HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report Agenda Item #3.F 02/23/2015Agenda Item #3.F
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DATE: February 23, 2015
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Patrick Williams, Chief of Police Pw
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of Application(s) to CalRecycle for all
Grants for Which the City of Petaluma is Eligible, and Authorizing the City
Manager to Execute all Grant Related Documents for a Period of Five Years from
the Date of Adoption of the Resolution
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the attached Resolution Authorizing the
Submittal of Application(s) to CalRecycle for all Grants for Which the City of Petaluma is
Eligible, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Grant Related Documents for a Period
of Five Years from the Date of Adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND
The City of Petaluma has experienced a significant increase in the homeless and transient
population. While some seek the resources and the services here in Petaluma that help them
transition from being homeless to a place of independence with sustainable housing, others
choose to engage in illegal camping, dumping and other illegal activity. For those who choose
this path without shelter, they often engage in illegal camping. Those encampments quickly tum
into illegal dump sites that threaten the quality of life in Petaluma. Most of these illegal camps
and dump sites are located on public and private property, along rivers and creeks, near schools,
bike and walking paths, in parks, and near businesses.
Existing Police Department resources cannot keep up with the increase in the homeless transient
population. As well, City maintenance crews do not have the resources or the time to keep up
with the growing number of illegal encampments and clean-ups these sites require.
The State of California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery offers Illegal
Disposal Site Abatement Grants up to $500,000 for two years. To address the needs and
priorities of our residents and business owners, the Police Department seeks City Council
approval to apply for these grant funds.
The Police Department is seeking authorization to apply for a competitive grant seeking
$500,000 in funding to allow the Police Department to develop a program that would provide or
direct services to the homeless, including the possibility of part-time employment, and would
provide funding and services necessary to identify, clean up and abate homeless encampments.
The grant application supports the cost of a full-time police officer for two years ($360,000).
The Police Officer would be solely focused on creating, implementing, managing, and
administering a comprehensive and collaborative community program to help those who are in
need and who want help. A program goal is to reduce the frequency of homeless encampments
and assist with a transition to sustainable housing for those who seek that alternative. The
program will also include an enforcement and compliance component, designed for those who
choose the path of homelessness, and engage in behavior that threatens public health, reduces
public safety, and threatens the environment.
The grant application also seeks funding ($100,000) to create jobs at the Mary Isaac Center to
employ those who were formerly homeless. The work would involve general labor involving
clean up and abatement of encampments, and provides a service to the community who
generously supports the programs that help provide the homeless with food, clothing and
housing. Such opportunity also allows the person to gain independence and sustainable housing
and provides the satisfaction of having given back to the community. The grant also seeks to
fund disposal costs ($40,000) to remove the burden from the general fund for disposal services
required for clean-up and abatement.
This project will work collaboratively with the community to include residents, business owners,
customers, and service providers to be sure appropriate services are available to this vulnerable
population.
If this grant application is approved and funding received, the Police Department proposes to
supplement this project with services provided by the existing code enforcement officer. The
code enforcement officer can help maximize the effectiveness of the program, and can establish
cost recovery measures by working with property owners for the cleanup of sites and by
pursuing restitution from the offenders.
Well beyond the importance of financial considerations, there is the harsh reality of loss to
human to life for those living on the streets and exposed to the elements without proper shelter.
Between 2010 and 2014, there have been 21 death investigations involving the homeless.
Homeless deaths represent 8.23% of the total number of death investigations city-wide. A
majority of these investigations found the cause of death to include exposure to the elements and
chronic abuse of alcohol and drugs. This project will also focus on reducing the, number of
homeless deaths by eliminating the encampments through clean up and referral of those in those
camps to the services available to them.
In addition to the positive impact on human life this project hopes to accomplish, the reduction
of crime will also be a benefit. Crime and arrest statistics between 2011 and 2014 demonstrate
how serious the increases are and how significant the reductions in crime will be. These
statistics do not include the 25% increase in property crimes believed to be committed by this
population, but in most cases cannot be proven. If those who want help and conduct themselves
appropriately can be provided positive support and encouragement, and those that do not seek
help are dealt with through enforcement and removal of illegal encampments, the following
crime trends are expected to be reduced dramatically. The following table illustrates crime
statistics. Note that calendar year 2014 has seen a dramatic increase in the crimes committed by
the homeless population.
PLACE/ETC POLLUTANT NEAR STATE WATERS - 5652 FG
0
0
% Change
9 800.0%
Criminal Violation
2011
2012
2013 2014
Total
81 523.1%
100
DISORDERLY CONDUCT LOITER PRIVATE PROP- 647 (H) PC
2013-2014
3
PLACE/ETC POLLUTANT NEAR STATE WATERS - 5652 FG
0
0
1
9 800.0%
10
DISORDERLY CONDUCT LOITERING - 647 (E) PC
0
6
13
81 523.1%
100
DISORDERLY CONDUCT LOITER PRIVATE PROP- 647 (H) PC
5
3
7
1 16 128.6%
31
VIOLATION OF PROBATION -ALCOHOL- 1203.2 PC42
67
82
94 14.6%
285
DISORDERLY CONDUCT ALCOHOL RELATED 647 (G) PC
0
0
19
19 0.0%
38
TRESPASS OCCUPY PROPERTY W/O CONSENT - 602 PC*
24
32
60
53 -11.7%
169__
PUBLIC INTOXICATION - 647 (F) PC*
201
195
175
143-18.3%
714
*Both of these violations have been impacted by the increase in calls for service and the decrease
in available time for officers to proactively address these cases Officers are forced to work in a
reactive mode to call for service of a higher priority and are forced to drive by violations they
would normally want to stop and address or patrol to deter.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
This grant application does not require any matching funds and works on a reimbursement basis
from CalRecycle. The Police Department seeks to apply for the maximum amount of funding
allowed up to $500,000. This project will fund a full time police officer for two years
($360,000), create jobs with a ready and in need workforce at the Mary Issac Center ($100,000),
and provide funding for the disposal of illegal dump site cleanup ($40,000). Though the initial
funding will support the new police officer position for two years, the Police Department will
continue to seek additional revenue to extend the term of the position, including reapplying for
the CalRecycle grant. If necessary the positon will be absorbed into current staffing based on
available funds.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program Application
ATTACHMENT
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATION(S) TO
CALRECYCLE FOR ALL GRANTS FOR WHICH THE CITY OF PETALUMA IS
ELIGIBLE, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL GRANT
RELATED DOCUMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
WHEREAS, Public Resources Code sections 40000 et seq. authorizes the Department of
Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), formerly known as the California Integrated
Waste Management Board, to administer various Grant Programs (grants) in the furtherance of
the State of California's (State) efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse solid waste generated in the
State therby preserving landfill capacity and protecting public health and safety and the
environment; and
WHEREAS, procedures established by CalRecycle require each Applicant's governing
body to certify by resolution its approval of the submittal of a grant Application(s) to
CalRecycle, and
WHEREAS, if awarded, the City of Petaluma will enter into a Grant Agreement with
CalRecycle for implementation of said Grant(s)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Petaluma, as follows:
1 The City of Petaluma authorizes the submittal of application(s) to CalRecycle for all
grants for which the City of Petaluma is eligible.
2. The City Manager), or his designee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute in the
name of the City of Petaluma all grant documents, including but not limited to,
applications, agreements, amendments, policies and requests for payment, necessary to
secure grant funds and implement the approved grant project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these authorizations are effective for five (5) years from
the date of adoption of this resolution.
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A. GENERAL PROBLEM STATEMENT
The City Petaluma is located in Northern California and Is within the San Francisco Bay Area with
a population of approximately 60,000 residents. Located on the US101 freeway, Petaluma 1s a
bedroom community with direct commute access to Marin and San Francisco County Petaluma
1s the gateway to the Sonoma County Wine County. Petaluma enjoys a well educated, affluent,
and diverse community with a variety of boutique shops, excellent restaurants, shopping
centers, and a wide variety of social services for those in need The City's Historic Downtown
District brings many local residents and tourists to Its many bars, night clubs and restaurants
Petaluma is attracting new residents at a rate of 3.5% per year. Approximately 78% of the
population is white, 18% Hispanic and 4% other races The age distribution 1s 26 2% under 18,
7 2 % from 18 to 24, 315% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11% who are over 65 years
of age or older. For every 100 females there are 95.6 males The median Income for a
household In the city is $61,679 The latest census regarding the homeless population 1n
Petaluma showed that Petaluma 1s statistically higher than other cities in the Northbay and has
recorded almost 21% of the homeless population 1n Sonoma County.
2013 Sonoma County Homeless Count: Unsheltered Homeless by Census Tract
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Since 2008, the Petaluma Police Department has experienced almost a 25% reduction in staff
due to the fiscal challenges in the downturn of the economy. In 2008 the Department had 77
sworn officers, 28 professional staff and 20 volunteers There were 44 officers assigned to the
Patrol Division. The Department's sworn force was reduced to 62 sworn, 24 professional staff,
and 25 volunteers The Department consists of 1 Chief, 5 Lieutenants, 9 Sergeants, 30 patrol
officers, 5 traffic officers, 6 detectives, 1 Community Services Officer, and 12 dispatchers. Most
of the specialty assignments (School Resource Officers, DARE, Street Crimes Unit, Gang Officer,
SWAT, HNT) were cut due to budget and staffing reductions The two remaining full-time
specialty assignments are Investigations and Traffic, which also suffered staffing reductions.
During the past few years, the Department's focus has been primarily directed at gangs, traffic
and other quality of life problems ABC reports that the number of licensed alcohol
establishments is far greater in Petaluma per census tract than to most cities in California This
is due to historical licenses being issued when the City was positioned to be the Sonoma County
seat located along the Petaluma River with direct access to San Francisco. The high number of
licensed alcohol establishments, combined with the services available to the homeless has
created a significant increase in the number of homeless and transients that have come to
Petaluma who refuse treatment or help, chose to abuse drugs and alcohol, and engage in
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criminal acts. Current trends indicate anywhere from 40% to 50% of our daily calls for service
involve the homeless/transient population
With this increase in the homeless/transient population comes a large problem with illegal
camping sites that become dump sites for human waste, refuse, debris, furniture, contraband,
hazardous materials, narcotics and paraphernalia, and environmental pollution of land, water
sources, and water ways.
What makes this problem even more of a challenge is within the 14 square miles of the city
limits there are numerous open spaces and rural areas with hills and trees that create ideal
illegal camp and dumping sites The US101 freeway interchanges and the Petaluma River and
numerous creeks are host to more than a hundred common locations for these dump sites.
Policing this problem and abating the illegal dumping has been a constant struggle for the
Department for more than 20 years Traditional policing models utilized on duty officers with
available time to patrol, enforce, and coordinate clean-up. With the increase in calls for service
combined with our staff reductions, available time has been reduced to nothing. We have tried
to use overtime to deploy officers to address the problem This strategy has been effective for
enforcement, but without a clean-up mechanism offenders who are arrested for creating or
maintaining illegal dump sites return to their camps and continue the collecting and dumping.
Often they do not wash their clothes and simply dump them on the ground only to replace them
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with new free donated clothing from the homeless shelter. They leave building materials,
debris, and food garbage all around their camps and never clean up after themselves. They
create their own and sometimes community bathrooms that are rarely more than an open
space or behind trees and shrubs.
These illegal dump sites have been as small as a one person contained tent and as large as
several hundred feet along the river or creek. Some have been cleaned by hand with trash bags,
and others have required a back hoe tractor, bull dozer, large dumpster and even a dump truck.
B. SUBSTANTIATION OF THREAT:
1. Public Health
Access to clean water is one of the basic, fundamental rights of any person, including
the residents of Petaluma. The City of Petaluma maintains wells within the city
limits that have been near the illegal dump sites described in this project.
Contamination with human waste and food garbage is likely near these
encampments. The illegal dump sites created by these homeless encampments
become hosts to common pests and rodents accessing rotting food garbage and
living among humans who do not practice any type of safe or appropriate hygiene.
Many of the people in these encampments suffer from severe illness and diseases
that include blood borne pathogens that are highly contagious and transmitted in a
variety of ways. Many of these sites are located in creek beds and along the banks
of creeks and the river near walking paths, parks, and elementary and pre-schools
Children have been found playing in these areas as children do and walk into or near
these sites with exposed needles, weapons, used condoms, and even drugs. The
abatement of these illegal dump sites is absolutely necessary to protect public
health.
2. Public Safety
In 1996 the preeminent American criminologist, George L. Kelling, released a book
entitled Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order and Reducing Crime in Our
Communities. The book continued the work of other social scientists that had
previously discovered the correlation between how seemingly small, innocuous
blights, such as broken windows in a building, when left unchecked led to more and
more serious infractions like burglary and vandslism. Major cities such as New York
have successfully used this strategy by focusing on issues such as graffiti, farebeating
and panhandling as a way to cut down on overall crime rates.
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The fact that the City of Petaluma's illegal dumping and encampment issues are so
widespread, and not centralized in one part of the City, these visual blights, not to
mention public and environmental health hazards, are contributing to the broken
windows theory of lawlessness — "wow, if these types of trashed areas are
acceptable in the City, I wonder what else I can get away with."
The continued and ineffective enforcement and clean-up strategy has lead to the
discovery of many different offenders who create, maintain, and leave illegal dump
sites they once called home for some period of time. The contacts and arrests have
led to the discovery of sexual predators, registered sex/narcotics/arson offenders,
violent felons, wanted fugitives, and parole and probation violators. Officer have
been forced to respond into remote areas to investigate the variety of crimes
expected with any population of people, but they are forced to enter into areas of
extreme hazards from booby -traps, blackberry bushes, poison oak, make shift
structures of stolen materials from businesses and homes. Because the areas are
remote and inaccessible, they attract the worst of the worst criminal offenders who
hide in these remote areas and prey on the vulnerable shelterless. In November
2014, Petaluma Police Officer Danny Miller was looking for a theft suspect knows to
stay in an illegal encampment in a remote part of Schollenberger Park. As he
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entered the site he stepped into a booby trap commonly called "punji sticks' that
are usually wood or bamboo sticks sharpened on one end and stuck in a deep hole
for someone to step into intended to serious injure. These traps were camouflaged
and well hidden on the entrance and exit paths to the site. Officer Miller realized
the trap existed when one of the spikes punctured the sole of his boot, coming just
short of piercing his skin.
The following is Officer Miller's written report of this incident:
On 11/11/14, at approximately 0930 hours, 1 was conducting extra patrol in the area of Rocky Park due
to recent burglaries. At approximately 0945 hours, I saw an encampment dug into the marsh contiguous
with the Petaluma River. The property in question was posted protected wetland enclosed by fenced
property
Myself and Officer Pamow began to check on the camp and noticed wires connecting to branches
approximately 3 feet across and 4 feet high The wires appeared to have been set to keep subjects from
walking the path to the camp 1 then noticed another wire approximately 6" high connected to the base
of a bush across the footpath On the other side of the low wire was a, "Bear Trap" (Booby Trap), the
trap was a piece of plywood with approximately (12) 3" nails sticking out. Around the camp 1 located
three other "Bear Traps".
Inside the camp 1 saw the ground had been dug out and a plywood roof had been installed. As we were
checking the area 1 saw a subject crossing a fence walking towards the camp As the subject walked
closer I recognized him as Jesse Adkins. 1 asked Adkins how long he had been camping at the site.
Adkins told me he and Jennifer Garrett had been camping at the current site for approximately 1 year. I
asked him if he knew he wasn't supposed to be on the posted no trespassing property. Adkins stated
he didn't think anybody would complain because he cleans up. 1 asked him why he had the traps set
around his camp He told me he posted no trespassing signs and wanted to keep people from stealing
his property. I informed him 1 stepped on the trap causing the nails to penetrate the sole of my right
boot Adkins told me he didn't mean for anyone to get hurt I asked him what would have happened if a
child stepped on the trap. Adkins just shook his head side to side
A records check revealed Adkins was on probation per SCR- 626172. Based on his probation terms to
obey all laws and him camping on posted property, 1 arrested him for 1203 2 PC and 647 (e) PC I
issued him a citation and advised him to clean up the property 1 gave Adkins information on homeless
resources and suggested he get in contact with the Mary Isaak Center for immediate help.
I am requesting the DA's office review charges of 12355 PC- Booby traps I have attached photos of the
camp and the Booby Traps
Case closed by arrest.
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On January 13, 2015, San Jose Firefighters were battling a fire on a hill with several
illegal encampments. One firefighter fell into the same type of hole with punji sticks
hidden to inflict harm. The article and video can be viewed at the following link:
http://abc7news.com/news/si-booby-trap-resembles-ones-used-in-vietnam-
war/473407/
Our local experience with these hazardous conditions as well as the experiences in
San Jose demonstrate the seriousness concern for the safety of the staff assigned to
this project. For this reason this project proposes to fund an armed police officer to
implement, coordinate, and administer this grant project. It is simply no longer safe
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to send unarmed civilian staff into these encampments and illegal dump sites
knowing the dangerous conditions that exist.
Well beyond the risk to enforcement and compliance officers Is the harsh reality of
loss to human to life for those living on the streets and exposed to the elements
without proper shelter. Between 2010 and 2014 there have been 21 death
investigations involving the homeless. Homeless deaths represent 8.23% of the total
number of death investigations city-wide. A majority of these investigations found
the cause of death to include exposure to the elements and chronic abuse of alcohol
and drugs. Beyond clean-up, this project will focus on reducing the number of
homeless deaths by eliminating the encampments through clean up and referral of
those in those camps to the services available to them. For those who chose not to
get help, they will have to find another city or area to continue their lifestyle.
In addition to the positive impact on human life this project hopes to accomplish,
the reduction of crime will also be a benefit. Crime and arrest statistics between
2011 and 2014 demonstrate how serious the increases are and how significant the
reductions in crime will be. These statistics do not Include the 25% increase in
property crimes that we know and suspect are committed by this population, but in
most cases cannot prove If we encourage those who want help and conduct
themselves appropriately and discourage those that do not through enforcement
and removal of illegal encampments, the following crime trends will be reduced
dramatically and lives will be saved
You will see from the crime statistics that calendar year 2014 has truly seen a dramatic
increase in the crimes committed by the homeless population.
Criminal
l �
PLACE/ETC POLLUTANT NEAR STATE WATERS -5652 FG
DISORDERLY CONDUCT LOITERING - 647 (E) PC
DISORDERLYCONDUCT•LOITER PRIVATE PROP -647 (H) PC
VIOLATION OF PROBATION - ALCOHOL -1203.2 PC
DISORDERLY CONDUCT ALCOHOL RELATED - 647 (G) PC
TRESPASS OCCUPY PROPERTY W/O CONSENT- 602 PC*
PUBLIC INTOXICATION -647 (F) PC*
Change I Total
0 1 0 1 1 1 9 1 800.0% 10
0 6
5 3
13 81
7 16
523.1% 100
128.6% 31
42
67
8294
19
60
19
53
14.6%
0.0%
-11.7%
285
0
0
38
24
32
169
201 1195 1175 143 -18 3% 1714
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*Both of these violations have been impacted by the increase in calls for service and the decrease in
available time for officers to proactively address these cases. Officers are forced to work in a reactive
mode to call for service of a higher priority and are forced to drive by violations they would normally
want to stop and address or patrol to deter.
3. Environment
While public health and safety are serious issues clearly demonstrated above, our
stewardship and care for the environment is essential. The attached map shows the
large area of impact that these illegal encampments are having on the environment.
The map shows the illegal dump sites and their relation to the Petaluma River
Watershed, a protected area for the endangered Steelhead Trout. The Petaluma
Police Department has been an active partner with the United Anglers of Casa
Grande High School as they restored Adobe Creek and the habitat where steelhead
were almost extinct. There conservation and restoration efforts have expanded
beyond Adobe Creek to the entire Petaluma River Watershed. While they develop
leadership skills with our youth, they show them the importance of environmental
stewardship which involves walking the watershed and cleaning up illegal dumps
sites that endanger the environment and the fish. Due to the hazards associated
with the illegal encampment and the offenders who occupy them, officers enter the
sites in advance of the students to conduct enforcement and render the areas safe
for survey, inspection, and clean-up. You will see pictures of encampments falling
into the river and creeks. You will see camps and dump sites built in the streambed
that if not removed end up washed away into the San Francisco Bay. These illegal
encampments, and the waste and debris left behind endanger the fish and wildlife.
For more information on the environmental efforts of the United Anglers go to
http://uacg.orPJ.
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Illegal dumping and illegal encampments ruin what would otherwise be pristine land
reflecting the beauty of the north bay and the wine country. Illegal dumping also
creates undue stress on the environment and threatens the City's ability to comply
with environmental regulations. These encampments often destroy the pristine
areas, even after cleanup efforts with the impromptu roads created to access the
areas, the disruption to the surrounding areas and wildlife, and unfortunately with
the impacts of the cleanup efforts themselves.
C. SUBSTANTIATION OF NEED FOR GRANT FUNDS
The geography and topography of the Petaluma Valley and rolling rural hills make it
extremely difficult to accurately assess the true number of illegal encampments and
dump sites. We have utilized law enforcement helicopters during winter months when
trees and vegetation are bare leaving dump sites exposed and identifiable. Even when
they are discovered, the reality that the City does not have adequate staffing in any of
the Departments, let alone Police, to quickly respond and conduct enforcement
followed up with prompt cleanup means we have simply chased the real problem from
one location to another.
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This grant project looks to utilize a full time police officer to survey, inspect, enforce,
remove, and coordinate the cleanup of the currently known and unknown sites that will
be created by the project. It is paramount that these abatement steps be taken swiftly
with consistent monitoring to be sure the ground you have regained, cleaned, and
restored does not simply return to a dump site.
City crews have been reduced to minimum staff that can barely keep signals working
and pot holes patched. They have been unable to provide assistance regularly with
cleanup and openly acknowledge there is nothing else they can do. Without these grant
funds, the City of Petaluma will not be able to address this growing issue and these sites
will continue to jeopardize public health, reduce public safety, and damage the
environment.
With the critical and needed funds, the City of Petaluma will commit a code
enforcement officer to supplement the funded position and coordinate with property
owners and handle cost recovery to free up the enforcement officer to survey, inspect,
and remove more dump sites to accomplish the mission of this grant project.
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Because clean-up is such a key component to the success of the abatement of these problems,
this project seeks to utilize funds to hire homeless and transient subjects who are staying at the
homeless shelter and are in need of work to clean up illegal dump sites that they at one time
contributed to. Without these grand funds we would not be able to provide an employment
stimulus to Petaluma that will help those in the most need
This project will seek to defer cleanup costs to the property owners first. Our efforts to address
this problem have created a strong team of stakeholders that include the Mary Isaac Center
(homeless shelter), Cal -Trans, Probation, United Anglers of Casa Grande High School, Friends of
the Petaluma River, Petaluma Downtown Association, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART),
the California Highway Patrol, and the Sonoma County Sheriffs Department.
Whenever possible we will work with our partners and use their resources to clean up the dump
sites, pursue cost recovery from property owners with a hope to fund the program in the future
beyond the grant funding cycle, and work collaboratively to prevent the illegal dump sites from
returning in the future.
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D. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 — Reduce Overall Illegal Encampment Sites by 50% in the first year of the
project from 34 to 17, and by another 50% the second year to 8.
Survey, Inspect, Enforce, and Clean -Up illegal encampments and dump sites.
Objective 1— Recruit Police Officer to serve as Project Coordinator and Administrator
Selection of the officer to coordinate and manage this project will be done immediately
meet the goals and objectives of this project.
Objective 2 - Establish Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Task Force
All of the stakeholders mentioned above will convene with a purpose and mission to
collaboratively work together to survey, inspect, and remove illegal disposal sites and
illegal encampments.
Objective 3 — Survey and Inspect Known and Unknown Sites
Using law enforcement helicopters, police dual purpose motorcycles, a new all -terrain
vehicle funded by this grant, and foot patrols, survey and inspect known and unknown
illegal dump sites.
Objective 4 — Conduct Enforcement and Voluntary Clean -Up by Offenders
Using those responsible for the dumping to clean-up means that other grant funding
sources can be saved to impact even more illegal sites. Those who refuse to comply
with the law will be arrested and booked at county jail.
Objective 5 — Clean Illegal Dump Sites and Encampments
Working with property owners in a collaborative way to promote the successful clean-
up these illegal disposal sites will be the first priority If needed grant funding will be
used to perform the clean-up. For safety reasons the police officer assigned to this
project will be funded to plan, coordinate, and participate in the survey, inspection,
enforcement, and cleanup of the sites. This project will utilize the local workforce to
provide clean-up services that will also be paid for by the grant. The grant will also fund
a double axle dump trailer to b used to remove solid waste from dump sites. The City
will provide a truck from its fleet to tow the trailer.
Objective 6 — Site Monitoring and Continuous Survey for New Sites
Understanding that as we conduct enforcement and clean-up the sites, those offenders
not wishing to improve their situation and continue to live on the street, they will find
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new and creative ways and locations to establish illegal encampments, continuous
monitoring and patrolling of potential spaces desirable for new illegal encampments will
be vital. This project will partner with the other stakeholders and lead the effort to
inspire teamwork and vigilance to prevent the return of these local blights.
E. Enhancement Reporting and Quantification of Problem
The project will engage in a s strong media campaign to involve help from the public to
identify and abate illegal dump sites. A local phone number will be established for
reporting of illegal dump sites and encampments and hopefully allow the officer
assigned to the project to get to the sites early before they take hold. Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) technology has been used to demonstrate the locations of
the illegal sites and provide photographic evidence of the dumps at each site to
illustrate the problem.
The GIS map will be produced for public consumption for community leaders and
elected officials to raise awareness of the problem and that CalRecycle is leading the
charge to make Petaluma a better place. The map will be made available to the public
on our website.
F. Enforcement
A sworn peace officer funded by this project will be supplemented with a civilian code
enforcement officer already funded by the City to maximize the effectiveness of the
officer assigned. The officer will be used to conduct enforcement and the code
enforcement officer will handle the work that does not require a uniformed police
officer.
Enforcement will be progressive from warning, to citation, and to arrest. All cases will
be prosecuted and terms of probation added to prohibit any further illegal camping or
dumping in the City limits. Future violations would result in additional charges filed and
ultimately jail time.
Support services and referrals will be a priority to help those who wish to transition
from homelessness to self -independence.
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.IVALU
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City of Petaluma
POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Application
WORK PLAN
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As outlined in the narrative, the City of Petaluma is taking a collaborative task force approach to
addressing illegal dumping and illegal encampments that threaten public health and safety and
the environment. The Petaluma Police Department will take lead in this effort to bring
stakeholders to this problem to the table to insure success with the abatement of illegal
disposal sites.
These efforts in concert should help the City to achieve not only cleaning areas that have been
severely impacted by illegal dumping and or illegal encampments, but to also prevent future
instances and the same locations or at new locations. Based on the grant instructions, the City
will work off the assumption that if awarded the grant, that it will receive notice to proceed
sometime in April 2015, allowing the City of Petaluma to move forward in July 2015. If the City
receives the grant funds and the notice to proceed at a later time, the City will adjust the
schedule as necessary.
The City's plan for implementing this project is broken down in six parts; Cleanup, Enhanced
Reporting and Quantification of Problem, Enforcement, Preventing Future Occurrences of
Illegal Dumping, Encourage Increased Reports of Illegal Dumping, and Grant Administration.
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Cleanup
A major component to the grant program is the need to ensure that the City can collect illegally
dumped items and to provide swift cleanup and removal of identified sites. The cleanup
portion of the program will go as follows:
July 2015 — Fleet Maintenance will purchase a double axle dump trailer to transport solid waste
from the illegal sites to the appropriate facility for disposal. The City of Petaluma will provide a
truck to tow the trailer from its existing fleet.
July 2015 — Fleet Maintenance will purchase an all terrain UTV (Utility Type Vehicle) to
transport police personnel to and from illegal disposal sites for enforcement and the aiding in
cleanup efforts that lie outside the reach of standard patrol vehicles.
July 2015 through June 2017 — The Officer assigned to this project and Code Enforcement will
coordinate weekly surveys, inspections, and cleanup of illegal disposal sites and encampments.
Communication with property owners will be conducted in advance for cleanup and abatement
of problem with cost recovery being a priority from private property owners. Workforce will be
deployed in coordination with the Mary Issac Center to have cleanup operations conducted
each week systematically targeting known sites. When and if cleanup operations become
current, staff will deploy to knew areas in search of new sites for survey, inspection, and
cleanup operations. All solid waste will be weighed and reported through this project including
total number of sites abated. The cleanups will be performed four days a week for during ten
hour shifts
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as
Enhanced Reporting and Quantification of Problem
This project has already identified key hot spots and has entered them as dump sites 1 through
34 in this application. The full extent of the illegal disposal sites is unknown at this time.
However, this project will accomplish full inspection through aerial, off road vehicle, and foot
patrols of all the likely areas that may contain these disposal sites and encampments. The City
of Petaluma strongly believes that coordinating this effort will help ensure long-term benefits
from the grant and to more aggressively take preventative measures in their efforts to prevent
illegal dumping. The tasks involved are as follows:
• January 2015 — The City's GIS Technician Trae Cooper has created a city-wide GIS map
with state of the art ESR( products to include a story board of this project proposal. The
printed map and electronic interactive file have been provided to CalRecycle to
demonstrate that widespread impact of these dumps in our city and to bring images of
the sites to project reviewers, city leaders, and city staff. Please refer to "Project Map."
• July 2015 — Officer assigned to the project will use a GPS enabled (phone 6 PDA to
photograph and precisely locate new and existing illegal dump sites and encampments
The interactive City Project Map will be updated weekly and be made available to the
public and city staff
• August 2015 to June 2017 — Monthly media campaigns will be used to raise awareness
of the project and promote reporting from the public and especially affected property
owners. On-line and anonymous reporting systems will be in place through City website
and existing social media connections to the public via NIXLE to encourage the public to
report early and prevent sites from developing.
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• August 2015 to June 2017 — Public awareness campaign with residents and businesses
to secure or remove debris or materials that are often discarded and then used to
create illegal dump sites and encampments. Industrial parks and shopping centers will
be educated to not leave wood pallets, containers, shopping carts, building materials etc
out in the open and available to the homeless population who carry it out into remote
locations and build illegal encampments. Code enforcement will be utilized to evaluate
existing regulations to be sure those that are not in voluntary compliance can be dealt
with.
• September 2015 through June 2017 — GIS technology will be used to identify parcel
owners and facilitate immediate communication about a problem site on their parcel.
This technology will save staff time and allow them spend more time in the field on
surveys, inspections, and cleanups.
• July 2015 through June 2017 — Officer assigned to the project will identify
representative from the stakeholders mentioned in the narrative and establish a Illegal
Disposal Site Abatement Task force with monthly meetings to share information and
resources, develop abatement plans, and share new and innovative ideas to improve
public health and safety and improve the environment through this project.
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ay
Enforcement
Enforcement efforts provide both immediate and long-term effects. It helps to hold the illegal
dumpers responsible for their actions and will make other would-be, or current illegal dumpers,
think twice before doing it again. To implement its enforcement efforts, the City will do the
following:
July 2015 — Weekly patrols will be conducted at each of the sites identified on the map as well
as at new sites identified through those patrols A systematic and priority driven system will
dictate deployment strategies to impact the greatest amount of solid waste and environmental
concerns.
August 2015 — Staff assigned to the project will work with the City Attorney's Office to draft a
rewards program, which will provide awards to people who report illegal dumpewrs who have
been successfully prosecuted. The rewards will be funded by the penalties assessed on the
illegal dumpers. This effort will also be funded by grant funds.
July 2015 through June 2017 — Monthly aerial patrols will be conducted over the city to
proactively identify disposal sites and illegal encampments not readily visible from normal
vantage points. Specific attention will be given to this effort during winter months when trees
and bushes are bare of leaves and sites are exposed. Special attention will be given in the fall
to address cleanup of camps in streams and creeks to prevent further harm to the environment
when rains come and the drainages swell with water washing the solid waste into the San
Francisco Bay
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as
July 2015 through June 2017 — All enforcement contacts, citations, arrests, warrants,
abatements, and sites will be tracked by the officer assigned to the project. Monthly snap shots
will be visually archived to show the progression of sites and cleanups through the project.
Photographs of all offenders will be captured and hot lists distributed to patrol for repeat
offenders. This project will coordinate with the District Attorney to be sure all cases result in
offenders being placed on probation with terms not to engage in the same behavior within the
city. These efforts will primarily be conducted by the full time officer funded by this project but
will also be supplemented by uniformed patrol in the normal course of their duties.
Preventing Future Occurrences of Illegal Dumping
As mentioned in the goals and objectives section, the City plans on utilizing a regular and
consistent patrol strategy to abate problem locations and maintain constant and consistent
monitoring through aerial, off road vehicle, and foot patrols. The media will be used to raise
pubic awareness about the project and the progress to promote reporting and immediate
abatement before new sites can grow and take hold of an area.
Encourage Increased Reports of Illegal Dumping
As mentioned above, the City will encourage increased reporting of illegal dumping through
media releases, social media sites including NIXE, Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor. At all
fifteen neighborhood townhall meetings city wide in the spring and fall, district police officers
will present this project to their neighborhoods and promote reporting with handouts and
maps that identify the ways in which report can be made by phone or internet.
The City will also distribute fliers twice a year in City water bills to accomplish this goal. Local
transit agencies like City bus service will be used for advertisement and encourage reporting
through bus signs and signs at bus stops.
Grant Administration
This project will be administered by the City of Petaluma Police Department. This project will
be implemented through the supervision of an Operations Division Patrol Lieutenant who will
directly supervise the officer funded to accomplish the goals and objectives of this project. This
supervision and management of the officer funded by the project will in kind as part of the City
contribution to the project. As outlined in the grant instructions, the officer funded by this
project will commence the final report on or shortly after May 16, 2017 to ensure that it is
delivered to CalRecycle prior to June 30, 2017.
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