HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-2017 Minutes - Public Safety Task ForceMINUTES
APRIL 27, 2017
PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
REGULAR MEETING
Chair John Hirokawa called the regular meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. in the City Hall
Administrative Conference Room at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Members Ray Cosyn, Sudip Ghosal, John Hirokawa, Rebecca
Jepsen, Chuck Page
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Captain Rich Urena, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to City Manager
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to the City Manager, the agenda for this meeting was properly
posted on April 20, 2017.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
None
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. Public Safety Task Force Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and approve draft minutes from the March 27, 2017 meeting.
PAGE/HIROKAWA MOVED TO APPROVE DRAFT MINUTES FROM THE MARCH
27, 2017 MEETING WITH A CORRECTION TO A TYPO IN THE SECOND
MOTION OF ITEM NUMBER 1. MOTION PASSED. AYES: COSYN, GHOSAL,
HIROKAWA, JEPSEN, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. Public Safety Statistics
Recommended Action:
Receive and review public safety information.
Captain Rich Urena shared information about crime trends.
Task Force Member Cosyn provided an overview of the Traffic Safety Commission’s
recommendation to the City Council regarding crime prevention.
Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 1 of 3
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Assistant to the City Manager provided information about Santa
Clara County Fire Department calls in Saratoga and Saratoga Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT).
Task Force Member Ghosal data on arrests or solve rates for 2014, 2015, and 2016, to assess
effectiveness of enforcement and prevention measures.
Captain Urena noted that there may be significant delays between when a crime is committed
and when arrests are made or a case is solved. As a result, arrests or solved cases in 2015
may not reflect efforts made that year to address or prevent crime.
Chair Hirokawa recommended that the data distinguish between violent and non-violent
crimes.
Task Force Member Cosyn noted that when the Traffic Safety Commission considered
metrics to measure success one data point the Commission thought would be useful is call
volume.
Task Force Member Jepsen suggested that the Task Force center its work plan on the goal of
making Saratoga the safest city in California.
Task Force Member Cosyn shared that one of the focal points of the Traffic Safety
Commission’s recommendations was to create an effective website for crime prevention and
the Neighborhood Watch Program.
Task Force Member Ghosal suggested development of a mobile app, where residents can
access safety information as well as other information.
3. Public Safety Task Force Work Plan
Recommended Action:
Consider development of a proposed work plan for the Public Safety Task Force based on
Council priorities and timeline of the Public Safety Task Force.
Chair Hirokawa restated two possible work plan items that developed out of the discussion
on public safety statistics, including improved website, mobile app, and metric to measure
success, such as arrest or solve rates.
The Task Force discussed the challenges of communicating with the public, noting that
communications need to be brief, multiple formats are required, and not all residents have
access to email or computers.
Vice Chair Page proposed that the Task Force speak with residents at the Neighborhoods
Joint Meeting on June 7 to see how they like to receive information.
Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 2 of 3
Task Force Member Cosyn noted a few communication channels in Saratoga, including
Saratoga News, Council Meetings, and KSAR.
Chair Hirokawa considered the possibility of translating materials into other languages and
suggested a quarterly or monthly publication on what is happening in the community and
what to be aware of.
Task Force Member Jepsen added that a quarterly article in the Saratoga News might also be
an option.
Vice Chair Page suggested that rather than sending communications quarterly, it could be
done as issues or topics arise.
Task Force Member Jepsen recommended that the Task Force bring Neighborhood Watch
leaders together to socialize, get to know each other, and share experiences. She also
suggested that the Task Force increase the number of Neighborhood Watch groups, perhaps
doubling the current number, and work towards establishing one CERT member in every
neighborhood. She also proposed a Saratoga Safety Fair where people can learn about public
safety. It could include vendors and information about various tools that are available.
Task Force Member Ghosal suggested that the Task Force develop ideas or suggestions for
keeping Neighborhood Watch groups active and engaged and tracking engagement levels.
Task Force Member Jepsen added that it would be helpful to provide Neighborhood Watch
groups with guidelines for what they should or could be doing.
4. Future Agenda Items
Recommended Action:
Consider agenda items for upcoming meetings.
The Task Force agreed to review and prioritize work plan ideas at the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Hirokawa adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Crystal Bothelio, City Clerk/Asst. to the City Manager
City of Saratoga
Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 3 of 3