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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 2019-01-31 - Special 9 Redding City Council, Special Meeting Civic Center Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, CA 96001 January 31, 2019, 5:00 p.m. The Special Meeting General Fund Budget Workshop was called to order by Mayor Julie Winter with the following Council Members present: Adam McElvain, Erin Resner, and Kristen Schreder. Council Member Michael Dacquisto joined by teleconference. Also present were: City Manager Barry Tippin, City Attorney Barry E. DeWalt, Assistant City Manager Sheri DeMaagd, City Clerk Pamela Mize, and Executive Assistant Anette Cates. City of Redding General Fund Budget Workshop Meeting One. [B-130-070] City Manager Tippin highlighted the Report to the Redding City Council (staff report) and provided a PowerPoint presentation, both incorporated herein by reference. Mr. Tippin noted that this is the first of a series of four workshops with the final workshop scheduled for a regular Council meeting. He stated the purpose of the workshops is to review the General Fund in detail to determine if there are funds that could be redirected to public safety. Mr. Tippin explained that the workshops are structured to allow the Council to have an open dialog regarding the goals they wish to achieve related to increasing funding for public safety. Mr. Tippin pointed out there are no actionable items for the Council at this workshop as it is intended to be learning session. City Manager Tippin stated that future workshops will provide a deeper look at individual department budgets and staffing levels. If, at the final meeting,the Council decides to redirect resources, the decision should include a discussion regarding the associated impact to the departments whose funding would be reduced and a determination of the acceptability of the impact. Police Chief Moore presented a general overview of the significant issues the Redding Police Department (RPD) has faced over the years and how that has resulted in the current quality of life issues such as illegal camping, disposal of needles, open drug use,drunk in public, etc. He noted efforts by RPD, other City departments, and cooperation with other agencies to counter- act these issues. Mr. Tippin asked the Council Members to discuss their desired outcomes for the General Fund Workshops and related performance objectives for law enforcement in the City. Mayor Winter acknowledged that RPD response times have increased since 2006; she noted however,that in 2006,AB 109, Proposition 47,and Proposition 57 had not been implemented. She remarked that 95 percent of the calls she receives from citizens relate to quality of life issues. Ms. Winter opined that public safety is a complex issue and it is important to address it in a proficient manner including use of current staff and technology. She maintained the focus should be on over-all outcomes, as an example, the response time could be reduced, but if law breakers are not prosecuted they will be right back on the street. She asserted that it is important to determine that any changes made will actually reduce quality of life crimes. Council Member McElvain stated that he would like to see more resources allocated to RPD for personnel to reduced response time, to both critical and cold calls, with an emphasis on cold calls. Council Member Schreder proposed that the Council identify the direction they would like to see for RPD and then ask Chief Moore to provide a cost benefit analysis rather than only focusing on reducing response times. She added that public safety discussions should include Fire Department funding in addition to RPD funding. Council Member Resner suggested that, in addition to increased staffing levels at RPD, staff provide creative solutions for quality of life issues. • 1/31/2019 10 Council Member Dacquisto opined that quality of life and homeless encampments are the most important issues to be addressed and would like Chief Moore to determine the dollar amount needed to achieve the Council and RPD's goals. Mr. Tippin reiterated the importance of the Council identifying specific departments that would have funding reduced and the impact of redirecting those funds to RPD. Former Police Chief Bob Blankenship complimented the Council for opening up the dialogue regarding public safety. The City Council took no reportable action on this item. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Winter declared the meeting adjourned at the hour of 6:27 p.m. APPROVED: ) 4i & Julie inter, Mayor ATTEST: --PCOT*1(4Pamela Mize, Cit lerk 1/13/2019