HomeMy WebLinkAboutDirect the Police Chief NOT to post information regarding thadopted by a vote the City's electorate
Recommended Action:
After the City Clerk reads by title, approve for introduction Ordinance No. 3906,
"An Ordinance of the City of Huntington Beach Amending Chapter 2.08 of the
Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to the City Administrator."
Approved 7-0
COUNCILMEMBER ITEMS
15. Submitted by Councilmember Connie Boardman - Consider changing the
start time of Study Sessions to 5:00 p.m. and City Council meetings to
7:00 p.m. for the first nine (9) weeks of the year (through May 2, 2011)
Recommended Action:
The City Charter (section 303a) allows the City Council to set the meeting time
by ordinance or resolution. I request that staff prepare a resolution changing
the meeting time of the Study Session from 6:-00 4:00 p.m. to TL.00 5:00 p.m.
for the first nine meetings of the year (through May 2, 2011). and that the Study
Se66*en6 begin at 5:00 .,
with the Glesed Session fellewing the Study
Session.. City Council meetings will continue to start at 6:00 p.m. fnr the Fe6t of
the
Approved as amended 7-0
16. Submitted by Councilmember Devin Dwyer - Request directing the Police
Department to post Arrest Log information on the City website, and
"Habitual Drunk Drivers" information on the Police Department's
Facebook page
Recommended Action:
DaFen4 the Dgline Pion Ftment to begin posting their Arrest Log on the PGline
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Police Department Chief NOT to post information regarding the arrest of
"Habitual Drunk Drivers" and their photo on the Police Department
Facebook page.
Approved as amended 4-3 (Harper, Hansen, Dwyer no)
17. Submitted by Councilmember Keith Bohr - Direct City Attorney to revise
City's sign Ordinance as it relates to political signs
Recommended Action:
Direct the City Attorney to bring back to the City Council a revised ordinance as
outlined for their consideration and to have the City Attorney analyze
Fountain Valley's political sign ordinance.
Approved as amended 6-1 (Harper no)
iU CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Devin Dwyer, City Council Member WD
Date: January 7, 2011
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE JANUARY 18, 2011,
CITY COUNCIL MEETING — PUBLIC RELEASE OF HABITUAL
DUI ARRESTS AND INFORMATION ON FACEBOOK
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On November 15, 2010, 1 suggested that the Police Department consider posting DUI
arrests on their newly debuted Facebook page. My suggestion was motivated by the
fact that many residents contacted me after a local newspaper stopped publishing the
information. Those residents and I believed that publishing the information may be a
deterrent to future incidents of drunk driving in our city, and we wanted to find a way to
continue making the information available to the public.
Since I made the suggestion, I have received a great deal of input, information, and
media attention concerning this topic. Some people criticized me for suggesting that
arrest information, absent a conviction, should be made available to the public.
However, Government Code Section 6254 (f) requires that law enforcement agencies
shall make information available to the public regarding every individual arrested by
that agency. In fact, the Huntington Beach Police Department already does this, and
that is how the local newspaper was able to obtain information on people arrested for
DUI.
While doing research on this matter, I met with the Police Chief and City Manager. I
also received information from the California Chapter of the Mothers Against Drunk
Drivers (MADD). One thing I learned is that "Habitual Drunk Drivers" pose a significant
risk to public safety. "Habitual Drunk Drivers" are individuals who have been arrested
for drunk driving multiple times, and these individuals often continue to drive even
though their licenses have been suspended or revoked. The Police Department
currently posts information, including photographs, of significant and other newsworthy
arrests on their Facebook page. It is my recommendation that information concerning
the arrests of "Habitual Drunk Drivers" should be posted on the Facebook page as well.
Posting this information may serve as a deterrent to continued driving by individuals
whose license has been suspended or revoked. It may also serve to alert the public so
that future violations by these individuals are promptly reported to law enforcement
officials. In my view, posting this information is a reasonable step to take to enhance
the safety of Huntington Beach residents and visitors.
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4,9 UC '-S iUo i A-�S.7_
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE JANUARY 18, 2011, CITY COUNCIL. MEETING — REGISTERED
SEX OFFENDER RESIDENCY RESTRICTION
Page 2
January 7, 2011
Currently, many law enforcement agencies in California, including some agencies in
Orange County, post information concerning all individuals arrested by that agency
(commonly referred to as an Arrest Log) on their department website. The Huntington
Beach Police Department maintains a "paper" Arrest Log that they make available to the
public at the Police Department. This system requires a great deal of staff time to
prepare and maintain, and there is very limited access to the information because it
requires visiting the Police Department to see it. The current system makes no sense
considering today's state of technology. It is my recommendation that the Police
Department, as soon as is reasonably possible; make the Arrest Log available on their
department website. Additionally, an internet accessible computer should be made
available in the Police Department lobby for people who cannot otherwise access the
information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct the Police Department to begin posting their Arrest Log on the Police Department
website as soon as practicable, and place an internet accessible computer in the Police
Department lobby to allow individuals to access the information if they have no other
means to access the website. Also, direct the Police Department to post information
regarding the arrest of "Habitual Drunk Drivers" and their photo on the Police
Department's Facebook page.
xc: Fred Wilson, City Manager
Paul Emery, Deputy City Administrator
Bob Hall, Deputy City Administrator
Joan Flynn, City Clerk
Ken Small, Police Chief
Esparza, Patty
From: Surf City Pipeline [noreply@user.govoutreach.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 6:11 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL; agendaalerts@surfcity-hb.org
Subject: Surf City Pipeline: Comment on an Agenda Item (notification)
Request # 7276 from the Government Outreach System has been assigned to Johanna Stephenson.
Request type: Comment
Request area: City Council - Comment on an Agenda Item
Citizen name: Mark Brennaman
Description: I was horrified when I read that you are considering posting photos of those convicted of
DUIs. Why stop there. Light a fire, get a DUI branding iron red hot and sear their
foreheads --NOT!
You must know that once posted, those photos will never disappear. Surely, your
collective wisdom can be used to create a system that actually treats (instead of
humiliates) those who have an alcohol problem.
I have known a person who was killed by a drunk driver and I have known a person who
drove drunk and killed someone. I've been on both ends of this terrible phenomena.
Posting photos on Facebook will NOT help a single person to heal from a disease.
Actually, I would expect such a proposal from South Carolina, not from a supposedly
sophisticated state like California.
Almost daily we hear of a mayor, police chief and other elected officials being arrested
for DUI. Will YOUR photo be one of those? How about someone in YOUR family?
Honestly, do any of you think you will solve an alcohol problem by posting photos on
Facebook???
Expected Close Date: 01/19/2011
Click here to access the request
Note: This message is for notification purposes only. Please do not reply to this email. Email replies are not
monitored and will be ignored.
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