08-26-02 Joint Meeting Health & Public Safety and Residential Neighborhoods

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tommittr **port Point meting of the tealth an teubzit *a[hhtt tommittet alntr the Xtesibential eigijboroodz Committee The August 26, 2002 meeting of the joint meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee and the Residential Neighborhoods Committee was called to order by Residential Neighborhoods Committee Chairperson, Council Member Charlotte Pfeifer at 5:07 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Varner, Aranowski, Pfeifer, King, Kelly, Kirsits, Coleman and White; City Attorney Charles Leone, Director of Public Works Gary Gilot, Citizen Member Isabele Gonzalez,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. Council Member Pfeifer that Bill No. 42-02 which addresses Gang Loitering Regulations was referred b y the Common Council to the Health and Public Safety and the Residential Neighborhoods Committees for further review and recommendation. She noted that the ordinance will have city-wide effect with particular emphasis on "hot spots" where gang or narcotic activities are going on in conjunction with loitering. She noted that there have been many meetings with the Council, with Police Officers including the Police Administration, with members of the Legal Department and our Council Attorney. She noted that in the 13 or so community meetings held on the proposed ordinance that racial profiling was raised as a possible concern. She noted that the " proposed ordinance covers behavior, behavior, behavior and with proper training of the police officers", racial profiling should not take place. The ordinance has been carefully drafted so that it is"behavior specific". She further noted that there is a lot of misinformation out in the community, however she hopes that in light of the many opportunities which the public has had to participate in the process that there is now a better understanding of the proposed ordinance. Council Member Pfeifer noted that under the current ordinance in effect in this area in Chicago that they have had over 18,000 dispersements. She noted that some of the local police officers have cited that fact that they cannot arrest an individual and therefore the ordinance would have limited effect. Council Member Pfeifer stated that disbursement rather than arrest has been the key enforcement component in Chicago and the concerns raised about the lack of arrest power are not a real issue. She stated that if the officers are truly concerned about that issue, that they should contact the State Legislature to voice their concerns. She noted that Police Officers must have _. probable cause based on factual information in order to enforce this ordinance. The ordinance should provide an additional tool to the police department to address behavior which is compromising the quality of life in many areas of our neighborhoods. Council Member Pfeifer stated that if this ordinance is passed, that training must take place prior to enforcement from the Chief down to the Patrol Officer. She noted that with an effective date of January 1, 2003, that this additional time between passage and implementation should provide the time necessary for training to take place. Council Member White noted that she had concerns about enforcement when the ordinance was originally proposed, however she believes that with the additional public forums, some of which she has attended, she believes that the ordinance has been properly drafted. She stressed the need for training prior to enforcement for that all of the misinformation can be addressed before implementation. The Council Attorney noted that the Health and Public Safety Committee and the Residential Neighborhoods Committee met on June 24, 2002 and discussed in detail the proposed ordinance. (Copy of minutes attached) Since that time much additional work has taken place. She then