Special Guest Community Service dog Cooper visiting City Council Chambers

 

 

 

#Item 15: Police Dept Accomplishments, Organizational Growth & Opportunities: (no vote needed)

Chief Calvert and Captains David Dereszynski and Dave Nichols gave a presentation on the above. For details see this URL for more information: https://lagunabeachcity.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1926&meta_id=153727
 

GW: Policing is the most challenging and dangerous work of any performed by our City employees, which includes working nights, weekends and holidays. My hat is off to those who chose this vocation to keep us safe and for their service to our community.

The Good News: I commend the Chief and his Command Staff for their dedication to Community Policing, enabling the Park Ranger Program, adding Cooper, a Support Service dog, and working with Newport Beach to create a joint SWAT team. I would urge more collaborations with agencies and even with academic institutions. UCI has a highly regarded multidisciplinary “Criminology, Law and Society” Department which bestows undergraduate, Masters and PhD degrees. Could we not recruit from this pool and collaborate with this Department?

The Bad News: LBPD has a critical staff shortage with nine experienced officers having left for other agencies since May 2021. These seasoned officers will be hard to replace and new recruits costly to train. While there is a nationwide shortage of police officers, shouldn’t wonderful Laguna Beach be a place that draws recruits and experienced police officers to work here? A disappointing statistic is that LBPD has NOT recruited any police officers from another Orange County city in 7, going on 8, years. Our recruits come from County Sheriff agencies and other sources, and while that is OK, we need to recruit from other cities as well. Other OC cities recruit from us. The City of Irvine hired 5 of the 8 officers who left and one civilian employee.

It’s not just about the pay and benefits: City Council has taken recent action so that LBPD is now second only to Irvine for pay and benefits. The Chief’s and Command Staffs’ presentation stated that we have 42 mission-ready officers ---less six command staff---so the number of officers available for patrol is 36, which leaves us short. This shortage has caused three detectives to be moved to patrol duties and forced a lot of overtime and stressing of the existing short-handed workforce.

I have interviewed 18 current and former LBPD officers and 2 civilian staff members and unfortunately those who left did not do so for more pay. Instead, they indicated that issues in the workplace shaped their decision to leave. They cited reasons such as:

 

• “Moral is very low, and a lack of transparency and honesty is endemic”

• “Chief is not running department.”

• “If you leave LBPD, you can’t come back”

• “100% is about turning the department into a toxic work environment.”

GW: There were 86 additional comments I collected about problematic issues, including about leadership and the workplace environment. This must change so we have a better chance of retaining experienced police officers and recruiting the best from other agencies. I hope that subsequent collaborative and transparent practices are implemented so that all officers and civilian staff feel valued and treated equally and fairly.


#Item 17 Restriction of the Sale, Distribution and Use of Certain Balloons: Passed 5-0

Background: Ann Marie Girtz, a member of the Environmental and Sustainability Committee (ESC), initiated this measure and the Emergency Disaster Preparedness Committee endorsed it, bringing it to Council. Mayor Bob Whalen and I worked to develop the agenda item and Jeremy Frimond wrote the Ordinance with the help of City Staff. Good job all around!

Why do this: “Lighter than Air” mylar balloons when released have been known to cause damage to electric utility equipment which pose the risk of fire. Mylar and latex balloons whether “lighter than air” or not are also an environmental hazard to ocean creatures, birds, and open space.

Good News: To address this problem the Council unanimously decided to ban the sale and distribution within city limits of lighter than air balloons, and prohibit the use of all types of balloons on public property. “Lighter than air” balloons of all types can still be purchased and brought into private homes and hotels, with the exception of The Ranch which has not allowed balloons for over four years. (Bravo to The Ranch!)

What is Next: The City will work on an education and exit plan so businesses who sell balloons have a chance to shift to these new rules and sell out (or return) existing inventory. The ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2024.

Thanks to all the local organizations and businesses like Surfrider, Coast Keepers, Laguna Beach Bluebelt, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Project O, Sierra Club, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Hobie Surf Shop, Tuvalu, and Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching for their letters of support and public comments.


#Item 18: Interim Use Plan for St. Cathrine’s School Property Passed 4-1

Background: The Staff’s proposed use presentation included the immediate occupancy of two offices for recreation staffing and programming; the first-floor offices for city operations, fire administration, and an emergency operations center. In addition, some monthly licensing agreements would be explored for drop-in basketball, indoor pickle ball, and perhaps portable skate ramps by the summer. Staff also suggested converting the grass field into 70 parking spaces. Council did not agree. 

Open house events for residents and key organizations to tour the facility are planned in February or March depending on when the property is cleaned and ready. (The facilities haven’t been used for 3 or more years).

GW: I opposed this action because residents and local organizations have not had an opportunity to see the site and provide their input on how the site can be best utilized to serve residents and the community. While I was not opposed to the suggested uses, I felt it was premature to act without residents’ and organizations’ input.

 

It seemed disrespectful to the community to move City staff and fire operations onto the property since residents’ and community organizations’ use of this property was touted as the reason for buying the site.