INVITEES: Paul Oliveira, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; Representative, Mayor’s Office

INVITEES: Laurie Alfonso, Executive Secretary, Traffic Commission & Parking Clerk; Sergeant Scott Liberty, New Bedford Police Department, Traffic Division; Paul Oliveira, Chief, New Bedford Police Department; Jamie Ponte, Commissioner, Department of Public Infrastructure; Mary S. Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation & Beaches; Stephen Silverstein, Owner, ServedWell New Bedford, LLC; Representative, Mayor’s Office

3. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gomes, Oliveira and Abreu, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods meet with Pulaski School Parents and School Staff in conjunction with the Far North End Neighborhood Association, to discuss the ongoing traffic and public safety issues at Pulaski school and that the Administration look into funding for two (2) traffic guards during drop off and pickup times at said school further requesting, that this Committee Meeting be held at the Pulaski School to get Parents and School staff input. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 03/23/17) (04/18/17-tabled; forward the list provided by Mrs. Tavares to the School Committee, DPI and the City Council, from the Committee, explaining that the attached are possible short and long term solutions to the traffic congestion and student safety issues as they relate to the Pulaski School.) (04/26/17-letter and list forwarded to all contacts outlined above) (04/23/19 - tabled 45 days) (06/26/19, Motion made requesting Administration to allocate $250,000 for the construction of a rear entrance to the Pulaski School to alleviate the traffic flow issues in the area. Main motion tabled for 90 days) (10/21/19 - tabled)

3a. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting an email from Lisa Tavares, concerned    parent of a student at Pulaski School, regarding the traffic issues at the school. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 03/23/17) (04/18/17 - tabled; forward the list provided by Mrs. Tavares to the School Committee, DPI and the City Council, from the Committee, explaining that the attached are possible short and long term solutions to the traffic congestion and student safety issues as they relate to the Pulaski School.) (04/26/17-letter and list forwarded to all contacts outlined above) (04/23/19 - tabled 45 days) (06/26/19, Motion made requesting Administration to allocate $250,000 for the construction of a rear entrance to the Pulaski School to alleviate the traffic flow issues in the area.  Main motion tabled for 90 days) (10/21/19-tabled)

4. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods invite Kristine Arsenault from Mayor Mitchell’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, DPI Commissioner Ponte, and Health Director Chaplin to review the homeless encampment removal policy. (Ref’d 03/08/18) (11/29/18 - tabled) (02/27/19 - remain on table)

5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods call an immediate Public Safety Summit to include a Representative of the Mayor’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, Massachusetts Homeland Security Director, Bristol County Sheriff Hodgson, the Commanding Officer from the State Police Barracks in Dartmouth, a Representative of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, and a Judge from Third District Court to discuss measures, procedures and strategies to be utilized and implemented, such as stop and search, crime-free zones, and zero tolerance for crimes in our parks and playgrounds and that SRT Tactical Unit be on call and utilized anytime its needed, also that extra patrols and undercover units be placed in high crime neighborhoods; and further, that a Public Awareness Campaign be put together to reach out to the neighborhoods and the citizens of this City for their assistance in fighting crime; furthermore, that this summit be held in executive session, due to the information that may be provided and also strategies that may already be in place that not only protect our Police Officers, Agencies but also the public. (Ref’d 08/16/18)

6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Carney, Gomes, Abreu and Markey, on behalf of the south end neighborhood groups, requesting that a traffic study be conducted on Brock Avenue at the intersection of Cove Road, to determine the best traffic flow for the new public safety building; further that this matter be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, and that Police Chief Cordeiro, Fire Chief Gomes, EMS Director McGraw, Deputy DPI Commissioner Silva, Executive Secretary to the Traffic Commissioner Downing, and Celiene Saravia from the south end neighborhood groups be invited to said meeting. (Ref’d 10/11/18) (05/22/19-refer to the Traffic Commission for a Traffic Study) (06/14/19-letter sent to the Traffic Commission requesting a Traffic Study)

7. COMMUNICATION, Councillor Gomes, submitting a communication from Hank Turgeon, President, New Bedford Police Union, relative to the defunding of the Police Department and the Police Union's proposed budget cuts. (Ref’d 10/08/2020)

8. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Dunn, Abreu, Giesta, Council President Lopes, Lima, Carney, Markey and Gomes, requesting, that New Bedford Police Chief Cordeiro brief the City Council on the recent shootings at the Brickenwood Housing Development and on Tallman Street. (To be Referred to Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, Police Chief Cordeiro and Police Union President Hank Turgeon.) (Ref’d 02/25/2021) (03/24/2021 – reading waived and tabled)

9. WRITTEN MOTION Councillors Gomes, Abreu, Baptiste, Carney, Coelho, Dunn, Giesta, Lima, Council President Lopes, and Councillors Markey and Morad, requesting that the City Council once more go on record and a letter be sent to the Administration of our opposition to the Mayor’s decision to close and decommission the fire apparatus, Engine 8 on Acushnet Avenue in this Fiscal Year; and further requesting that the Council take the same course of action on the closing of the Downtown Police Station on Pleasant Street in this Fiscal Year, furthermore that these decisions be delayed so the Administration and the City Council work together to find the funding to continue the operation and service that is so vital to the north end of the City and the Downtown area business district. (Requesting that Rule 40 be waived on this motion.) (Ref’d 02/25/2021)

10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting that the Public Safety Building Committee along with the Administration relook at the lighting on the outside of said building; this building should have stronger lighting on the outside perimeter and in the parking lot along with cameras covering the entire building and outside perimeter due to the significance of the building and the services rendered in that building and also the safety of the Officers, Firefighters and EMS workers that will be in the building. (To be Referred to the Mayor, Public Safety Building Committee and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 03/11/2021) (03/30/2021 - RETURNED UNSIGNED BY MAYOR)

11. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Dunn, requesting, that the Administration make public the set of steps by which the Chief of Police will be replaced, the schedule and process, community input measures, role of the Council in the selection, and estimated date by which the new Chief is to be in place. (Ref’d 04/22/2021) (05/14/2021 – RETURNED UNSIGNED BY MAYOR)

12. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Lopes, requesting, that the New Bedford Traffic Commission and the New Bedford Police Department begin evaluating the possibility of establishing Red Light Cameras in the City of New Bedford if the Massachusetts Legislature approves the Governor’s measure allowing red light cameras in the Commonwealth. (To be Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.) (Ref’d 05/11/2021)

13. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, requesting, increased Police patrols in the Downtown historical area due to the increasing foot traffic and criminal activity around Custom House Square and the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment Memorial, throughout the historical district business owners are concerned that this criminal activity could be detrimental not only to their businesses but to the district as a whole; and further, once more requesting, that the Mayor reverse his decision to close the Downtown Police station, the closing of the station will have a dramatic and detrimental effect on the entire downtown area. (To be Referred to the Mayor, Police Chief Paul Oliveira, and the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods and that Rule 40 be Waived.) (Ref’d 06/24/2021) (07/13/2021 – returned UNSIGNED by the Mayor)

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