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PSC - Minutes - 02-23-23MINUTES OF THE ROSEMEAD PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2023 The Regular Meeting of the Rosemead Public Safety Commission was called to order by Chair Michael Cao at 7:01 p. m. in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Commissioners Cao, Fonseca, Foutz, Garcia, and Wu ABSENT: None PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: was led by Vice -Chair Foutz INVOCATION: was led by Chair Cao 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE Chair Cao opened the Public Comment period. No Public Comments were received. Chair Cao closed the Public Comment period. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR: Vice -Chair Foutz made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2023, Public Safety Commission Meeting, and was seconded by Commissioner Garcia. Motion carried by the following vote: YES: 5-0 3. PRESENTATION A. Mental Health Evaluation (MET) Presentation A presentation was given by Annadennise Briz, with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Mental Evaluation Team (MET), which discussed a report provided by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission regarding the Mental Evaluation Team Program. The 2018 report determined that a total of 60 MET teams were needed in order to service Los Angeles County. Although there was growth from 12 to 35 teams in 2018, the number of teams has remained the same five years later in 2023. There are 14 teams which cover the Antelope Valley and 21 teams that cover Los Angeles County. The MET team works with the investigative unit, Risk Assessment and Management Program (RAMP), which handle higher risk or threats of violence. The goal of MET is to provide mental health treatment for those in crisis and offer prevention measures rather than punishment. The RAMP team focuses on intensive crisis stabilization which includes intensive case management and links the individual to much needed mental health services. The team also works with families to get them connected to services. The Board and Oversight Commission has also approved a Veterans Mental Health Evaluation team (VMET). Veterans are diverted from County beds and services and are connected to veteran benefits I as well as care at a VA hospital. Individuals are directed to the correct resources. Every deputy at MET receives over 750 hours of specialized training to respond to individuals with mental health issues. MET is estimated to respond in 23 minutes within Los Angeles County. Each year more teams are recommended; however, mental health partners everywhere are having difficulty finding personnel. Many mental health agencies are privatized and are offering telework, which makes it difficult to recruit and secure qualified personnel. In the last year, there were approximately 9,817 calls for service. The MET team not only responds to Sherriff s jurisdiction, but also other police agencies that do not have their own MET team. There was a total of 2,176 calls for service with outside agencies. MET was unable to respond to 1,250 calls due to lack of personnel. The LA County has avoided many lawsuits because deputies are highly trained. The MET team has offered over 189 training classes with a total of 2,559 Sheriff's personnel trained and 498 from outside agencies. Vice -Chair Foutz referenced the 1,250 calls that had no response and asked if those calls are then handled criminally. Lieutenant Briz replied that patrol would place the person on a hold. The triage desk is manned by a Deputy Sheriff 24 hours a day; however, the clinician is available for 20 hours a day. Due to union rules, clinicians cannot work more than 20 hours a day. There are 4 hours, between 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., where there is no clinician at the desk, but it is manned by a highly trained Deputy Sheriff. If MET is not available to patrol or at the triage desk, then the Deputy will guide the caller and try to locate a bed for them. Vice -Chair Foutz asked if an individual is in custody and receiving treatment is warranted, what is their right of refusal? Do they have to accept the help is they are in custody? Lieutenant Briz stated that there is no easy answer for that because every situation is different. When the team knows the individual will be arrested, they send an email to the Jail Mental Evaluation Team or contact the arresting agency to make them aware if their mental health history, without violating HIPPA. They inform that the individual has a history and are in need of an assessment. Most of the time, they get an assessment or are assessed when they get into the County justice system or criminal justice system. Commissioner Fonseca inquired about MET's process in providing intensive case management and linkage to outside services. She asked what that looks like and if it is provided by MET or DMH. Lieutenant Briz mentioned that RAMP handles the intensive case management. MET also has other clinician partners and if anything is outside of what the clinicians can do, individuals are referred to other Department of Mental Health programs. The team calls, makes appointments, and shows up to the home. The MET team will go with the individuals as they are used to them helping with their case. PA Vice -Chair Foutz asked if there is anything that people can do to help identify individuals or assist responding Deputies. Lieutenant Briz stated that the City can contact Lieutenant Tiwari or any Deputy assigned to the City. Deputies can contact the MET team to have them assessed and involve the RAMP team if needed. Chair Cao inquired about the definition of a mental health clinician. Lieutenant Briz replied that they are a licensed clinicians and must have a license to practice. They can write 5150s and are LPS designated. They have taken a test, passed, and are granted authority to write these holds. Most of them are social workers, a few are nurses with a specialty in mental illness, and a few are marriage family therapist. Chair Cao asked regarding the two entities that pay for their own MET team, Culver City and Community College Bureau, what is the cost, what is it and why do they do that. Lieutenant Briz responded that the two are West Hollywood and Community College Bureau which have the need for their own MET team due to the number of calls for service in their cities or areas involving mental illness. The MET team met with City officials and station personnel to determine the number of calls for service regarding mental illness and looked for trends and patterns. The City and College Bureau selected their own schedule based on their needs and the MET team responds only to those calls during that scheduled timeframe. If outside of that timeframe, then they would need to contact the triage desk to respond to calls. Chair Cao summarized that West Hollywood has a dedicated MET team during dedicated hours and pays a contract to help alleviate the City's issues for those peak hours. He requested the cost for that service and its effectiveness. He also asked how the City of Rosemead is utilizing the MET team and how is that message provided to the community to help with the assessment of an individual. How would a resident request that type of service? Lieutenant Briz mentioned that the person making the call needs to make the deputy aware that the individual they are seeking assistance for has a mental illness or disability and would like to request the MET to respond as well. There is also a special alert form that can be filled out to let the Sheriffs Department know if someone suffers from a mental illness or disability where it would be important for law enforcement to know beforehand. It is important that if there is a mental health crisis, that Deputies are informed to ensure that the individual gets the care they need while making sure everyone in that scenario is safe. Assistant City Manager Bruckner asked what proportion of calls for service are housed versus unhoused. Lieutenant Briz mentioned she did not have that information but could provide it at a later time. 3 Assistant City Manager Bruckner asked if anyone could fill out the special alert form on behalf of an individual and is it available in multiple languages. Lieutenant Briz mentioned anyone can fill it out and should be available in other languages. Commissioner Wu asked if someone were to call regarding a homeless person, knowing they are mentally ill, would they also need to request a MET team from Deputies. Lieutenant Briz responded with a yes. Chair Cao asked Lieutenant Tiwari if calls are being received from Rosemead requesting the MET team. Lieutenant Tiwari mentioned that Sheriff's policy, anytime a call involves a mentally ill individual, to also assign a Sergeant to the call. The desk will also notify MET on behalf of the Deputy responding to that call. There is a MET office in South El Monte and two of the highest MET calls are from Temple Station and Santa Clarita. Chair Cao summarized the information that is being requested from the City which is the percentage of housed and unhoused calls from MET, cost of the MET team in West Hollywood and more data on the MET teams going into the City of Rosemead. 4. MATTERS FROM STAFF A. LAFD Fire & EMS Incidents Report (January 2023) This item was Received and Filed by the Commission without comment. B. LASD Crime Statistics (January 2023) Chair Cao asked regarding the chart listing theft in 2023 which was 66 versus 2022 at 48 and whether that was mainly commercial or residential. Lieutenant Tiwari mentioned it was grand theft. Commissioner Garcia asked if having patrol at night makes a difference since the numbers seem to be consistent. Lieutenant Tiwari mentioned that the past two weeks commercial burglaries were lowered and could be attributed to the overnight hours. He reminded everyone that if they see something, to say something. Commissioner Wu inquired about the difference between the HOST and MET team. Lieutenant Tiwari informed that the HOST team deals directly with the homeless to provide outreach and services. They also have a MET team to accompany them 4 to provide resources from a clinician like a 5150 hold. MET is its own entity and can go directly to the encampments to provide services. Commissioner Wu recalled a previous meeting in which deputies would be visiting businesses and handing out flyers, she asked how that was going. Lieutenant Tiwari mentioned he is working with Mandy Wong to do some community outreach on March 16"'. Deputies will be sticking to areas and handing out flyers. He mentioned he also met with the Chamber of Commerce too, and a couple of businesses to identify their security issues, including their surveillance cameras and lighting. Commissioner Garcia mentioned she follows Temple Station on Instagram and appreciates the updates. She gets to see the work from the Department and so does the community. C. Crime Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Activities Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that this is a new item that will be presented monthly to summarize all the crime prevention and emergency preparedness programs that have been completed during the current month as well as the planned events for the next month. Vice -Chair Foutz asked regarding the frequency for the HAM radio check. Public Safety Supervisor Wong mentioned she would provide it at a later time. She also mentioned she met with Superintendent Anita Chu and planned to have a side walk CPR. The date will coincide with a parent meeting and include hands on training. Commissioner Fonseca asked if the CPR includes certification. Supervisor Wong mentioned it does not. D. Report, Discussion, and Direction Regarding Public Safety Services and Programs (continued from January 26, 2023) Assistant City Manager Bruckner mentioned that this was an overview of the items the Commission had previously requested. There were a series of presentations, Commission follow up items, and questions about various programs and services and what can be done to improve those things. The report summarizes those activities, Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, Sheriff's contract, HOST team and Sidewalk CPR. There are items on which action was taken and others open for further discussion and policy recommendation review from the Commission. Chair Cao mentioned that recommendation to the Council needs to be provided by June 2023 which means recommendations need to be finalized by May. Assistant City Manager Bruckner mentioned that the City Council brought an item forward for a Homelessness Subcommittee. There is a fear that the County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach are declaring homelessness states of emergency in preparation for the 2024 Olympics and they 5 want to do something to address the homeless population within the tourist locations. Not much has been done to deal with the 60,0000 unhoused individuals in the County. The concern is that whatever actions those locations take to address the homelessness issue, it will push the problem east into communities in the San Gabriel Valley. The City Council would like a formal discussion as to what the City can do in terms of programs and policies and formalize a response plan for the Rosemead community. The Commission can still move forward with a review of potential changes to the City's code related to camping and how to address it or it can be deferred to the subcommittee. The Commission addressed the following items: Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Awareness and Narcan Administration Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that the Commission requested the item from LASD to go out to schools and speak on fentanyl and methamphetamine awareness as well as provide information on how to administer Narcan. Lieutenant Tiwari mentioned that the Rosemead High School date for the presentation is pending the date. In March, there is a pending Zoom meeting with the parents and a separate one with middle school students. In administering Narcan, it would be up to the school as they have their own policies and procedures. If 9-1-1 is called, Deputies carry Narcan to administer. Assistant City Manager Bruckner mentioned that information can be included during other meetings like Neighborhood Watch for people to do their own research and decide whether its within their interest. Sidewalk CPR Workshops Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that workshops are in the planning phase and will be held on a quarterly basis. There will be larger events at the National Night Out where more people gather and it will also be an opportunity to provide information on Narcan, methamphetamine and other items. Public Outreach Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that to address how the City conducts public outreach, a Public Information Perception Survey will be sent out in multiple languages to understand how the community consumes information. The survey will help provide information on gaps in communication. The survey will be provided through Survey Monkey online. It'll be posted online, sent out in a press release, SMS message as well as social media platforms. The goal is to learn where the City is missing a presence and engage people where they consume their information. Broken Windows Theory Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that the broken windows theory is the theory stating that if you let minor offenses go, they tend to lend themselves to more criminality down the road. The City tries to be as proactive as possible, from a code enforcement perspective and trying to deal with those issues with property crime type issues, vandalism, graffiti, and the upkeep of residences and businesses, so that it doesn't become a breeding ground for more criminality. lJ HOST Team Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that the Host team helps to address encampments and clearing them out which was distinguished from the MET team which addresses the mental illness component. Flock Cameras Assistant City Manager Bruckner stated that the Flock Cameras are automated license plate reader systems that exist within the City. Locations for new cameras have been identified and cameras that were not previously installed are now up and operational. For security purposes, the location of the cameras cannot be shared. The cost of each camera is under $10,000 and are owned by the City therefore they don't need to be contracted out. Items pending for the Commission are as follows: 1. Crime Prevention Programs 2. Anti -Camping Ordinance and Jurisdiction 3. Public Safety Vehicle Street Access, Curb Markings and Permit Parking 4. Public Safety Budget 5. Overnight Crime Suppression Patrol Pilot Program The Commission agreed to take items and prepare for discussion at a following meeting. 5. MATTERS FROM COMMISSION A. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Garcia mentioned she appreciated staff and everyone involved because there is already action being taken on items. Commissioner Fonseca asked that the Commission decide on breaking down the items and tackle the next two to three items in the following meeting. Chair Cao mentioned that a few cities have had calls for threats of violence and some of them are false alarms; however, it emphasizes the importance of the Commission and Public Safety. He stated his hope was that the Commission would have an action plan for City Council to act on the items. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m. The next Public Safety Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in thq,,Council Chambers. APPROVED: W,c, t (P,6 Michael Cao, Chair Analyst