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PSC 05-09-02M1NUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION HELD MAY 9, 2002 CONFERENCE ROOM A, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 7:30 PM I. CALL TO ORDER: The Chair, Emma Darknell, called the meeting to order. I1. SALUTE TO THE FLAG: The Chair led the Salute. III. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Staff Present: Staff Absent: Visitors Present: Darknell, Dor, Majewski and Riddell Chang Jeffrey Trybus, Code Enforcement Lieutenant Smedlund, Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief Rooney, Santa Clara County Fire Sgt. Kevin Jensen, Sheriff's Department Ralph Quails, Director of Public Works Marsha Garcia, Emergency Services None Camehia Posh~ar, DeAnza College Student Janet Sinkovic, DeAnza College Student IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 1 l, 2002 minutes will be held on the table until the June meeting. V. REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR: Director Quails distributed and discussed the traffic issues report that he prepared for the commissioners review. Director Quails told the commission that the company responsible for the photo light cameras is ACS, and the company is located in Australia. Director Quails told the commission that Police Lieutenant Glenn Hanson fi.om Maryland is contracted by the city to monitor the photo light enforcement program. Director Quails advised the city con~acts with ACS and Poltech for the photo light cameras. Director Quails told the commission that the Sheriff's department issues approximately 150 citations for the photo light camera, and half of them are tossed out. Sgt. Kevin Jensen told the commission that people try to beat the camera by hiding their heads when they run the red light. Director Quails told the commission that the cameras on DeAnza at Stevens Creek are working properly. Public Safety Commission Minutes Regular Meeting of May 9, 2002 Page 2 V. REPORT FROM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CONT: Commissioner Majewski asked Director Quails, what the status was with the gate on Pacifica at Torte Ave. Director Quails told the cormnission that the gate was installed back in the 80's at the request of the residents. Director Qualls said that vehicles were cutting thru the neighborhood and that's why the gate was installed. Commissioner Dor asked Director Quails what his recommendation is for the gate. Director Quails told the commission that he does not like the gate and he would like to see a traffic study performed on the street to verify if the gate is needed. Commissioner Riddell asked Director Quails if the city really needs more lanes of traffic on DeAnza Blvd. Director Quails said that if we did not have extra lanes on DeAnza, congestion would occur on the street. Commissioner Riddell also had concerns regarding the pedestrian crosswalk at DeAnza and Stevens Creek. Conmaissioner Riddell told Director Qualls that walking across all these lanes of traffic is going to be a real challenge for persons crossing the street. Director Quails told the commission that the city's traffic lights are rated "A" or Better and some are rated "C". Commissioner Dot is concerned that the lights will decrease to a "D" rating. Commissioner Majewski asked Director Quails who has jurisdiction over traffic leaving the schools. Director Quails told the commission that the city has no jurisdiction on School property. Commissioner Majewski asked why a sign popped up at Taco Bell on Bollinger at DeAnza, requiring vehicles to turn right only. Lieutenant Smedlund asked Sgt. Jensen to look into the matter and report back to the commission. VI. REPORT FROM COUNTY FIRE: Deputy Chief Rooney told the cormmission that Ben Lopes has been promoted to Fire Chief for Santa Clara County Fire. Deputy Chief Rooney Distributed and discussed the monthly statistics for the month of March 2002. Deputy Chief Rooney told the commission that the fire department will put a bid on an aerial platform that is valued at approximately $700,000. Commissioner Darknell asked when the fire department will have the platform and Deputy Chief Rooney said the bid will occur in the middle of June and production will take about a year. Deputy Chief Rooney advised that a French foreign exchange student is being hosted by county fire and he is staying at the seven springs fire station. Deputy Chief Rooney told the commission that March has seen a total of $61,000 dollars worth of fire loss damage. Commissioner Majewski told Deputy Chief Rooney this his company had two false fire alarms and he wanted to know when the company starts to get charged for the false alarms. Public Safety Commission Minutes Regular Meeting of May, 9 2002 Page 3 VII. REPORT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Commissioner Darknell made a comment that the city has had a rash of suicides. Lieutenant Smedlund distributed and discussed the monthly statistics for the month of April. Lieutenant Smedlund told the commission that burglaries have gone down, possibly due to 35 arrests for burglaries in the last six months. Lieutenant Smedlund told the commission that deputies responded to a road rage incident that occurred at the Jack-in-the Box on S. DeAnza Lieutenant Smedlund advised the commission that the city has dropped the graffiti ordinance modification. Lieutenant Smedlund advised the commission that two males in their mid-20's attacked a 40-year-old male at the TGI Friday's at Vallco mall. Commissioner Majewski made the comment that Juvenile disturbances are up 50%. Lieutenant Smedlund told the commission that the Sheriif's office had a team that used to respond to teen disturbances in the city. Commissioner Majewski made the comment that response times for April are down. Lieutenant Smedlund told the commission that he has received a promotion to Captain and Lieutenant Steve Angus will be presenting the reports to the commission. VIII. COMMISSIONERS REPORT: Commissioners received the report from Director of Public Works, Ralph Quails. Commissioner Darknell advised the commission that the city has a plan to make the community friendlier and the city has contracted with a person from Los Angles to help with this effort. Commissioner Darknell asked Jeffrey Trybus ifa date has been set to move the Sheriff's department out of Code Enforcement. Commissioner Majewski made the comment that something should be published to notify the community of the cancelled September meeting. Commissioner Darknell will be checking into this. Commissioner Darknell will not be able to attend the Mayor's breakfast on Tuesday and Commissioner Dor will be filling in. Public Safety Commission Minutes Regular Meeting of May 9, 2002 Page 4 IX. REPORT FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES: Garcia told the commission that the emergency plan should be completed in June. Garcia advised the commission that the plan is big and Commissioner Ridde[I brought in a smaller flip emergency plan he felt would be beneficial and easier to use. Commissioner Darknell told Garcia that she thinks the flip emergency plan would be useful to have in the schools. X. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. Xl. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: Commissioners received the written report fiom Public Works Director, Ralph Quails. X. OLD BUSINESS: A final review of the emergency plan is scheduled for next month before it is passed on to City Council for approval. XI. NEW BUSINESS: Jeffrey Trybus will check into publishing the canceled Public Safety Commission meeting for Thursday, September 12, 2002 in the "Cupertino Scene". ?ublic Information Officer Rick Kitson will be notified. XII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m. (~jspe~t f~ly