02-27-1997 Council Minutes SpecialAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 111 1997.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
OF A SPECIAL MEETING February 27, 1997
The City Council ofthe City of Orange, California, convened on February 27, 1997 at 6:00 p.m.
in a Special Meeting in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California.
1. OPENING
1.1 INVOCATION - Pastor Ed Trenner 1.
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 1.
3 ROLL CALL PRESENT -
Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez ABSENT - None
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
2.1 Declaration
of City Clerk, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of City Council agenda ofa Special Meeting
of February 27,1997 at Orange Civic Center, Main Library, Police facility at 1107 North
Batavia, the Eisenhower Park Bulletin Board and noticed on Time Warner Communications; all of
said locations being in the City of Orange and freely accessible to members of the
public at least 24 hours before commencement of said special meeting.3. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
3.1 Presentation
by Police Chief Robertson and Police staff concerning delinquency prevention with emphasis on
youth/gang violence.Mayor Coontz gave
the following statement: "We want to ensure the entire community that we are continuing to
emphasize our policy of zero tolerance of gangs and their activities in the City of Orange. Our
gang unit, the largest in the county, has significantly decreased gang related crimes since its
beginning.This last week,
Police Chief Robertson added 23 new officers to the Gang Task Force to focus specifically on recent
gang activity. Additionally, our Police Department is an integral part of the county-wide
task force called TARGET involving gang searches, seizure of firearms, arrests and trials
of gang members.As your
elected representatives, we are committed to continuing to safeguard our community and to retain
and better our national record as the 9th safest city in the United States. Chief Robertson and his
staff will present the program to show you how we are meeting this goal. They will present information
on gangs in Orange, anti-gang efforts and prevention and intervention. We will
then break out into three small groups representing the geographical police sectors of the City
of Orange so members of the audience can address specific questions, concerns and recommendations
regarding their own neighborhoods. We want you to have full confidence in the
crime prevention programs and aggressive police work in our community. We want to assure you
that we are not soft on crime in the City of Orange."Page
1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 27, 1997
3. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued)
Chief Robertson presented an overview of Community Oriented Policing which began in the
City of Orange in 1992.
Lieutenant Tunstall discussed the nature of gang violence and how the Police Department
responds.
Police Detective Sanchez, member of the gang unit, reported on the Police Department's anti-
gang efforts.
Police Sergeant Weinstein reported on the prevention/intervention and education programs the
Police Department has instituted.
Police Chief Robertson presented summary comments and the meeting broke into geographical
groups to ask questions and further discuss gang problems.
In closing, Mayor Coontz gave the following comments: "We hope this meeting has given you
the same confidence our City Council has in the professionalism, aggressiveness and the
dedication of the Police Officers of the City of Orange in the protection of the lives and property
of our City with special emphasis of the needs of our young people. Also, the officers spend a
great deal of their time, not City time - over and above the call of duty, in the social service agencies. "
4.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS - None 5. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION SECOND
AYES
Mayor
Coontz
Slater Murphy, Slater,
Mayor Coontz,
Spurgeon, Alvarez The City Council adjourned at
7:00 p.m. to an Adjourned Regular Meeting, March 4, 1997 at 4:00 p.m. in
the Weimer Room to consider the Corridor Major Investment Study.tu&.c~CASSANDRA J. C
HCART, CMC
CITY CLERK 4'N~1
MAYOR PAGE
2