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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - June 5, 2019 C-13AGENDA ITEM c-13 Crrv or Lou COUNCTT COVTMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE MEETING DATE: PREPARED BY Adopt Resolution Supporting the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020 June 5, 2019 City Clerk RECOMMENDED AGTION:Adopt resolution supporting the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020. BACKGROUND INFORMATION :On May 2,2019, the City received correspondence from Bill Romanelli, on behalf of Keep California Safe Coalition, requesting the City Council adopt a resolution supporting the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020. This initiative, which is already supported by dozens of cities, counties, law enforcement agencies, and victims' rights groups, would help improve public safety in California by: . Reclassifying crimes that are currently listed as "non-violent" - including rape of an unconscious person, sex trafficking of a child, and 14 other serious crimes - as "violent" to help prevent the early release of inmates convicted of these crimes; . Reforming the parole system to stop the early release of violent felons, expanding parolee oversight, and strengthening penalties for parole violations; . Reforming theft laws to restore accountability for serial thieves and organized theft gangs; and r Expanding DNA collection to include those convicted of drug, theft, domestic violence and other serious crimes to help solve rape, murder, and other violent crimes - and to exonerate those wrongly accused. A copy of the request, the text of the bill, and proposed resolution of support is attached for Council's review and consideration. FISCAL IMPACT:Not applicable FUNDING AVAILABLE:Not applicable. J rM. F Clerk APPROVED Step n bauer, City Manager \\cvcfilv0l \administration$\Administration\CLERK\Council\COUNCOM\Reducing Crime Act_LegislationSupport.doc 1 Jennifer Ferraiolo From:Bill Romanelli <bromanelli@fsbcorestrategies.com> Sent:Thursday, May 2, 2019 3:26 PM To:Jennifer Ferraiolo Subject:Request for City Council Resolution Attachments:public-safety-initiative-sample-city-resolution.docx Dear Ms. Ferraiolo: Thanks again for your help on the phone just now ‐ my name is Bill Romanelli – on behalf of the Keep California Safe Coalition, I am writing to ask your assistance in presenting a resolution to the City Council in support of the “Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020.” This initiative, which is already supported by dozens of cities, counties, law enforcement agencies and victims’ rights groups, would help improve public safety in California by:  Reclassifying crimes that are currently listed as “non‐violent”—including rape of an unconscious person, sex trafficking of a child, and 14 other serious crimes—as “violent” to help prevent the early release of inmates convicted of these crimes,  Reforming the parole system to stop the early release of violent felons, expand parolee oversight, and strengthen penalties for parole violations,  Reforming theft laws to restore accountability for serial thieves and organized theft gangs, and  Expanding DNA collection to include those convicted of drug, theft, domestic violence and other serious crimes to help solve rape, murder and other violent crimes — and to exonerate those wrongly accused. Sample resolution text is attached for convenience. You can also find a list of current coalition supporters here and you can find much more information, fact sheets and other resources on the Keep California Safe website if you need them. Of course I would also be happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Best – Bill Bill Romanelli | Sr. Vice President – Public Affairs 1800 J Street | Sacramento, CA 95811 P: 916‐448‐4234 | f: 916‐448‐5933 bill@fsbcorestrategies.com www.fsbcorestrategies.com RESOLUTION NO. 2019-93 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING THE REDUCING CRIME AND KEEPING CALIFORNIA SAFE ACT OF 2O2O WHEREAS, protecting every person in our State, including our most vulnerable children, from violent crime is of the utmost importance. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals should not be released early from prison; and WHEREAS, since 2014, California has had a larger increase in violent crime than the rest of the United States. Since 2013, violent crime in Los Angeles has increased 69.5%. Violent crime in Sacramento rose faster during the first six months of 2015 than in any of the 25 largest U.S. cities tracked by the FBI; and WHEREAS, the FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report for 2017, which tracks crimes committed during the first six months of the past year in U. S. cities with populations over 100,000, indicates that last year violent crime increased again in most of California's largest cities; and WHEREAS, recent changes to parole laws allowed the early release of dangerous criminals by the law's failure to define certain crimes as "violent." These changes allowed individuals convicted of sex trafficking of children, rape of an unconscious person, felony assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a police officer or firefighter, and felony domestic violence to be considered "nonviolent offenders"; and WHEREAS, as a result, these so-called "non-violent" offenders are eligible for early release from prison after serving only a fraction of the sentence ordered by a judge; and WHEREAS, violent offenders are also being allowed to remain free in our communities even when they commit new crimes and violate the terms of their post release community supervision, like the gang member charged with the murder of Whittier Police Officer, Keith Boyer; and WHEREAS, this measure reforms the law so felons who violate the terms of their release can be brought back to court and held accountable for such violations; and WHEREAS, nothing in this act is intended to create additional "strike" offenses which would increase the State prison population, nor is it intended to affect the ability of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award educational and merit credits; and WHEREAS, recent changes to California law allow individuals who steal repeatedly to face few consequences, regardless of their criminal record or how many times they steal; and WHEREAS, as a result, between 2014 and 2016, California had the second-highest increase in theft and property crimes in the United States, while most states have seen a steady decline. According to the California Department of Justice, the value of property stolen in 2015 was $2,5 billion with an increase of 13 percent since 2014, the largest single-year increase in at least 10 years; and WHEREAS, grocery store operators around the State have seen unprecedented increases in the amount of losses associated with shoplifting in their stores, with some reporting up to 150% increases in these losses from 2012 to present, with the fargest jumps occurring since 2014; and WHEREAS, shoplifting incidents have started to escalate in such a manner that have endangered innocent customers and employees; and WHEREAS, individuals who repeatedly steal often do so to support their drug habit. Recent changes to California law have reduced judges' ability to order individuals convicted of repeated theft crimes into effective drug treatment programs; and WHEREAS, California needs stronger laws for those who are repeatedly convicted of theft-related crimes, which will encourage those who repeatedly steal to support their drug problem to enter into existing drug treatment programs. This measure enacts such reforms; and WHEREAS, collecting DNA from criminals is essential to solving violent crimes. Over 450 violent crimes including murder, rape, and robbery have gone unsolved because DNA is being collected from fewer criminals; and WHEREAS, DNA collected in 2015 from a convicted child molester solved the rape- murders of two six-year-old boys that occurred three decades ago in Los Angeles County. DNA collected in2016 from an individual caught driving a stolen car solved the 2012 San Francisco Bay Area rape/murder of an 83-year-old woman; and WHEREAS, recent changes to California law unintentionally eliminated DNA collection for theft and drug crimes. This measure restores DNA collection from persons convicted for such offenses; and WHEREAS, permitting collection of more DNA samples will help identify suspects, clear the innocent, and free the wrongly convicted; and WHEREAS, this measure does not affect existing legal safeguards that protect the privacy of individuals by allowing for the removal of their DNA profile if they are not charged with a crime, are acquitted, or are found innocent. NOW, THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby support the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2Q2Q. Date: June 5, 2019 I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2019-93 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held June 5,2019, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Johnson, Kuehne, Mounce, and Mayor Chandler NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Nakanishi ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None NIFER Clerk F 2019-93 oLo Jennifer Ferraiolo From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Jennifer Ferraiolo Thursday, June 6, 2019 3:56 PM 'Bill Romanelli' RE: Request for City Council Resolution 2019-93.pdf Gr:r:d afternor:n Bill I wanted to let you know that Council approved the requested resolution at its Council meeting last night. Attached is the signed resolution. lf you have questions or need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Jennifer M. Ferraiolo, MMC City Clerk P.O. Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241-1910 (20e) 333-6702 | QAe) 333-6807 rAX We bsite : WIggJ-q"di,ßgy From: Bil I Roma nel li Ima ilto: broma nel li@fsbcorestrategies.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 2L,201911:48 AM To: Je n n ifer Ferra io lo <jfe rra io lo @ lod i.gov> Subject: RE: Request for City Council Resolution That's great news Jen nifer - tha nk you I l'm sorry I can't be there in person, but if you or the city council members need any information, please let me know, ldo have a 9-slide PowerPoint, complete with talking points, if that'd be helpful. F ro m : J e n n if e r Fe rra io I o <if_e:fgjo þ.@l-qdlggy> Sentr Tuesday, May 2L,2019 9:00 AM To: BiII Roma ne|Ii <þ"f_pmg"nel:l:ß-fffi> Subject: RE: Request for City Council Resolution 6ood morning Bill l've heard back from three Council Members that they'd líke to see thís on the agenda. I will prepare the item for Council action for its June 5 agenda, We post agendas on the Thursday/Friday of the week prior to the meeting: hltp,1-l*W*VyW"lpdtg-qyl{gg¡dq-Çeüe_(. ln the meantime, let me know if you have any questions. jennifer M. ferraiolo, MMC City Clerk P.O. Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241-1910 {20e) 333-6702 | {20e]l 333-6807 FAX Website: www.lodi.gov From : Bi I I Ro m a ne I I i [,m¿Ita., btqman e I I i @fsbco rest rategies. co m j Sent: Thursday, May 2,2019 3:26 PM 1 r- r .lN r I i¡ir:'r'lr(:ciii I r..,rntrø To: Jen n ifer Ferraiolo <ife rr?iolo@ lodi.gov> Subject: Request for City Council ResolutíonFS a (:}rc fltr{rl,oíãi€}s Dear Ms. Ferraiolo Thanks again for your help on the phone just now - my name is Bill Romanelli- on behalf of the Keep California Safe Coalition, I am writing to ask your assistance in presenting a resolution to the City Council in support of the "Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020." This initiative, which is already supported by dozens of cities, counties, law enforcement agencies and victims' rights groups, would help improve public safety in California by: a Reclassifying crimes that are currently listed as "non-violent"-including rape of an unconscious person, sex trafficking of a child, and 14 other serious crimes-as "violent" to help prevent the early release of inmates convicted of these crimes, Reforming the parole system to stop the early release of violent felons, expand parolee oversight, and strengthen penalties for parole violations, a a Reforming theft laws to restore accountabílity for serial thieves and organized theft gangs, and Expanding DNA collection to include those convicted of drug, theft, domestic violence and other serious crimes to help solve rape, murder and other violent crimes - and to exonerate those wrongly accused. Sample resolution text is attached for convenience. You can also find a list of current coalitiql suppofters here and you can find much more information, fact sheets and other resources on the Keep California Safe website if you need them. Of course I would also be happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you. Best - Bill Bill Romanelli I Sr. Vice President - Public Affairs 1800 J Street I Sacramento, CA 9581L P: 916-448-4234 | f: 916-448-5933 b rll¡i? lsbr"o restrategies"com www. fsbco restraTegies.com 0, $$@ 2