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PSC - Minutes - 06-26-25MINUTES OF THE ROSEMEAD PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING June 26, 2025 The Regular Meeting of the Rosemead Public Safety Commission was called to order by Chair Wu at 7:00 p.m. in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: was led by Chair Wu INVOCATION: was led by Vice -Chair Garcia PRESENT: Chair Amy Wu, Vice -Chair Stephanie Garcia, Commissioners Liz Fonseca, Jeff Foutz, Jonathan Fung, Sarah Kuang, and Tommy Martinez ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Public Safety Director Tim Murakami, Administrative Services Manager Amanda Moreno, Public Safety Manager Wayne Co, and Public Safety Administrative Assistant Julissa Del Rio 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE Chair Wu opened the Public Comment period. Administrative Services Manager Moreno noted there was a Public Comment from Vanessa Karam, via Zoom. Vanessa Karam, Chief Student Services Officer, from the University of the West, speaking on behalf of the University of the West President, Minh -Hoa Ta, voiced concerns to the Public Safety Commission regarding recent thefts and crimes on campus. She informed the Commissioners that they are working with the Sheriff's Department to improve security but continues to face issues with unhoused individuals on campus and their back entrance on Delta Avenue. She requested assistance from the City of Rosemead to help maintain the safety and security of both students and staff. Chair Wu asked staff to work with the Sheriff's Department to address Ms. Karam's concerns. Chair Wu closed the Public Comment period as there were no further comments. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes of May 22, 2025 ACTION: Vice -Chair Garcia made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2025, Public Safety Commission Meeting, and was seconded by Commissioner Fonseca. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Fonseca, Foutz, Fung, Garcia, Kuang, Martinez, and Wu NOES: None ABSENT: None 3. MATTERS FROM STAFF A. L.A. CADA Service Reports L.A. CADA representatives stated that the weekly stats were included in the packet, and they are available to answer any questions. Chair Wu questioned why there were many encounters in the report for the week of May 27, 2025 at the Friendly Inn Motel. L.A. CADA representative noted the Friendly Inn Motel is currently housing a mother and her three children. The representative further explained that the high number of encounters at the motel is due to daily visits with the mother. L.A. CADA has been assisting the family with transportation to attend Social Security Administration (SSA) appointments, medical appointments, and court appearances. Representatives shared that the mother and children recently acquired permanent housing, effective July 1, 2025. Chair Wu asked how L.A. CADA representatives encountered the mother and her children. L.A. CADA representative explained how they initiated contact with the mother and children as the family was open to receiving adequate resources. L.A. CADA representatives reported that extensive case management was conducted on this particular case. Despite many barriers, they were successful in securing permanent housing for this family. Commissioner Fonseca inquired if the children had received adequate resources through the Department of Mental Health. L.A. CADA representative responded, "Yes they have received the adequate resources." Vice -Chair Garcia asked if the report reflected more first-time encounters due to an increase in the homeless population within the city. L.A. CADA representatives confirmed that there has been an increase and elaborated on how many of the unhoused individuals they encounter are just passing through the City of Rosemead, heading towards a different city and rejecting the resources offered to them. Representatives identified several areas that have been impacted by these unhoused individuals, for instance: an encampment at the corner of Garvey Avenue and Strathmore Avenue, and another by the railroad tracks on Grand Avenue and Ivar Avenue, where they have seen new faces, but individuals are still unwilling to accept resources. L.A. CADA representatives emphasized the importance of building trust to help these individuals become more willing to accept support. Chair Wu addressed the Public Comment from the University of the West representative and asked if L.A. CADA had the authority to access private property in order to provide adequate resources to the unhoused population on that campus. L.A. CADA representative confirmed they do conduct outreach near the University of the West at locations such as Walmart and Kami Buffet; stated that they will now prioritize the campus, as they are aware there is a need for services at that location. Commissioner Fonseca noted that the location mentioned by Vanessa Karam during Public Comment on Delta Avenue falls within the South San Gabriel area, which is under the Los Angeles County's jurisdiction. She explained that this area is known for ongoing issues such as excessive trash and debris and could be considered a concern. Chair Wu raised an issue regarding the south side of Rosemead, near the 60 Freeway. She acknowledged that the area is within the unincorporated area of Rosemead but emphasized the need for resources for individuals in that encampment as these individuals are shopping within the City of Rosemead. Ms. Wu inquired about any existing plans for assistance. L.A. CADA representatives responded that plans are in place but emphasized that success depends on the individuals and their willingness to accept the resources as they are willing to meet with them half -way. Commissioner Fonseca asked if L.A. CADA had participated in the sweep that occurred the prior week at that specific location, as she observed Temple Sheriff's Deputies alongside Montebello Police Department Officers on scene. L.A. CADA representatives responded that they were not invited but would appreciate being included in future sweeps so they may assist in providing necessary resources. Public Safety Director Murakami explained how the City of Rosemead takes a multifaceted approach to addressing unsheltered individuals. L.A. CADA employs a "soft hand" method by offering resources, such as helping individuals obtain their driver's license and transporting them to appointments. The middle ground is Public Safety where officers offer services and, if accepted, refer individuals to L.A. CADA. Enforcement, which falls under the Sheriff's Department, involves officers citing individuals and formally removing them from premises when necessary. Public Safety Director Murakami noted that dealing with unsheltered individuals has evolved over the years and remains a continuous effort, not just to relocate individuals from one city to another, but to reduce the root causes of homelessness. Commissioner Kuang inquired about what the "1" and "3" noted in the monthly report from May Is'- May 3111 under the permanent housing placement represented. L.A. CADA explained that the "1" referred to one individual housed in one location, and the "3" referred to three individuals housed in a different location. Commissioner Kuang sought to confirm that this meant a total of four individuals were placed in permanent housing. L.A. CADA representatives further confirmed that was correct. The "I" and "3" together represented a total of four individuals who had secured permanent housing. Commissioner Kuang then asked whether the total six individuals placed into interim housing included the four individuals placed in permanent housing. L.A. CADA clarified interim housing is different, as it refers to temporary housing. They identified the six interim placements as follows: (2) placed with Soul Housing, (1) with Victory Outreach Group Home, (1) with Emmaus, and (2) with Pacific Clinical Motel vouchers. They further explained that the report refers to two separate groups of individuals. Commissioner Kuang asked if that meant ten unhoused individuals were successfully moved off the streets. L.A. CADA confirmed that is correct. This report was received and filed by the Commission. B. Public Safety Community Service Officer Program Statistics Public Safety Administrative Assistant Del Rio informed the Commission there was a typo on the agenda which incorrectly stated there was no monthly report, when in fact the June report had been shared by Public Safety Manager Co. Public Safety Manager Co provided a summary of the June stats and informed the Commissioners that he would be adding the University of the West to the Direct to Patrol program. He will have officers patrol the south side of Delta Avenue, as this area has been affecting the City of Rosemead. Commissioner Fonesca disclosed she has observed abandoned shopping carts and debris on Delta Avenue. She also recommended Vanessa Karam from the University of the West to contact the Board of Supervisors' Office to propose a solution for this specific unincorporated area of Rosemead. Public Safety Manager Co mentioned that he can also provide Ms. Karam with contact information for the First District and offered to email them on her behalf. Commissioner Fonesca also informed the Commissioners of an incident that occurred in that area to help them better understand the lack of security around the University of the West. The incident involved a series of burglaries on the 1800 block of Delta Avenue. This report was received and filed by the Commission. C. Crime Prevention & Emergency Preparedness Activities Public Safety Director Murakami stated that Public Safety Supervisor Wong was not present as she was on vacation, but he was available to answer questions to the best of his knowledge. This report was received and filed by the Commission. D. LASD Crime Statistics Lieutenant Tiwari provided a summary of the monthly statistics, stating there continues to be an increase in thefts and robberies. Commissioner Fonseca inquired about the Fourth of July parade, particularly regarding the safety protocol and plans that the City and Temple Sheriffs have in place to ensure community safety and security. Lieutenant Tiwari stated that the Fourth of July parade is organized by the City of Rosemead and reassured the Commission that he has already met with Director of Parks and Recreation Boecking to coordinate a confirmed plan for road closures. Additionally, 20 deputies were hired to secure the parade in anticipation of potential protestors. As for the carnival, he stated the SAO Team and Park Rangers will provide additional patrol due to the current circumstances. Lieutenant Tiwari also stated that bomb dogs will be sweeping the area, as their top priority is to maintain the safety and security of the participants and attendees. Commissioner Fonseca acknowledged the hard work put in by the Lieutenant and his team in preparing for all the potential issues, noting it is better to be proactive rather than reactive. This report was received and filed by the Commission. E. Rosemead SAO Team Weekly Report Lieutenant Tiwari informed the Commissioners that this month has been especially challenging for his team, as they began working 12 -hour shifts with no days off to assist with patrol and any civil unrest. Commissioner Foutz noted from the report that an illegal gambling house was dismantled in the City of Rosemead and asked which neighborhood it occurred in and how it was discovered. Lieutenant Tiwari responded that gambling houses have been discovered through various tips, including Crime Stoppers, Code Enforcement, or neighbors noticing an influx of cars on their block. He explained that this is a complex operation requiring collaboration with the Major Crime Bureau, which sends undercover detectives or agents. Due to ongoing investigations, Lieutenant Tiwari informed he was unable to elaborate or disclose specific location of the gambling house. He thanked Public Safety Supervisor Wong for her leadership in the Neighborhood Watch Meetings, noting neighbors are more willing to report suspicious activity. Lieutenant Tiwari informed the Commissioners that response times and photographs have now been added to the weekly reports. Chair Wu appreciated the new format with response times, which allowed Commissioners to view the types of calls received throughout the month while noting a decrease in the actual response times. Chair Wu inquired if there were any routine calls. Lieutenant Tiwari informed the Commissioners that the Transport Deputy Program, which was discussed at the last meeting, has been placed on hold pending further approval from the Sheriff's Union. Nonetheless, he is looking forward to implementing the program by July 1, 2025. This report was received and filed by the Commission. 4. MATTERS FROM COMMISSION A. Commissioner Comments There were no comments from the Commission. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m. The next Public Safety Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. APin, VED: Chair Timothy Murakami, Public Safety Director