City Council Committee -
Community Improvement and Crime Prevention

PLACE: North Hall, Civic Auditorium, 525 N. Center Street

Committee

Staff

Others

August 1, 2007

Committee

Staff

Others

ISSUE:
Peace Keepers Program Update (Issue referred to committee on June 4, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Informational Only

ISSUE:
Ice Cream Vendor Ordinance (Issue referred to committee on June 4, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Informational Only

ISSUE:
Police Update (Issue referred to committee on June 4, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Informational Only

ISSUE:
Feature Neighborhood-Lincoln Village West (Issue referred to committee on June 4, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Informational Only

ISSUE:
Graffiti Update (Continuing discussion from meetings of October 25, 2006, and February 28, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Informational Only

ISSUE:
Code Enforcement (Continuing discussion from meetings of October 25, 2006, and February 28, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Informational Only

ISSUE:
Homework Center Grants (Issue referred to committee on May 15, 2007)
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
To fund the following Homework Centers awarded as grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 in the amount of $10,000 each: APSARA/Park Village Apartments/Cleveland Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Lottie Grunsky Elementary School (SUSD); Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CUFF) with Hamilton Elementary School (SUSD); Lincoln Unified – Manchester Apartments (LUSD); Lincoln Unified – Tully C. Knoles Elementary School (LUSD); Parents and Citizens for Quality Education/Delta Sierra Middle School (Lodi Unified); River Oaks Charter School (Lodi Unified); San Joaquin A+/St. John’s Episcopal Church/Hazelton Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Montezuma Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Peyton Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Rio Calaveras Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at San Joaquin Elementary School (SUSD); and Trinity Presbyterian Church/Taylor Elementary School (SUSD).

The following sites are recommended for funding for a total of $20,000: Give Every Child a Chance/August Knodt Elementary School (MUSD); Give Every Child a Chance/George Komure Elementary School (MUSD); Give Every Child a Chance/Great Valley Elementary School (MUSD); and Give Every Child a Chance/Weston Ranch High School (MUSD).

The following sites were not recommended for funding at this time: Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin/West Lane Oaks; Stockton Unified School District at Grant Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Harrison Elementary School (SUSD); and Stockton Unified School District at Pittman Elementary School (SUSD).

COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL:

DISCUSSION

Background

The following issues were referred by a recommendation of the City Manager’s Office to the Committee on June 4, 2007: Ice Cream Vendor Ordinance and Feature Neighborhood-Lincoln Village West. The following items were referred by recommendation of the City Manager’s Office to the Committee on June 4, 2007: Peacekeeper Program Update and Police Update. The following item was referred by recommendation of the City Manager’s Office to the Committee on May 15, 2007: Homework Center Grants. The following item was referred by recommendation of the City Manager’s Office to the Committee on July 23: LEALES Update. The following issues were continuing discussions from the Committee meetings of October 25, 2006, and February 28, 2007: Juvenile Justice Update, Graffiti Update, and Code Enforcement.

The City budgeted $150,000 to be used during Fiscal Year 2007/2008 to fund Homework Center tutoring services. A total of $1,800 will be returned to the City in unused funds (from Harrison Elementary School), but will not be returned for some time. Therefore, it was not added to the total amount of available funds.

Committee Deliberations
July 25

The meeting was opened by Councilmember Eggman at 6:00 p.m. 

1. HOMEWORK CENTER GRANTS

This issue was rescheduled for August 1, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. at the North Hall as there was not a quorum.

1. PEACE KEEPERS UPDATE

Lt. Dennis Smallie presented an update on the Peace Keepers Program.  This program was implemented in 1997 and modeled after a program in Boston.  It is a collaborative effort with over 175 individuals from 50 agencies currently involved.  The goal of the program is not only to reduce gang violence with suppression, but it also includes prevention and intervention components.  The year the program was implemented, there were 22 gang-related homicides.  The following year, that number was reduced to only two.  A key component of the program is utilization of Youth Outreach Workers.  The City of Stockton employs four Youth Outreach Workers.  The success of the program hinges on the fact that these individuals are former gang members and can relate to those living that lifestyle.  They have been on the wrong side of the law and can use their street knowledge to reach out and show these individuals by their example that they have options and don’t have to remain in a downward cycle.

Senator Feinstein is authoring a bill to provide $1 billion in funding for suppression.  It will provide $470 million for prevention and intervention for cities throughout the nation which have a high intensity of gang areas.  The California Governor has also implemented the California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention Program which will identify 25 cities with the highest gang murder rates, Stockton being one of those cities.  Seven million dollars will go to cities with comprehensive anti-gang programs in place, such as Peace Keepers.  When the program was originally implemented, the City had six Youth Outreach Workers; but because of budget constraints and other priorities, that number was reduced to one.   Recently, City Council approved the hiring of additional Youth Outreach Workers, bringing the total to four.  Some of their job duties include going out into the community to meet with gang members and their family members/associates.  These individuals will not provide information to law enforcement officials, but will oftentimes meet with Peace Keepers.  They also make referrals and advise them of available resources.  They work hard to gain the gang members’ trust and show them there is a way out.  They also use creative ways to reach youth who may be considering joining a gang, such as featuring the Low-Rider Police car at community events.  It has proven to be highly successful in getting kids’ attention. 

The City recently received a grant which will provide for two additional Youth Outreach Workers, one of which will be a female.  Currently, each worker is assigned to one of the high schools, but with expansion of the program, the City would like to assign them to middle schools so intervention can begin earlier.

On the suppression side, the program also includes forums which bring together participants from agencies such as the Stockton Police Department, Stockton Unified School District Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, State Parole, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others who meet with about 25 at-risk youth and those on probation, to educate them about the consequences of continuing in the gang lifestyle and refer them to resources if they choose to get out.

1. ICE-CREAM VENDOR ORDINANCE

Lt. Dennis Smallie presented information concerning the Ice-Cream Vendor Ordinance.  An issue concerning regulation of ice-cream vendors came before the Legislation/ Environmental Committee and as a result, the above-referenced Ordinance was implemented in 2005.  The Ordinance restricts what can be sold from ice cream vendors, such as toy guns, stink bombs, and other merchandise which was previously unregulated; only food and beverages are currently allowable under the new Ordinance.  Vendors were also selling items after dark, which is now prohibited.  The vehicles have to be stored at Commissaries overnight, and the sound emitted from them is now regulated.  They are also prohibited from selling items in close proximity to schools, intersections, and parks. 

1. POLICE/GRAFFITI UPDATES

For the month of June, Lt. Joe Rocha reported there were 179 calls to the Graffiti Hotline.  In June 2006, there were 186 calls to the Hotline.  Year to date, there have been 980 calls.  One reward for information leading to an arrest was processed for June. Year to date, there have been 12 rewards processed. 

The City currently has two trailers which remove graffiti throughout the city and will soon add a third trailer to the workforce, beginning August 1, 2007.  Currently, there are three departments within the City involved in graffiti cleanup.  Neighborhood Services handles the request if it is on private property, Public Works handles it if it is on public property, and Parks and Recreation handles it for graffiti in parks or on sound walls in new subdivisions.  Citizens are reminded they can obtain paint from the City and remove graffiti themselves.  If they sign a waiver, the City will remove it, but it is ultimately the homeowner’s responsibility and they can be fined if they have not signed a waiver and fail to remove it. 

Graffiti on postal mailboxes must be removed by the Post Office; but in extreme cases, the City has been given permission to remove it through an agreement with the Postal Service.  The Police Department still relies primarily on citizens to phone in graffiti when they see it.  In the past, they have done active enforcement by setting up surveillance in the most popular areas, but this is expensive and takes Police services away from more important crimes.  Many times, even if taggers are not arrested for the actual tagging, they can be cited for being in possession of markers or spray paint.

V.        CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE

Program Manager Ron Girard presented an update.  Neighborhood Services handles issues such as graffiti abatement, code enforcement, waterway cleanup, abandoned vehicle abatement, and the Citizens Volunteer Program.  In January, the City implemented a new Graffiti Ordinance, which is much more stringent than what was in place previously.  Parents can now be held responsible for cleanup if their kids are caught putting up graffiti, and anything used during the crime can be confiscated, such as a bicycle or skateboard.  Once convicted, potential fines for $1,000 can be levied and the responsible party could be sentenced six months in jail.  Once a conviction has been obtained, Neighborhood Services sends an Administrative Citation in the amount of $425 to the responsible party, or the minor’s parents or guardian.   To date, 17 of these cases have been forwarded to Neighborhood Services. 

Citizens were advised of the new Ask Stockton Program, which can be accessed by logging onto the City’s Webpage.  Complaints and comments can be submitted via this program, and the information automatically transfers to the corresponding department.  Citizens will then receive an online response.  The system also allows the City to track its level of customer service.

The City recently implemented its new Community Safety Ordinance, which allows staff to deal more aggressively with problem properties.  There are 10 properties currently being abated using this new Ordinance.  It is very useful against properties with chronic problems, such as prostitution, drugs, and loitering.

1. FEATURE NEIGHBORHOOD-LINCOLN VILLAGE WEST

In the absence of Jack Wilcox, Lt. Smallie presented the following information.  The City entered into a collaborative agreement with a group of citizens on Portsmouth Circle.  Jack Wilcox rallied 56 of his neighbors to contribute $49 each which enabled them to purchase and install seven security cameras in strategic locations throughout their neighborhood.  They are now able to monitor vehicles coming into and leaving the area and record license numbers to provide to Police. The system requires a home computer and costs approximately $350 per camera. The City’s agreement with groups who do this is to install two signs warning people that the area is under video surveillance and may be monitored.  This program has proven very successful in other cities, as well as Stockton’s Downtown area.  Prior to the cameras being installed in the Downtown area, it had a high crime rate, but that dropped once the cameras were installed.  The cameras are monitored by retired police officers who have assisted the Police Department in making many arrests, using the cameras to follow suspects until Police arrive and are able to apprehend them.  The City has already targeted those areas which will be sites for additional camera installations later this year; but if citizens would like to suggest local parks or other areas for future installations, they should contact their Councilmember.  The locations chosen by the City are based on crime analysis information and determined to have the highest crime rates.  The next group of cameras will be installed in August.  Funds used for these cameras were obtained from the Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.  Those interested in additional information about the camera installation on Portsmouth Circle can contact Mr. Wilcox at 474-7740.

1. CITIZEN COMMENTS

Stockton Unified School District is in the planning stages of a contest for students to submit rap songs on the topic of graffiti, describing how damaging it is to property and expensive to remove.  They are hoping to collaborate with the City and County and select first-, second-, and third-place winners, and are looking for people to serve on a committee to explore this idea.  They could then take the winning song into the grammar schools and use it as an educational tool. They are also planning to designate a particular month as “Community Service Month,” and have the kids get involved in skits and plays about graffiti.

Since reducing crime is our number one goal, when not responding to fires, Councilmember Eggman noted the Fire Department could become more involved in activities with children and have a stronger presence at community functions.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

(There were no LEALES or Juvenile Justice Updates presented.)

Committee Deliberations
August 1

The meeting was opened by Councilmember Chapman at 4:00 p.m.

I.      HOMEWORK CENTER GRANTS

Library Deputy Director Patty Wong provided a program overview.  The grant program has been in place for 10 years.  For the first seven years, it was administered by the City Manager’s Office as part of the Safe Youth Program, and for the last three years, has been administered by the Library.  Its primary goals are to provide seed money to non-profit and other organizations to assist school districts in providing tutoring support and youth development; invest in teens in coaching and mentoring these young students; and provide an incentive to make after-school enrichment more standardized.  Another goal is to avoid focusing on the classroom environment as the primary opportunity for education, but instead focus on one-on-one sessions with after-school tutoring.  Additionally, the grants promote neighborhood-based learning, especially in neighborhoods with high-risk children.  The program provides a minimum of 20 students in after-school sessions a minimum of 3 hours per week and serves approximately 3,000 kids per year. 

Two pre-application workshops were held on May 3 and May 12, 2007, at the Cesar Chavez Library, with 30 agencies attending.  Sixty application packets were distributed, and 20 applications were received by the due date of May 25.  The applications were reviewed by a committee consisting of Greg Brazile, Library Services Program Manager, Kimberly Trammell, Senior Administrative Analyst with the City Manager’s Office, and Jamie Turner, Branch Librarian.  A maximum of $10,000 per applicant can be requested, and only middle and elementary schools qualify for funding. 

Give Every Child a Chance submitted four applications.  The review committee felt strongly that from a geographical standpoint, four sites based in Weston Ranch would be excessive at this time.  Therefore, it was recommended they receive $20,000, to be distributed at their discretion. 

Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin/West Lane Oaks failed to submit an application by the due date, and was not recommended for funding. 

Grant Elementary School did not have a strong application.  It contained very little demographic data and did not justify an award.  Therefore, they were not recommended for funding.

Since Harrison Elementary School was not able to expend all their monies from last year, they were not recommended for funding this year.  They will return $1,800 to the City.

Pittman Elementary School’s grant application indicates they plan to serve 80-120 students with 7 teachers, 12 high school students, and several volunteers.  Staff felt the ratio of students to teachers would be too high, and they were not recommended for funding.  The site is geographically located within close proximity of a site which was recommended for funding.

Councilmember Eggman asked what the range of evaluation was to chart a child’s progress and success of such a program.  Ms. Wong replied it is an essential requirement of the grant application process and can include various elements such as attendance, parent surveys and feedback, input from teachers, observations, report cards, and student self-evaluations.  Each program seems to be unique in its ability to tailor itself to its particular community needs. 

The group commended Ms. Wong for her continued technical assistance and expertise over the years in working with the centers to help meet the City’s grant application requirements.  She will meet with those applicants who were not funded during this cycle to assist them in applying next year, if desired.

A motion was made by Councilmember Eggman, seconded by Councilmember Chapman, and carried to forward the following recommendations to City Council for approval.

The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To fund the following Homework Centers awarded as grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 in the amount of $10,000 each:  APSARA/Park Village Apartments/Cleveland Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Lottie Grunsky Elementary School (SUSD); Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CUFF) with Hamilton Elementary School (SUSD); Lincoln Unified – Manchester Apartments (LUSD); Lincoln Unified – Tully C. Knoles Elementary (LUSD); Parents and Citizens for Quality Education/Delta Sierra Middle School (Lodi Unified); River Oaks Charter School (Lodi Unified); San Joaquin A+/St. John’s Episcopal Church/Hazelton Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Montezuma Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Peyton Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Rio Calaveras Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at San Joaquin Elementary  School (SUSD); and Trinity Presbyterian Church/Taylor Elementary School (SUSD).

The following sites are recommended for funding for a total of $20,000:  Give Every Child a Chance/August Knodt Elementary School (MUSD); Give Every Child a Chance/George Komure Elementary School (MUSD); Give Every Child a Chance/Great Valley Elementary School (MUSD); and Give Every Child a Chance/Weston Ranch High School (MUSD). 

The following sites were not recommended for funding at this time:  Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin/West Lane Oaks; Stockton Unified School District at Grant Elementary School (SUSD); Stockton Unified School District at Harrison Elementary  School (SUSD); and Stockton Unified School District at Pittman Elementary School (SUSD).

COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE
(July 25, 2007)

_____________________________________________________
Councilmember Susan Eggman, Member

COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE
(August 1, 2007)

________________________________________________
Councilmember Dan Chapman, Vice Chair

________________________________________________                                   
Councilmember Susan Eggman, Member

(PD)