City Council

Good morning sure sound check. >> Good morning. Good morning. >> able to hear me. >> best thing to do I can hear you. >> Sheriff, can you please do Mike check? I'm doing my check now. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Hi. This is fair ask question before we start. >> Yes, please. >> He's going to start of this body should turn. >> we are. You are the only interpreter we have today. Those meeting. So we'll leave you on side to translate the initial announcement. >> Share, can you please do Mike Good morning. MISTER Chair Mike Check. Thank you. Share Pedro, can you please show Mike Check? >> And on panel up learning, check. >> Good morning. I'd like to ask the interpreter currently on the Spanish channel to come. It's translation of this meeting. For those of you joining the meeting live translation in Spanish is available and members of the public or staff wishing to listen in. Spanish can join a Spanish channel by clicking on the interpretation in Zoom tool bar, it looks like a go. Once you join a Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio to you can

only hear Spanish translation interpreter. We please translate this in Spanish. >> What is to listening to But the suit tie me up a little ago ceded to put this soon but what I go click and then he could know they put this year and a sponge on It could. But it's global they >> You business to most American bows us. Could put this in a big Apple this bus. Even I see political see that. But that sues comment that could take them in. >> All right. Good morning. It's called this meeting to order at 09:00:02am. >> With the assist, the is the is the system little >> Try that again. Recalls meeting to order now MADAM Secretary. Please call roll. >> Councilmember Mayor Rogers is absent councilmember Alvarez resident. Cheryl Let the record reflect all the committee members are present with the exception of Mayor Rogers. Thank you very much. >> Item 2 announcements. We have any announcements from city staff. All right. We'll go on to item 3.1, the JANUARY 23rd 2024 regular meeting minutes. Did you have any corrections? You why we will adopt those as presented. Move on to item 4, which is public comment on non agenda matters. This is your time to make public comment on anything that is not a Gen dies but still within the purview of the Santa Rosa. Public Safety duties. All you have to do is go ahead and go up and go to one of the lectern Ys. Nobody is moving. So we'll move on. To new business item. 5.1, a illicit massage establishments.

>> The morning council members, members of the committee. My name is Dan Moran sick. I'm a captain with the Santa Rosa Police Department. I'm here with code enforcement and we're here real quick. Think moved make that a little closer to on comfortably close. >> there we go. Thank you. It's really close. We're here to provide overview of the illicit massage establishments in Santa Rosa and just really get some historical context of what the police department's done in the past. What code enforcement in the past and sort of some of the things we're looking towards in the future. So just a brief but it was a massage establishments right there. Commercial businesses, businesses that really put on that facade of that front, that they're offering a legitimate massage but reality they're facilitating commercial sex services. Over the years. We've we change. We've had a shift is how we sort of deal with in the past our police department, we would focus on conducting undercover enforcement operations. So these are often very resource We've established a Florida task force, a group of people that would go there. We have people in undercover capacity. They would go into the business and then they would see if those people working at that business solicitor offer provides a sex services for money. And after that would happen, usually will result in an You a citation or getting booked in jail would occur and that would work its way to the criminal justice system. So one of the things that we realizes what this predominantly date as it wrapped up those front end

users front and workers. And it wasn't necessarily getting to the root of some of the issues that we had. So. Oftentimes these workers will be arrested. They be booked in jail like a Saturday received a citation. But an additional worker would take their place or to be back there doing this and our ultimate goal of really getting this type establishment to continue to occur. So this and really along with just some or ideological changes as to how we sex services or sex trafficking. It it change kind of the ways we do things right. One of the things we see with some of these businesses is, you know, commercial sex services or was massage establishments and human trafficking? There's a lot of victims of human trafficking that get caught up in this. And so one of the last things we want to do on the police department and was arrest these people who might themselves be victims human trafficking and then put them in the criminal justice system. Sort force meant philosophy changed a little bit instead relying really on that focal forefront of using criminal should get a lot of the zone over. The code enforcement looking at the administrative actions that we can do to shut down these businesses. Wright was where the mindset of rather than going after that front and worker, we wanted to get an actual the people that were coordinating organizing these businesses, people that, you know, there's a higher in terms of human trafficking that could be responsible for, says, facilitating that illegal enterprise and get to that core issue right by shutting down the service is in our city hopefully ending. And this was an insider issues

that we're having. So now one of the things that we do, the police department, code enforcement, we work together. We conduct inspections of these businesses. And what we do is not just us, but we bring very which is a local eyes, sexual assault assistance or resource center of our program and we bring them out there with us right? We recognize that, you know, a lot of these these people working these businesses, they themselves to be victims of human trafficking and not every human trafficking victim is ready to be a victim at that time. So we'll go out there to conduct inspections. Verity will come with us to provide those resources to get those victims. You know, if they're not ready to be a victim at that time, maybe sometime in the future when they're ready to come forward. We'll have those resources. And so recently we had an operation in FEBRUARY where we enforcement checks or compliance checks on 8 separate massage establishments in the city of Santa Rosa. And code enforcement will touch on it a little bit more. But they noted several violations as a result of those inspections that they have open investigations on and are following up on. You. Just a little note here in the future. I'm you know, we recognize that. You know, this is a an area of society where, you know, perceptions like I said, ideologies costly changing its. It's constantly shifting. So as we move forward, constantly evaluating how we can work best with code enforcement, how code enforcement can work best with us. And just really how we can work with our moving forward to help kind of resolve these issues that we have in the city of Santa Rosa. With that, I'm going to turn it over to code enforcement. Let answer some questions or provide information on some of these

investigations at the recently conducting. >> My name is Daniel of the Senior Code Enforcement officer for the city of Santa Rosa. Haha. So yes. As a captain Munsick has mentioned, we have been working closely with us are pd as well as Verity in order to enforce upon some of these illicit massage businesses. We been keeping track of the 8 that we we were able to visit in our visit. We have actually been receiving some compliance from some of the businesses. There has been several contacts that have been made. All of various nature's. We have been looking at the administrative administrative processes in order for this. Enforcement to proceed I would say we've actually been able to close one case and that case was miners. So now of the age we have 7 that are still ongoing. Code enforcement is able to enforce administratively. So there are a different authorities over the various types of violations that we are seen in these establishments code enforcement has authority has authority over the administrative violations such as permitting. So if there's any kind of interior improvements, changes, modifications, repairs were able to look at it in that aspect, we're able to look at it for certifications, whether or not they have there the most stores have their their sort proper certifications and the proper 80's that are being displayed were able to look at the requirements that the city has since far as onein and

things of that nature now. Unfortunately, we do not have the authority currently over the and performing any kind of illegal activities that type of issue. But we are working with what we have in order to. Hopefully. Eliminate these types of services being offered. As far any resources. >> We're working with what we have currently. And again, that is working jointly with Srpd with Verity and any other amounts resources that MAY be useful in their various and the bears capacities. >> check the members of the subcommittee, Luke Hurka, assistant chief building official. I'm just going to touch on the ordinance side of this as you know, we have an ordinance on the books. Now. It's it's approximately 14 years old. It's enforceable, but it's also problematic because many of the codes references have changed. It's it's in need of some cleanup and a little bit of tlc if Stafford to received direction from the City Council to pursue a new ordinance. It would probably about 3 to 4 weeks of staff time to develop it. One of the methods we would use to develop it would be to see what's working well with other cities tried and true method of ordinance readings, plagiarism. So we would look and see what's happening in other cities. What's working? Well, and conjunction with our partners, we would find out how we need to fine tune that ordinance for our environment here to go forward. As Danny said, we've got a lot of administrative oversight, but we can also leverage or zoning code and

leverage the permitting system to make it harder for businesses, too, to operate. And with we'll open it up. Pretty questions raf. Thank you so much. >> My first question we have to support or symptoms that we offer 2 of the workers of the is Alyssa business. 2 participate will collaborate with the city, especially with the with law enforcement. >> Yeah, just just to But so what in terms of when we go out to the establishments that week, the resources resources. Exactly. Yeah. >> we >> offer so Verity is sexual assault resource service provider that comes out with us. So I want to preface with I'm not necessary. The expert, all the resources they have. But there's there's many different things, right? They they operate out of the Family Justice Center in Santa Rosa, which is kind of central hub of a whole bunch different resources that are offered to the county, whether be counseling, whether it be if there's victims of, you know, some type of domestic violence relationship providing in legal aid, providing them resources that and but there's a multitude But again, I just press and I'm not the expert. So I do want to speak necessarily all the specifics. I'm happy that there are. We source is being offered to. >> What could be cause of sexual cases right my my worry, my worry is that if and I'm and I'm thinking 10, 20 years Saint Rose Avenue would be the decision for love. It businesses publicly when we've victims walking up and down the road. What guarantees that

we do not take the skin issue and bring you back into the public eye such as we 15, 20 years ago. >> Yeah, and touch a little bit on you know, an ideological shift, but there's also been illegal shift to. So one of the things that California actually enacted a couple years ago was a Senate bill 3.57. And when we talk about they're kind of they're 2 separate issues. I look at it. So we was a massage establishments and then really open prostitution occurring on our streets. So in terms of that, that that is actually been decriminalize by the California legislature. So when it comes what we called loitering with intent to commit an act of prostitution, which was a crime, that is no longer something that's actually enforceable and that we're not enforcing our end of the police department. You know, one of the things recognizing with that even when we were conducting enforcement activities. And they would get arrested and be referred to the criminal justice system often times the resolution of those cases was refer them to some type of You know, whether be some type of work service, whether be some type of you know, other service going forward to get them out of actors acts. They were committing. Thank you for the o's unaware. >> It was a code enforcement is or buffer zone. That's that's in our and our policy between massage parlors. There's not currently that would certainly be something that would be considered. >> Should direction be received to pursue new ordinance? >> And you stated that we verify licensing of individuals that work at these establishments is this

verified by the city Rosa itself or is there agency that we work with? >> So in within those 8 at that first visits. Now I've I've paid multiple visits already as follow-ups, but they are I don't believe we found a single certified technician. Now part of the requirement of the city and part of of the state requirements is that they have their certifications through the California Technician Council, and we refer to them as cap tech. So they do have Cam Tech. Some of them. Most of them had camp tax or certificates on the wall were supposed to be publicly displayed, but they're also supposed to have an id that they're required to keep if not on the person, then in their possessions, somehow had and none of them have that their words certificates, that they did not know who those persons were. At least the person we spoke to did not know who they were. So it is a is a requirement. Yes, it is. Did we find that? No, however, we have I have been able to find at least 3 establishments now that I've had at least one, the certified tech since that initial does it. >> The following question might be a possible answer. But yeah, I believe it's one that should be asked. Is there a correlation between sexual crime levels and those cities or agencies that enforce heavily when it comes to. Established was offer the services. And I guess ultimately it means I want to try to convey is. We see an increase in sexual crimes. If these establishments aren't

available. >> That know That's yeah, rack my brain. That's that's question. I just I don't have the information on. Is there a correlation night? I can't say one way or another. And then, you know, I always preface it with, you know, even if there was a correlation is correlation causation. You know what would actually cause that, Tucker? I you I think that would involve a little bit more to kind of get to the bottom of that. Attempt to you taking a stab it. I mean, that's that's a societal problem. Goes way beyond even the capacity that I have with regards to the situation yet. You know, it would be the answer right? And when do we do offer this this alternative? And we know that even a proper theology to puzzle table and we do need to go with the iron fist and and you know, for those what's alter flow seeking that service as even as a dirty thought is that maybe? >> Yeah, I think we can say, you know, outside of the correlation between these businesses and sexual crimes or or sexual assault related activity. You know, I always pressing there's there's a host of there's there's a multitude of reasons, right? White, you have these crimes in a society. But when you look at really these illicit massage establishments that we have, you know, I make the argument of of that. Crimes and we don't have a number because, right, these are often underreported crimes are occurring. These establishments. So we talk about human trafficking and the victims of human trafficking and how a lot of these workers at that work at these places are predominately victims of human trafficking. And you know us when I look at the police department response and how we deal with it, that's something that it's tough for us to really get a handle on and figure out what is really the magnitude of

what is really the scope of that you know, because it's so underreported in because, you know, oftentimes it. So it really is so difficult for us in terms of putting resources to investigate these things have to to figure out like how deep that issue actually does. And that will be the proper goal as law enforcement to appreciate that. That's the focus. Thank you. Turner. That's it for now. Thank you very So we've seen the numbers of of business licenses for a messiah increase over time. >> Recently I know this is only preliminary and think you've had discussions with other agencies nearby. Is that indicative of because we're hearing so far >> there's no hard evidence, so to speak. It's it's you we're concerned about this business. We're concerned about that business. But what do those are those numbers indicative illicit massage businesses using human trafficking. Guess you could say. >> Anecdotally, like looking at our our community. I think we have a high number. >> Of a massage here in Santa Rosa. And then ultimately is that >> you know, it's it's it's tough to it's tough to say. I can say anecdotally, I think there's probably some red flags with some of these which would, you know, I think that maybe there is some type of illicit activity going on it at a lot of these without really, you know, the investigations are following up on the end with code enforcement. It's it's tough to really get a handle as to how deep or how prevail. And that actually is. But you feel comfortable saying that. There are red flags that deserve attention. Okay. Thank you

very I appreciate a shift in philosophy or ideology as you put So we don't victimize the victims, so to speak. >> Because that not to oversimplify it but treating the symptom onset of the disease. Right if indeed, in fact, there a great number a number of illicit massage businesses. Should we be concerned that there is some sort of greater issue of human trafficking in our area? >> I you know, look at this and I want to preface that it was a massage establishments are just one part of the human trafficking So I think it's something that, you know, we should always be concerned about with our community because, you know, it's one of those things. You know, that I that mentioned earlier is often And sometimes it's it's tough to really understand how deep or how many victims of human trafficking we have in our community. So, you know, I to answer your question with a philosophical question or more of an answer. You know, I definitely feel that it's something that we should concerned about. Our community is something that occurs in our and so should be vigilant. Should be aware of it and then do we can take proactive measures to stop it. Recurring. >> I appreciate that. I mean, it's it's not a simple issue to address, right? So that's my question's for right now. We're going to move on to a public comment on this item this is your chance to speak on this item. Specifically. It was a massage If you have a submitted a card to the desk upstairs, we're gonna go through those first you go to either lectern. We have a so if you want to switch off between East and west to make it a little more we'd appreciate that. And we'll start with Rick McElroy followed by Gina. And then

Mark. Good morning. Thank you very much for allowing us to have a little talk here. >> Rick McElroy from California Massage Therapy Council. I'm the director long Code Enforcement relations we were recently at the FEBRUARY meeting I was glad to see that the turnout was The turnout was so great at that meeting and from what we surmise based on your ordinances ear, your number one issue for to give your code enforcement and your police department more tools to close these locations down. I know you the possibility. MISTER Alvarez on the issue of well, sex crimes go up in the street. If we close these massage businesses down, it's a great question. Fact that never heard of it before. And I've been and with the California Massage Therapy Council for 14 years, an lapd for 32 years. And that's never come up. So that's a great question. But I think the bed, the bigger question here is the fact that human trafficking is most surely going on in these locations. We had company called the network. Do a road map. Search on your city as we all across the state. And I believe it was somewhere between 13 37 illicit massage businesses. And it was based on the remarks of the customers that visited those what kind of sex they got, how much they paid. I mean, it's it's a great tool

for law enforcement to use statewide to see with It's a Yelp for sex. Basically. And they can. I see the kind of activities going on without ever having to go inside. California Therapy Council. We have we had a we have a monthly training for police officers in code enforcement. Folks. And that's post certified. And I believe that Captain run scheduling some of his folks for the MAY 9 to class on the APRIL 8 clan. 6 people from your years owning department a code enforcement as well as some of supervisors attended our operation. Get Smart, which is training for civilians to introduce them into the idea that a new missiles ordinance is going to give you a lot of tools. One of which is not a new 9 page application Ford to replace the one you have is part of our suggestions that we made to you, folks and this at times will stop to human trafficker right at the front door. The first person they meet set civilian when they come in to open up a business. Looks like my 2 minutes or out. Thank you. Thank u. Next up is Gina followed by Mark. Then Patrick. >> My name is Gina Prine and I'm a new resident of Santa Rosa. But I am also a massage therapist and have been so for 21 years, I am a member of cmt, cna mta. I work with on college e patients. I work with people that have lymphedema very specialized medical conditions. One of the things that has struck me the most is my second career was

the very first time I went to a city and how to apply to be a massage therapist in their city. I left in tears over the requirements and how insulting the language was on their application process. And I had never, ever. Thought about my choices. A career and I realize unfortunately that historically massage and prostitution is very much intertwined. But for 21 years, I've persevered. And I there's we're proud of our career and helping people. But as a resident, I am also very concerned about the safety of people and worried about human trafficking in our city. And the safety of massage therapist. Because when we allow this kind of activity, I think we in danger ourselves. We have to be careful about how we work and I would just like to put that out there that the issues are very intertwined. We understand that. But I also have worked in cities where they put a flat moratorium on all incoming massage therapist, which is clearly unfair. Anti business, right? So from a business perspective, I just hope that we can find the correct balance that we can work safely and that we can address the public safety issue of not only human

trafficking for prostitution. >> Thank you very Next is Mark followed by Patrick than Marjorie. Good morning. Members of the subcommittee. My name is Mark Dixon. I'm CHAIRMAN Of the Board of California Massage Therapy Council. And I'm here on behalf of the board today. Our mission is to certify the sars therapists who meet our qualifications and to approve the schools they attend. The board is committed to respond. That's what we do. People ask, what do you do besides uses to tickets and improve schools? We're as we reach out and then we wait. And when cities respond, we show up. I'm here from Huntington Beach for this meeting. And Rick has come also from Southern California. We're here to respond to your interest helping to eliminate illicit business from the massage profession in Santa Rosa. I would ask that the next step for the committee be to direct the city manager to contact our ceo, who's standing by ready to implement all the staffing. We have to help support your interest it needs to come from you we tend to match energy for energy. If you want to go 150 miles an we're going and 50 miles an hour. If you want a good 10 miles and good. 10 miles an hour, whatever we can do to match your needs and match your interests in helping to control this problem in Santa Rosa, we're here for you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. >> Next Patrick Murray fall by

Marjorie than Curtis. >> Good morning. My name is Patrick Murray. Excuse me, here is a concerned citizen of Santa Rosa. I'm live here for 50 years and over that time seeing a lot of changes in Santa Rosa. Some good. Some in between and some pretty bad. Problem here with the illicit massage businesses falls into category. No doubt about that. But I would like thank City Council, the chief of police up are taking their issue to heart Curtis over there for rallying the troops one thing I like to say I don't live in the midtown area. I am a property owner a bizarre a building that's right on the corner of Talbot and for street. It's a a c o I believe is zoning code. Recently we had part of the that was taken. Had a lady come in, who is a tattoo artist among other things she tattoos. Various other kind of therapies. And now in this space and she went over there see about getting a license found out Tattoo artist are lumped in soup kitchens and I can't remember what other things that were not allowed, but that was one of them. So. You know, she's kind of her hands up in the air and said, I, you know, really want to be down on Santa Rosa Avenue. But that's what they're pushing me. And believe me, this lady was a totally legitimate operator. It was very frustrating because we would like to read it to work. And I guess see, the frustrating part is within our building. If you go across the street, if you go to the east. There's massage parlors. So what do you do? I mean, there obviously with the

windows boarded up and the door's locked and what are neighbors tell us about people coming to their doors? I know that in research I found that there's upwards of 11,000 operating illicit massage parlors the country. Of course, California being, you know, number one, we're number one primarily Weiss, Angeles County, Orange County and Sarah Santa Clara County were right up there. But I mean, this a group we want to be a part I mean, obviously the answer is no. And I realize this is a very difficult problem. We've got constitutional rights, but I've also found out that certain municipalities have have taken advantage of federal laws, state and applying their own lives to address this problem. So hopefully something could be Do do we have the will and the district determination to do something about I guess we'll find out. But obviously people are concerned. I'm hoping to do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you very Next is Marjorie followed by Curtis than Catarina. >> Okay. Next up, then it's Curtis followed by Catarina and then Roy. >> Hello, my name is Curtis Bennett. And thanks for having me. I appreciate that. You're here and that you're doing the things you're doing because it's evidence that the process is working. But one of the things I'd like to urge you to do. Is to take the ca mtc up on their offer. It would seem there's been a few missteps and communications that have taken place that I've become aware of. And I know that it doesn't come from a bad place. Obviously, this is a complex problem. There's a lot of wheels to turn and that kind

of thing. But you need to take them up on their offer. They work with numerous municipalities across the state, including San Diego and many others. And they've had great success in mitigating this issue. So please take them up on it. They're willing to work with you to the greatest degree. And there the insiders in the business. So that being said, if you take out a pencil because I'd like you to write a couple things down and answer these questions before the meeting is over. >> And that is one will funding be adequate to Santa Rosa pd and code compliance to take care of this issue. >> Are you willing to allocate the funds because it can require overtime and other resources to address the issue. How will we measure success and what does it look like? What's the timeline and how are you going to keep us apprised? And then lastly, I urge you to collaborate with other stakeholders in the area because we're going to be successful in Santa Rosa, myself and everyone here have the fullest confidence in you. But what we need to not do is drive this to the greater area in the county. So please invite your colleagues and stakeholder. See tc will work with them. Sonoma County sheriff, the district attorney who ever all the folks are please work with them because we do want to have human trafficking in Santa Rosa, obviously we don't want to assume a county we you know, act locally. But we got to think bigger than that. And we don't want it in our county. And then. Yeah, that's about it. So I want to thank for what you're doing. Please keep

up the good work, be aggressive and let's address human trafficking and suffering in our community and the Greater Sonoma area. And then, you know, be successful. So thanks to. Thank you very much. Next up is Catarina followed by Roy than Christina. >> Good Morning. My name is Kettering up of I've been massage therapist close to 20 years. So way before mdc was established. Been living in Santa Rosa for almost the same amount of time. And I just wanted to let you know that these massage businesses are greatly harming. Also our established communities and our established businesses. Work for a blaze that has been around for almost 15 years and we get. Phone calls about services and strange questions on weekly basis. And it's very uncomfortable to be in the room with somebody who expects more from you than what you're willing to offer. So I think that it's not only about closing those places, but also protecting the places that are established and have all the requirements and legal requirements because it is not a comfortable feeling. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next up is Christina followed by Kara. Then Grace. >> Yes, good morning thank you, everyone for. For participating in this conversation that is very necessary and we know that this issue survive in a vacuum. So there are many, facets of it. And I think most of us here, especially. Who live well, especially in the midtown area. I have to say

because out of those potential 30 businesses that are in Santa Rosa, I've created a list that we have 14 in a 2 mile. Luke, I had sent out an e-mail to you. You council about that with photos sent around. So I think that what I've heard that I don't understand is why when you when we the city go to into a business, say these 8 that you guys have gone into there are no massage therapy certifications that to me again, I'm just a layperson, but that seems like a very reason to not allow that business to continue all these businesses that I've noted that I think are listed. I don't know. I think Monday money laundering is also probably very easy that occurred in this type of a business. And I think that's an issue. And what I learned Cmte at the meeting we had at the library was that often times >> there. >> These businesses are owned by maybe one entity. And and there's there. They own several and that's that to me is a sure sign that these are, you know, these are not mom and pop operations, if you will. All the neon signs on all night long open the flashing neon signs, the signage that's on all sides of the building. I think there are code in the city about signage do the workers live in the buildings. Those signs around I I'm assuming they do. And then in this midtown area, there are I'm on tell but

Avenue and within at least 3 blocks. There are that border Talbot, Montgomery and for Street. And another gentleman referred to some of those. Some of them are a one or 2 blocks away from each other. I I I find it hard to believe that use that much clientele. I I maybe I'm naive, that there's a lot in one area. It's very his bullet for proliferated. Really so I I I totally want to my neighbor. Curtis and urging us to move forward with a plan. And I'd like to be when we can come back in here. What the progress is. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next up is cure a followed by grace than Terry. All right. The next up is Grace, followed by Teri than Brad. >> Good morning. My name is Grace Chung Showman. I'm a resident of Santa Rosa for about 20 years and have been a new United States citizen for over 30 years. I'm a concerned citizen, but more importantly, I'm Asian female. I understand that massage therapy is is important for health for the community. But when it is mixed up with other illicit massage businesses, when it is also connected with human trafficking, this is very concerning, particularly if occur all over the place in residential areas and is very bad for the citizen my concern. Want There is a backlash on this kind of activities in Santa Rosa. And there is something like the shooting in Georgia happening around here. That's a very perception, public perception for people of color,

particularly full ation. Also, another issue is victimizing the victim, which was mentioned earlier. Ce also doesn't should understand all want the coat. I like. But at the same time you are catching young people who have being trafficked and they don't know their rights. I understand you're working waves of varity and maybe other agencies who can provide help. There is a need for language support. Support. And I understand it chain. It is a nationwide chain of these criminals operating and we can help provide some kind of language support. But we need protection. Because we're dealing with criminals here. I would like to help out if I can, but I need understand what the risks involved? Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Terry followed by Brad than Beverly. >> My name groups. My name is Terry Fund aca kind of representing my my wife and her business, which is right down here in downtown. Not far from here. She's been in business as a massage therapist for well over 20 years. We've lived in Saint Rose about the same amount of time we lived here when the police department was the place for where you went first to become massage therapist and it was really an insulting and terrible situation. I used to get furious she had to go to where the prostitutes would have to go more or less and

almost feel like a prostitute. When you start this process. So under the leadership of the ca Ctm California Massage Therapists Council. Things have gotten a lot better and much more uniform. And also it is allowed my wife to work in other areas besides just Santa Rosa when when it seemed appropriate so earlier speaker talked about how humiliating it is to be classed with with criminals. For all intents and purposes, although I don't have a particular moral judgment about prostitution, myself. It is becoming a problem in Santa Rosa right My has felt it in the calls that she's getting. And so it does need to be addressed. But one needs to remember, even even just as a public member that massage therapy is a therapeutic. And prostitution is different. Some of the speakers will kind of put everything the pool of massage That's kind of insulting and it pushes in the direction that's not helpful. As a business owner. And as a massage therapist we need to address the problem and make sure we keep the focus and the California Massage Therapy Council. It's very good that they have experience in this and encourage the city to use that as a resource for them. The members of the California Massage Therapy Council will back that a lot of them are here. A lot of them attended the meeting about a month ago because we heard that this was a rising thing and probably a lot of us remember what it's

like when the police are the lead on licensing of massage therapy. It's not a pretty picture. It doesn't feel good. So I encourage leadership to a lien on the massage therapy have Council of California and see what they can do to help. I'm sure the that are in this room will help in any way they can. So that's Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up is Brad, followed by Beverly. >> Good morning. >> I've been a resident of Saint Rose in for 24 years. And I seen the massage parlor, a very close to house blocks away and never thought anything about it until another one opened a store neon light on at 10 o'clock at night. And I thought that was very unusual. What I don't understand, very upset that of the proliferation of the massage parlors here in this in this city. I went into used to work for the county. So I went into the county office, the records office to find out about these businesses. They all have to have a fictitious business name. Number of them I've had there. Permits expired. And I asked the office what what's done about that? And they said we don't follow up about this. It's it's the California franchise tax board has to do something about it. And there were a number of them that had expired permits are for for the for their business name. Which I couldn't understand. I then went to look at property records and tried to find out the name of the owner of the of the business and then tried to cover, relate that to to the property address it's to see if they were residents of

Santa Rosa. Some were and it was one I think in Morgan Hill, which was a little suspicious to me. I don't understand why. Permit process for a business like this does not include inspections. Annual twice twice every 5 years. I think that's a very important thing to do is to make sure that they have the certification and there should be a very obvious way to see whether or not there is some trafficking going on. I don't know why if they do find that that if city of Santa Rosa Police Department has arrested some people wide, the business wasn't closed. I'm just as if a building has a violation. You put a stop notice on it. I think the business should be closed. If they do find this activity going on. And I certainly hope that the city finds a way to get money for a budget for this examination of what's going on because this is it is a terrible thing for the victims, for the community and for our property values. Thank you very much. Thank you. And then finally, we have Beverly. >> And Beverly MAY. I'm director of governmental affairs and human trafficking for the California Massage Therapy Council. >> I'm the one who did review of your ordinance and sent several samples. The one of the council members made a comment unless I misunderstood about. Possibility of plagiarism to use it in using other ordinances. But that happens all the time. I think

with all ordinances, cities and counties always want to take what's working in other jurisdictions. But almost every Benicia comes almost word for word out of Sam. Okay. Owes. You know, they all use same provisions and I have a ordinance prevent so that if you decide you want to use your ordinance and just beef it up. I can insert sections and say where they come from. So we're not trying to. I'm not drafting code. I'm reinventing the wheel. I also want to clarify a couple of people made the comment about being a member of cnpc cnpc is not a membership association public benefit regulatory functioning under statute with legislative oversight. Our mission is to public protection. And while we consider massage therapist part of the public. We're not specifically working in for the needs of the profession working for the general public large everything cnpc provides is to cities and counties is at no fee, no cost. Also the last thing I want to say is that we are we try as much as possible to be victims centered. We work with victim service providers and ngo's across state and across the country. Thank you very much. >> We have no more spirit cards. If even if you didn't sign up, this is your opportunity to speak. So just make your way to one of the lectern. And you have 3 minutes speak on the subject. If you wish. Seeing nobody moving will close public comment on this item. We have a couple questions of the

public asked. I just like to so. Dani Lucan, you kind of address the process that there's certificate and how that works. >> Initially we ease. Thank you. Initially we started off as what's what's called a notice of violation and we will account all the violations that were able to find. So that MAY include the lack of certain certificates or >> to anywhere maybe even no labels on the bottles within the service areas. Things of that nature. So the first step is a notice of violation is part of the due process. We then do follow-up inspections. See if it's been corrected if the behavior has not been corrected, that we move on citations. >> Okay. Thank you very Let's see. Are we where of other cities in Sonoma County with ordinances like this or venturing into uncharted waters geographically. >> I I can't speak specifically to what other ordinances area jurisdictions MAY have, but I'm sure they have them and I'm sure they're similar in scope to what we're seeking. As I mentioned earlier, one of the first things we would do if we were to receive direction to pursue an ordinance would be to see what's working in other cities. And I think I've got a valuable contact. The camp talk that will be. Cultivating before this this day is over to have those so that we have that information and had if we need it. >> MADAM City one of the questions was about Nowhere in the budget process right now could But can you give a

general idea is to funding and staffing how we have that advocated for a subject like this. Yeah, thank you for the question at this moment. I believe we would be able to accommodate the It would be a priority. We want to make certain that we are. >> Addressing quality of life issues would want the opportunity to meet with Chief Korean. Planning that Director Osborne to understand, you know, how we would implement what they would need in order to move forward. All right. Thank you very much. >> And then again, city manager, maybe 3 you the police how can we measure success on this will kind of public outreach? Can we do? That's captain runs are going to take a stab at that. >> Yeah, I and what the chief jump in whenever he wants to hear to to answer. But I think, you know, for us as an organization and as a city, how we measure success is really by the community input that we receive. Right. I think we've a large turnout of people here expressing their concerns with some of the things that they've seen in their community related to these illicit massage establishments. So going for I think that's definitely one a measurable thing that we would look at whether to excess. We're You know, I I think the other thing that we will look at is our relationships we have right of working with code enforcement of the investigations they're conducting when they have code violations related to these You know, balancing that with going forward, our commitment to working with code enforcement to you know, future with these businesses. And then really, you know, with our community looking at our community-based partners. So I mentioned a who's a

resource center. But really, you know, they have a lot of contact with people who are victims of human trafficking. So sort of getting that sense from an as to, you know, whether they're seeing Measurable difference as well in our community. There's a whole bunch of measurable items. And I think is following up on that of what captain Run 6 at the end is what I was really thinking about. >> We work closely the Family Justice Center here in the city of Santa Rosa. We actually just added a 7th detected to that team is dedicated full-time to domestic violence, sexual assault and they work there together in one building with charity and a host of other nonprofits who are focused on helping victims of sexual assault and sexual crime, including human trafficking. So they really have their finger on the pulse more than any of us about what's going on. And they're meeting daily. So I think we really strategize with these groups and be able to understand what is the scope here in Sonoma County and undeniably we have human trafficking across Sonoma County and we'll be working with these organizations. And I work very closely. And director night from a planning and economic development of already had conversations about this about both of our departments truly making it a priority and that was clear to us one Valentine's night of all nights, we held a community meeting over 50 people came out from our community saying we want to see some city resources on this. And so we heard that. And so we're really in this was our first step administratively as a city of letting our community be able express some of the frustrations work really closely with some of the

expert groups that we have here. And our plan is you're going to start seeing some improvement. We're going to be able to show that. And I think by the key that is going to be working with code enforcement and Ministry Lee and then supplemented by some of our work with our domestic violence, sexual assault team. Excuse me, thank you very And then the final >> whether it be with police, code enforcement or our community partners like Garrity is are there any concerns about a language specifically anything other than Spanish speakers? Most definitely. >> Probably the majority of the contacts within our probably agency sent. So I've had a mixture of probably Mandarin and Cantonese that we've Google translate to or other other ways of of trying to some of the individuals have persons on their speed dial that are able to communicate with them. So there's there's a variety of ways and were able to communicate. However, it the struggle is real. >> Yes, of our officers are have the atd language line that they can access with literally dozens of different languages. That's another thing for the Family Justice Center brings a host of resources, including even sometimes our brochures and pamphlets and multiple different language that we can provide. And that's something that will continue to work with our our local nonprofits or the Family Justice Center to make sure we're providing those resources. Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Remember over as you have any questions. >> First and foremost to the representatives of the therapy council. I would urge you to leave your contact information with only there behind with so

that we as you can contact you. I do appreciate the offer that you made to the city to collaborate with us. Move forward, how we perform inspections on on those businesses. I'm only repair visited. >> If you're speaking to the 8 >> I'd rather not divulge how because I want to be able to approach them announced so that way it's able to I'm able to. For lack of a better word. I want I want to have that the ability to have them be unprepared so that I'm able to see firsthand what actually taking place there. I can say visited them at least 3 times. So right. >> Say so know what the comments or questions asked by the public when you into these establishments and you don't find anyone who's licensed, what are these just able to continue to operate? >> At this time, I don't have the authority to shut down the business. >> Every sir. Thank you, One of the concerns that I'm seeing is from the good operators, those therapies to do help individuals such myself to say out his shoe. And praise GOD that they have the craft that they do and that they're able to offer this that they do. What policies we implement to make sure that actors are not. Met with the obstacles to provide services to the committee when they're they're sought. >> That's an excellent

question. One of one of the public speakers earlier mentioned striking a balance she said those words. I was writing them down simultaneously because that's obviously something that we really want to have is a foundational consideration. Should there be a new ordinance? That would give us the opportunity to craft and such a way that we recognize that there are legitimate operators and 2 not be a gate keeper to those legitimate operators, but yet still have standard that they have to meet so that we have a level of comfort that their legitimate operators. And again, people have spoken of the discomfort they have of of having to having to submit themselves to that. Procedure. Unfortunately, that's just. That's just a requirement of this unique type of situation is that we have to be able to separate the the lawful operators from illicit once having. A really robust application process would would serve both of those needs. So that would be something we would we would give consideration to. >> And although this Wardlow policy to address those issues such a viewing code enforcement teeth to be able down the list of businesses. We do encounter situations. The merit that move forward. You The ability for us to provide updates to both the public that that are concerned about these issues. Do a more town hall meetings with from the scene? I know what you know, moving with their colleagues there here today, although I do welcome, MISTER Stab there how how do we She's being more transparent or not more put being transparent and in the process that we're

putting forward. So the public is able to be updated as as we move forward. >> I think that's something we desire in all aspects of the work we do here. So I know that we're looking at technology solutions right now to make information more easily accessible and transparent to the public and we can certainly build that into any program that we're we're moving forward with. Town hall meetings are always a good idea. It's always good to be in touch with the community. Get the feedback. We know we might not otherwise be getting so I'm not averse to having those meeting says as time comes we're always approachable. We will have open door policy as they can phone us. They can email us. They can come to the counter and see us and we're always available to serve those units. >> And in closing, just want to thank the public for coming for with the questions. We want present up and search. Some of the questions is number. 35 years. Plus, I wish I could take credit for that question, but I can't but do want to thank the public for for assisting us and become. More knowledge. One better prepared to move this policy or the situation forward and find resolution. Thank you, >> Thank you very So for as we close one of our goals is the council is a safe community for all. And that means. >> All whether you're born and raised and lived in Santa Rosa or 70 years or whether you're undocumented here against her will, it's a safe community for all. I don't want to speak or councilmember Alvarez, but I take that very seriously. And while I do those that have. That have mapped out the midtown area, this is not a geographic issue. This is a

human rights issue. This is something that we should take very seriously because sex trafficking and human trafficking is one of the worst crime you can commit on another human being. They're victimized every second of every minute of every day of every year. And so for me in hearing the comments of from police of red flags, that warrant concern and from a code enforcement to say we have a outdated, 14 year-old policy I my feedback is to give direction to the city manager to work with the departments to update this code as she and her staff see fit well, the same strengthening these or this ordinance to give as council member ever said, code enforcement teeth to take on this issue. Also want to be very cognizant of activity, not overburden and especially vilify the legitimate professionals of this industry I appreciate you both both of agencies being here just because this is a gray I don't know if if planning and code enforcement ever been to a public safety subcommittee It's this weird area where we want to be very cognizant of terrible legal issue. But we also, as you said before, do not want to victimize the victims. In my opinion, I think we should be doing everything we can to set an example for the rest of Sonoma County as a leader, a 2 take this issue on a is seriously and completely as possible. So that would be my direction COUNCILMAN You have any other feedback you'd like to give. Know, I concur. And with that,

we will close out item. 5.1. I'm going to take a 5 minute recess. What we switch over for 5.2. Alright, we'll call this meeting back to order. Deputy city clerk. Can you call roll, please. >> Mayor Rogers is absent councilmember Alvarez. Chair Okrepkie. Let the record reflect all subcommittee members are present with the exception of Mayor Rogers. All right. >> And everyone, if you'd like to continue conversations about the past subject, that's completely fine. If you can, please do outside so we can move forward to the meeting. Really appreciate it. Thank you. Item 5 point to the fire Department strategic plan. Chief Westrope. Good morning Chair Okrepkie Councilmember our as Scott fire chief for the city of Santa Rosa. >> Today we're going to present to you what our next for tj plan looks like a high level this is a a redo of our strategic plan that was previously good from 2016 to 2021, we did accomplish a lot of the goals and objectives out of the original strategic plan. However, we felt it was time for a new one we worked with the center for Public Safety Excellence or cpsc. We selected them through competitive purchasing process to facilitate our new strategic plan, which would be good for 2024. Through 2029. Want to do some different things with this strategic plan is sort of updated the mythology in which we use. We wanted to be realistic in both goals and expectations. A lot of times when you get a strategic plan as these outlandish schools that you know for us, it was built fire

stations and hire 1000 people is just not really going to happen in the current financial outlook. So we wanted something that was actually achievable and something that we could really wrap our arms around Get your results and get to our goals with the current budget that we have. The other thing we really wanted to make sure is that we had significant stakeholder input into the process. And so we held several All of you are part one of them. But we had, you know, internal throughout the department and throughout the city and we had external stakeholder groups and then we had robust public input. So I really wanted to look at it is 3 legs of the stool and make sure that all 3 legs of the stool is represented with internal external and that can community input. So the meetings that were held by involve city council, obviously within the rules and confines of the Brown Act all of executive staff Hunter, external stakeholders. We met with other fire departments and other law enforcement agencies and non governmental partners that we have throughout the community, including nonprofits and civic engagement groups. For community meetings. We held 3 in-person meetings to on the West side and one on the east side bilingual services are available at all of the meetings we had 2 virtual meetings. One was English and one was in Spanish. And then for the department meetings, we had 3 very long days in a row with I'm a real Broad cross segment of our organization and we really employed cognitive diversity and our approach to make sure bureaus represented all ranks represented the diversity of our organization was

represented that we're building a plan into the future. I didn't do a lot of talking in those meetings or did any of the command staff. It was really the future building the future for the organization. Most. And then we had 28 diverse members of our organization participate at a staff of 157 at the time. And so is a really robust couple There are long, but it was really, really fruitful. And we're really happy with the results. So our strategic planning we changed our mission, vision and values just a little bit. And I just want to share that with you today. I'm sort of the goal with this was to make them obviously more prevalent who the current landscape that we live in, but also make them more sus aimed to news more impactful words so you can see on the left was our previous mission statement on the right is the new mission statement, which is the center is a fire department. Probably safeguards are community as a professional organization protecting lives, property and the environment through all risk service and engagement. You'll see the services capitalized red. That's because it actually is our value statement as well. As far as values go, they changed a little We use the acronym service previously, the team wanted to go through in change a few of the words just to make sure that we were up today and that we're all in alignment on what our values staying was going to be. So our current core do still spell out service, which is selfless, engaged, as far as ready as a change from responsive, responsive didn't make a lot of sense to a lot

of people, but that just meaning that organizational and operationally ready to respond in any incident throughout the community. Inclusive, we change that from innovative because we felt some of the words were redundant. So really wanted to capture all of our d I d efforts and are cooperate and collaborate relationships throughout the community. Then instead of committed collaborative because really truck are trying and invested in working throughout the community in a much more collaborative way. And then at the court made the same. Our vision You know that the previous one on the left and again, we're trying to make it more and more impactful. So the visions change being a progressive visionary, an inclusive organization that anticipates influences change. Being an effective team that is committed to the safety wellness and development of our members. Were empowered to carry our mission by working with our partners. We will develop an organizational infrastructure to support our growing community needs and address emerging threats. And the center center is a far from will be the leaders in the community and region now and into the future. So again, this this took a day, at least to get through all 3 of these into to get to everybody was really happy with them. But we really do feel that the mission reflects our organization. We really do rely on the mission when we have to make a decision within particularly the management team with we have to make a decision. It's doesn't meet the mission of the organization. Does it align with our values and does got to up in the future with our vision. So and we do still use these quite a bit. It's not just something we hang on. The wall is something we really believe in a really happy with the outcome. So sort of the

the meat of this we spent 2 days developing, 5 different that we're going to work on in the next 5 years. And I'll say as we go into break these out and go through the next 5 slides are a little bit more information on the objectives of these goals. But with this comes a pretty significant task lists. There's 3 to 7 tasks with each one of the objectives. And so that's sort of the list that we can work off of and make sure that we're accomplishing the goals is is we have a list that we're working off of that, I didn't go in that granular detail with you because it's it's pretty technical just really want you to see what our strategic goals are here. So sort of summarize these are going to detail, but don't think it comes as any surprise that doesn't come as a surprise to me that has to do with the workforce to do with our infrastructure. Whether that's a facilities are fleet has to do technology and communications service delivery. The community engagement. So go one for us in the next 5 years is to revitalize the fire department's workforce through innovative recruitment strategies to maximize organizational effectiveness, the objectives out of the school are to evaluate, improved the recruitment process to attract a retreat, retain career employees. And this is work that's already being You know, this enters fire department has the recruiting in diversity plan that worth with the seed. We've changed the center's equity plan were very fortunate to to have that him with the 6 schools that come out of that plan. We were able to fund a lot of them through a piece at this year. The public safety and prevention

sales tax this year and we continue to work with hr iau to improve our processes. Every time we do one. Hands, the training division to ensure expertise and all current and future department programs. This is just making sure that our training division is aligned moving forward and looking into the future and forecasting what we need to train train on has the threats change. We have to adjust as an organization. We're trying to be on the front end of that. And then promote a safe, healthy work environment that effectively manages personal organizational risk. So this is taking care of not only the organization but taking care of each one of our 169 members to make sure that they're ready to come to work. They're happy and healthy at home on and off duty and that we good work force that's very well supported. In foster, good relationships with. Number 2 is improved physical resources to ensure the highest level of safety and service for our community and personnel. The objectives are modernizing construct facilities in accordance with current and projected needs of the community and department. We have a pretty good idea of what that looks like right now. We are looking at investing in a new deployment analysis. Our last deployment analysis was completed in 2016. Obviously the world's changed around us quite a Not only with the fires, but also with the infill housing growing up and just the the growth part of the growth in population. So so we're we're looking at doing another with one of department analysis before we get into measure each much deeper but we're pretty pretty sure that our stations are in the right

locations right now. And number 2 is provide a modern and will maintain fleet in support of operational readiness. Again, this is something that we worked really h# # # o# and thanks to city manager Smith in the city Council. We have a capital for the replacement program. That we never had in the past. And so, you know, issues such as we need a new ladder truck to the price went up, you know, 90% in the last 2 New ladder truck. We now have the means to be able to purchase that without having to come back to council and find the funding that we can find at the time for that. The biggest problem with flee right now. And I've said this to all several times is that it's just taking a long time to get our apparatus and we have 2 engines on order. They were ordered fiscal year 2021 that we are now on the assembly line when we have a 2. And so we have 5 more in order and I'm sorry, 7 more were on top of that. And so she's taking a long time to get those those assets, the ladder truck to do just to the city council just approved 2 weeks ago. Has a four-year bill time. So its the reflex time in the fragility of the the apparatus that we're getting these days, her creating an issue. But we continue to work with dpw and flee city manager's office to make those improvements number 3 is to advance service delivery, utilizing contemporary equipment industry, best practices. This is a constant evolution. We're always looking for how we can improve our service delivery to the citizens, whether it's on the granular level of, you know what type of a quick or using a medical call versus, you know how what response are Esri using and working with streets and working with tp w on how we can improve improve our response routes and everything in between. Go number 3 is to enhance the overall technological readiness and communication infrastructure. The fire

department to ensure efficient emergency response Personals personnel safety. The first objective is to update, modernize and improve hardware system or physical resources. You know, we've had a lot of radio, structure that's gone bad or, you know, recently we just change from using computers and Oliver apparatus and income and vehicles to iPad. So looking for those improvements that actually have a savings to them a financial savings but also provide operational efficiencies to them. Number 2 is to same thing with software or or programming updates. And we brought in a lot of new programs that are going to help us in staffing and and report writing fire prevention plan review. But, you know, as technology evolves as what can we had a software updates that really helped the efficiency of our operation. Improve the speed reliability fire station alerting, you know, we found in a in a report that our fire station alerting us some time 60 to 70 seconds behind on the call taker takes the call. And so finding ways that we can alert our crews faster to get them on the road, he's really where we can save a lot of response time. So I'm looking into technology there as well. Collaborate and coordinate with agencies and stakeholders to ensure the success of the regional dispatch system. As you know, we use red com, which is a regional dispatch system. And so finding efficiencies as a member agency. And tonight is a board member is vital to us to make sure that that system is is working efficiently as they can. And provide reliable and efficient wireless and radio infrastructure to improve efficiency across all

divisions. As we all communications are the first things to fail. And usually the biggest problem. So making sure that in an emergency and non-emergency situations hard infrastructure is as solid is is really important. We've recently replaced repeater for one of our. A radio tower, one of our radio towers that we own as as a city own and a you'd be shocked to see what it looked like we were operating on. It looked like, you know, we're we're working on a Betamax. The defense the basement for a couple 100 years. Kind of thing. So there's just a lot of infrastructure that we haven't touched a long time. We need to make sure that it squared away and that we don't have a failure when we need it. The most. Number 4 is to enhance service delivery to ensure the best possible response to the residents and visitors are of our community. To me, this is the heart and soul. The fire department is something we're always going to be working on. And really it comes down to appropriate staffing, which we've worked really hard and we continue to work on. We'll talk a lot about that. And the fire Department update. To evaluate current response models and make sure that they're working the best they can and look for alternative. So that could be what we're sending to certain assignments. You know, morning squads and disk was really work and want have to monitor the data sets on those. But looking at different ways to provide service. You know, whether we're doing proactive community-based paramedicine were squads or whatever the case MAY be is continually evolving and looking at ways we can improve response models. And then we will always continue to improve our response times in City Council goals this year. We were just above 60% and we should be at 90%. So edition of resources, certainly be helpful for that. But I think there's a lot of

things we can do in the in term to make response times better. And with goal number 5 is strength in community engagement, safety and preparedness through active active community collaboration, communication and outreach to create a more prepared community. So this is set in the community up for success as we've seen in the If you compared to 1017 to 2020 and the way the community was repaired, I give the most credit to on on our successes between those 2 significant campaign fires. And so as to continue to do that, not only for this large scale events, but on a day-to-day basis. So establish enhance relationships collaborate with community groups and non-governmental organizations to improve community relations to meet demographic and geographic needs develop and implement community education, outreach plans and programs leading to more informed community. In his communications and preparedness to increase community awareness readiness and were very fortunate to have robust in deeply engaged communications team community outreach team and organization. There are no to doing a great job it's one of the favorite things of our organization to do is to go out and engage with the community and will continue to do so. We really spend a lot of those programs and will continue to do so into the future. And in the conclusion here and you can see the the group of 28 that internally at the strategic planning process over the 3 days there. But the

conclusion is that and the work is just really You know, we have a plan now. We have a realistic and rational plan that we can actually achieve goals on snow. We have to go out and do the work. Its the execution is the institutionalization of the mission, vision and values. And in getting through the task to achieve these objectives and goals is is really where the work comes in. In one thing that just remember is. We have to be flexible and adaptable. You know, the world changes around us are threats change the risk changes the workforce changes. So there MAY be tweaks here and there. This is a living document that we now own. And so we MAY have to make changes here and there, but we'll do that in a collaborative process with not only the city manager and city attorney and City Council, but with our labor group as well. So as we see changes, we MAY have to adjust here and there and we have to work within the boundaries that we have set for. So with that, that's just a high-level overview of the strategic planning. Alternate be for any questions you MAY have. Thank you very much. Chief. All right. No questions from committee member Alvarez. Just a couple with >> So there's a couple things he touched on that I I'd like expand a little bit how do you see this the cities and councils focus on infill development. >> Within the city basically going up instead of is it is this does take into account that push from council to do so. It That was one of the big things we talked about early on in the with our employees.

When we when we had internal stakeholder groups and with the consultant was. >> You know, we have to adjust to, you know, we call risk Matrix or Threat Matrix. But the infill housing, it's the growing up. That's all something we have taken in consideration. So you know where we're putting resources, how are deploying resources in the downtown area or in the infill areas is going to be vitally important. So it does address all of those things that gets more into the granular level of how we're going to play resources or what resources we MAY need to address that. So that certainly is a part of it is something that I've. Been saying for a long time is that, you know, the the center's fire department wholeheartedly supports housing first, an infill housing the growth of the community. It's just we have to be able to provide those services. And so, you know, we'll figure out a way to get those resources. And I think Measure h is going to be a huge testament to that. I think the squads are going to help that will continue to grow with the community and continue to provide the support services that we need to do. Make sure that our our expanding community is safe. Thank you. And then one the subject you touch the ball up on was innovation, emerging technologies. Stuff like >> Not committing to anything. But are there any emerging technologies that are of interest that MAY be useful to our to our city in the future that should be. You're have under consideration, you know, so. >> Division chief support services is really the it get real. It's one of collateral duties. And so we change our staffing program. We've changed reporting program. We went to d h d through pg Settlement funds which is our prevention plan Review Grant or I'm sorry process. However, we continue to look at

technology when it comes to. You know, things like operations and going to tablet command, which is the what we have in our cars. Now, it's it's a much more robust. And, you know, inclusive system. We can see everything that's going on in the county and the nice thing with Measure h is that any county wide technology advances paid for by measure a show really doesn't come off of the city's coffer that we continue to look at things like traffic improvements, traffic, light there's a lot of technology out there of all thing around aerial platforms. You know, one of the big things that we didn't have in the Tubbs fire that we were fortunate to have in the glass fire was an aerial platform. We have real-time data and information coming right toward vehicle. So, you know, there's some statewide resources for We're fortunate in the glass fire to have a night vision helicopter overhead to give us some good intel. But to make it easier to make it more prolific and make it to or local government agency has access to those things are technologies that we're looking at prevention. It's the same thing. It's looking software and updates to where we can predict fuel patterns and conduct to predict a fire behavior and fire weather. Things like that. So across all the viewers, we're looking technology enhancements. There's a lot out there. It's just a matter of what we can find grants for, find the resources for so we can purchase and put in service. Do think you and then my last question is you to some measure age twice now, how this? >> Planned Mary with the implementation of measure And I've touched on it just

because I have a pulse light on it in my next presentation for you. But I think it fits in very well. You know, a lot of things that we're talking about here, whether it's staffing or infrastructure recruitment, retention, all of those tie into now. We have the ability to do that with Measure. H we have the ability to hire 35 people. We have the ability to build 3 fire stations. So all the things that we need to do, the revolve around staffing or infrastructure. Are now they're in. So that's going help our response times. And that's going to help our community engagement. So the resources are coming out of a measure each I think are key to getting through a lot of these objectives that we have for the 5 goals, the strategic plan. So it's it's kind of nice to be set up like that for once to where okay, we have the strategic plan. We have these goals and objectives. Now we actually have the resources to get them done. All right. Thank you very much. That's all for me. >> Will move on to public comment seeing as how there's nobody left in the room. Don't take that personally. Chief Westrope. We will go ahead and close public comment and come back for final comments. >> Thank you for what you did. Can do it. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Yeah, thank you very much. I know this is a big I'm excited to see what we can do going forward. One thing I just want to point out putting the word inclusive in especially since I know you have made a special effort to to make the fire department more reflective of the community. It serves and I do appreciate that. So I just want point that out is something that I have was excited to see in there so that we will close out 5 point

to take there's no matters holding committee and just because you're already right there, we're going to switched around the agenda real quick and go to 7.2 0st and go to the fire Department. Update. Norway didn't want to thank you both for having a power point. This to We finally got a line. Scott Wester began fire Chief City Center is providing you update on the fire department. Just a high-level overview of some of key goals and initiatives that we're working right now within the organization. >> I'm starting with staffing and our current position control up 269. We were 257 last year. This is reflected 12 employees that we had a via the safer grant, which is the fema grant for 12 positions for 3 years. For 7.0 8 million dollars. That will be instituting with the Lusk was will be going into service, which will talk about her shortly. Currently in operations, we have 13 vacant positions we had 4 graduate from the Academy on APRIL 4th and they're now on the street and we have 6 graduating from academy on MAY 16th. They'll be on the street. We're currently in a continuous recruitment cycle with firefighter firefighter paramedic. I believe there's actually interview is going on today for that. We still have a pretty robust interest in coming to the organization. I think in this way we had over. 50 applications, which for us is actually will really for any department is pretty high right now. So still a lot of interest in coming to the organization and we're getting some really good candidates coming out of there. Our next academy to fill those 13

vacancies. His plan for the end of JUNE is to make sure that we're full staffing. And really the vacancy has come from to for positions so we're really not that shortages that we had a 12. And but I'm confident that we're going to able to get a full academy at the end of JUNE. Get them on the street before the fire season really starts. We're fortunate to full staffing and fire prevention. We had some vacancies that we were able to fill. Administration were full staffing as well. In addition to our normal staffing, I just want to mention under the first less contract, we're fortunate enough to be able to hire under a psa. We have a a full-time medical. Well, medical director, this full-time dedicated to us. It's a part-time position. Doctor, Fuji and he's our medical director. And then we have a to coordinator who is Chris Koster she's a former Ammar paramedic, longtime member of the community. You MAY recognize last name, but she's our full-time security coordinator. This first fire station construction goes on the current stations. I'm happy to report that we have actually broken ground station. 5 on found a groove. So if you drive by there, you actually see tractors moving dirt around physical construction is slated to JUNE of 2024, but they are actually moving dirt around up there now, which is great to finally see. Fire station They're currently in design. Phase of the build process the teams currently rescues request for qualifications for potential bidders on the design, build process. There's no finance start date yet, but we are moving through the process and things are going going along very well with fire station 8. In fleet. I touched on this

the we have to fire to type on fire engines, which are the standard fire engine. See on the street. And they're actually on the assembly line right now. We can watch pictures and watch the painstakingly slow process of building a fire engine. But to are the 2 that we ordered fiscal year 2021. On the line. We have 5 more in the queue. One is that peace app and one is out of general fund or the Capitol replacement program. That type 6 fire engines that we were ordered as part of the while their recruitment and a then resiliency response. Strategic plan are both on the assembly line with a smaller, more agile fire engines. But they're on the line as well. The 2 quick attack vehicles that the center's fire foundation purchased or actually at the Arden being retrofitted into from red pickup trucks into response vehicles and they'll be used as the squads initially. In process and should be done by JULY. 1st. And then as you know, we approved the purchase of a a ladder truck on consent. APRIL 9th 2024. As for safer I just touched on this. But it's the grant for 12 Fte is over 3 years. We are within the period of performance of the employees have been through their academy. And so that's the 4 that we had. And then the 6 there in the academy now so the employees are hired within the pier period of performance are moving along. The pickups that are just talking about is the picture on the right there. That's phase one of the and then through peace we're going to purchase 2 transport capable after JULY. First, 3 piece funds. So we're getting ready for those purchases. So

we have a a better resource for the squats to be on versus a pickup. That's not on the replacement plan and they have transport capabilities. So if we have a firefighter go down in an we could be transported by our own a much quicker fashion there's also the ability for us to surge into the system. If the system is impacted, the ambulance system is impacting. We had would have the ability to surge in do transports. And lastly, most importantly, long term by having transport people squads, which are essentially ambulances and gives the city of the ability to bid on any future ambulance contracts. After we have our to rights established after 20 years. So so that sort of a long-term strategy, but that funding is coming out of one-time allocation side of peace app. The good news is that the per operational timeline for the squads to go into service is JULY first 2024. So our goal and our drive right now is to get these squads on the road, JULY first with 2 a trained firefighter, paramedics. I'm working through the proper policy development process right now meeting with our labor partners on mean can for items, making sure they're on the same page as we can so we can get these resources on the road. So we're really excited about that. As far as a measure h goes, I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk measure each and where we're at with as you know, was passed by voters. It's 61.71% on MARCH. 29th the are are coming into picture now. Essentially what we see is the tax will be implemented OCTOBER of this year. So that's when the tax will go into effect. We'll see the

first revenue probably JANUARY FEBRUARY of 2025. Some of the reflex time that we're trying to adjust to is what it's going to take the higher 35 people and what it's going to take to build 3 fire stations. I leaders intent is to get the resources in service on the road as quickly as possible. We have to do in a safe and effective manner. So we all talk a little bit more about what that looks like there. There is a outstanding to the sales tax and that is the business Roundtable, which will measure on the ballot in NOVEMBER of 2024, essentially what that is is. It's a measure that dictate that all sales tax measures the past that a simple majority would have to go back on the ballot pass a 2 thirds. And so there is right now some are attractive ity of 2 years on that. And there is a no, There is a clause in there as well that every tax would have to be sunset it. So we'll see if it makes it on the will be on the ballot. Whether or not passes. I'm Kasey 13, which the governor put on his emergency legislation would make that sales tax that or make that measure have to pass a 2 thirds. So if they see a path, Casey, 13 goes through and the business roundtable passes at 66.6%. You know, we're going to take a real conservative approach on how we're going to spend those funds if we're going to spend those funds intelligence through the litigation process so. It's just something that we're aware of that we're keeping our eye on being cautious about were not to start spending money. That could are centered at some point. As a the direct funding company to organization is somewhere around 8 and a half to 9 million dollars a year. This is tough. And 35 new Most of those good operations as 3 battalion chief. So we have a

second battalion chief. It would be the staff engine 9 in the Southeast. It be to staff staff, a new company on the East side which would be engine 12 and then to staff a heavy rescue, which would be a county wide resource to provide heavy rescue capabilities throughout not only the city, but throughout the county. And build 3 new right now with our current employment analysis. The 3 new stations are in the Southeast somewhere around Center's Avenue and Bird Elsa. And then our current station 6 on Calistoga Road will be split into 2. When we go out east to amount carry and one would go west to modestly on niche areas where it's outlined right now. In direct is about a million and a half a year. And obviously these numbers are going to fluctuate based on sales tax revenue. But the biggest thing for us pay for red calmer dispatch fees. That's about a million and half dollars year pays for Lex pool fees. I was about $25,000 a year. That's our online policy management program. Pay for any new technology throughout the county. Any new training programs that have a county wide impact and they would also be vegetation management money set aside for. For county wide there be a fuels crew based out of North County, but we could use that fuels crew. Here would be a non emergency response proactive vegetation management work. So there are some cost savings there, too, that we would have to contract. So so that's just to review were out the sales tax. I have a new slide. You guys down as far as the implementation goes in, this is really what I really wanted to highlight is and they're sort of 3 pieces to the

implementation plan. It's the fire service working Group was which is the group I sit on and have for the past 3 years. It's a it's a group of Sonoma County Fire Chiefs the represent I represent, you know, all the cities and there's district representation, volunteer representation, Cal Fire, vegetation and then certain built with labor representation, the room we built the whole program. You know, the real work I was sort of, you know, looking forward to having my Thursday's back and not go into these meetings, been there more of us than they ever have been. So county Fire Chiefs Fire Service working group. We currently have 16 actionable items on the near term near term or extreme for implementation of the county wide level. For instance, I just pulled a couple. You know, so it's snowing county measure h operations and structure. It's building the structure of Sonoma County Fire chiefs to manage manage the dollars coming in building a communications It MAY involve the Joint Information Center, but building a communications and marketing plan. Working with the county operation allies, the Oversight Committee. So the Citizen Oversight Committee from Measure h Line very much with the Citizen Oversight Committee. We have for peace after measure of formerly known as red flag and winter storm staffing funding process. Currently there is no county funding for if we had a red flag, we do not have the county funding to up staff. We get from the state. But we we typically in the past we've

had county and state funding. And so now this provides red flag in winter storm up staffing funding through the county, which is much easier and there's a lower threshold activate those funds. So figuring that piece out. And then what the vegetation management process looks like and what the structure is there. So there's a lot going on at the that swag This is just the near term 16 goals. And now we have made, you know, midterm and long term goals as well. At the city level. You know the city. You know, Mike, over throughout the city and the exact staff level in the city manager of obviously been very involved all the way through the process. But now we're getting together and making sure that we're set up for success as we go into this City manager's office city, attorney finance tp w h r We're all meeting individually and then together and we're setting up a lot of ongoing meetings in that regard to make sure that line. So when we start receiving these funds, we need know exactly what is being spent on that. We're all I know we're all moving forward and getting things done enough and efficient manner. In the department We set you know, we have a labor management team, which is 3 managers in 3 labor representatives. We got together and develop the mission. The organizational chart, the ground rules and the personnel that are going to be involved in an expanded team. The expanded team is broken up into 6 functional workgroups and they represent area such as facilities. Fleet equipment, personnel, communications and administration. And those teams are going to go for and they're going to have the leaders intent the mission to

develop short, medium and long term goals, objectives for the funding. So my intent is to have the resource on the street as soon as possible. But we can't build a fire station a year. It's going to be very difficult to hire 35 people in here. So we're going to look at, you know, the first year calendar year 2025, we're going to look at years 2, 3, and then years for him beyond his the way we're going to break it up. And so we're just trying to bring in again that cognitive diversity to make sure that we're I'm using the good ideas of the future of the organization. In a Broad Cross segment of the organization to make sure that the plan is has alignment in as a common mission and a common vision. So we're building that out. So that's sort of the 3 layers of the implementation. There's a lot of work going on and it takes in at a time. But it's it's all for the good. And we're and we're really excited about the projects are going to able to make with with the sales tax measure. So that that's the end of my update. An for any so Trump sons, you're right. Part of appreciate the presentation. Just a couple can we expect a? >> measure each implementation plan to come forward in a official manner as we get closer. >> Yeah, we haven't talked about what it's going to be publicized but there will be some sort of documentation that will have that as a guideline so that we're all on the same page in the world. Understanding what the realistic goals and expectations of implementation are. So I think as we go through this and we develop what the plan looks like. And, you know, we have a little bit of my goal is to have the plan finalized by DECEMBER. 1st. So we have a month to planned before JANUARY 1st. So I want everything ready to go on JANUARY first. So realistically, we should have

some sort of plan we can present by JANUARY. 1st. Great. Thank that's all my We'll go to public comment. Seeing none. We'll bring it back to any final comments. Question chief. Pretty out there the question of what to to stop school when it comes to employee retention or boarding new new at t's. I don't hear that. They wait and wait on that. Well, it is a change on the way obstacle is summer before was just having the pool to choose from. But having 50 applicants present. I'm sure those gratifying to you. Anything changed in the car itself? Know that's that is still the greatest obstacle is is the is who, you know, the number of people that are interested in coming into the public sector. And it's not necessarily just the fire department's the public sector is, you know, in general. So, you know. When I when I came in, I remember taking tests that had 20,000 applicants for one job. And, you know, even when I applied here was it was a dog fight to to get a job and the fire department and we're just not seeing the interest anymore. And so, you know, I think that our equity planner recruitment, diversity in long-term strategy. We're starting to see some of the that we're starting to see a lot of interest and where doing a better job in educating our community. What it takes to get a job in the fire service and giving them the resources they need to be successful. So but ultimately, I think that we have, you know, per capita, we have

better numbers than some of the larger organizations throughout the Bay Area, just because we're we're destination, you know, it's a destination place to work. It's a destination place to live. And I still I think that's where we see a lot you know, a lot of improvements in our numbers is that, you know, what we're offering is an both the city and a department is very enticing for people to come work here. So we still got a lot of latter month. A little coming over from other organizations and people are seeing, you know what we're doing there, seeing that we're adding stations are seeing that there's growth. Potential were not stagnant and that we have great contracts and we have no great support. And so so I think everything that we can do. We are doing. There's always going to be more and we will continue to make those investments will continue to make those adjustments. But really it's it's the numbers in the in the town pool that we're really still seeing is the obstacle. Then you do for you to mention a great person at the at the home on the cause of the fire do appreciate a team effort. Thank you. >> I expect an answer. Haha. >> Well, I for one glad that you beat out those 20,000 other to get here. So 3 quick how is the recruitment going with those of the canine variety? >> average soon And then Gabby is still a couple months out. But we're still planning on getting Gabby in the next couple And then we've sent additional handlers to training. So should the opportunity arise to get additional peer support? Dogs are goal is to have 4 we'll certainly take advantage of that. But we've sent some additional handlers off to

training because not only to our current handlers need relief, but provides the opportunity for handlers in the future for additional candidates. All right. I think there MAY be a need for a full council that England's Gabby is a operation will call it >> and then I'm just one piece of feedback on the quick attack. Slash squad I'd like there to be some sort of a public outreach on that. I think that's a opportunity for us to show what what we're doing to advance our reaction times in our what's the word? I'm resources that we have. So it's something new. It's something I think very cool, especially the partnership that was had. Absolutely. It's already Our community outreach team has done a great job of outlining exactly what they're going to >> advertiser in the future. And so just a matter of we wanted to get a little bit closer, make sure that we had a, you know, finally started make sure the vehicles are squared away, but they have a plan for that. We will definitely you doing out in some robust community engagement and education on that. >> Thank Thank you. In the last thing in is not only for you, but also for the city because the Business Roundtable initiative and aca, 13 is it possible that would be prudent to bring a possibly study session to discuss that because it it could really affect how we. How we spend going forward. If certain taxes sunset. Is that

something that we can do? >> You know, we can bring them The city manager's group has been working with Cal Cities. On the legislation. Follow up with Cal Cities in the city manager's grew to get some information Our Nancy Bennett actually been working with us as well. So let's have that conversation on a flying and we can talk about what committee we want to bring it and bring it to up. We just want to sit out Fy. I because every jurisdiction is some jurisdictions are on board. Jurisdictions are not on board so I want make certain that we're bringing the information that you know, be in as transparent as we can about. >> Understood. Maybe that would be an open government task force and I'm not chasing take a stand more information as we understand the ripple effects. It could have, especially within our fire department. With that, I have no further comments. All right. I think we're done with some Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Move on back to 7.1 with the police Department. Update. Chief Craig in. >> Thank you. Chair Okrepkie and council member over us. I'm John Cregan. Our chief of is going to give a quick high level update on a couple things that we have going on police department. We're really excited about. First is our community and our council is really well. Well, well of our in response, mental health support team, but its wanted to give some exciting updates the year calendar year 2023. So we launched this team on

JANUARY. 11th of 2022. And we started with this 10 hours a day from 7 days a week and really we're learning together as a team and growing about how we can serve in our community and throughout 2022, we went to 2800 calls for the first year with our team and in 2023, we out of the second team. So we're up to 15 hours a day from coverage from 07:00am till 10:00pm and throughout 2023, as we outlined here, we went the team responded the multidisciplinary team of the Mental Health Commission, the Fire paramedic and homeless outreach specialist responded to 4,759 calls throughout the streets of Santa Rosa. And we're really carefully tracking what those calls were. Cause some of the services they're providing our in addition or enhance months that we've ever seen before. But 3500 or 3,568 of those calls were actually calls that a police officer would have gone to before. And that's really two-fold. Not only they're providing a much more enhanced service any police officers trained to provide here in the state of California. But there are allowing officers to be responding emergency calls that were happening throughout the city. So it's a a twofold win. There. One thing that really sets Arkema part is not only do we have the multi very team responding out in the field, but we have these team of sifting navigators in the system. Navigators are working behind the providing follow-up support and getting calls in. There were people can just call and saying I'm trying to get help and trying to get resources and they help navigate that. The complex

mental health system. But independent of the 4700 calls of the team went to we had 4,418 contacts that the system navigators made working together. Some of these are the same individuals that were contacted by the team and many of them were followed up. Some of these are repeat appointments with some of the same individuals. But over 4400 times, we went out and we're helping those in need our community and what we're really trying track is what between the combination of both these teams that we start seeing less calls overseeing to the police department and even response because now people are finally getting some of the help and support they've needed for years, but really just didn't know how to get that help. So really proud of our team and what they're doing in continuing to grow with air. Like I talked about where it 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. Another exciting development is we have a long-term lease of a building right there crossing the police department at 983 Sonoma. We've been really doing some work on that. And actually just this week we're finalizing a new public facing lobby that we're going to have theirs. We put a big in response sign on the outside. So it's clear. So what our goal is that you come any members of the community on normal Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 would be able to come into that building to be able to seek resources. It's actually used to be a doctor's office years ago. So they're 7 little small doctors offices and we have offices there. When you can meet one-on-one, have private hippa protected conversations with her late son's mental health conditions

with our system navigators. And so it's really going to be a community resource for those who seeking out mental health support. Also, that's where our is stationed out of and are deploying. And then we're are really our goal this year is adding a 3rd team and getting to that. 24 7 response model. And right we we finally have the licensed Mental Health Commission's hired, which has been hurdle right now. Unfortunately, our struggle is getting the fire. Hired right now. Chief Western talked about some of the staffing and recruitment issue. So we're really working toward that. But as soon as we get to additional fire, paramedics hired, then we're ready. We have the vehicles. We have the training we're ready to go is just getting those last 2 paramedics hired and then will be 24 7. Our goal late. Summer to OCTOBER is as our goals is probably realistically as OCTOBER, what we're seeing if we can push that timeline up. And in that we have this this care. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the entire city of Santa Rosa. So really proud of the team and how they're continuing grow and learn together. And it's really been something that we've we've had cities from around the Bay area. Really the state that reached out to our team of to our facility, met with our team. And we're really trying to be a model for other cities to follow in. Santa Rosa truly is leading the way in this area. >> team can you go into around the concerns with fire? Paramedics? >> Yeah, absolutely. So one of the things that it's important we'd like to get some support on is when we originally created this program, we can. We came together in council in

2021 and I presented the council then and we were really like, hey, this is a great idea. But there's a lot of uncertainty like, is this really going to work? Are we going to sustain funding for the years to come from the city? So at that time we made the decision to make fire. Paramedics actually only city employee everyone else or contracted services. Suba collude threw him on a diet and from Catholic charities. So we made the decision to make it a two-year limited term position for that paramedic of saying let's evaluate the effectiveness. Evaluation has been overwhelming from our city leaders and our community that this is successful program and want to find ways sustain it. But also comes with of like, where's the financial support to sustain this program right now where we arpa funds for the American Rescue Plan. Act with those are all going at the end of this year and we're on schedule to spend those. We have funding from the county that we've got. We've got $512,000 awarded to us from last fiscal year. We've made a request for 1.5 million for this year from county that still going to be going before the Board of Supervisors and the coming months with that. But we're going to have to have a discussion with city Council about the sustainability of this program and removing that limited term paramedic position. I just met with some of the medics just last Thursday and they're really concerned. And one of the medics right now who works and in response spoke with me and she said, I have 3 medics who are willing to come right now, but they're not willing to give up their permanent jobs for limited term position. And I talked or about, hey, I feel strongly this program is here to stay tremendous support from our

city manager with that. But they say, ok, we trust you, but it still is hard to give up the security of your job and we all have bills to pay with this limited term. We also have medics were coming at the end of their two-year term, right, that have been on there so that and this also represents this paramedics that she said, hey, now I'm having a certain you're like, am I going to be done it 2 years? So I think we are going to we're going to have to examine this issue because right now it's the only thing holding us back from 24 7 and my way is to is to continue to focus on the county Look at other grant and I have my grant team actively looking for state and federal grants. But ultimately we have to have the conversation with City Council about what comes out of general fund to fund this program going forward. So I'll move on to the next when we can take questions at the end for all these. Next one is another really important topic that we've had come up from our community and truly one of the top community concerns I hear is chief. And that is traffic safety and traffic enforcement throughout the city of Santa Rosa. And a lot of concerns of seeing car speeding running red lights rolling through, stop signs having a lot of concerns. So we really put in 2023, a concerted effort in this area really want to highlight some of the effort because I was just had a community meeting last weekend. Someone told me I never see Santa Rosa police officers making traffic stops. And so I gave him some of the stats and they're like, well, where you should be telling us more about this. So I want to make sure we're doing this. And so one of this is in 2022, our officers made just under 14,000 traffic stops throughout the city of Santa

Rosa. We really put a focus on this. And in 2023, the traffic stops went up 60% to just over. 22,000 traffic stops that officers made throughout the city of Santa Rosa. Also, our traffic citations went up tremendously from 139% knowing just over 3400 to over 8200 citations that our officers issued throughout the city of Santa Rosa. But what I really feel strong and I was a motorcycle officer myself assigned to the traffic division many years ago is that there's a direct correlation between enforcement, education and engineering. The 3 e's that we talk about in there and enforcement is the foundation of that. And you see direct correlation to between the traffic stops and traffic citations to bring fatal collisions down. 75% in 2023. So we went from a total of 8 fatal collisions in 2022. 2, 2 fatal collisions in 2023. That's still 2 tragedies. But it's something that we're proud of the progress and we want to continue to work so far in 2024, we've had 2 fatal collisions. Both have been pedestrian fatal collision. So we're actually working on a plan that's going to be going a press release just this week about some pedestrian enforcement and education effort that we're going to be taking this year with our traffic team. We also saw overall are injury collisions go down 3% just over over 1142 from the year before and Oscar in 2023 to 11 for that. We did so small increase there. We want to continue to focus that as continue to see. Okay, what's in my control without going back to city council and asking for additional positions be able to absorb it

with my own team. So this year we were able to add one additional motorcycle officer based on our own staffing because we're getting back up to full staffing, unable to maintain that full staffing. So now we're back up to 6 full time traffic officers to do nothing but traffic enforcement and education or community. And one sergeant and then on Nytimes and weekends, we have 4 accident investigators and dui officers were patrolling specifically focusing on dui collisions, dui enforcement, but also taking the major injury collisions that tend overwhelmingly happen in the evening and nighttime hours. So right now we have 10 officers assigned full time traffic enforcement with 2 supervisors supervising both elements of those teams. They do a lot of grant operations, including with the dui checkpoint. We had just this Friday night we had over 1200 vehicles come to that checkpoint result in for dui arrests. The other one, that's a really important even really trying to focus on as an organization is our violence reduction efforts. We talked before that we have the most homicides ever for the city of Santa Rosa in 2022 with 12 homicides. And we follow that up that last year with 10 homicides was something that we really are making a concerted effort on some of the things that we've been able to start moving the needle on. This in JANUARY of 2023. Are sorry, DECEMBER of 2023. We launched our new gang Crimes teaming up for dedicated detectives with one sergeant focusing on our 4 pillars that we have of inforcement prevention, intervention and education. That's been a real support for our community and being able to address some of these things. Another thing that really have seen, a significant increase in is access to firearms in the streets of Saint rose of illegal firearms and statistic right here of seeing a

significant jump of 321% of juveniles arrested with illegal firearms in the streets of Santa Rosa going from 5 to all the way up to 21 arrests in 2023. Homicides were down the 17%. And we're continuing to move that so far, actually in the city of Santa Rosa, we've had no homicides this year, but the reality is it's with the city of our size that we will see some homicides. But we've had deaths here in the city of Santa Rosa, but nothing of a homicide so far in 2024. With that. But what we are seeing some of the progress of the firearms. And we talk about the last one here. We're seeing are shooting calls, go down to these word calls reported to 9-1-1 center as shots fired was 420. We saw that go down the 3.61. We're seeing that to continue. Did decrease in 2024. But one thing that we're seeing significant increases, we had 255 illegal firearms seized off the streets of Saint Rose in 2023. And I was pulling the stats just in the first 4 months of 2024. Were already over 170. So we're going to shatter the to 55 this year. So that's and for months like this. So we're on track to be somewhere around 400 plus, if we continue this trajectory, what that's alarming to me is it's that that how easily accessible these firearms right now and then also how much is becoming like a status symbol for juveniles to carry these firearms that post them on social media? And I think for me like the arrests are one part of that. But we're really trying to come together working with our violence, pension partnership, working with our gang crimes team on

some of the education stuff of educating our youth, educating their parents on the dangers. These firearms. But I do believe there is a correlation between some of our enforcement, our intervention are prevention programs or gain crime scheme of seeing these the firearm arrest going up and then seeing some of the violence, the shooting calls and the homicides go down in the city of Santa Rosa. So encouraging progress, but still a concerning effort that we're going to have to continue as a citywide effort to focus going in the year to come. So I quickly was going through those stats, but it's one of the bright, some high-level overviews for our team and happy to take any questions. Many men were hours. >> If I MAY not not a question of the more common earlier word or speaking about the part as we were talking with societal problem and how it was difficult to find a correlation between the heavy-handed enforcement too sexual crimes I'm happy see that. That's not the case here. As the Corliss is actually quite easy to see. Seen an increase in the juvenile arrest was farms. The scene, the removal, Ghost guns and probably correlated the lower home sites. And as you stated this year, we haven't had none. So I don't want to commend the efforts of this are pretty to making that happen. And I know that guns in the community is absolutely a play close to being a disease just because of the amount of So no, I definitely appreciate the efforts and I

would not achieve. I'm hearing a lot about a police station to see his Quest Park on them. Also best road. What's going on and we have a police station in Roseland. Step will be notice that it's being appreciated. >> Yeah, we're excited to be able to have our officers right there in the new substation and can't wait to get our bigger open, a substation that we have and appreciate your support for the prevention or the enforcement efforts. We've had some of our closest relationship right now with the virus, which in partnership and then such key partners and helping us. And try to have that holistic approach what we're doing in center of I'm really happy of like that close partnership are getting team and our detectives are talking on a daily bases where there been partnership team and really working and they're they're working to upcoming tour going to Oakland and looking at some of the resources. So really happy with that of having more that upstream approach in looking deeper than just making the arrest. And think we're seeing the results. >> Thanks, Chief. I appreciate these I one quick question before move forward when it comes to the traffic enforcement is there across we're going on with transportation public works to identify problem areas. So if you see many accidents in a specific intersection, you notify tp w so that they're aware of that to possibly consider sort of improvements bring it to their attention. >> Absolutely. And so we meet with Rob Sprinkle on a regular talking about specific whether that be community concerns that come in there's a lot of speeding or traffic. But also we we participate in a statewide program called sweaters that put all of our traffic collisions going to sweaters and it tracks. And rob sprinkle and our keep uw crew get those things. And we start tracking where the collisions occurring in our

city. What are some of the problem intersections? And we work with that dedicated traffic team and that's those 3 years that use that we talked about of enforcement. Just one part of that that we that engineering is the other part of like that's how we reduced sales by working with Rob Sprinkle team and in community education of getting out there and talking about some of the dangers and working with our youth in our schools and things like that to recognize some of those things. So those are 3 that we're focused on as an organization and seeing some progress. Thank you very much. >> Will move to public comment. Seeing none. We'll come back for a final comments. I think just for me, this is this is great The in response information is is >> The I know the investment for this was to to provide services without without having somebody be uniform carrying a responding to some of these mental health emergencies. I think it's working out great which you can see by these numbers as far as going conversation going forward. I don't know if this would be part of a budget discussion the study says we're going to happen as we have to be a separate discussion. Okay. The city manager shaking her head. Yes. For those of you watching at home. So we will have that a greater discussion on in response during budget. But I think having these numbers is is phenomenal to see just the impact it has. And I concur with my colleague it's kind of a double edged sword when you see, you know, guns being confiscated, go up. It's is it that there's more guns are that we getting better at it either were getting guns off the street. Homicides are going down total Shuey shootings are going down. I

think that is what we're all striving for, which is more a safer community which we touched on earlier. So with that, I want to thank you so much. Any final comments? Again, such common >> Fire chief police chief do to doing I mean. The appreciative for everything from from sideshows 2 to a safer community. It's being noticed. I haven't. >> We appreciate your support or officer see that. And and they're responding out in streets. Thank you. Yeah, thank you very much. I all of this. And with will move on to a German and we will. >> Adjourn at it 11. 21, thank you very much.