Loading...
PSC 04-14-2016CUPERTINO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, April 14, 2016, 6:00 p.m. Cupertino City Hall, Conference Room A I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Huang called to order this regular meeting of the Cupertino Public Safety Commission at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2016 in the Cupertino City Hall, Conference Room A, located at 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Staff Present: Staff Absent: Others Present: III. REPORTS Andy Huang Gerald Tallinger Robert McCoy Bob Cascone Neha Sahai (late) None Lieutenant Bob Durr, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief John Justice, Santa Clara County Fire Department Captain Rick Sung, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Pam Reed, The Forum at Rancho San Antonio 1. Santa Clara County Fire Department Deputy Chief Justice reviews the March Fire Report, pointing out that the reporting system is currently undergoing reconstruction to more accurately categorize and process data. Response times appear stronger because the report now shows only call responses within the city limits of Cupertino. The largest fire loss, $115,000.00, occurred at Whole Foods and was limited to the meat smoker machine. An employee first tried to utilize a fire extinguisher which only made it worse, so the call for emergency services was delayed. They discuss outlier statistics and the new number format for better understanding. He reiterates how the Fire Department is analyzing ways to better serve the community. 2. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Lt. Durr reviews the March 2016 report. The response times for Priority One calls for service averaged 3.81 minutes . There were 364 Priority Two calls, averaging 6.87 minutes, and 416 Priority Three calls averaging 13.13 minutes. There was greater call volume in March but response times held strong. Among selected crimes, there was one robbery in Cupertino last month, 22 residential burglaries, 4 commercial burglaries, 21 vehicle burglaries, 7 grand thefts, 4 auto thefts, 7 vandalism cases, 15 identity thefts, 5 domestic violence calls, 3 simple/aggravated assaults, and 1 sex crime. In traffic-patrol combined activity, there were 271 moving citations, 180 speeding citations and 308 other citations. There were 3 DUis and 3 DUI accidents, 15 injury accidents and 37 property damage only accidents. There were 55 total accidents in March. 3. Commission Reports Commissioner Sahai reports that the Mayor would like commissioners to prepare their own budgets, showing what programs and services each commission wants to provide for the City. The Mayor stated these budgets should be presented about two weeks before the larger City budget meeting, so he understands the expected expenditures. Commissioner Sahai also reports that there are plans to create a pool within Memorial Park and a Nature Reserve within Blackberry Park. Commissioners discuss listing their priorities for the year and how to go about compiling a budget. Commissioner Tallinger reports that the Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission discussed the new bike plan, available online from Alta as a draft. The Public Works Department still must add the work list and costs. They plan to prepare a pedestrian plan next year. ACTION: YES VOTE: YES MOTION: CASCONE SECONDED: MCCOY 5 to 0 Commissioner Cascone motioned that at the next PSC meeting, a request be agendized for City OES to do a regular monthly report on status updates; Commissioner McCoy seconded the motion; votes taken, all in favor to approve agendizing a request to City OES for monthly reports . Commissioner Cascone states there is reorganization underway at the City OES which is currently under the Parks & Recreation Department. The County OEM and the Fire Department are meeting with City OES staff, leading to a stronger positive relationship for disaster preparedness purposes and higher level training for City staff. Commissioner Cascone also reports the contract between the Blackboard company and the County for the AlertSCC platform is coming to an end and the County will be putting out an RFP. Current technology reviews point to Everbridge (which handles the City's CAS platform) offering a better system, and other companies that may offer a more robust service as well. Commissioner Cascone recommends requesting a monthly report from City OES because he only happens to gather information by way of his other roles. He believes it would be better to receive official word from the City on what is going on there, including news regarding Citizen Corps. Commissioner McCoy reports that he attended City Council and some people became so agitated that Sheriff's Deputies responded to keep order. Arguments centered on the CCSGI Initiative wording that would allow buildings not limited to the Valko Project to reach 45 feet. Lawyers showed on zoning maps that even residential areas would be affected. Current limits are set to 30 feet, but the vast majority of buildings reach only 18 feet. At this point, decisions will be made only through the November ballot. Commissioner McCoy also mentions an incident over the weekend involving opposing signature gatherers where one got cited by a deputy. Lt. Durr reiterates that people should call 9-1-1 right away if they are made to feel uncomfortable or threatened by anyone, including those collecting signatures. They are allowed to collect signatures in public, but are not allowed on private property, not allowed to block business entrances, and not allowed to assault or intimidate anyone. Their activity falls under freedom of speech, not solicitation, but there are still rules to follow. 2 IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Pam Reed from The Forum at Rancho San Antonio invites the Fire Department, Sheriff's Office, Cupertino EOC, the PSC and CERT to attend their annual health fair. Their residents have enjoyed the participation by these groups every year and she hopes all groups will attend this year as well. It will be on Saturday, June 41h, with a theme titles "Aging Organically''. V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Chair Huang presents an email from The Forum, inviting the PSC to again host an info booth at their annual Health Fair on June 4, 2016 from 10am-2pm. Commissioner McCoy offers to attend and Chair Huang will ask Commissioner Sahai to attend as a new PSC Commissioner. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. March 10, 2016 ACTION: YES VOTE: YES MOTION: TALLINGER SECONDED: MCCOY 4 to 0 Commissioner Tallinger motioned to approve the minutes of March 10, 2016; Commissioner McCoy seconded the motion; votes taken, all in favor to approve the minutes of March 10, 2016. VII. OLD BUSINESS 1. Discuss participation m the Alert SCC Program, the CAS Program, and the Pulse Points App (Huang/McCoy) ACTION: YES VOTE: NO MOTION: NIA SECONDED: N/A 0 to 0 Chair Huang presents a graph showing sign-ups to various services, like CAS, AlertSCC, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. He needs additional information, but shows that the PSC needs to host another s ign-up drive and provide another give-away incentive. Commissioner McCoy suggests setting up a kiosk where people can sign themselves up, utilizing QR codes for tracking purposes. Chair Huang reminds the commission that Everbridge plans to offer an app for people to sign up directly through their cell phones, plus there is a sign-up method through Facebook or Cupertino.org/CAS Commissioner McCoy talks about a recent missing person case in which the Sheriff's Office needed to activate CERT but experienced difficulty in reaching those who can authorize the activation. Commissioner Cascone adds that the City Manager must give his approval so authorization should start there as was prescribed during the Superbowl planning. Deputy Chief Ju s tice adds that it is very difficult when key authorizers are never totally off-duty, with clearly designated and accessible back-ups . 2. Discuss the Continuation of Public Education and Outreach (Tallinger/McCoy) ACTION: YES VOTE: NO 3 MOTION: NIA SECONDED: NIA 0 to 0 Commissioner Tallinger reports that June 24th from 7:00-8:30pm at the Community Hall has been scheduled for an information forum focused on what citizens can do to help themselves, protect their property, and when and how to report activity. He plans to promote the event heavily starting in mid- May, posting flyers in Cupertino buildings, schools, faith-based organizations, posting on NextDoor, CAS (email blast only), etc. Rick Kitson has approved Commissioner Tallinger's promotion plan, estimating a possible turn-out of 200 people plus a broader online reach to maybe 2,000 people. It is already listed on the City website! The Cupertino Courier will produce an article in the Special Events Section, and Commissioner Tallinger states he will list talking points for the interview to be approved at the next PSC meeting. There will be ads on Cupertino Radio, TV, Facebook and Twitter. The PSC is allowed to collect voluntary emails to send out notices of future forums. The video may be subtitled or dubbed for different languages to reach multiple communities within the City. Commissioner Tallinger has prepared an outline for the Power Point presentation, and he'd like to work with the other language speakers on subtitles. He plans to hand out cards to the audience so attendees can write down their questions and the speaker can collect and answer them at the end. Commissioner Tallinger asks Commissioner McCoy to take the lead on planning and organizing the next information forum for the topic of self-defense, targeted for three months later in September. Chair Huang states the PSC can try to request the City to provide snacks and light refreshments .. Otherwise, Commissioner McCoy mentions the PSC could ask if a coffee shop would be willing to donate coffee and tea for the event. One of the Sheriff's SRO Deputies will be the main speaker. a. Discuss how to align public safety outreach and established County materials. ACTION: YES VOTE: NO MOTION: NIA SECONDED: NI A There are no updates discussed at this regular meeting. 3. Discuss the Collaboration/Cross-Training of V o lunteer Groups ACTION: YES VOTE: NO MOTION: NIA SECONDED: NI A There are no updates discussed at this regular meeting. VIII. NEW BUSINESS 0 to 0 0 to 0 1. Discuss the Transition to the Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission of the Walk/Bike/Carpool to School (WBC) project, the Dero program and Surveys to Schools ACTION: YES VOTE: YES MOTION: TALLINGER SECONDED: CASCONE 5 to 0 Commissioner Tallinger motioned to remove from the agenda discussion of the transition to the Bicycle- Pedestrian Commission of the Walk/Bike/Carpool to School (WBC) project and the Surveys to Schools . 4 The Dero program transfer is not completed and will stay on the Agenda. ; Commissioner Cascone seconded the motion; votes taken, all in favor to remove this discussion from the agenda. Commissioner Tallinger reports that the schools finally activated the Sprint wireless cards and he updated the Dero units, but they haven't begun using them due to Spring Break; they plan to start using the program soon. The transition to the Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission of this Dero program, the WBC program and Surveys to Schools is now complete and can be removed from the PSC agenda. 2. Discuss a possibility of starting a Fire Watch Council and Firewise Program ACTION: NO VOTE: NO MOTION: NIA SECONDED: N/A 0 to 0 Deputy Chief Justice reports that last month he attended a Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Nevada, where the Firewise Program was explored. It is something generated at the neighborhood level, not by the City or Fire Department, and requires at least one work party per year to address possible fire hazards in the neighborhood. It directs residents to do specific activities when certain conditions are present, for example clearing a defensible space around homes. There are currently no neighborhoods in the County who have taken on this program, but Deputy Chief Justice heard there is a Morgan Hill neighborhood thinking about organizing a group. Every first week of May is Wildfire Prevention Week and a great segway for neighborhoods to consider starting a Firewise Program. Deputy Chief Justice offers to bring more information next meeting and Commissioner McCoy suggests the PSC could spread the word about the Firewise Program to try to spark interest among local neighborhoods. Deputy Chief Justice states that meetings are underway to present the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). It's a countywide plan, listing specific action items for different areas such as the grasslands and the hills, taking into consideration the wind patterns, frequency of burns and vegetation in each area. Possible projects are in the works and the Fire Department is asking for community feedback from the residents in each area. They are also interested in the steps residents already take to protect their homes. 3. Discuss reporting of crimes/fires/incidents and situational awareness with plastic wallet cards/fridge magnets. (McCoy) ACTION: YES VOTE: YES MOTION: TALLINGER SECONDED: CASCONE 5 to 0 Commissioner Tallinger motions that New Business line item 3, discussion of producing wallet cards/fridge magnets to educate people on proper reporting of crimes/fires/incidents and situational awareness, be moved up as part of Old Business line item 2; Commissioner Cascone seconds the motion; votes taken, all in favor to move discussion of producing cards/magnets on proper reporting from New Business to Old Business. ACTION: YES VOTE: YES MOTION: T ALLINGER SECONDED: MCCOY 5 to 0 5 Commissioner Sahai motions that a subcommittee member research costs, create a proposal and submit a budget for all educational/promotional items in line item 2 of Old Business at the next meeting; Commissioner McCoy seconds the motion; votes taken, all in favor for a subcommittee member to research a proposal and submit a budget to produce all educational/promotional items tied to Old Business line item 2 at the next PSC meeting. Commissioner McCoy emphasizes that more public education is necessary in an effort to protect Cupertino residents . He would like the PSC to produce wallet cards and fridge magnets, reminding people how to properly report both police and fire incidents . He has heard stories through social media of residents trying to stop suspicious vehicles on their own which is very dangerous, and stories about people ignoring smoke indicators which then tum into a fire. The wallet cards and magnets should include phone numbers and list information dispatchers will need to know. He adds that reading a lot of text can be difficult to process in an emergency, so pictograms may be a better way to go . Plus, pictures don't require a language translation, and it may be useful for kids too . He is working on a template. Commissioner Sahai agrees that wallet cards would be very useful and accessible anywhere. Commissioner McCoy wonders if there is a library of graphics available through the City or somewhere else. Commissioner Tallinger says there are government sites with pictograms you can use. Commissioner Cascone adds that the City attorney should probably give approval before anything is distributed, and this project should be included as part of next year's PSC budget. IX. FUTURE AGENDA FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING 1. Discuss Reports from County Fire, County Sheriff's Office and Commission Liaisons. 2. Discuss promotion plans for CAS, AlertSCC and the Pulse Points App. (Huang/McCoy) 3. Discuss the continuation of public education and outreach. (Tallinger/McCoy) 4. Discuss the collaboration/cross training of volunteer groups. (All) 5. Discuss a possibility of starting a Fire Watch Council and Firewise Program . (All) 6. Discuss submitting a request for a monthly report from Cupertino OES (Office of Emergency Services). (Cascone) X. ADJOURNMENT This regular meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. XI. NEXT MEETING The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: Jennifer Roth Executive Assistant 6 West Valley Patrol Division Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff April 18 , 2016 - 7