has changed in regard to the areas needing lighting. The report is expected to be presented at the June 2016 Public Safety Committee meeting. Coffey stated that approximately 4 years ago, lighting was installed in high crime/violent crime areas and she is interested in a report on the crime statistics in those areas before and after the lighting installation. Crime Analyst Joe Brown will be tasked with creating the report and presenting it at the May 2016 committee meeting. Brown will also provide information about research on what type of crime lighting does and does not impact. • Joint Task Force update Schneider reported that the Yakima Police Department is part of two federal task forces: the DEA task force and the gang task force. DEA provides overtime reimbursement, vehicles, and some training for the officers participating in the task force. The gang task force consists of 2 sergeants and 6 detectives. One of the detectives is sponsored by the FBI, which provides overtime reimbursement, a vehicle, and some training. A second detective is sponsored by Homeland Security Intelligence, which provides overtime reimbursement and some training. The department does not participate in the Safe Streets Task Force, which is designated by the FBI. Mendez inquired if the DEA task force is part of HIDTA, which it is. Coffey inquired if the department's participation in the task forces are fiscally sustainable. Schneider advised that the DEA task force is sustainable through forfeitures. The gang task force is sustainable as long as the federal agencies want to sponsor it. For the foreseeable future, the gang task force is sustainable. Coffey stated that the state provided gang funding of $500,000, most of which went to Seattle. There were changes in the legislation to disperse funds in a more equitable manner. She asked if Yakima had received any of those funds. Price will follow up on that issue. • YPAL Presentation Ed Shoenbach and YPAL staff gave a presentation on YPAL activities and reported on intervention practices. Mendez inquired how many children from outside of the city limits of Yakima participate in YPAL activities and if their participation is subsidized with city funds. There are some children from outside of the city who participate. Mendez requested a report with the distribution of participants according to their residency inside or outside of the city limits. The committee inquired what the success rate had been for YPAL referrals through the People for People 211 line. Shoenbach reported that YPAL had only received two referrals through 211, which he attributed to the public awareness project for 211 falling through. Most YPAL referrals come through schools or parents seeking resources. Mendez asked how the children were determined to be "at risk". Staff reported that information from the schools is utilized to make that determination. She inquired about changing the name from YPAL to something that was more of a community center due to lack of police involvement. Shoenbach advised that being part of the national Police Athletic League group provides for reduced insurance on the participants and the building and operations. Mendez also felt that the building is being under-utilized. Staff reported on some additional programs they are working on bringing to the center during the day, such as a Mommy and Me class. There was discussion if YPAL had an advisory board, as the Southeast Community Center has. Shoenbach advised there is a board of directors. Coffey advised that YPAL is set up differently than the SECC. SECC representatives will be invited to the next meeting for a presentation on their activities. Gutierrez inquired about the deliverables in the YPAL contract. She asked about the use of the WARNS screening system, how many youths did the system flag as at risk specifically for gang involvement, and asked if it is an efficient tool or not. Staff reported that it not entirely accurate or efficient for recognizing that particular risk, as many responding to the questions are not completely honest. The committee requested information on the WARNS data. Shoenbach advised that WARNS is a research tool which may or may not be accurate for assessing risk. He will follow up on the process status. Gutierrez also requested information about the gang awareness seminars required by the contract. It was also noted that all deliverable reports are required by the contract to go to the City Manager's office. The City Manager's office will ensure that the information is distributed to the council members. • Good of the order Shoenbach stated concerns he and YPAL staff have over the homeless activities at Miller Park. Mendez mentioned the 100 Jobs for 100 Kids fair on Monday, May 2 from 12:00 noon to 5:00. People for People will be invited to the next meeting to present on their activities. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m. Approved: