HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 2017-11-28 - Special Meeting 310
Redding City Council, Special Meeting
Civic Center Council Chambers
777 Cypress Avenue
Redding, CA 96001
November 29, 2017, 5:00 PM
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brent Weaver with the following Council Members
present: Adam McElvain, Kristen Schreder, Francie Sullivan, and Julie Winter.
Also present were: City Manager Barry Tippin, City Attorney Barry DeWalt, Police Chief
Roger Moore, Deputy City Manager Greg Clark, City Clerk Pamela Mize, and Executive
Assistant Sharlene Tipton.
PUBLIC SAFETY WORKSHOP - Receive Public Input Regarding Questions and Solutions
Pertaining to Public Safety Within the Jurisdictional Limits of the City of Redding.
[P-150-150/A-050-060]
Mayor Weaver and each Council Member provided brief opening remarks. The Mayor
explained that for the Public Safety Workshop, citizens wishing to speak should complete a
Blue Speaker Request Form, and encouraged comments and suggestions from the public.
Council Member Winter relayed that the Public Safety Campaign,a community effort initiated
by Bethel/Advance Redding to help fund the Redding Police Department's Neighborhood
Police Unit (NPU) for two years began June 2017 and to-date has raised $766,206 of the
necessary $1.24 million. She further noted that the 707 Alliance was launched a few months
ago seeking 707 community members or businesses willing to donate $1000 each to complete
the necessary funding. Since then, 26 businesses and 187 individuals have donated $1,000.
There have been pledges made in the amount of$15,720.00, leaving the remaining balance of
$473,794.00 to fully fund the NPU for the next two years.
Police Chief Moore thanked the community for their support, and introduced the
Neighborhood Police Unit Officers: Sergeant Chris Smyrnos, Investigator Jonathan Sheldon,
Officer Garett Maxwell, Officer Nicholas Day, and Officer Ryan O'Hern. Chief Moore
explained that this unit is given the time to pursue the most difficult cases. He noted that from
January 2016 through November 2017 the NPU has made 1,229 arrests; contacted 961
probationers, 161 parolees, and 165 AB109 post-release probationers; and arrested 29 gang
members. Chief Moore further noted that the NPU has seized 5.86 pounds of
methamphetamines, 10.41 pounds of heroin, and 55 firearms.
Chief Moore relayed that in the last four months the Police Department has made a positive
shift designed to focus on quality of life issues such as drug use, illegal encampments, and
vandalism. He stated that the Police Department's four main areas of focus are Parks,
Sacramento River Trails,Downtown,and the Hilltop Business District.He noted that the entire
Police force is participating by utilizing foot patrols, bicycle patrols, all-terrain motorcycle
patrols, and daily area patrols in addition to large-scale criminal sweeps aided by allied
agencies.
A discussion amongst the Council ensued.
City Manager Tippin acknowledged that although the focus of public safety discussion is
primarily on law enforcement, it is important to recognize the Redding Fire Department(RFD)
and the part they play in public safety. Mr. Tippin noted that in the month of October 2017,
the RFD responded to 1,211 total incidents.
City Manager Tippin, Police Chief Moore, and City Attorney DeWalt all spoke relative to
bullet point items contained within the document entitled"Public Safety Forum Questions and
Comments", incorporated herein by reference.
Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko provided information regarding County jail capacity
limitations and noted that potential solutions are being researched.
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Mayor Weaver invited public comment regarding questions and solutions pertaining to public
safety within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Redding.
The following requested to speak: Tracee Mann with daughter Siera, Terri Moravec,
Rob McDonald, Nick Gardner, Susan Weiss, Peter Rogers, Bert Meyer, Steve, Dale, and
Jeanette.
The City Council and City Manager thanked the community for their attendance, productive
suggestions, and ideas for solutions.
Mayor Weaver ended the meeting by encouraging the Council, staff, and citizens to consider
the following thoughts: (1) Optimism - he senses a new optimism in the community and is
excited to see the City Manager and Police Chief shaking things up. He encouraged them to
continue exploring new solutions; (2) Perspective — he opined that as deficiencies within the
community are scrutinized, citizens should not lose sight of the quality of life positives within
the City such as the City's parks and trails system; (3)Temperament—he encouraged everyone
not to be too quick to blame others, to avoid apathy, and not be afraid to respectfully challenge
each other when change is needed; and(4)Toleration- he opined that communities are similar
to families,what you expect is what you receive.
The City Council took no formal action on this informational item.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Weaver declared the meeting adjourned at the hour of
6:38 p.m.
APPROVED:
1rent Weaver, Mayor
ATTEST:
Pamela Mize, City Cle )C'
11/29/2017