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1994/06/21 City Council MinutesP-hncyrt Pa rk t' i tv 1'cmnc- i I M i rmt.H:: Jijno 21, 1 y 94 The Council of the C i t.v of Rohnert. Park met. this dat.N i n :;pec- i a 1 113,44-95 Rudget. work :;os s ion Commencing at. 6:00 p.m. in the City Offices, 6750 Commerce Boulevard, Rohnert. Park, with Mayor Reilly presi.dinq. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Reilly at approximat ROLL CALL Present: (5) Absent: (0) called the special work session to order ely 6:02 p.m. Councilmembers Eck, Spiro, Gallacyher. (6:08 p.m.), Hollingsworth 16:05 p.m.), and Mayor Reilly_ None Staff present for all or part of the meeting: City Manaqer Netter, Assistant City Manacler Leivo, and City Finance Director Harrow. Unscheduled P1ihl i.r Appearances Mayor Reilly stated that in compliance with State Law (The Brown Act), citizens wishing to make a comment may do so at this time. Mayor Reilly stated that he received a speaker card from Juli Wood and asked if she would like to speak. She declined. Alexis Riecker, 134 Veronda Way, Cotati stated that: * Officer Larry Jones is an asset for citizens; * Citizens do not take lightly the decision to assign Officer Jones to patrol; * The trust of children is being damaged; * Officer Jones has a gift, a sense of caring; * Officer Jones helps people see other options; * A concern about the DARE program is that it will only help fifth and sixth grade students; and * Officer Jones went two or three times to her daughter's pre - school. Hollingsworth Arrives Councilman Hollingsworth arrived at 6:05 p.m. Alexis Riecker read excerpts from an article that appeared in the Community Voice. She stated that Officer Jones has done an excellent job. Why should the City Council favor the DARE program over the Officer Friendly program. We must have Officer Jones back to keep the trust of children. We, the people, have spoken. ROtirlor. t. Park C' i t.y Caunt:- i l M1 nlit.r? i :� ,i Caroline Jones, 398 Bruce Ave., stated that Officer Jones but that she was She read from a prepared statem to Councilmembers. She provided article, "Why It is Time to Alcohol and Drug Prevention." JIM(- 21, 1994 she was the wife of not representing him. ent which was provided Councilmembers with an Reinvent School -Based Gallaqher Arrives Councilwoman Gallagher arrived at 6:08 p.m. during the presentation by Ms. Jones. Mayor Reilly stated that he received a speaker card from Nanci Spangler and asked if she would like to speak. She declined. Linda Branscomb, 6585 Commerce Blvd., #188, discussed the proposed budget and specifically: * Proposed additional staff; * The Performing Arts Center; * Increasing revenues; * Attracting non - polluting, light industry; * Promotion of the Wine Center; * Deleting the proposal to acquire a golf course; * Includinq funds for a long term general plan; * Protecting open space; and * The need to continue working with other local governments. She also stated that there needs to be a compromise regarding Officer Jones. Other officers can learn from him. Perhaps Officer Jones could spend 1/2 time on patrol and 1/2 time on officer friendly program duties. Proposed Budget Mayor Reilly asked City Manager Netter to review the proposed 1994 -95 budget. City Manager Netter noted that the proposed budget was balanced. He reviewed projected revenues, use of reserve funds, the proposed new positions and employee reclassifications. City Manager Netter noted that the proposed budget incorporated a five percent increase in Councilmember's salaries. Motion Upon motion by Councilman Hollingsworth, seconded by Mayor Reilly, to not approve the five percent increase in Councilmember's salaries, was unanimously approved. Proposed Budget City Manager Netter continued to review the proposed budget and respond to questions from Councilmembers. Topics discussed included: * Enrolling City Attorney Flitner in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); Rohnert Park City Council. Minutes (:3) ,Turie 2-1, 1994 * The increase in sales taxes; * Fee increases; * The inflation index utilized; * The sewer operating fund; * Salary caps, job descriptions and salary surveys; * Cost -of- living salary increases; * Rohnert Park salaries compared to other city salaries; * The proposed rent control /CDA housing position; * The proposed new Public Safety Department positions; * Rohnert Park's Public Safety budget compared to that of the City of Petaluma; and * The public safety concept and cost savings. Councilmember Concerns Councilmembers listed issues that they wanted to discuss further. Issues listed included: * Adding 6.25 positions while eliminating the infrastructure reserve; * The proposed PSO position may be needed to resolve the rotation, Office Jones issue; * Hiring two Public Safety officers in addition to those proposed in the budget; * Whether the State will reduce revenues received by the City; * If the Transient Occupancy Taxes are overstated; * The need to have adequate reserves; and * Taking another look at the DARE program. DARE and School Resources Officer Programs Councilmembers discussed the DARE and School Resource Officer programs. Topics discussed included: * Whether there is a compromise or if Councilmembers must choose between supporting the management decision or attempt to override it; * Only one person must administer the Public Safety Department and that is Chief Rooney; * The DARE program was successful in other cities; * Whether the Council should get involved in the actual workings of the Public Safety Department; * The Councilmembers acknowledge the accomplishments of Officer Friendly program; * Chief Rooney must be given an opportunity to manage the Public Safety Department; * About 175 petition signers dad not live in Rohnert Park; * The Council should not discuss personnel matters unless it is in the context of a grievance proceeding; and Rohnert. Park City Cotinc.i l Minutes (4 ) Tune 21, 1994 * If the program could be expanded to include Officer Jones. Motion Councilman Eck made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Gallagher, to direct staff to report at the next budget session the plan to resolve the Officer Friendly Program issue taking into consideration the provisions of the MOU, the rotation policy, and the proposed new Public Safety position, the Crime Prevention Officer. The Councilmembers discussed the motion. Statements made included the following: City administrators decide who fills a given position; * Every officer should have an equal opportunity to fill a given position; * Staff should try to resolve the issues between the groups; * We should consider the children first; and * The City should continue the Officer Friendly program and consider the DARE program next year. Withdrawal of Second Councilwoman Gallagher stated that she understood that the motion requested that staff should address why an individual with a proven record should be assigned patrol duties. Councilman Eck stated that his motion did not include that item. Councilwoman Gallagher withdrew her second. Second and Vote Councilwoman Spiro seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. Recess Mayor Reilly declared a recess at 8:25 p.m. Reconvene Mayor Reilly reconvened the Council meeting at approximately 8:43 p.m. with all Councilmembers present. Budget Sessions After Council discussion, Mayor Reilly declared that the next Budget Work Session would be held on July 5, 1994 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Council discussed holding a morning meeting at 7:30 a.m, at which representatives for agencies requesting funds could make presentations. The Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed 1994 -95 budget on July 12, 1994 during the regular Council meeting. Real Property Transfer Tax The Council addressed the real property transfer tax. Councilwoman Gallagher made a motion to not increase Rohnert Park City Council Minutes (5) .Tune 21, 1994 the real property transfer tax. The motion died for lack of a second. Revenues The Council discussed ways to enhance revenues including creating a public relations positions or providing additional funds to the Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau. Interest earnings should be higher in 1994 -95 than the past fiscal year. The Council discussed the number of motel /hotel rooms in Rohnert Park and State funds for libraries. Announcements Mayor Reilly announced that Warren Hopkins will be honored with the dedication of the Commerce Blvd. bus shelter at 2:00 p.m. on June 22, 1994. After Council discussion, Mayor Reilly announced that the next regular City Council meeting on June 28, 1994 will begin at 6:30 p.m. so that Councilmembers could attend the open house at the new Chamber of Commerce office. The open house will begin at 5:30 p.m. Councilman Eck stated that he would not be at the next Council meeting. Unscheduled Public Appearances Mayor Reilly stated that any citizens who wished to make comment may do so at this time. Debbie Hales, 825 Liana Court asked several questions regarding details in the budget document. City Manager Netter responded to her questions. Jake Mackenzie, 1536 Gladstone Way, reviewed items of interest to him in the proposed budget including: * The cost of purchasing water from the Sonoma County Water Agency versus pumping water from City wells; * Capital improvements recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission; * A in -line skate hockey facility; * Recommendations of the Bicycle Committee; and * Expansion of the wastewater treatment plant capacity. Adjournment There being no one further wanting to be heard and there being no further business to conduct, Mayor Reilly adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. P 09Z Q C ty Clerk yor Carolyn Jones 398 Bruce Avenue Rohnert Park I am the wife of Larry Jones /Officer Friendly. I am representing my own thoughts and observations. TO: the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, Chief Rooney, Police Officers Association and to the concerned community: I ask you to call a time -out ... to step back and take a look. To take 4 looks! LOOK #l: Do these school based preventions programs work of and by themselves ?? I refer you to an article from the Summer 1994 edition of Prevention File. While I encourage you to study the entire article, I'd like to draw your attention to: 1st page - center column ... D.A.R.E., the most widely used school -based prevention program had zero effect on later alcohol and other drug use.... The RTI analysis incorporated findings from eight separate evaluation studies, and is thus especially convincing." 2nd page - third column "If we do not wake up, yet another dismal cycle of expensive failure will surely result. ... D.A.R.E. .... Here's Looking At You .... It is especially sad and frustrating that the dedicated professionals in education and law enforcement who deliver these programs may be enticed into yet another cycle of wasted effort. Their precious commitment would better be redirected into approaches that actually have an impact on the problems they are trying to prevent." 3rd page - end of the article "The long -term economic and social costs of alcohol and other drug use will be immeasurably greater if we continue to depend on prevention programs that do not work. Tomorrow's medical, prison, and welfare bills for the children we could have helped today will surely exceed our means." 3rd page - center column " .... a kind of counselor /case manager is sorely needed. Case managers would follow high -risk children throughout schooling, making sure that appropriate referrals and support are there when needed." And, hasn't Larry been a "simplified version" of a case manager for 14 years ?? LOOK # 2: Limited Resources A. The article refers to 2 similar programs -- D.A.R.E. and Here's Looking At You. From what information I have been able to gather, I believe in 1989 or 90, the Rohnert Park School District received federal /state funds to begin the Here's Looking At You 2000 program. I believe, to date: - all the district's schools have had an initial overview, - between 75 and 100 elementary school teachers have received a 2 -day training, - & approximately $18,000 to $20,000 has been spent on Here's Looking At You kits. Why don't we stop and take a look! Take a look at D.A.R.E. and take a look at Here's Looking At You 2000. Keep what might be useful from these programs. Find out their similarities -- not only with each other, but to what's already in place through the Officer Friendly program. Why not see what material already exists, what training's already occurred, what money has already been spent? Why not combine the best of each - while realizing, as stated in the article, that this is only a piece of what's needed. B. Larry Jones as Officer Friendly Is he not a 14 -year resource to this city? I will not bore you with a recap of the numerous public acknowledgements of success. But I would like to share a few of the private ones -- the ones that happen every day -- the ones YOU never hear about. - The young teenager who's willing to share with Larry that he's being intimidated at the bus stop by an older student. What can he do? - The 12 -year old girl whose seeking love through promiscuity. - The child from a dysfunctional family, who seeks advice on their particular situation. Or the child whose parent has just lost their job and may be losing their home. These children know Larry will be confidential. He will handle their "embarrassing" (to them) situation with dignity and respect. - The teenager who's bordering on gang activity. But Larry spots his interest in basketball. The trust and rapport he builds with this young man allows Larry to discover the youth cannot afford the basketball shoes. And the next day, a shoe box with a pair of size 11, black, high -top shoes quietly passes (from Larry) into this young man's hands. And this young man finishes a basketball season with accomplishments and new self - esteem. - The teenager, whose heart's breaking from rejection of his first love. The emotional pain is such that he considers life may not be worth continuing. But Larry embraces him and assures him -- not once, but many times over the next few weeks -- that there is a future. - The youth- turned - adults who come back years later to say "Thank You ". "YOU made the difference in my life. I was headed down the wrong path -- who knows where I would have gone without your intervention." - The parents of runaways who call in the middle of the night, panicked at the safety of their child. - The parents who say: "please talk to my son, my daughter. They will listen to you." - The parents that Larry reaches out to -- with concerns he's noticed about their children. He sees! He knows! Because, he's out there and available every day! He is their confidant. He listens to their troubles about home, about school, about LIFE! ... He can direct them to counselors and to programs. He can intervene. And, he has been blessed with a God -given intuitive gift of relating to youth. And he does this not just during his shift. He's in their lives after hours. As an example, he coaches Junior High and High School sports, when his shift ended at 3:00pm. This availability is not just directly for the kids he coaches. For he purposefully puts himself in proximity of hundreds of others as they come and go. This special trust -- this special bond -- he has developed with 1) kids from pre- school through high school, 2 ) with their parents, and 3) with the community in general through such functions as Neighborhood Watch. Do you just throw that out the window -- this proven resource -- and start from scratch? Or ..... do you, perhaps, consider building? Building onto an existing and successful program. I say enhance , it -- don't destroy it! Take a hard look! For it IS a time of limited resources, but it's also a time for creative management. LOOK #3: Involvement of the other Officers I commend the direction the Department of Public Safety has taken in encouraging pro - active involvement of officers with the youth and the community. I understand the other officers have felt denied the opportunity to work with youth? But, Chief Rooney, why don't you ask these same officers why you only received 4 applications for the new D.A.R.E. position. Actually, I believe it was 5, as one was also submitted by officer Larry Jones. If they truly want involvement, there are ways to get them involved. As mentioned in the council meeting memo of last week, June 14th: "Officer Jones will be encouraged to continue his contacts with the schools in his patrol assignments ". Why can't all the officers have this opportunity -- to patrol and involve themselves with the schools? But I will still submit a request that Larry remain where he belongs -- in those schools full -time. Use Larry - your resource! He can be a bridge! Partner the officers with him! Let me add a word of caution: having worked for years as a liaison between patients and staff in the medical field, I know that not everyone has been graced with the same level of "people skills ". Someone can be a great physician with expertise in anatomy and in making a diagnosis. And someone can be a great police officer and know the code book inside and out. Yet each of these highly qualified individuals may lack people skills -- especially the art of interacting with young people. It's naive at best to think all officers will excel in this role. But everyone can improve and should be given the opportunity to learn. Larry Jones can be there to direct this. And that's what the children and the community are saying! "Yes! Add other officers. But don't take Officer Jones away!" Now, if the issue for the officers is the "rotation rule ", then I believe you need to ask: "What is in the best interest of the majority ?" That majority seems to be the youth and the community. And it IS the chief's right, as determined by the grievance committee on December 14, 1992, to exempt this position from rotation! LOOK #4: (Last, but most important!) The Needs of the Youth and the Community They are speaking to you! What kind of message will you send back to them? "Your voice doesn't count? Your needs don't matter ?" It certainly WOULD be a message about a government for the people. About a police department that responds to serving the community. You may say: "But we have this new program. Give it a chance. Yes, ... it can only reach 2 grades the first year. But that's the best we can do." But: you have a successful program that's already covering all ages! So, what message is that to the rest of our youth who are not in those 2 grades? These kids -- of ALL ages -- are crying: "Do NOT abandon us -- we need Officer Larry Jones in our lives NOW!" This community is calling out to you! So, I beg you: Call a time -out - -- AND HEAR YOUR PEOPLE'S CRIES! Thank you. 11 a r t . By Rodney Skaver, PhD he news from research on the effectiveness of our favorite strategies for drug and alcohol prevention in schools is mainly dismal. Armand Mauss, PhD, and his colleagues at Washington State University found that high school stu- dents exposed since kindergarten to one popular curriculum failed to show reduced alcohol use (Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Vol. 49, No. 1, 1988). Mauss and his co- authors asked how we could imagine that any approach to alcohol prevention limited to the classroom could be effective in a society so relentlessly dedi- cated to the promotion of drinking. Susan Ennett; PhD, and her associates at North Carolina's Research Triangle institute reported that DARE , (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the most widely used school -based preven- tion program, had zero effect on later alco- hol and other drug use (Proceedings of the Conference on Evaluating School - Linked Prevention Strategies, UCSD, 1993). The RTl analysis incorporated findings from eight separate evaluation studies. and is thus especially convincing. 0 rt the motives underly- ing experimentation with alcohol and other drugs by young people entering their teen years. DARE has also ignored the need for formative research and evaluation, instead depending mainly on marketing and political clout to promote its adop- ...our society holds tenaciously to the idea that drug use is a kind of disease... In the proceedings of the same 1993 UCSD conference, William Hansen, PhD, of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University in North Carolina, attributed the ineffective- ness of DARE in part to its failure to address tion. In view of these negative findings about popular strategies of school -based prevention, we should rec- ognize the importance of carefully designed, independent research by i Michael Newcomb and Peter Bentler at i UCLA (Consequences of Adolescent Drug Use, Sage Publications, 1988) and SUMMER 1994 PREVENTION FILE 11 Jonathan Shedler and Jack Block at UC Berkeley (American Psychologist, Vol. 45, No. 5, 1990) revealing that most adoles- cents who experiment with alcohol and other drugs do not progress to problematic use. Those who do experiment are affected by the risk factors David Hawkins, PhD, and others have found to be associated with the various behavior problems occurring among contemporary youth (Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 112, No. 1, 1992). These findings are contro- versial, not because of the quality of the research on which they are based, but because our society holds tenaciously to the idea that drug abuse is a kind of disease least not yet —and are actually uncomfort- able with people who do (Preventive Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 3, 1991). Involvement of peer models in such pro- grams recognizes the power of identification and imitation in this age group. Training in resistance skills (how to say no without los- ing potential friends, recognizing motives underlying invitations to drink or use, and analyzing advertising to detect the underly- ing messages) is a natural complement to social influence approaches. Admittedly, the social Fortunately, the majority of children in schools are not high -risk. contracted by people who try drugs. It fol- lows that the educational tactic for fighting the spread of that disease is to warn people that using drugs will turn them into addicts or ruin their health. Unfortunately, this approach does not work. Most young people realize that these warnings are exaggerated and do not apply to the moderate drinking or using they see around them. Despite the gloom just expressed, there are encouraging developments in school - based prevention. These include strategies designed to take advantage of the intense desire to imitate peers that drives most chil- dren entering their teen years. The social influence model described by Hansen and John Graham, PhD, is designed to deal with the common tendency of teenagers to believe that everybody does it. This prevention technique consists of .��mnnCYr'1 r1nll rn 1rnt'na nP nlP rll'Ir mncr of influence approach does not always produce results, as Phyllis Ellickson, PhD, and her associates reported (Health Education Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2, 1993). It also will be criticized as merely a strategy in delaying use, especially by the idealists wedded to the fantasy that drug use in the younger popula- tion can somehow be wiped out entirely. But delaying use is an appropriate goal. Early use is likely to be more developmentally dam- aging than later use. In our society delaying the use of alcohol is also the only realis- result, research revealing that most young people who try alcohol and other drugs do not progress to substance abuse has been ignored in most school -based prevention programs. If we do not wake up, yet another dismAl cycle of expensive failure will surely result. A new DARE program likely to be founded on the same assumptions is already in production. Perhaps there will also be an updated version of the popular Here's Looking at You drug prevention curriculum or its equivalent on the market before long. It is especially sad and frustrating that the dedicated professionals in education and law enforcement who deliver these programs may be enticed into yet another cycle of wasted effort. Their precious commitment would better be redirected into approaches that actually have an impact on the prob- lems they are trying to prevent. Even more disturbing is the way in Despite the gloom ... there are encouraging developments in school -based prevention. tic goal for most young peo- ple. But social influence approaches are not effective for high -risk young people. For them, radically different approaches are needed, working directly with them to repair the damage done by the negative influences on their personalities during their childhood. Unfortunately, our society does not want to hear about the personal and social influ- Pnrpr rtt tl9r lip Anto ttcp Ir nrpfprc rn which popular acceptance of the disease concept keeps us from coming to grips with the real factors leading to drug use and other behavior problems seen in young people (and adults). Risk factors involving dysfunctional family and social relationships are conve- niently ignored in favor of preachy, band - aid approaches. In a society willing to face its problems, those same risk factors would be the basis for identifying vulnerable chil- dren early on. Children at high levels of risk need help in the elementary years rather than only after they have developed deviant patterns of behavior. We also know that the risk fac- rnrc )rp n nprir_rlior is rick farrnrc ianri- nected with failure and misbehavior in school, early sexual involvement and preg- nancy, and violence and delinquency in the community. with other services such as special edu- cation, parenting programs, and, where there is severe neglect and abuse, foster parenting arrangements. 4 It is time to reinvent school -based pre- Early intervention must also articu- vention and intervention. Fortunately, the late with already existing types of 'Stud majority of children in schools are not high risk. What they need instead of lectures by adults is preven- If we tion approaches in tune with wake up, y the reasons why so many ordi- dismal nary young people try alcohol expensive and other drugs. But, for the 20 to 30 percent of school surely children who are at risk, early intervention and follow -up offer the best chance that a prevention program will do some good. This is the point where educators become suspicious. They expect another call for the radical restructuring of schooling in response to social problems for which the schools are not responsible. Yet, approaches are available that do not make unrealistic demands on schools. For example, for chil- dren from families with alcohol and drug problems there are elementary school cur- ricula based on the support -group concept such as that developed by Rosemary Tisch (Kids Are Special— School Based Group Manual, San Jose, Eastfield Ming Quong, 1993). Substance - abusing families have long been recognized as quintessential high -risk environments, although children in these families face the same basic problems that children face in other kinds of dysfunctional families. My colleagues and 1 learned in a recent three -year study (also in the UCSD conference report, 1993) that these kinds of support groups can function effectively in regular public schools, but need to be tied in assistance programs in secondary schaot9 another form of support tli cents, even those who are already involved with problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, are open to alternative approaches to intervention using peer groups and open discussion and confrontation. However, these programs will not work as isolated hit - and -miss skirmishes, considering the lasting problems these children face. School dis- tricts must learn to track and continuously assist such children. A new educational role Prograrr for a kind of counselor/case work as ic. manager is sorely needed. and -miss Case managers would follow high -risk children throughout wmmmmw "® schooling, making sure that appropriate referrals and support are there when needed. It is truly in the interest of educators to begin thinking along these lines. There is no social agency other than the school that can intervene in large numbers with chil- dren at risk. Moreover, the viability of pub- lic schools as educational institutions is seri- ously compromised by disruption associated with indifferent or rebellious and destruc- tive adolescents who did not receive help when their problems first surfaced. e cities the affluen asses are pulling their children out oflic schools, and in many instances for reasons. Obviously, society has to pro - vide schools with the support that is need- ed. This is not likely to come from regular sources of school funding. The need and potential benefits have to be recognized in Congress and the White House. Yes, these proposals would require funding from government and broader vision among school boards and educators. But those who despair must recognize that what we might spend would be far less than the billions now spent on high -tech drug interduction and law enforcement boondoggles like barrage balloons on the Texas border s will not or paramilitary operations in South American jungles. The olated, hit- long -term economic and social skirmishes. costs of alcohol and other drug •�••� use will be immeasurably greater if we continue to depend on preven- tion programs that do not work. Tomorrow's medical, prison, and welfare bills for the children we could have helped today will surely exceed our means. C1 Rodney Skager, PhD, is professor of educational psychology at the Graduate School of Education at UCLA. To obtain a copy of the 1993 UCSD conference report, write to ATODS, UCSD Extension-0 9500 Gilman Or., La Jolla, CA 92093 -0176. "i s 1v 4 + ot Control in Sweden i x 6! 7 > L ■ H 5 1 evention in cl~ools 3:, sir � v - t 1-.. �,�k �• "aa L SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY - RUBEN SA" LIK, N]