Meeting Minutes

Date:        October 5, 2007
Location:    Customs & Quarantine (Meeting Room B) - Tiyan



I.    Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:40am by sub-committee chairperson Christopher M. Duenas.

II.    Welcome and Introductions

Introductions took place. There is a new email address for all correspondence relative to the CMTF Public Safety Sub-committee. The email address is: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it It was also announced that DYA Program Coordinator Rebecca Respicio has been tasked to assist the chairperson with all necessary administrative and clerical tasks for the sub-committee.

Contact numbers are:   

• Chris Duenas 735-5010/5001
• Rebecca Respicio 735-5032

In attendance at the meeting:

•     Christopher M. Duenas Director, Department of Youth Affairs
•     Jessie Q. Tupaz Captain, Department of Corrections
•     Clyde Donator Captain, Guam Fire Department
•     David Q. Peredo Chief, Guam Fire Department
•     Paul Suba  Chief, Guam Police Department
•     David C. Flores Asst. Chief, Customs & Quarantine
•     Phil Tydingco Chief Prosecutor, Office of the Attorney General

III.    Setting the direction

Chris Duenas has assumed the duties as chairperson of this sub-committee and is very committed to getting things in order and is focused on having productive meetings not more than one-hour long.

•    Scoping reports were initially done by all departments for this task force, however it would be a good idea to go back to your departments and appoint at least three members of your organization to a committee to oversee the submission of your summary. An employee from the following areas are suggested:

• Fiscal/Financial
• Programs (particularly those with federal counterparts)
• Human Resources

IV.    Summary of Scoping Reports

Final Reports are due on November 1, 2007 from the Public Safety sub-committee. Therefore, summaries are due to the chairperson by October 30, 2007 (Tuesday). Summaries should be not more than 500 words, and should list the Top 3 issues that you are facing with this impact. Top 3 issues can be bullet points separate from the summary report but should compliment your write-up.

Public Safety is a very unique committee being that we are comprised of a variety of departments and organizations. That is why it is very important that we collaborate and summarize our needs so we can target what we want to accomplish. The issue of Public Safety is not currently on the list of priorities according to the KPMG report. KPMG is a consulting firm that is studying the impact of the military buildup on Guam. They function as a lobbyist group and have strong connections to Washington.

Currently, there is so much false and inaccurate information coming from KPMG so at this time we are better off not making their priority list. That’s because they are getting all their information about the different departments on Guam through the internet and information is not up to date. However, when all the information is clarified with KPMG, it is the committees hope that our final report will make an impact enough to be made a priority on the list so the issue of Public Safety is taken seriously.

V.    Top 3 Issues

When we get your summary and top 3 issues we will compile it for the entire sub-committee. Please keep in mind, that originally it was thought that the Civilian Military Task Force was going to receive some kind of Federal set-aside as a stand alone appropriation. This is not happening. Unfortunately, many Federal Agencies were not even made aware of this military build-up. Obviously, there was a huge miscommunication.

What this means is that each agency would have to fold the financial impact into their annual budgets. The financial impact that you state in your summaries will continue to be discussed and solidified through the rest of the year and will not show up until FY2009. Identifying your top 3 issues will give us a basis to operate from. It must also be solely based on the IMPACT of the move and not your current operations. Be sure to add the impact on top of or in addition to your yearly inflation projections. Identifying these needs will also assist in the process of communicating with our Federal Counterparts so they are made aware of our future needs so that appropriations can be established in their FY2009 budgets as well.

VI.    Open Discussion and Announcements

•    Discussion took place and examples were given on projected percentages based on the anticipated population growth.
•   David Flores (Customs & Quarantine) expressed concerns about the fact that no vulnerability assessments have been made with regards to the military build-up on our island and the public safety issues associated with being ready for emergencies that could occur and will be associated with this move. Chairperson acknowledged that this is definitely something to look into to. Further discussion took place on the need for assessments with regards to our public buildings and our government functions that could be jeopardized. The hardening of our buildings need to be considered.
•    Chairperson reminds all that this is important for the main reason that there is no stand alone funding for this build-up. He has to know what the situation is with all the departments relative to public safety so that he can present back to the Task Force chairman (Mr. Tony Lamorena) our needs and anticipated impact.
•    Phil Tydingco (Office of the Attorney General) stated that according to the Needs Assessment handout that explains the different phases of the build-up, Guam could see a population growth as high as 60,000 people. This is with a military deployment of 40,000 and a civilian accompaniment of 20,000 and is based on the construction phase time capping it at the year 2017. However, this could all take place by 2014 based on the goals of the military.
•    Chairperson also pointed out that a Census will take place in the year 2010 and will make a huge impact on our research as studies will be updated that will include our current situation with the population growth from the other islands.

•    REMINDERS:

o    Summary is due to DYA (via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by Tuesday October 30, 2007 by 5:00pm. Email reminders will be sent out 1-week prior to due date.

VII.    Next Meeting
Committee members will be notified at a later date. Priority will be to get in your reports and we will meet after it has been summarized. Other members that should be present at this meeting will be notified and sent a copy of meeting minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 10:50am.

                           
Prepared by: Rebecca J. Respicio
                  DYA Program Coordinator