Attachment A PSJ 5-10 Miuntes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Public Safety and Justice (PSJ) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present   
 Subcommittee Members Absent  
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, Chair 
Councilman Jim Waring 
Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari 
Councilman Kevin Robinson 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman O’Brien called the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee to order at 9:32 
a.m. with Councilman Jim Waring, Councilman Kevin Robinson and Vice Mayor
Yassamin Ansari present.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
Ramiz Chaudhary spoke in opposition to apartment signage about vehicle towing not 
being in accordance with the City Code. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee Meeting
Vice Mayor Ansari made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 12, 2023, Public 
Safety and Justice Subcommittee meeting. Councilman Waring seconded the motion 
which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEMS 2-3) 
2. Judicial Reappointments
Councilman Robinson made a motion to reappoint Judge Wilbur Hudson III to a four-
year term, expiring May 24, 2027. Councilman Waring seconded the motion which 
passed unanimously, 4-0. 
Vice Mayor Ansari made a motion to reappoint Judge Don Taylor III as Chief Presiding 
Judge for an annual term expiring June 30, 2024. Councilman Waring seconded the 
motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
Chairwoman O’Brien congratulated the judges. 
Attachment A

3. Block Watch Recommendations 
Chairwoman O’Brien introduced Assistant Chief Charmane Osborn and Neighborhood 
Block Watch Grant Program (NBWGP) Oversight Committee Chair Carmen Arias to 
present on the item. 
Chief Osborn provided the background and overview of the goals of block watch grants. 
She explained the 2023 grant application process and eligibility criteria. She stated a 
total of 144 applications were received, with 130 recommended to receive full funding, 
10 recommended to receive partial funding, and four recommended to be denied. Chief 
Osborn requested approval of the new grant amount increase to $1.75 million and 
recommended 140 application approvals. 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked how much the fund balance was for the Block Watch 
Program and asked if funds can be used for the Gated Alley Program. 
Assistant City Manager Lori Bays replied the fund balance was $8 million and that she 
needed to verify with legal counsel if gated alleys met the criteria of the block watch 
ordinance. 
Councilman Waring stated he would like the Gated Alley Program to be expanded to 
other public areas. 
Ms. Bays replied staff would need to examine flood control areas or ownership of 
locations, but staff could explore options to bring back to the Subcommittee. 
Councilman Waring stated he believed water could still pass-through certain styles of 
gates. 
Vice Mayor Ansari thanked Chief Osborn for the work and asked for consideration of the 
$500 food limit to be increased due to the rising cost of food. 
Chief Osborn stated that option could be presented to Councilmembers for 
consideration. 
Chairwoman O’Brien opened the floor to public comment on this item. 
Lynn Collins requested the NBWGP Oversight Committee reconsider his youth 
basketball organization’s application because they provide after school programs and 
help youth attend college. 
Janeth Mayfield requested the NBWGP Oversight Committee reconsider her Maryvale 
senior community application because of their work on pedestrian safety and activation 
of Sueno Park. 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked if there was an appeal process for the groups that applied.

Chief Osborn replied both groups that spoke had an attempt to appeal yet scored below 
the threshold. 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked how much of the  FY2023-24 City Manager’s Proposed 
Budget was for Sueno Park. 
Ms. Bays replied she did not have the exact figure, though the Council would vote on 
the budget on May 16. 
Vice Mayor Ansari made a motion to approve Item 3. Councilman Waring seconded the 
motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-6)  
4. De-Escalation Training and Less Lethal Program Expansion 
Chairwoman O’Brien introduced Assistant Chief Bryan Chapman to present on the item. 
Chief Chapman overviewed the Police Chief’s de-escalation plan. He explained the 
benefits of using the Combined Tactical Systems (CTS) 40 millimeter (mm) and 
Pepperball gun, such as the effectiveness over long distances. He stated Advanced 
Less Lethal Tools were deployed 6,342 times onto a scene in September 2021 to March 
2023 with 689 total discharges and showed the precinct breakdown of those 
deployments. He overviewed the new operator certification and recertification trainings 
and stated additional CTS 40 mm and Pepperball systems were ordered, for one tool 
per trained officer. Chief Chapman shared success stories using less lethal tactics for 
positive outcomes between the Police and the community. 
Councilman Robinson thanked staff for the improvements to save lives and asked which 
community groups received the information. 
Chief Chapman relied staff presented to a committee that included community members 
who lived within Mountain View Precinct, Cactus Park Precinct, and representatives of 
the Chief’s Advisory Board. 
Councilman Robinson stated he would like to know the names of those committee 
members, to identify the voices of the most critical that need to be involved. 
Chief Chapman confirmed that list would be made available within the week. 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked how many officers are trained by the 14 instructors. 
Chief Chapman responded the trainings were capped at 25 officers, focused on the 
patrol division. He stated the 14 instructors teach different 10-hour modules in their area 
of expertise. 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked if there was a timeline for all officers to be trained.

Chief Chapman answered the timeline was approximately 16 months. 
Chairwoman O’Brien stated she looked forward to hearing additional community 
member input on the Less Lethal Program. 
5. Fire Department Challenge and Mitigation Strategies Update 
Chairwoman O’Brien introduced Chief Mike Duran and Executive Assistant Chief Scott 
Walker to present on the item. 
Chief Duran stated the positive updates presented show the direction of the Fire 
Department. He acknowledged firefighter and civilian staff for their efforts. 
Chief Walker identified what challenges existed and how the mitigation strategy focused 
on solutions for service over the last six months. He outlined increased staffing positions 
and shared about upcoming fire stations and apparatus. He shared the training plan for 
firefighter recruits, paramedic training, and Phoenix College Program. He explained the 
purpose of dispatch nature code revisions and telehealth 911 call diversion, modification 
of peak-time units and ladder company ALS conversion. He stated these efforts 
improved response times, reduced overtime, and additional units in service. 
Vice Mayor Ansari thanked staff for identifying solutions and for attending a District 7 
community meeting. 
Councilman Robinson asked about the type of training paramedics received to make 
medical decisions. 
Chief Walker replied continuing education classes discussed protocols and updated 
procedures that provide guidance for staff. 
Councilman Robinson asked how firefighters were protected against ailments from 
exposure on the job. 
Chief Duran listed the ways firefighters were kept safe and the programs for prevention. 
Chairwoman O’Brien thanked staff and stated she requested to hear about the progress 
for decreased response times. 
6. Park Security Update 
Chairwoman O’Brien introduced Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar and 
Assistant Director Martin Whitfield to present on the item. 
Ms. Aguilar said in November 2022 the City Council approved a six-month overnight 
security services pilot program. She defined the scope of work and how 12 parks were 
divided into patrol zones. She explained the security personnel roving duties and the 
type of observations made in the parks. Ms. Aguilar shared the positive outcomes park

rangers have noted because of the overnight security. She stated the next step was a 
transition to hire third-shift employees which were allocated in the City Manager’s 
Proposed Budget. 
Councilman Waring stated the program was successful and expressed the desire for 
additional park rangers to be hired to cover greater areas. He asked if there was a rule 
about appropriate apparel in parks. 
Ms. Aguilar replied the code of conduct in parks and in facilities was slightly different, 
but apparel misconduct could be addressed. 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked what the common reasons were for cars to be in the parks 
after hours. 
Ms. Aguilar responded a variety of activities occurring in the cars or unattended vehicles 
while in the park after hours. 
Vice Mayor Ansari expressed excitement for the new park ranger shift. She believed 
interdepartmental strategies would continue to be effective. She expressed her 
preference to train City employees and to limit contracting for services outside of the 
City. 
Chairwoman O’Brien expressed support of expanding the security services overnight 
and requested a transition plan in June. 
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEMS 7-8) 
7. Phoenix Police Department Hiring, Recruitment, and Attrition Monthly Report
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information.
8. Community Assistance Program (CAP) Hiring Report
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilman Waring requested a presentation on speeding from the Police Department. 
Vice Mayor Ansari requested an item for discussion and possible action on animal 
cruelty in June. Chairwoman O'Brien noted that an item on this topic is already 
scheduled in June.
ADJOURNMENT

Chairwoman O’Brien adjourned the meeting at 10:59 a.m. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Nina Fader 
Management Fellow