The City Council met in study session at City Hall in the West Conference Room,456 West Olive Avenue Sunnyvale, California on April 3, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., with Vice Mayor Spitaleri presiding.

City Councilmembers Present:

Mayor Lee

Vice Mayor Spitaleri

Councilmember Moylan

Councilmember Howe

Councilmember Swegles

Councilmember Hamilton

Councilmember Chu

City Councilmembers Absent:

None

City Staff Present:

Amy Chan, City Manager

Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager

Cathy Berry, Senior Assistant City Attorney

Don Johnson, Director of Public Safety

Mark Stivers, Deputy Chief, Public Safety

Chris Carrion, Captain, Public Safety

Kelly Fitzgerald, Captain, Public Safety

Heather Tannehill, Manager, Public Safety

Dale Huber, Acting Neighborhood Preservation Manager

Visitors/Guests Present:

Members of the public were present

Call to Order: 6:00 p.m.

Study Session Summary:  

Don Johnson, Director of Public Safety opened the session with a brief explanation of the Study Issue to explore option to deal with extraordinary Public Safety Responses to large gatherings and entertainment venues, and explained that overall challenge faced by DPS when the resources are all directed to one event.  Mark Stivers, Deputy Chief, then provided a Power Point presentation outlining the current issues and demand, the current policies and procedures the City has in place, examples of how other jurisdictions mitigate the problems, and laid out options for the City to consider.

The presentation included slides that graphed responses to the Downtown area and Club Barcelona, this drew clarification questions from Councilmembers Hamilton, Spitaleri, and Chu.

The City Manager asked DC Stivers to give a brief explanation of the Stolen Vehicle “sting operation” that was conducted at Club Barcelona.

While Council did not provide direction at this meeting, they did provide feedback on the options presented for implementation that include, from Councilmembers Hamilton and Moylan, requiring prior notification from event hosts that include guidelines for the Security mechanisms they will provide.  Mayor Lee supports the cost recovery pieces and suggested staff incorporates stiff penalties for violations.  Councilmember Howe stressed that the Downtown area needs to be family friendly and that staff needs to be mindful of resources being focused on the Entertainment Areas would not detract from safety elsewhere.

Councilmember Hamilton asked about the cost recovery process, and if it was intended to be full-cost recovery.  The City Manager explained that it was intended as a tool, and that the intention was to take care of the problem up front with stated conditions and consequences.

Staff concluded the presentation and will report back to Council in May with a recommendation that considers the feedback provided in the Study Session.

Public comments were received.

Adjournment: 6:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Heather Tannehill, Manager