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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/2008 PSAC Reports efTYQP'l.AKEEL'S;INORE ~ ,D:b~I;'U'.;^'R' ;M' 'E';E';'T"I:k'l~ ~~~',~I\,~,,,,'---'''-'',, :"",,,-~,-,, -} ,:I,'NkU AG'ENDA MIKE NORK AIRMAN DR. SHAWN: HU:rTA,HVfCE-CFlAlRIIiIAN NICQtE'DAIl:: Vi,:eOMJvflS'SIONER AL L YON$.;C ' MMISSIONER DENNIS"JA~'STEWART. COMMISSIONER ROBERTB~b:Y, CITY MANAGER " ", '. +;."> -~--":'<:;-'--~"';..--" ,.. . i WVVW,LAKE.ELSINGRE;ORG (951)674"3124 PHONE (95H674.~392 FAX LAKEELSINORECULTtJRAL.CENTER 183 NORTFlMAIN STREET LAKE ElSINORE,GA 92530 " . :_' ,:;;. _':, _ _',' _ ,'," ."_'_~~_" _,_, .," _ , :u_ _ ,._.,..,'. '_? :.. \' APRIL 9, 2008 (),:OOPM your ~ttend~nce.6itizens' interest provides tf:le :tting:i~s:V,~s;,(,~ttQf3commu nity. In compl'i nee witlitheAmericansWithQisabi/ities Act, any person with a di~bil.ity wh.o requires ionoraeco ion in order to participate inartiae 'sAould contacttt:l' ,Qitlerk'S Qffice 8674..3124, ext. 261 at least 48 hours before the meeting! "make.reasonable:arl"atig,emeAts toensuJie accessibility. I I 'Safety .Advisory Commission' on any matter . encement.ofthe meeting. Commentsl.imited CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS (All matters on the Consent Calendar are approved in one motion, unless a Commissioner or any member of the public requests separate action on a specific action.) 1. Minutes Minutes of regular PSAC meeting on March 12, 2008. Recommendation: Approve the minutes of the regular PSAC meeting dated March 12,2008. BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Citizen COrPs Draft Framework Review (Citizen Corps Subcommittee Report) Recommendation: Discussion and direction to staff for preparation of final Citizen Corp~ framework recommendations. 3. Co!nsiderations for a New Public Safety Staff Position (Citizen Corps Subcommittee Discussion Item) Recommendation: Discuss the establishment of a new administrative staff position. Direct staff to prepare a memo from PSAC on this topic to introduce into the record at the April 1 ih FY 08-09 City Council budget study session. PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS CITY STAFF COMMENTS PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS PUBLIC .COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT The Lake'Elsinore Public Safety Advisory Commission will adjourn to a regular meeting to be held dn Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. to beheld in the Cultural Center located at 183 N. Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA, 92530. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING " VIVIAN M. MUNSON, City Clerk ofthe City of Lake Elsinore, do hereby affirm that a copy of t regoing agenda was posted at City Hall, 72 hours in advance of this meeting. t.;/lf/O r DATE . · VI IAN M. MUNSON CITY CLERK ~ MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, MARCH 12,2008 ............................................................................... CALL TO ORDER - 6:00 P.M. Chairman Norkin called the Public Safety Advisory Commission meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Lyons. ROLL CALL PRESENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN VICE-CHAIR 8HUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART ~ ABSENT: NONE Also present were: Information/Communications Manager Dennis, Assistant City Attorney Mann, Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy, Sergeant Yates, Traffic Engineer 8asubas and Clerk of the Board Munson. PUBLIC COMMENTS Kristen Hertz, President of the Lake Elsinore Downtown Merchants Association, expressed concerns with the homeless people congregating at the City Park, the selling of drugs, drug use, alcohol abuse, prostitution, and fighting at City Park; the lack of presence of Police; problems at the public parking lot off Peck Street such as harassment of downtown merchants, customers and employees by intoxicated people leaving the Wreck and prostitution deals being made. She stated the Downtown Merchants Association is asking more of a police presence on Main Street and the clean-up of the local park so it can be enjoyed by families as the City intended it to be. ,,-... 1 COMMISSION APPROVES CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) 1. Minutes a) Minutes of regular PSAC meeting on February 13, 2008. b) Minutes of Study Session on February 21,2008. ......, Recommendation: Approve. It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey, and seconded by Commissioner Vice- Chair Bhutta to approve the Consent Calendar. The following vote resulted: AYES: CHAIRMAN NORKIN VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: NONE "'" BUSINESS ITEMS 2. COMMISSION RECEIVES AND FILES AN UPDATE ON WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE DEFENSIBLE SPACE Chief Jerry Hendershot made a PowerPoint presentation to staff. He provided an update of new laws affecting fire protection and defensible space for urban residents. He indicated homeowners who reside in wildland/urban interface zones should know how to make their property fire safe by creating "defensible space." He noted this means removing all flammable vegetation within a prescribed distance from all structures. He stated the "defensible space" is a law on State and Federal responsibility land and not a law in the City, only a recommendation. After July 1S\ new development will have to comply with the law. He noted the County has adopted State law. Chairman Norkin suggested the City adopt an ordinance uniform through the entire City to make anyone living in fire prone areas to have 100 ft. of defensible space. It was motioned by Commissioner Lyons, and seconded by Commissioner Dailey to receive and file report. ......, 2 ~ ,--. ~ The following vote resulted: AYES: CHAIRMAN NORKIN VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: NONE 3. COMMISSION APPROVES RECOMMENDATIONS TO AN ORDINANCE REGULATING HIGH SPEED ZONE Assistant City Attorney Mann reviewed five new items included in the ordinance. They were as follows: 1) Subsection "C" - No speed limit for the first two hours in the morning, beginning at sunrise, thereafter; 2) Subsection "0", from two hours after sunrise until sunset, the maximum allowable boat speed limit within the high speed zone is 150 miles per hour, except as provided in Subsection "E"; 3) Subsection "E", the speed limit is 35 miles per hour within the high speed zone every Saturday and Sunday beginning with the first Saturday in May and ending on the last Sunday in September, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day; and 4) Subsection "F" which allows a person to operate a boat within the high speed zone at a speed in excess of 150 miles per hour when authorized with a special event permit. He also noted a provision for Commission's consideration in Subsection "G", stating any person operating a boat travelling in excess of 35 miles per hour within the high speed zone shall be not less than 16 or 18 years old. Chairman Norkin suggested eliminating Subsection "C" and noted the remaining ordinance is fine. Commissioner Stewart indicated he agreed with Chairman Norkin. Commissioner Lyons indicated he agreed with Chairman Norkin. He noted he was not in agreement with the no speed limit from sunrise and for two hours thereafter. He also expressed his concerns with Subsection "0". He inquired why Subsection "E" starts in May and not in April when the lake opens. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy responded that a few changes need to be made and discussion on the costs related to these changes. He noted the different signs that need to be changed along with the current 2008 lake use passes that need to be replaced. He noted the timeline for this had not been determined and indicated the costs would be around $13,100. He suggested the Commission to simplify the wording on the signage. There was further discussion 3 on the wording on the signage, simplification and the costs related to the changes. " Commission Dailey agreed with removing Subsection "C" and recommended changing lake buoy signage seasonally to improve comprehension about the new rules. Commissioner Bhutta stated PSAC should leave the high speed zone as it is, but agreed to make the signs simple to understand. Chairman Norkin and Commissioner Daily agreed to set the age limit at 18 to operate a boat in the high speed zone in excess of 35 miles per hour. Assistant City Attorney Mann indicated state law requires any person operating a boat at any speed between the ages of 12 and 15 must have a person of 18 years or older on board. He noted with boats of 15 horsepower or sail boats exceeding 15 feet, the operator must be at least 16 years old. Commissioner Lyons would like to set the age at 16. Commissioner Stewart would like to set the age at 18. Vice-Chairman Bhutta would like to set the age at 16. It was motioned by Commissioner Lyons, and seconded by Commissioner Dailey """., to approve the ordinance to include the changes discussed. The following vote resulted: AYES: CHAIRMAN NORKIN VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: NONE Information/Communications Manager Dennis suggested the Commission, as part of their motion, place a term for the effective date of the ordinance. Assistant City Attorney Mann indicated that Council can elect a longer period to establish an effective date for the ordinance or can elect to be effective pursuant to State law. " 4 ",-... ~ ~ Information/Communications Manager Dennis inquired if the motion included a recommendation to spend and authorize up to $17,000 to implement these changes. Chairman Norkin stated it was the Commissions' job to develop an ordinance and staffs job to include in the staff report the required budget adjustments to implement it. Commissioner Daily indicated she would like to see the ordinance move forward and just to do the two signs. She also indicated to wait until October, if necessary, and would be fine because it does take time to implement programs. It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey, and seconded by Vice-Chair Bhutta to clarify the original motion. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE-CHAIR BHUTT A COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART NOES: CHAIRMAN NORKIN ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: NONE It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey, and seconded by Vice-Chair Bhutta to clarify the start date of the ordinance be in October. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY NOES: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART ABSTAIN: NONE 4. ABSENT: NONE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS ALTERNATIVE NO. 1 - TO DEVELOP A CHECK-IN PROCEDURE SCRIPT, WITHOUT A SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT, IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE NO.1, WHICH Will AllOW FOR THE lAKE'S 5 MANAGEMENT TO HAVE A RAMP COORDINATOR AND A SAFETY INSPECTOR AND NOT TO RAISE FEES ....., Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy presented the staff report. He noted the first objective is to increase the boater's knowledge of boating regulations and public safety. He reviewed some of the ways to increase boater's knowledge such as asking boaters some basic questions, handing them a brochure on lake regulations, information on the day use pass and developing a boater orientation and safety check-in script. Commissioner Lyons recommended omitting the driver's license information from the Seaport Facility sign-in form. Commissioner Dailey agreed with Chairman Norkin to forego the signature requirement. She stated she agreed with Alternative #1. Commissioner Dailey expressed her concerns with the amount of money being proposed to pay the Community Service Officers (CSO's). Vice-Chairman Bhutta indicated he would have a hard time paying $13 instead of $10. He indicated he was opposed to raising the fees. Commissioner Lyons indicated he was also opposed to raising the fees. He expressed his concerns with the responsibilities of the CSO's. ......, Sergeant Yates indicated during the summer there are four boat operators, two on each boat. Most of the citations given are on the lake. He did confirm there are, at times, altercations. He indicated when the beaches get really busy, he will authorize more personnel on quads to patrol the beaches, however, it is not every weekend. A CSO will have the authority to intercede in altercations and have direct contact through radios should situations get out of hand. Commissioner Dailey indicated she was opposed to raising the fee and thought it was a lot of money to pay a CSO. Vice-Chairman Bhutta stated he did not understand why the City needs to hire CSO's when the Sheriff's Dept. has been doing a great job. Sergeant Yates responded the boat launch area does get extremely backed up. Chairman Norkin reminded the Commission of the statistics the Coast Guard Auxiliary provided at the study session that 70% of all boats inspected were in total non-compliance of safety equipment, which he felt is an alarming number. Commissioner Lyons asked a member in the audience, Judy Jones, how she felt about the increase in fees. ......, 6 ~ Judy Jones, Manager of Crane Lakeside Park & Resort, indicated she thought raising the fees, along with gas prices and other items they have to pay for, would turn people away. She stated their business was down 4,000 passes from last year. Commissioner Stewart inquired if Mr. Kilroy had confirmed anything with Mr. Roberts on his implementation on the extra staff members. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy responded if the Commission's primary concern was to more efficiently launch boats, then you have to ask yourself, what is the public safety concern - was it an operational issue or a public safety concern. He noted there have been problems with launching boats at the facility, it is a supply and demand issue and it is too small of a facility. He stated the concessionaire will do a better job. ~ Mike Jones, Manager of the Lake Elsinore City Campground and Seaport, stated he has implemented a complete training program as well as in the process of developing a training video for the employees. He stated there will be six employees at the boat launch strickly for traffic control and noted this will not totally alleviate the problem. He noted staff will be assisting from 250 to 350 boats to launch in a six-hour period which is the peak on four launch ramps. He stated they will be able to ask people about their safety equipment. He indicated the Sheriff's Dept. stated staff cannot demand to see their safety equipment until they are out in the water. He stated they will have a man on the line, before they get to the gate, and will be asking about their safety equipment, if their plug is in and their cover is off. He noted traffic jams will occur regardless of what you do. He indicated that raising the lake pass will do a lot of harm to the businesses. Chairman Norkin asked what assurances does the City have, since this is not stipulated in a contract, that Mr. Jones will follow through on what he is saying. He stated he launched boats three times in August of last year and noted he was not happy with the attention he received from the one and only person he came in contact with. Mike Jones responded he has already hired his staff for the Seaport, with Officer Doyle's assistance with training. He stated Officer Doyle indicated to him that he did a phenomenal job last year. Chairman Norkin noted he got a totally different impression from Officer Doyle when he spoke to him. ~ Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy indicated the City has a very liberal termination clause in the agreement, 30 days, which is very short and provides the ability to correct things in short order if there is something wrong. He noted Pyramid Enterprises contract will expire in 2010 on the campground facility. He noted they are moving forward on a big rehabilitation project and have a lot to lose if they cannot live up to the City's expectations this year. 7 Commissioner Dailey stated there should be someone walking up to everyone's windows, provide them with the necessary information and inquire about their safety equipment. She stated spot checks are necessary and more of them should be done. She stated Mr. Jones should be given an opportunity to come through on his promises. ,...." Commissioner Lyons reminded the Commission the Coast Guard Auxiliary goes by Federal guidelines when doing safety inspections and are very nit picky. It was motioned by Commissioner Dailey, and seconded by Vice-Chair Bhutta to move the City's recommendation which is to develop a check-in procedure script, without a signature requirement, and implementing Alternative No.1, which will allow for the lake's management to have a ramp coordinator and a safety inspector and not to raise fees. The following vote resulted: AYES: VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER STEWART ABSTAIN: NONE NOES: ,...." ABSENT: NONE PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Commissioner Dailey stated CERT is moving quickly, have completed a framework outline and will be meeting on March 17th for a half day study session. Information/Communications Manager Dennis indicated the Lakeshore Overlay Committee will be meeting on March 20th at 4:00 p.m. to address the public survey and the public frequently asked questions materials. CITY STAFF COMMENTS Information/Communications Manager Dennis noted the EDC Luncheon will be held March 20th and if anyone was interested in attending, to contact Susan Reid in the City Manager's Office. PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS Commissioner Lyons thanked the public for attending the meeting. ,...." 8 ~ Commissioner Stewart thanked Mr. Kilroy, Mr. Dennis, Mr. Mann and staff for all of their hard work related to the lake issues. Commissioner Dailey also thanked staff and the public for attending their meetings. Vice-Chair Bhutta stated tax payers should not have to pay higher lake fees for their safety. He stated PSAC is spending too much time on lake safety issues and needs to move to other issues. ADJOURNMENT It was the consensus of the Commission to adjourn to a regular meeting on April 9, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cultural Center located at 183 North Main Street, Lake Elsinore, California, CA, 92530. Chairman Norkin adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. MIKE NORKIN, CHAIRMAN PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION ~ ATTEST: VIVIAN M. MUNSON CLERK OF THE BOARD ~ 9 ~ CITY OF .~ LAIZE 6LSiNORJ: \ , ~ DREAM EXTREME", TO: REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION MARK DENNIS INFORMATION/COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER APRIL 9, 2008 FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: CITIZEN CORPS DRAFT FRAMEWORK REVIEW (CITIZEN CORPS SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT) BackQround The Citizen Corps Subcommittee was created in May of 2007 to develop a framework for organizing and coordinating community volunteers to assist first responders before and after disaster strikes. This endeavor is based on a national model known as the Citizen Corps. ,........ The City Council has made public safety its number one priority. One of PSAC's goals is to enable the City to organize and mobilize disaster response volunteers, an essential part of the City's emergency preparedness plan. Discussion Attached is the first draft of the Citizen Corps Framework. In addition, a presentation outlining the goals, tasks and costs of the proposed Citizen Corps program will be made during the PSAC meeting. The vision of the subcommittee is for the City of Lake Elsinore to prepare its citizenry for disasters of all kinds through public safety outreach, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and volunteer opportunities via the Citizen Corps. The Framework is the first step in identifying how to create a local Citizen Corps, determining who should participate, assessing staffing needs, estimating program costs and establishing a Citizen Corps Council to oversee the Citizen Corps program. The subcommittee wishes to publically acknowledge the assistance of Cynthia Quigley, Riverside County Emergency Operations Coordinator, who has attended several subcommittee meetings to help guide this effort. ~ Citizen Corps Draft Framework April 9, 2008 Page 2 """'" Fiscal Impact An initial request of $10,000 for the FY 008-09 General Fund budget is recommended. This seed money will be used to establish the Citizen Corps Council, which oversees the Lake Elsinore Citizen Corps program. First year program expenditures would be for communications equipment, CERT training, supplies, emergency and safety equipment and incidentals. Grants have been received to partially offset the City's EOC and CERT emergency equipment purchases. Cost recovery through grantsmanship would be a significant function of the Citizen Corps Council, once established. Staff costs to administer the Citizen Corps and other public safety programs, along with coordinating the City's emergency preparedness efforts, will be discussed separately. Recommendation Discussion and direction to staff for preparation of final Citizen Corps framework recommendations. """'" """'" /'"' /'""'" /'"' ~ - Draft Citizen Corps Framework Organizing citizen volunteers to meet hazards of all kinds before disaster strikes ,R' II I Citizen Corps Subcommittee April 9, 2008 m~''lW!l!!" MU -B Public Safety Advisory Commission Draft Citizen Corps Framework 1. Introduction to the Framework A. Citizen Corps mission 1. The Mission of a volunteer-based Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared for terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds. B. Statement of purpose 1. The City Council has entrusted the Public Safety Advisory Commission with the role of assisting staff in furthering emergency preparedness Citywide. 2. Establishing a volunteer Citizen Corps to organize, train, equip and activate citizens during an emergency is a desirable element of the City's emergency operations plan. 3. To this end, a Citizen Corps Subcommittee was tasked with developing a written framework for creating a local Citizen Corps Council (CCe) and defining what must be done to lead and sustain the Citizen Corps once the CCC has been established. 4. The primary focus is upon establishing a permanent Citizen's Corps Council within six months of the adoption of the Citizen Corps Framework. 5. An equal task is to evaluate staffing to carry out public safety and related emergency preparedness activities, and to make a budget rationale for a new Public Safety position in FY 2008-09. C. A framework approach 1. The Citizen Corps Subcommittee has developed a step by step outline for establishing the Citizen Corps Council. 2. The Citizen Corps Council will use this framework to prepare annual operating goals and objectives, a program budget and an implementation schedule for the new Citizen Corps. 2. Situation Analysis A. Existing conditions and threats 1. The City of lake Elsinore Emergency Operations Plan is the blueprint for responding to extraordinary emergency situations, either natural or man-made. 2. The City's Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies and ranks vulnerability by type, including: a. Natural Hazards i. Wildland fires ii. Earthquake iii. Flooding iv. Extreme weather v. landslides vi. Insect infestation b. Technology Hazards DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx 2 ....., '-"" '-"" Draft Citizen Corps Framework /""'" i. Dam failure ii. Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) incidents iii. Transportation emergencies 1. Highway 2. Airline/airport iv. Pipeline/aqueduct incidents v. Blackout vi. Toxic pollution vii. Nuclear incidents c. Domestic security threats i. Terrorism 1. Chemical 2. Biological 3. Radiological 4. Nuclear 5. Explosive ii. Civil unrest iii. Jails and prisons incidents 3. For most of the scenarios described above, it is likely that emergency responders could be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the incident. r-- B. Updating our risk assessment 1. A ranking of local jurisdiction vulnerability in 2004 depicts a City that is at the greatest risk at any given time in the order shown: a. Flood b. Earthquake c. Wildland fire 2. Today, this rank order is being reexamined, largely in the aftermath of California's devastating 2007 wildfires (see Appendix _) and recent map and computer analysis of fire risk developed by CAl FIRE (see Appendix _). 3. Our conclusion is that the City of lake Elsinore citizenry must be better prepared. 4. A prepared citizenry is the difference between effective self-help and merely waiting for help that may not arrive for days. C. Growth Impacts 1. lake Elsinore has an estimated population of nearly 50,000. In 2007, lake Elsinore was the second fastest growing city in Riverside County and ranked third among California's fastest growing cities. 2. lake Elsinore consists of a 38 square mile area, including a 3000 acre lake, which is Southern California's largest natural lake. 3. According to the City's General Plan Update, lake Elsinore's population is expected to reach by 2010 and by 2020. r-- DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinaL0404rev.docx Ill$( 3 Draft Citizen Corps Framework 4. These statistics underscore the need to proactively increase the City's emergency preparedness through direct citizen outreach and involvement. 4 "wIIf D. Performance gaps 1. The City Council has made public safety its number one priority. Currently, the City spends 38%, or about $11 million of its $32 million operating budget on public safety; namely, police and fire services. 2. Despite this commitment to public safety, first responders would be terribly spread thin in the first hours or days of a catastrophic event such as an earthquake. 3. Even if spending on police and fire services were dramatically increased each year, the City's vulnerability would far exceed our Public Safety resources, because the City currently lacks a unified volunteer organization to assist in the event of a major disaster. E. Preliminary steps taken in the right direction 1. The City has taken positive steps to address the gap above; namely, increasing operational readiness and emphasis on Emergency Preparedness Planning. 2. The City has obtained grant funding to equip the City Yard with portable emergency trailers that contain emergency supplies and equipment to be deployed and used by trained CERT volunteers. 3. The City has also increased its commitment to training its employees and has send a growing number of its workforce to CERT classes. 4. In addition, the City has regularly attended disaster planning meetings of the Southwest Com group and participated in regional Emergency Operations Center training exercises. ......., 5. The next step is to establish a permanent program for training and equipping citizen volunteers using the national model for Citizen Corps. 3. Background of Citizen Corps 1. Citizen Corps is a comparatively new management and coordinating program created by the federal government in response to the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. 2. Many government and volunteer groups have expressed the value of having a recognized organizational structure to gather volunteers and groups together to augment local emergency planning efforts. 3. A general model exists for local Citizen Corps Councils, the basic structure of the Citizen Corps, though the federal founding documents ultimately leave each locality to develop a suitable structure using available resources. 4. The four charter federal programs of the Citizen Corps as defined by the Department of Homeland Security are: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP), Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) and the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). 5. Membership in the CCC is not limited to its core components. Other organizations that might appropriately be members of a CCC include: American Red Cross, Business associations, "wIIf DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework ~ Community Based Organizations, other agencies, non-profit groups (Le., churches), clubs and individuals. 6. A CCC is essentially a management and coordinating body, not an operational unit, though it is closely linked to operational entities and first responders. J:.J ill 5 4. Rationale for a Lake Elsinore Citizen Corps A. Constant state of readiness 1. A Citizen Corps exists primarily to increase community awareness and readiness for a variety of disaster scenarios through training volunteers and staff; through gathering resources and equipping volunteers; through drills and emergency exercises; and through cooperation with first responders in planning and mitigation assistance. 2. The Citizen Corps volunteers are not intended to replace a community's response capability, but rather, to serve as an important supplement to it. The Citizen Corps is a volunteer resource that is a part ofthe community's operational capability before, during and following a disaster. 3. Citizen Corps provides continuing opportunities for voluntary involvement and participation in a range of activities to make families, households, and communities safer from threats and disasters of all kinds. ,-. B. Self-reliance 1. Following a disaster, elements of a Citizen Corps, such as Neighborhood Watch and CERT, can activate immediately to perform a vital role in disaster mitigation. 2. Most notably, Citizen Corp participants are trained to be better prepared and better protected themselves, in order to effectively help their communities do the same. 3. The City currently has many volunteer organizations and resources from which to develop an active Citizen Corps, as shown in Appendix_. C. Maintain order 1. The City's Emergency Operations Plan is intended primarily to enable emergency service coordination through preparation, training and mobilization in the event of a disaster. Maintaining order is paramount to an effective emergency response and recovery. 2. By empowering citizens to prepare and protect their households and neighborhoods, first responders can more effectively deploy to areas of highest need following a disaster. 3. Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina include educating the public to be prepared to be self sufficient longer than previously taught; that is, from 3 days to between 5-7, or more. 4. As witnessed during the Katrina incident, in the absence of first responders and trained volunteers to fill this gap, order simply cannot be maintained. ,-. D. Continuity of services 1. The main task of local government and first responders following an emergency is to preserve or build-up the level of services needed to cope with disaster impacts. 08_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx '- Draft Citizen Corps Framework 2. A Citizen Corps can help narrow the gap between community expectations and community assistance, so first responders can concentrate on their primary duties under the Incident 6 ~ Command System. 3. A disaster response in many of the vulnerability scenarios that affect Lake Elsinore is the shelter in place order. This would increase the City's reliance on trained volunteers to provide assistance immediately following a disaster and up to several days or weeks afterwards. E. Recovery 1. The principle philosophy of a Citizen Corps is getting the community back to normal following extraordinary events or catastrophic loss. 2. Strengthening a community by educating and training citizens to be prepared before disaster strikes, and self-reliance in times of a disaster are the primary benefit of a Citizens Corps. 5. The Role of CERT Volunteers in Emergency Preparedness or During a Disaster A. Overview 1. The goal of using volunteers as helping hands to prepare and respond to a disaster is to save lives and protect property. 2. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed in response to the view that citizens most likely will be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. ~ 3. CERT was implemented in 1985 by the LAFD, which concluded that basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills could improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance is available. 4. CERT was selected as one of the primary programs offered to the American public in response to President Bush's 2003 call to action for citizens to be prepared to threat of disaster of all kinds. 5. In 1994, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the auspices of the Emergency Management Institute (EM I), expanded CERT training to prepare individuals to help themselves, their families and their neighbors in the event of catastrophic disaster. B. Family and household preparedness 1. The CERT program can provide an effective first-response capability. Acting as individuals first, CERT volunteers are trained to prepare in advance of a disaster event. 2. Depending on the severity and type of disaster, it may take from several hours to several days for emergency responders to arrive. Therefore, immediately following a disaster- often up to 5-7 days or longer-individuals, households and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources for food, water first aid and shelter. 3. Preparedness, planning, survival skills and mutual aid will make the difference coping with the aftermath of disaster within the first hours and days. ~ OS_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework ,,-..... C. A Supporting role before first responders arrive 1. CERT volunteers are trained to respond in their neighborhoods and communities to address immediate needs brought about by the disaster. 2. The Key CERT training functions include: a. Fire Safety b. Medical Operations c. Light search and rescue d. Disaster psychology 3. Acting as teams, trained CERT volunteers can fan out within their assigned areas performing the following: a. Extinguishing small fires b. Turning off natural gas inlets to damaged homes c. Performing light search and rescue d. Rendering basic medical treatment e. Helping disaster survivors cope with emotional stressors ,~ 7 /'"" D. Specialized roles for advanced CERT members: 1. After completing initial CERT training, many seek to expand and improve their skills through specialized training in the following areas; a. Shelter management b. Community relations c. Donations management d. Special needs concerns e. Debris removal f. Utilities control g. Advanced first aid h. Automated External Defibrillator use i. CPR skills 2. Lake Elsinore is fortunate to have a diverse community and a broad pool of skills from which to draw upon following a disaster. 3. The advantage of having a Citizen Corps program is the ability to increase public awareness and attract skilled volunteers in advance disaster needs. 6. Establishing the Lake Elsinore Citizen Corps and Citizen Corps Council A. Overview 1. A sustainable Citizen Corps depends on an effective Citizen Corps Council, which would be established to oversee public education on disaster mitigation and preparedness, citizen training and volunteer programs to give people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to support their community's emergency service. "",- DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework 2. Once established, the Citizen Corps Council will be responsible for developing goals and implementing the program objectives, budget and timetable. 1:1- 8 ....." B. Action Steps 1. The action steps below and tentative schedule are proposed: 1) Review draft framework (April 9) 2) Adopt final framework (May 14) 3) Budget & Staffing recommendation at FY 08-09 study session (April 17) 4) Council consideration (second May meeting) 5) Public Safety staff recruitment and hiring (after July 1) 6) Establish the Citizen Corps Council (January 2009) 7) Amend the Municipal Code (if Legal Counsel deems necessary) and adopt administrative procedures for the Citizen Corps Council (e.g., governance, rules and authorities) 8) Register a local chapter with Dept. of Homeland Security (January 2009) 9) Revise action plan, implementation schedule and budget (April 2009) 10) Implement the plan following FY 2009-2010 budget approval (July 1, 2009) C. Citizen Corps Council Composition 1. Citizen Corps is managed at the local level by the Citizen Corps Council. 2. Members would be appointed by the City Manager or designee, in consultation with the City's public safety service representatives (police, fire). 3. The voting members shown below are denoted by an asterisk(*). 4. Members are generally City residents or own or operate businesses within the City limits. S. The Citizen Corps Council for Lake Elsinore would be comprised of the following agency representatives and members: 1) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR: non-voting member (preferably a citizen volunteer) 2) CITY: Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (or alternate)* 3) LEPD: Neighborhood Watch/CSO liaison* 4) FIRE: Fire Chief or designee* 5) LEUSD: Safety Officer/EOC Coordinator* 6) BUSINESSES:* i. LEVCC ii. Local (e.g., Near Cal, Castle & Cooke, or other) iii. Corporate (e.g., COSTCO, TARGET, LOWES" etc.) 7) CIVILIAN AT LARGE: (e.g., an HOA representative)* 8) COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS: (e.g., Rotary, HOPE, Cops 4 Kids, or other)* 9) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS (non-voting): i. Assemblyman Jeffries, or designee ii. American Red Cross iii. Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) iv. Riverside County Office of Emergency Services (OES) '-"" ""'" DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework ,.,-... D. Authority of the Citizen Corps Council 1. Administrative and operating procedures will be set or subject to the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, City Council, City Council Policy Manual, The Ralph M. Brown Act and other rules or bylaws. 2. The Lake Elsinore Citizen Corps is sponsored by the City of Lake Elsinore and members operate within the City limits, though mutual aid may be requested or offered. 3. (Add City Attorney's recommendation regarding lEMC amendment to include Citizen Corps Council) - 9 7. Duties of the Citizen Corps Council ,,-.. A. General Responsibilities 1. A partial listing of the duties of the Lake Elsinore Citizen Council is given below (not all inclusive ): a. Create long and short term operating or action plans b. Identify existing volunteer groups, organizations for partnering c. Involve all City neighborhoods and business districts d. Actively recruit volunteers e. Create effective communication programs f. Provide training g. Provide interaction between citizens, businesses and public safety agencies h. Create a database of qualified volunteers i. Provide accountability to the PSAC and City Council j. Provide community outreach and public information k. Provide opportunities for interagency cooperation and exercises I. Develop annual budget recommendations m. Procurement 2. (note:see T4 FEMA EMI training course for duties of Citizen Corps...) B. Volunteer Management 1. Identifying volunteer opportunities, providing training, and sustaining volunteers is the mainstay of the Citizen Corps. 2. The Citizen Corps Council is responsible for establishing systems and procedures for tracking volunteer qualifications, identifying training needs and opportunities, establishing procedures and protocol regarding the incident command structure, operating procedures for activation, etc. 3. The City does not have to reinvent the wheel; many excellent volunteer models are available to the City, including the Temecula Citizen Corps (T.eC). ,,-.. DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework C. Training 1. Volunteers in Citizen Corps have vast opportunities to increase personal emergency preparedness and to develop specialized skills. Basic training courses are identified below: a. Incident Command Concepts and Protocol b. Basic Search & Rescue c. First Aid d. CERT e. Radio Communications f. Neighborhood Watch g. Other 2. Training Resources available to the Citizen Corps Council and Citizen Corps volunteers include: a. Homeland Security b. OES c. Red Cross d. CSTI e. Neighborhood Watch f. And many more D. Communication 1. The Citizen Corps Council will periodically report its activities to the PSAC and City Council no less than quarterly, including an annual report submittal. 2. The Citizen Corps will provide Community and Public Information in conjunction with Information/Communications Manager. 3. Collateral materials include: a. Annual Public Information Plan b. Web site page c. Volunteer newsletter or e-mail blasts d. Annual Reports e. Agendas f. Minutes g. Publications such as recruitment brochures, safety tip sheets, etc. h. The City's quarterly direct mailer (formerly OUTLOOK newsletter) i. News releases E. Program Evaluation 1. The Citizen Corps Council will develop an evaluation plan to regularly assess program effectiveness. Evaluation results will be included in the Annual CC Council Report. 2. Evaluation strategies should include: a. Web surveys b. Direct mail survey c. Onsite training and event evaluation forms DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx 10 '-..f/I '-..f/I ...., Draft Citizen Corps Framework '" 8. Staffing Needs Assessment ,,--~ 11 A. Existing staff support 1. The City's staff support for PSAC and public safety is provided by multiple departments, at work levels ranging from clerical assistance to administrative coordination and legal consultation. 2. The PSAC has previously recognized the need for additional PSAC administrative support. Emergency services planning and Citizen Corps program oversight could justifiably be combined into a new central administrative position. /"" B. Citizen Corps staff needs by function 1. The Subcommittee has expressed its view that existing staff would not be able to implement a new ongoing program such as the Citizen Corps without affecting ongoing work priorities. 2. The list below characterizes the type of tasks to be performed in support of the Citizen Corps Council by multiple individuals in multiple departments: a. Clerical tasks (record keeping, filing, word processing, etc.) b. Public Records/City Clerk (official minutes, agenda postings, filings, Council reports, etc.) c. Procurement (purchasing, purchase orders) d. Warehousing (equipment and supplies inventory, storage system) e. Training & In-services (Red Cross, OES, CERT, First Aid, other) f. Administration (meeting scheduling, liaison to Citizen Corps Council, volunteer recruitment & tracking, reports to Council, recognitions & ceremonials) g. Communications (recruitment, e-newsletter, press releases, town hall meetings, Web site maintenance, Community partnerships, etc.) h. Finance (Budget preparation, Grant monitoring &writing, auditing, etc.) i. Neighborhood Watch liaison (meetings, outreach) j. Legal services (as needed) /"" C. Staffing recommendations 1. The Citizen Corps subcommittee believes additional staffing will be needed to effectively carry out the Citizen Corps program and ongoing emergency preparedness tasks. 2. The primary need is for a central administrative staff position to oversee public safety programs and emergency preparedness planning. 3. The duties of a new public safety position would include: a. Emergency Preparedness planning b. Emergency Operations coordination c. PSAC administration d. Safety training e. Citizen Corps Council administration 4. Public Staffing considerations should be a part of the FY 2008-09 budget consultation process. DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework 5. The PSAC should immediately begin working with staff to develop the rationale for a new public safety position, appropriate job description, salary range and budget request. 12 """ 6. The PSAC should inform the City Council of any staff recommendations prior to the FY 2008- 09 budget. 9. Budget Requirements A. Program Cost considerations 1. The subcommittee recommends a $10,000 budget request in FY 2008-09 to seed the start- up costs of a Citizen Corps Council. 2. Expenditures would be for safety equipment, communications equipment, emergency supplies, administrative and training costs. This funding would be used at the discretion of the Citizen Corps Council. 3. Grant funds have successfully been used for EOC and CERT equipment and supplies; the Citizen Corps Council should be successful in applying for additional grants to defray first year and ongoing operating expenses. B. Staffing Costs 1. A separate discussion is needed to define an appropriate administrative position and related salary to take the City's Emergency Preparedness efforts, Citizen Corps and Public Safety programs to the next level. 2. The subcommittee consensus is that now is the right time for the City to consider an administrative Public Safety position. """ 10. Sample Citizen Council Action Schedule A. First six months 1. Present to City Council for consideration 2. Direct legal counsel to amend LEMC/prepare ordinance 3. Designate staff support/new hiring 4. Recruit program administrator 5. Set Council composition/membership 6. Kickoff meeting 7. Public Information Outreach Planning 8. Web page complete 9. Press release 10. Mid-year budget request B. First year 1. Needs assessment 2. Operations study ......, OS_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx Draft Citizen Corps Framework /"""'. 3. Goals & objectives 4. Communications/Public Outreach 5. Web 6. Mailers 7. Community meetings/open houses/fairs 8. Media releases 9. Grant funding applications 10. CERT training 11. employees (continue) 12. Annual evaluation 13. Annual report 14. Budget requests 15. Second year 16. Program implementation 17. Volunteer recruitment 18. Grants (continued) 19. Annual evaluation 20. Annual report 21. Budget requests 13 ~ Appendices (Note: these will be provided at the PSAC meeting) A. Glossary of Terms B. Hazard Maps: Fire C. Hazard Maps: Earthquake fault D. Hazard Maps: Inundation E. Citizen Corp Guide F. City of Lake Elsinore Volunteer Resource List G. For More Information ",-., DB_Citizen Corps Framework prefinal_0404rev.docx ;--- CITY OF .~ LAI(f: ,&LsiNORf: ~ DREAM EX'rREME... REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: MARK DENNIS INFORMATION/COMMUNICA TIONS MANAGER DATE: APRIL 9,2008 SUBJECT: CONSIDERATIONS FOR A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF POSITION (CITIZEN CORPS SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSION ITEM) Backaround As part of its charge, the Citizen Corps subcommittee has discussed Public Safety needs and relative impacts upon current staff levels. The subcommittee believes that a new administrative staff position should be considered during the current FY 08-09 budget process. ".-.. The goals are threefold: 1. Centralized responsibility and oversight of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness planning; 2. Effective implementation and coordination of existing, proposed and future Public Safety and emergency preparedness activities; 3. Proactive grantsmanship to fund Public Safety equipment, training and administration. Discussion Based on past requests by PSAC for Public Safety staff support, and comments from PSAC members, Public Safety demand currently exceeds available staff time and resources. In the view of the Citizen Corps subcommittee, additional staffing will be needed to oversee the implementation of the proposed Citizen Corps and evolving Public Safety programs. /"""" Considerations for a New Public Safety Position April 9, 2008 Page 2 ~ The responsibility for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness programs is presently distributed among existing management, HR, clerical and field staff across multiple departments. If these labors were coordinated under one full-time administrative level position, duties would include: 1. Emergency Preparedness planning and coordination 2. Emergency operations coordination 3. PSAC administration 4. Safety training coordination 5. Citizen Corps/Citizen Corps Council administration 6. Grant writing At present, existing City positions are defined in the authorized position listing and City Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Any new positions must be approved by the City Council. Requests for new positions are typically presented to the City Council during the formation of the annual budget. This year, the first general fund budget study session will be held on April 17th at 5:00 p.m. in the Cultural Center. ~ The Citizen Corps subcommittee believes now is the right time for PSAC to develop a Public Safety staffing recommendation, in conjunction with the proposed Citizen Corps recommendation. With the consent of the PSAC, and because the FY 2008-09 budget process commences this month, the Citizen Corps subcommittee recommends two action steps: 1. Immediately notify the City Manager and City Council in writing that this item is being considered as a potential FY 08-09 General Fund budget request; 2. Bring this item forward on the May PSAC agenda with the intent to approve a final PSAC recommendation for consideration by the City Council; and a. For this meeting, HR staff will develop a complete job description; b. Finance will analyze and recommend an appropriate salary range based on comps from other cities and jurisdictions; c. Staff will present a draft budget request on behalf of the PSAC. ~ /""" ,........ ,........ Considerations for a New Public Safety Position April 9, 2008 Page 3 Fiscal Impact None at this time. The Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget process is underway; therefore, a new staffing request and supporting budget detail must be introduced as soon as possible. In June, the City Council traditionally sets the annual budget. The Fiscal Year begins July 1. Recommendation Discuss the establishment of a new administrative staff position. Direct staff to prepare a memo from PSAC on this topic to introduce into the record at the April 17th FY 08-09 City Council budget study session.