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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - March 2, 2021 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 A. Roll Call by City Clerk An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, March 2, 2021, commencing at 7:00 a.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20, all Council Members participated in the meeting via teleconference and the meeting was available for viewing by the public via livestream at https://www.facebook.com/CityofLodi/ and https://zoom.us/j/93455719476?pwd=NDdhcl E4OEZyYWV3d2pDY1 U5SjVZZz09; the opportunity for public comment was available through councilcomments@lodi.gov and https://zoom.us/j/93455719476?pwd=NDdhcl E4OEZyYWV3d2pDY1 U5SjVZZz09. Present: Council Member Hothi, Council Member Khan, Council Member Kuehne, Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler, and Mayor Nakanishi Absent: None Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Cusmir B. Topic(s) B-1 Receive Overview Presentations on the Public Information Team, General Investigations. Wellness Committee, and Code Enforcement (PD) Sergeant Garcia provided a PowerPoint presentation on Code Enforcement. Specific topics of discussion included overview, budget, caseload, caseload by beat, citations, 2020 citations by violation type, comparison to 2019, need for additional personnel, and support for mission of Code Enforcement. City Manager Schwabauer stated that the Police Department was planning to add an additional Code Enforcement Office and that the position will be included in next year's budget, in response to a question asked by Council Member Khan. Council Member Khan shared some photographs of areas of concern in District 4. City Manager Schwabauer responded to an inquiry made by Council Member Kuehne regarding the clean up of alleys and Street Teams. Sergeant Garcia stated the current software for tracking does not break down data by district, in response to a question asked by Council Member Khan. Lodi Police Department Sergeant Ricardo Garcia provided a PowerPoint presentation on the General Investigations Unit, Public Information Team, and Wellness Committee. Specific topics of discussion included make up and goals of the General Investigations Unit, Public Information Team, and Wellness Committee; General Investigations Unit - average monthly breakdown of activities, 2020 significant investigations, training, investigative resources, and 2021 training and operation goals; Public Information Team - current social media presence, uses, and benefits; and Wellness Committee - purpose and 2020 activities. Sergeant Garcia stated cyber crimes are investigated by the Lodi Police Department and the department sometimes gets outside help from other agencies depending on the nature of the crime and the findings of the investigation, in response to a question asked by Mayor Nakanishi. Sergeant Garcia, answering a question asked by Mayor Nakanishi, said that there is a team of PIOs that monitor the department's social media accounts, but it is not monitored 24 hours a day. Council Member Kuehne asked about the number of cold cases. Sergeant Garcia reported that there are currently 19 cold cases and the department continues to work on those cases. Sergeant Garcia explained how information and social media is used to work on cold cases. C. Comments bV Public on Non-Agenda Items None. D. Adjournment No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 a.m. ATTEST: Jennifer Cusmir City Clerk 2 AGENDA [ITEM (3401 CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Receive Overview Presentations on the Public Information Team, General Investigations, Wellness Committee, and Code Enforcement MEETING DATE: March 2, 2021 PREPARED BY: Chief of Police RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive overview presentations on the Public Information Team, General Investigations, Wellness Committee, and Code Enforcement. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Lodi Police has numerous teams, collateral duties, and divisions within the department. These teams and duties are assigned to management staff to oversee and/or command. Sergeant Ricardo Garcia is presenting to council an overview presentation focusing on the divisions and teams he oversees including the Public Information Team, General Investigations, Wellness Committee, and Code Enforcement. Sergeant Garcia will be apprising council on the team's statistics, significant accomplishments, and budget. FISCAL IMPACT FUNDING AVAILABLE Not applicable. Not applicable. Sierra Brucia Chief of Police -. . LONCisiR 1 Lodi Police Department: General Investigations, Cold Cases, Public Information Team, and Wellnes s Committee Ricardo Garcia I Sergeant 03/02/2021 General Investigations Unit Currently 4 Detectives - Detective Austin Blythe, Detective Melita Kautz, Detective Paul Jimenez, and Detective Regan Porteous GIU Detectives investigate homicides, robbery, financial crimes, sexual/child abuse, and general crimes. They are assignedhses for follow up in addition to self initiated investigations as well as on call investigations duties. Detective Activity Average Monthly Breakdown Open Cases 40 Cases closed Search Warrants 24 44 RamefArrest) Warrants Reportswritten 22 45 General Investigations Unit 2020 Significant GIU Investigations MassageParlor Prostitution Investigation #20 -684 - 01/31/2020 Premier Credit Union Bank Robbery #20-1187 - 02/21/2020 Possession of Child Pornography Arrests #20-1121 - 02/26/2020 Homicide #20-3336-100 block of S. Washington St- 06/14/2020 Federal Child Pornography Investigation #20 -4947 - 09/02/2020 Homicide #20 -5751 - Black Bear Diner -10/09/2020 General Investigations Unit This year detectives have attended the following training/schools: • 80 hour - ICI Core Course • 40 hour- ICI Officer Involved Shootings Inv Course • 40 hour- ICI Sexual Assault Investigation Course • 16 hour -Cold Case Homicide Investigation Course Investigative Resources: • Cellebrite UFED Analyzer • Sac Valley HETech Task Force • Warrant Builder • IBIS Testing • DOJ Labs Lodi Police Department Cold Cases 19 Cold Cases Identified by Lodi PD COLD CRS • 18 homicides were identified to be cold cases, with the oldest case dating back to 1967. • One missing persons with suspicious circumstances from 2010 was found to fit the cold case definition. • No sexual assaults were found to fit the cold case definition. Steps Taken to Address Cold Cases • Cold Cases assigned to Detectives • Cold Case Log to keep track of investigative progress • Using advancements in technology, DNA analysis and social media to assist with these investigations • DA Investigator assigned to Lodi PD • Utilizing Crime Stoppers and other non-profit groups ■ Luis G Alvarez Rewards 4 Justice Org $5000 reward for information Public Information Team Currently the Lodi Police Department has Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube accounts • Interact with the community - Department's ACE Philosophy • Provides avenues to quickly release information • Build media relations • Assist with investigations Facebook • 34,543 followers • Our page has been liked in Mexico, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy and Brazil. • Officer Urrea's train rescue post (National and International News) Instagram Youtube • 8,427 followers • Goal is to continue to use this platform for positive community outreach • Released Officer Urrea's train rescue BWC video • Released a Community Briefing on Officer Atwal's OIS Wellness Committee 2 Lieutenants, 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, 4 Officers, 2 Dispatchers With the physical and mental stressors our officers/employees encounter on a daily basis it is important we have a program available to them for their overall well -being. In 2019 we formed the wellness committee. First Annual Health and Wellness Day Expanded the Committee During 2020 we have continued the wellness outreach. • Due to COVID the Health and Wellness Day was canceled • Found other ways to ensure the information on wellness was distributed • Cordico Application was approved for the department • Starting to plan 2021 Health and Wellness Day Code Enforcement City Council Presentation 03/02/21 Code Enforcement --Overview • Currently Two Full -Time Employees • Nancy Baker and Garth Hohn • Cases include general code violations, abatement cleanups, weed abatement, referrals from community development, permitting & more. • The amount of time it takes to close a case can vary greatly depending on several factors: willingness of involved parties to comply, severity of violations, number of parties involved, amount of work needing to be completed, etc. • Generally speaking 15°0-25°0 of all cases will close in less than 30 Days 30°0-40°0 of all cases will close in 60 Days or less 50°0-60°0 of all cases will close in 6 Months or less 70°0-80°0 of all cases will close in 1 Year or less 10°0-20°0 of all cases will take longer than 1 Year to close Code Enforcement --Budget • Two full-time Employees • At times assisted by the CLO, and Patrol • Partners—no assistance from Partners in most of 2020 due to Covid 19 Protocols • 2020 Budgeted Costs • Personnel Costs including Salary and Benefits • Property Abatement Contract • Tow Abatement Contracts (with CLO) • Recording—Title and Services • TRAKiT Software Cost • CA Assoc. of Code Enforcement Memberships (2) • Training and Education (lower for 2020 due to Covid) TOTAL Al $258,224.99 $ 40,000.00 $ 66,300.00 $ 7,500.00 $ 4,819.57 $ 200.00 $ 263.00 $378,440.95 Code Enforcement --Caseload • In 2020, 490 new code enforcement cases were opened; 380 of those were closed during the 2020 calendar year. • At any given time, each member of the Code Enforcement Unit will have between 100 to 150 active and open cases. • Code Enforcement is primarily complaint driven. This is because staffing levels essentially do not allow for "free time" to proactively seek out violations. Most complaints come from: ■ Building Department ■ Planning Department ■ Fire Department ■ City Council ■ Citizens This is also true for most code enforcement departments in most cities; their compliance and enforcement activities are primarily complaint driven. Code Enforcement—Caseload by Beat The current software, TRAMT, used by Code Enforcement does not allow for determining calls for service, or current caseload, based on geographical "beats." This software program has only been in place for about the last 18 months. Code Enforcement --Citations • In 2020, 70 Administrative Citations were issued by Code Enforcement. BEAT 1- 9 Administrative Citations BEAT 2- 9 Administrative Citations BEAT 3- 21 Administrative Citations BEAT 4- 11 Administrative Citations BEAT 5- 20 Administrative Citations Other compliance actions that may be taken include verbal and written warnings, posting non-compliance dwellings, and liens against the property. In most cases, liens are for the purpose of recouping actual costs to the City, not to be punitive. t� 1 F�� Code Enforcement --Citations • Code Enforcement citations are typically for violations of Lodi Municipal Code, Uniform Housing Code, Health and Safety Code and Penal Code. • 2020 Citations by Violation Type: 1. Nuisances 2. Substandard Housing 3. Zoning 4. Building 5. Dangerous Buildings 6. Weed Abatement 7. Fire Code 8. Vehicle Abatement 9. Vendor Permits 10. Marijuana Code Enforcement—Compared to 2019 Code Enforcement closed over 850 cases plus 150 abandoned vehicle abatements in 2019. Most of these cases had multiple violations. These numbers do not include the 100+ complaint calls that did not rise to the level of needing a case number issued. Compared to 2019, 2020 cases were down about 35% to 40%. The main reason for the dramatic drop was due to restrictions placed on Code Enforcement due to Covid 19 protocols. Also, fewer complaints were received from within the City and from citizens; also likel pandemic restrictions. due to Code Enforcement—How Can You Help • How can the City Council help Code Enforcement? 1. The biggest current need for Code Enforcement is additional personnel. Either a third full-time Code Enforcement Officer, or at least apart -time officer, would reduce the amount of time it takes to respond to complaints and would help assure a greater number of cases are closed each year. 2. Support the mission of Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement's mission is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of all residents, business owners, and visitors. This is accomplished through consistent education, assistance with achieving compliance and (as a last resort) enforcement actions. 34 i254 k 1„t 1 I r s °I QUESTIONS?