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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/08/2008 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes City Council Study Session April 8, 2008 — 4:00 p.m. I. ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Henn, Mayor Pro Tem Daigle, Mayor Selich, Council Member Curry, Council Member Gardner Absent: Council Member Rosansky, Council Member Webb II. CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. Council Member Gardner clarified that Item 9 (City Gateway Signage) is for the Newport Coast Community Center. Council Member Henn asked if Item 7 (Walker Parking Consultants) includes a mandate to analyze automated parking solutions. He stated that he will ask for it to be added, if needed. Regarding Item S14 (City Hall Design Competition), Mayor Selich reported that the City Hall Design Committee concurred with the $50,000 stipend. 2. CITY COUNCIL SECURITY PRESENTATION. Police Chief Klein reported that the Police Department prepared Pre-plans ten years ago, which consisted of floor plans, blueprints, and duplicating keys to certain buildings in the City. He offered to meet with Council Members to go over the security plan and suggested that the process be repeated after each election to educate new Council Members. Council Member Webb joined the meeting at 4:05 p.m. Police Lieutenant Fox provided a brief overview of the City's Pre -plans and noted that a copy is located in each supervisor's vehicle and in the SWAT van in the event of an emergency. He believed that the current security measures, such as secured public access, testing of emergency panic buttons, .and having a uniformed officer at Council meetings, are good and recommended continuing them. He reported that police officers receive annual training to handle assaults and are equipped with ballistic shields, helmets, and high powered rifles. He encouraged all forms of notification during an emergency and offered to meet with Council Members to do a walk through of the security measures. Council Member Gardner agreed that all incoming Council Members be trained and briefed on security measures. Volume 58 — Page 438 City of Newport Beach Study Session April 8, 2008 3. PROPOSITION 83 ("JESSICA'S LAW "). Police Sergeant Hamilton reported that he maintains a database of all sex registrants in the City. He indicated that there are six full address /zip code sex offender registrants residing in Newport Beach. He reported that the neighboring cities have more and all high -risk registrants and their photos are accessible on the California Megan's Law website. He indicated that there are 14 no -post registrants in the City that are not on the public website. He noted that there is only one other City in Orange County that has less full address /zip code sex registrants and there are currently no paroled sex offenders in Newport Beach. Constant contact is kept with the parole officers to discuss registrants and high -risk sex offenders. He discussed the process for registering in the City and that periodic patrol officer and detective visits are conducted. He stated that there has only been 16 arrests since 2004 for registration violations in the City, but noted that all of them were not registrants of the City. Police Lieutenant Morton discussed the legal issues involving Jessica's Law. He expressed concern that some offenders are allowed by law to register as transients, which makes it hard to track them. Council Member Curry stated that he asked that issue be discussed due to the concern for future overconcentration of sex offenders. He asked that staff draft an ordinance to address the issue and prevent the overconcentration of sex offenders in particular units and neighborhoods. In response to Council Member Gardner's questions, Lieutenant Hamilton explained how an offender that moves from out -of -state is handled in California. He reported that registrants are not allowed to go onto the Megan's Law website and view other registrants. Council Member Rosansky joined the meeting at 4:33 p.m. Council Member Henn expressed support for Council Member Curry's recommendation and encouraged a careful review by law enforcement as to whether an ordinance is enforceable and could be acted upon in a reasonable manner. In response to City Manager Bludau's question, Lieutenant Morton stated that, if a new park is developed close to where a sex offender already resides, the registrant is exempt from the ordinance. In response to Council questions, Police Chief Klein stated that "Keep Your Teen Safe" is a program that highlights issues that parents need to discuss with their teen, such as driving, drug use and internet safety. He stated that they are following up on the previous meetings and the most popular portion of the program was internet safety. He stated that the Police Department tracks sex registrants and can see if too many are moving into the same area. He stated that no action will be taken if two sex registrants reside in the same building, but the Police Department will continue to monitor them. Assistant City Attorney Harp reported that the Supreme Court is currently reviewing Jessica's Law and should make a decision by the end of the year. He asked Council to clarify if their concern is for residency or presence restrictions. Council Member Rosansky suggested that there be a six month follow -up to see if there are changes in the number of sex offenders registered in the City. Council Member Henn indicated that, if there are changes in the law prior to the six month Volume 58 - Page 439 City of Newport Beach Study Session April 8, 2008 follow -up, the item should be brought back sooner. 4. APEX SKYPARK PRESENTATION. Assistant City Manager Wood introduced Bob Bockrath of Apex Skypark, a company that provides automated robotic parking solutions. Mr. Bockrath utilized a PowerPoint presentation that discussed the company, space saving comparisons, standard modules, optional modules, how the system works, past experiences, tests, assembly tooling, current projects, conceptual views, shoring for towers, and examples of uses in the City. In response to Council Member Rosansky's questions, Mr. Bockrath stated that they charge $20,000 to $25,000 per stall; however, the price decreases as the project increases. He stated that the parking structures will only have attendants for the fast months to show people how to work the system. In case of a malfunction in the system, vehicles can be physically moved and a back -up generator is available in case of a power outage. He discussed safety: measures and noted that studies have been conducted on the safety and reliability of the system. Mr. Bockrath reported that the parking structure includes pumps to collect oil and water before it gets into the Bay, solar panels are used to help reduce energy costs, and the retrieval time for the system to deliver a vehicle is approximately two minutes. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None IV. ADJOURNMENT - 5:17 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on April 2, 2008, at 2:80 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. i TOP idi li 1i City Clerk Mayor Volume 58 - Page 440