SR 11-13-2018 10A
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 13, 2018
Agenda Item: 10.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Subject: Request from the Recreation and Parks Commission regarding park safety
strategies
Recommended Action
The Recreation and Parks Commission finds that the saf ety situation in the parks and at
the beach has reached a crisis point and that further action cannot be delayed. The
Commission recommends actions to be implemented and requests that the Council
address proposed and other strategies as soon as possible.
Prepared By: Karen Ginsberg, Director
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. RPC Letter to Council - park safety 10 16 18
B. Written Comments
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Elizabeth Van Denburgh <emvandenburgh@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 13, 2018 1:42 PM
To:Ted Winterer; Gleam Davis; Councilmember Kevin McKeown; Sue Himmelrich; Tony
Vazquez; Pam OConnor; Terry O’Day; councilmtgitems
Cc:Reinhard Kargl; John C Smith
Subject:Nov. 13th Agenda item 10A - Park Safety Recommendations Support
Mayor Winterer and City Council Members,
I write in support of the seven recommendations made by the Recreation and Parks Commissions at their
October 11th meeting:
Enforce the existing park closure laws
Enforce the existing laws regarding camping in the parks and beach
Direct staff to assess the feasibility and implementation of establishing beach closure hours
Add cameras and additional lighting to the parks and beach
Consult with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health and advocate enforcement of County laws
related to food distribution in the parks and at beach
Reinstitute Park Rangers
Increase daily patrols by the police in the parks and at beach
With each recommendation, I would request a monthly status and metrics report be provided with what is
working and what is not, as well as documenting the results of these recommendations. If not working to
improve safety at the parks, then let's "pilot" other recommendations. I support this approach because it is
action oriented, can be iterative and can quickly be stopped, changed or expanded as recommendations are
identified as efficient i.e., effective and economical. These recommendations can be done in parallel with other
longer-term efforts that are in play.
Thank-you for your consideration and time in moving forward with these recommendations for improved park
safety. I am especially interested in "piloting" these seven ideas at Reed Park, in my Wilmont neighborhood,
which has been consistently identified as having safety issues.
Best,
Elizabeth Van Denburgh
Wilmont Member @ Large (only speaking on behalf of myself)
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Vernice Hankins
From:Mary MARLOW <m.marlow@verizon.net>
Sent:Tuesday, November 13, 2018 2:21 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Mary Marlow; Terry O’Day; Pam OConnor; Gleam Davis; Kevin McKeown Fwd; Ted
Winterer; Tony Vazquez; Sue Himmelrich
Subject:November 13, 2018 Agenda Item 10A
Dear Mayor Winterer and Councilmembers;
I am writing in support of the Recreation and Parks Commission letter requesting increased safety procedures in City
parks. Our City parks are a resource for all residents and visitors to Santa Monica to relax and enjoy the open space and
many programs available. This resource must be protected from the rising incidents of crime including lewd acts, use of
illegal drugs, assault of pedestrians, etc.
I urge you to work with the police department, cultural services, Recreation and Parks Commission, Homeless Advisor,
etc., to remedy this situation as soon as possible. As a resident, I depend on the City departments to prioritize and
quickly implement the suggested actions proposed by the Recreation and Parks Commission. A city with unsafe parks in
not a place where residents or tourists want to spend time and effects our quality of life, one of Santa Monica’s main
assets.
Respectfully,
Mary Marlow
Ocean Park Resident
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