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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991/07/25 - Minutes - AdjournedJuly 25, 1991 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES Adiourned Joint Meetin~ A. CALL TO ORDER An adjourned joint meeting of City Council and the Public Safety Commission was held on Thursday, July 25, 1991, in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Mayor Dennis L. Stout. Present were Councilmembers: William J. Alexander, Charles J. Buquet II, Diane Williams, Pamela J. Wright, and Mayor Dennis L. Stout. Present were Commissioners: Pete Amodt, James Curatalo, Wayne Ketaily, Patricia Quintana, and Vice Chairman George Yankovich. Absent were Commissioners: Elvira West and Chairman Daniel Glass Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Jerry B. Fulwood, Deputy City Manager; Duane A. Baker, Assistant to the City Manager; Captain Bruce Zeiner, Rancho Cucamonga Police Department; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk B. ITEM OF DISCUSSION B1. DISCUSSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDY (1301-00 SHERIFF) Mayor Stout stated the purpose of the workshop was to discuss the Public Safety Commission's evaluation of a study done by Hughes, Heiss & Associates for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. He stated the study was commissioned by the City Council almost two years ago in order to determine the future of law enforcement in Rancho Cucamonga. He stated there was no intent, at that time, to make a rapid decision; but as he remembered the discussions, the City was approaching the 100,000 mark in population, and because of a survey done before this time, it indicated this issue be discussed as to what the future plans of the City should be regarding this matter. He stated because of this, a subcommittee of the City Council and the Public Safety Commission conducted interviews of several firms, and Hughes, Heiss & Associates was selected. He stated Mr. John Heiss is present to answer any questions about the study. He stated the Public Safety Commission has had four or five workshops to discuss this matter. He stated several months ago the Commission did make a recommendation back to the City Council, and now this meeting has been scheduled at the request of Councilmember Alexander for the purpose of the City Council to discuss this with the Public Safety Commission. He stated it is not the intent for the Council to make any decision on this issue at this meeting since this was the first time the Council has met to discuss this matter. Mayor Stout stated he was in receipt of a letter from a resident that has been circulated which stated the Council would be raising taxes and assessments because of this matter, which the Mayor stated was false. He stated there were also other incorrect statements in the letter relating to the cost per month for the City to have its own police department. Mr. Heiss stated the information in the letter was incorrect, and added it was not his recommendation to the City that they raise taxes or assessments. Councilmember Buquet stated the City Council has not had any discussions about this matter. Councilmember Alexander stated the last time both the City Council and the Public Safety Commission met, it was determined that additional preparation was needed in order to discuss this matter; therefore, this meeting was set up several months ago. Mayor Stout asked Jack Lam, City Manager, if he felt there were funds available to pay for its own police department at this time. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated no there was not. Commissioner Yankovich stated the Public Safety Commission was prepared to answer any questions the City Council had, and that the Public Safety Commission has prepared reports pertaining to this matter. Councilmember Alexander pointed out that the questioning by the City Council of the Public Safety Commission's decision is in no way meant to indicate that they had not studied the issue, nor that they are insincere about their recommendation. He added he felt the City's crime rate is second in the area, but that his questions was why would the City want to change from something that is very effective to something that was an unknown. He stated he feels the City is still being served very well by the Sheriff's Department, and mentioned that the new Sheriff, Dick Williams, is cooperating with the City. He stated he did not feel the City was in a position to form its own police department at this time. Mayor Stout stated the Heiss study showed there were some problems with the Sheriff's contract, and the Sheriff's Department has agreed to this. He stated he agreed with Councilmember Alexander as to the problems with former management in the Sheriff's Department. He felt the discussions with the Sheriff have been productive and that they have made commitments which he feels will be kept. He stated he felt the City needs its own police department no matter where they come from. He pointed out that deputies have come to him about the high rotation rate. He stated Jim Ferronato, Deputy Chief, has informed him they want the City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 3 deputies to treat the public like customers, and added he was impressed with his discussions with Deputy Chief Ferronato. He stated he felt the Sheriff is concerned with Rancho Cucamonga which he was glad to hear. He added he would like to see law enforcement be the best it can be. Vice Chairman Yankovich stated the Public Safety Commission has had many meetings and spent many hours in order to reach their decision. Commissioner Ketaily stated the cost element is what concerns him. He felt the $1.5 million is a little exaggerated. He felt there could be positions eliminated that were being proposed. He felt this should be developed very frugally. Councilmember Buquet asked Commissioner Ketaily which positions he felt could be cut. Commissioner Ketaily felt some clerical positions and the lieutenant position from the graveyard shift. Councilmember Wright asked Commissioner Ketaily how he was basing his decision. Commissioner Ketaily stated it was based upon fourteen years of law enforcement experience. Councilmember Williams asked if you take a service that is deemed to be inadequate and reduce it, she felt the result would be less than satisfactory and stated this alarmed her. She stated to say a service is inadequate, not serving and not safe, and then reduce it, did not make sense to her. Commissioner Ketaily stated he did not think they could take away from the patrol forces, that it would have to be kept staffed adequately. Councilmember Williams felt the services should be enhanced not taken away from by reducing personnel. Councilmember Alexander commented that with the services being provided by the current provider seeming to have changed over the last couple years since this was first discussed, could it possibly change the Commission's recommendation for maintaining the current provider. Commissioner Quintana stated that at the opening of the meeting, the Mayor asked the City Manger if funds were available for an in-house police department. The City Manager stated "no." She felt the tone of the meeting had been set and that there did not appear to be any merit in arguing this issue. She felt they should look at what they could do with the money that is available, and focus on Mr. Heiss' recommendations to stiffen the contract and insure contract compliance. Councilmember Alexander stated he did not disagree. City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 4 Councilmember Buquet stated he feels the public has lost confidence in the services because of the manner it has been discussed. He stated he wanted this matter to be brought to resolution, and felt what results come out of this has happened from the Heiss study. He felt the Public Safety Commission has put the City Council in a difficult situation because of their decision. He felt a decision needs to be ultimately made on this issue. Councilmember Wright stated prior to the study, and with the services the City was getting from the Sheriff's Department, she felt the study was needed. She added now with the new Sheriff it is a different atmosphere, and that she hopes things can change for the better with the Sheriff's Department. She did'not think there could be a time frame established as to how long the Sheriff's Department would be needed. She stated she had questions on the motion, third line referring to effective law enforcement, and asked what that meant. Commissioner Curatalo stated he disagreed with the proactive rate given in the study. He stated he felt crime rates have gone up and disagreed that the City has a good level of service. Councilmember Wright asked if during the Commission's discussions was there an agreement as to what effective is, that this is what the City currently has, and is it or is it not effective, and was that why the Commission was recommending a police department because they thought that would be effective. Commissioner Yankovich stated the service the City had at the time the Commission had discussions about the study was not effective, that things were not working. Councilmember Wright asked how they determined this. Commissioner Curatalo stated he did not believe the motion stated the law enforcement was ineffective, but should be made more effective. Councilmember Williams stated she felt the phrase "effective law enforcement" as stated in the motion is what has frightened the residents because it implies that the people will have a safe city only if they follow the Public Safety Commission's recommendation of having its own police department. Councilmember Wright stated she wanted to see Rancho Cucamonga have local control over law enforcement and asked what was the Commission's model for local control. Commissioner Quintana stated her opinion of local control would be the City Manager reporting to the City Council, but for the City Manager giving direction to the police chief. Councilmember Wright asked Commissioner Yankovich why he felt most residents would agree to be assessed an additional amount each year for their own police department. Commissioner Yankovich stated it is based on the residents he has spoken to about this. City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 5 Councilmember Williams stated when the Commission's motion was published, it was so dramatic that the residents got worried about their law enforcement service. She stated she felt it was poorly worded. She stated when she read the minutes of the Commission's workshops regarding this matter, she got an entirely different feeling. She stated she did not interpret from the study that there was currently bad law enforcement service. She concurred with Councilmember Wright that the City's service by the Sheriff's Department has changed dramatically. She stated she felt the City Council does have local control and that maybe the City Council has been remiss in not enforcing the contract like they should, and that maybe from now on they should do this. Mayor Stout stated he felt the City has been negligent in not keeping contract compliance. He stated he disagreed with Commissioner Ketaily in regards to a lieutenant needed for the graveyard shift. He added he felt there should be higher ranking positions in Rancho Cucamonga's operation because of the responsibilities placed on the captains, lieutenants and sergeants. He felt these discussions were very good so that the Council could come up with a decision on this matter. He stated he agreed with Councilmember Wright to give the Sheriff a chance to improve services and to work together. He felt there were good people working for the Sheriff's Department and has always felt that way. He stated his problem has been the way the organization as a whole is run. He felt the dispatching issue was something the City council needed to address in the future. Commissioner Amodt stated he is very supportive of the Sheriff's Department and felt they were doing a good job and had no complaints. He stated the reason he voted no on the motion was because there were too many unanswered questions. He mentioned the cost was also a concern of his. Commissioner Ketaily stated in no way did the Commission elude that the current law enforcement was not effective, because they do appreciate the job the Sheriff's Department is doing for the city. He stated there are no ill feelings toward the Sheriff's Department. Councilmember Wright stated when she worked as a dispatcher for other neighboring cities in the past, she felt there is a difference between a city's own police department and services provided by the Sheriff's Department. She stated she hoped there could be camaraderie between the City and the Sheriff's Department. She wanted the residents to be able to come to the Council when there were problems with law enforcement, and did not want them to feel that the City Council feels everything is "rosy", that if they have a complaint they should bring it before the Council. She stated she feels the current relationship with the Sheriff's Department is acceptable, but feels the City needs to, on an ongoing basis, refine the service that is provided. She stated she feels the City needs to make the Sheriff's Department also feel a part of the City family. Councilmember Buquet reiterated what Mayor Stout mentioned earlier that the City Council does make the ultimate decisions in the City. He felt a commitment needed to be made to law enforcement services. He felt before the City changes to a police department there really needs to be a need and the finances available to do this. City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 6 Mayor Stout stated he would like to see a report from the City Manager by working with the Sheriff's Department come back to the Council in 90 days, with a plan or statement on how to transition from where we have been to where we are going with respect to a municipal level of service, and what they are going to look like and how they will act. He felt there should be something included in this report reiterating what Sheriff Williams and Deputy Chief Ferronato has told him so that everyone has a picture of where the city is moving to. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated he feels what the Mayor was looking for was some kind of a Mission Statement to be municipally oriented to come back in 90 days. Mayor Stout stated he would like for the Sheriff's Department to tell the City Council what they plan to do to improve services. Mayor Stout suggested he and Councilmember Buquet work as a subcommittee with staff on this matter. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated he would meet with the Subcommittee to define this matter further, then he would meet with the Sheriff's Department representatives. Mayor Stout suggested that he, Councilmember Buquet, Jack Lam, Bruce Zeiner and Jim Ferronato brainstorm on this issue to come up with something to present back to the entire Council. Councilmember Wright stated she feels uncomfortable with the motion made by the Public Safety Commission and how it was a different tone than the minutes had set. She felt the Commission should be thanked for the work they put into this recommendation. Councilmember Buquet concurred with Councilmember Wright. Mayor Stout stated he felt the Commission did exactly what the City Council wanted them to do. Commissioner Amodt stated the Public Safety Commission is an advisory body to the City Council, and that he realize the City Council has the final say so. Councilmember Williams stated she felt the Commission went beyond the call of duty on this matter. She stated she appreciated all the work they put into this. Councilmember Alexander stated even though the City Council was rejecting the Commission's recommendation, there are many times they have accepted their recommendation. He felt some good came out of this. He also thanked John Heiss for his work and the residents for being at the meeting. Mayor Stout invited those interested in attending future meetings regarding this matter to leave their names and addresses with Jerry Fulwood. Mayor Stout stated he feels law enforcement and fire are important and did not want to make budget cuts in that area because of their importance. City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 7 ACTION: Mayor Stout and Councilmember Buquet to work with staff and the Sheriff's Department to prepare a plan for the future evolvement of Rancho Cucamonga police services to be brought back to the City Council in 90 days. He asked that the residents wanting to respond to the report, which would be presented to the entire Council in 90 days, do so in writing. C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Cl. Tom Albrecht, 6434 Teton Peak Court, stated he had a concern in the state, federal and city levels of government because whenever there is a need for services that they all raise taxes and did not agree with this. He felt they should consider cutting expenditures and not raise taxes. Mayor Stout stated that Rancho Cucamonga cut its budget by $3,000,000 and wished the City could get the State and County to stay out of the cities' pockets. Councilmember Buquet stated he would like to see discussion on the Law Enforcement Assessment District which overlays a portion of the City, and that it should effect all residents or abolish it altogether. Mayor Stout stated he would like to see this matter come back on a future agenda. C2. Phil Deatherage, 6564 Etiwanda Avenue, asked why the City Council could not talk about anything at this meeting. Mayor Stout stated this was a workshop that Councilmember Alexander had requested in order for the City Council to discuss this matter with the Public Safety Commission. Mr. Deatherage stated he would like his opportunity to talk about this matter at the public hearing. Councilmember Buquet stated under the Brown Act, the Council has to have a public meeting to discuss this with the Public Safety Commission. He stated the public would get their opportunity to address the City Council on this matter. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated he or Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager, would be happy to answer any questions Mr. Deatherage has. Councilmember Alexander asked Mr. Deatherage if he has ever been refused by anyone to answer any of his questions. Mr. Deatherage stated he has tried to get the information from Mr. Heiss, but did not get a response from him. Mayor Stout stated Mr. Deatherage has never tried to talk to him, but offered to meet with him. City Council/Public Safety Commission Joint Meeting Minutes July 25, 1991 Page 8 C3. John Lyons, 11984 Dorset Street, stated he supported the Sheriff's Department and felt the Public Safety Commission should also. He stated he did not agree with the Commission's motion on this matter. C4. George Bennett, 5167 Silver Mountain Lane, presented information on various cities with respect to their law enforcement services. He also mentioned various incidents he has had with Rancho Cucamonga's Police Department. Mayor Stout invited him to come back in 90 days and share the information at that time. D. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Moved by Alexander, seconded by Wright to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The Public Safety Commission also adjourned at this time. Respectfully submitted, City Clerk Approved by the Public Safety Commission: September 3, 1991 Approved by the City Council: September 18, 1991