Change #1 -- 9 Jan -- added Commissioner's names to paragraph 2.
Change #2 -- 9 Jan -- added Parks & Maintenance Director's comments to para. 4.
Change #3 --14 Jan -- Police Chief Addington kindly clarified 3 changes to para. 3, indicated in red. (Thank you, Chief)
A Private Citizen's
After-Action Report on
The January 7 Meeting of
The Pittsburg Community Advisory Commission (CAC)
1. PURPOSE
To impart basic civic information of some importance to Pittsburg residents -- concerning last night's public meeting, as announced in this separate bulletin.
This report is an approximation of truth, based on hasty notes and recollections -- and should be taken as a sense of the event, rather than as a precisely accurate account. If I do discover significant errors or omissions, I will make the adjustment and signal this fact by a revision number, up in the title of this bulletin.
2. SYNOPSIS
Police Chief Addington gave a captivating presentation on the state of law enforcement in Pittsburg. The departmental record continues to glow.
The Chief reports this as a disturbing trend (he didn't say how many such cases there were, City-wide)
Chief Addington's 1/14/15 correction #2: "In the past year, we have had three cluster boxes stolen, one blue mail box stolen, and numerous reports of stolen mail (from personal mail boxes and cluster boxes.)"
The dedicated traffic team will now be on duty 6 days per week, rather than 5.
Last night, I attended a typically fascinating Community Advisory Commission meeting at City Hall. I was heartened to see Mayor Longmire present -- out of his busy schedule -- to speak at the end of the meeting -- in grateful recognition of these fine Pittsburg citizen-Commissioners' commitment to serving our community, voluntarily, and in such responsible fashion.
Community Advisory Commissioners are:
Community Advisory Commissioners are:
- Dennisha Marsh, Chair
- Larry Wirick, Vice Chair
- Jim Atchison
- J. Faye Fields
- Arthur Fountain
- Stewart Gregerson (absent)
- Judith O'Connor
Major and routine matters were discussed -- as touched-upon, below -- so that suitable recommendations to the City Council could be formed. The Chief of Police gave a major report and the Director of Parks and Maintenance fielded questions. Senior City Planner, Kristin Pollot, spoke on a Tree Preservation Ordinance and miscellaneous zoning matters (wireless telecommunications and alcohol beverage establishments)
3. POLICE CHIEF's REPORT
Police Chief Addington gave a captivating presentation on the state of law enforcement in Pittsburg. The departmental record continues to glow.
In General: He discussed such things as his plan to increase sworn staff from 77 to 78, in the Spring -- so as to augment the school service officer force; that the whole Department answered 68,000 service calls in 2013 and has experienced a 15% increase in 2014 (I think this may be great news, since civic-will to report crimes may be increasing); that other encouraging statistics prove the department's continued efficacy; that over 500 guns were removed from the street (and his CASE team is working to get them all); that there are presently 100 police video cameras around the City with active plans to further develop this essential capability -- things like that.
3.1 COMMUNITY COURT
The Chief described this as a way to divert offenders from a path-to-conviction for certain minor crimes -- bypassing the justice system -- for 1st-timers and juveniles -- who go before a hearing officer, rather than a judge -- with power to impose fines and community service (such service especially earmarked of behalf of a list of Pittsburg non-profit causes). A Guilty-finding goes on the offender's record -- but as a diversion, not a conviction.
Chief Addington's 1/14/15 correction #1: "a guilty plea is not on their record. The record will show an arrest, and that it was successfully diverted in lieu of prosecution."
Chief Addington's 1/14/15 correction #1: "a guilty plea is not on their record. The record will show an arrest, and that it was successfully diverted in lieu of prosecution."
Since it started last March, there have been 114 cases heard -- 32 successfully completed, 32 being settled, 28 non-responsive.
3.2 CLUSTER MAIL-BOXES
Problem: I personally know of one 114-home housing colony which was hit with the theft and vandalism of THREE out of TEN of their expensive outdoor cluster-mailbox units, each serving about 10 or more patrons.
Chief Addington's 1/14/15 correction #2: "In the past year, we have had three cluster boxes stolen, one blue mail box stolen, and numerous reports of stolen mail (from personal mail boxes and cluster boxes.)"
Response: The matter is now a high police priority:
- Police are on special look-out
- Cameras are under consideration
- The Post Office has assigned a Postal Inspector to team-up and liaise with City police, one day each week.
- Undercover operations are underway
- Technology to counteract this crime-type is being investigated
- A number of arrests have been made for mail theft
- Arrestees were often from outside the area
- Warning signs at the postal boxes is being contemplated
- An alert citizen reported a suspicious vehicle near a cluster-unit -- theft had not yet begun -- responding officers found stolen mail in the vehicle -- arrests made.
- NIXLE ALERT SYSTEM -- the Chief also reminded us that he had published mail-theft tips on this community alert system, a few months ago. Please see this Civic Mentor bulletin for details.
A Crucial Civic Action: Citizens are absolutely encouraged to report all suspicions of criminal activity. The police much rather we do this than not.
3.3 IF YOU'RE GOING ON VACATION
The Police Department's tracking resources are evolving. If you're going on vacation, you may notify the police. They will give you a device to place in your home -- which, if moved -- sends a signal to the police -- and if stolen, can be tracked -- and since they know that you're absent -- they can deduce this to be a potential burglary -- and will respond.
3.4 VEHICLE THEFT-SYSTEM
The department has certain vehicles equipped with an ALPR system which allows license plates to be scanned, on the move, feeding back to a database which determines the legal status of the vehicle. Very effective.
3.5 TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
4. PARKS AND MAINTENANCE
Director, Don Buchanan, fielded Commissioners' questions about tree-removal policy. He said that Eucalyptus trees are very problematic and have been officially shunned for over six years. Debris from some have again created clean-up difficulties following the recent relatively severe wind storm. Black Acacia trees are also problematic for the City.
In response to my inquiry, this morning (1/9/Fri), Director Buchanan answered this way:
In response to my inquiry, this morning (1/9/Fri), Director Buchanan answered this way:
Thanks David. In regards to tree removals, we only remove dead, diseased, fallen, or trees that are causing significant infrastructure problems (i.e. raised sidewalks).
The “approved plant list” is a guide for residents, and particularly developers, in Pittsburg to choose trees that are not problematic and thrive in our community.
Yes, the Eucalyptus and the Black Acacia are not desirable and have been removed from the list. This does not prevent a citizen from planting them on their private property if they choose.
With developers of subdivisions, where the street trees may eventually be ours to maintain, we require them to choose an alternative.
Existing Eucalyptus and Acacias are cared for to the best of our ability.
5. WATER BILL PAYMENT KIOSK now available at Railroad Book Store
Jill Hecht, Commission Secretary, reported that water bills may be paid at the Railroad Bookstore during normal business hours.
David Nelson
All Original Content © 2015, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.
