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<br />Member asked about the Department and if different layers of his Department were <br />consulted. The Chief confirmed that fact and he was asked to share some of the ideas <br />that were brought forth by various members of his organization. Mr. Ed Hernandez <br />shared some of the ideas which included keeping CSOs and eliminate Sworn Officers. <br />The position of Mr. Velarde, Juvenile Officer Position, was discussed. <br /> <br />Another Council Member asked what measures Mr. Cobarruviaz has taken to decrease <br />crime and he referred to the RIMS system and other available tools. Council also <br />inquired if staff that was bilingual was going to be impacted and the Chief provided <br />some history. There were multiple questions about flexibility of shifts and other <br />operational issues. Mayor Ira shared his concern that community policing is being <br />replaced by a more traditional model of Police Officers. <br /> <br />Public Comment: <br />Mike Reynolds, President of the Redwood City Police Officers Association (POA), said <br />that the Police Chief and command staff have had open and proactive lines of <br />communication with the POA. He made a case for supporting sworn officers in terms of <br />public safety and he provided statistics on work done by sworn officers. He opined that <br />further cuts would dangerously affect core services and he expressed the POA's <br />gratitude to Council for their efforts. <br /> <br />Chris Barry said she is a resident and lives in an area that depends on the police due to <br />gang activity and drug dealing. She spoke in support of the police and how they put <br />their lives on the line every day. She asked Council to not cut any police officers <br />because it would make this community less safe. <br /> <br />Council Discussion <br />One Council Member would like to retain the juvenile officer position. Another Council <br />Member concurred with said approach. There was Council consensus to not cut any <br />more sworn officers. One Council Member asked the POA and PSA to go back and <br />consider a salary freeze in order to find a way to keep positions. Another Council <br />Member was not interested in cutting sworn officers. One Council Member would have <br />liked to see more innovation in this Department. Mayor Ira shared his disappointment <br />at the two unions that did not agree to a salary freeze. He also stated that next year he <br />would prefer not to have staff cuts and so the answer rests in salary freezes and <br />benefits. <br /> <br />Fire Department Presentation <br />Chief Skinner provided a brief overview of his reasoning and how hard he tried to <br />reduce lay-offs. He spoke about concerns around response levels and reducing <br />liabilities in various engines. He provided information on neighboring cities' Fire <br />Departments and the ultimate goal to reduce overtime in the Fire Department. <br /> <br />Council Discussion <br />One Council Member appreciated the fact that IAFF took a salary freeze. Council <br />asked about the trade offs of cutting overtime versus cutting positions. One Council <br />Member asked specifically what would this look like for the community. One Council <br />Member opined that out of all the Department budgets this is the more innovative <br /> <br />SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD <br />MEETING MINUTES <br /> <br />June 21, 2010 <br />PAGE 5 <br />