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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 0221 CC REG ITEM 10CMoorpark Police Department MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Marty Rouse, Lieuten �,, DATE: February 15, 1996 (C.C. Mtg. 2/21/96) SUBJECT: Status Of High Street Resource Center BACKGROUND ITEM — "A ^K. C, - . •c:�sncii •�. :,� 1996 AC,'T "D:4: " l pw The Moorpark Police Department Resource Center was established in October of 1994. The focus of the operation was, and still is, to provide both police and other public services to the community. The City Council approved the lease of space at the Towne Center for a Resource Center on 11/1/95. The move to Towne Center allows for both adequate space, enhanced ventilation, private_ interview rooms, increased storage and a police presence in the downtown community. PROBLEM At the 10/4/95 and l l /1 /95 City Council meetings, some community members expressed their desire to keep the Resource Center on High Street. It was their concern that a perceived reduction of a police presence on High Street may contribute to the potential of increased crime in that immediate area. The City Council directed staff to explore alternative uses of the High Street location. ISSUE Staff has made an attempt to determine an acceptable use of the High Street location for either police related activities or other City functions. The following were considerations that were eventually determined to be unworkable or simply not a good use of limited volunteer resources. 1. Maintain two Resource Centers By maintaining a second Resource Center within blocks of a larger and centralized location would be confusing to visitors. The duplication of services and equipment such a computers, printers, fingerprinting and photo equipment may be cost prohibitive. There is not sufficient volunteer staffing to maintain regular hours at both sites. The volunteers have expressed concern regarding limited work space, ventilation and an inadequate reception area since inception. This problem has not been resolved at the High 000118 Street location. Our current volunteer staffing allows only for regular hours staffing at one Resource Center and most volunteers have expressed their desire to be staffed at the Towne Center location. 2. Staff the Community Services Officer at the High Street location. The CSO does not always work regular business hours due to the high volume of evening presentations, meetings and requests for visitation. During daytime hours the CSO is oftentimes out of the office making contacts and representing the police department at various functions. Regular office hours would be limited and inconsistent. Regular office hours would also limit the CSO's availability for community contacts and presentations and would result in additional overtime presentation costs. By removing the CSO from the police station would undermine his access to the multitude of resources available at the station and would reduce supervision of the position. Duplicate office equipment (computer, files, phone line, etc.) may be cost prohibitive. Current plans are for the CSO to staff the Towne Center location one morning a week on a trial basis. This will allow the CSO to utilize available volunteer resources and coordinate planned activities with the Resource Center cadet. This will also enhance our community oriented policing program allowing for the opportunity for citizens to schedule appointments at a more central location. Staffing the CSO at the High Street location would reduce the opportunity for the police department to develop an effective communication base between the CSO, Resource Center volunteers and the community. 3. Staff a parking cadet at the High Street location. This would not be an enhancement to any of the services provided and would reduce available hours for parking enforcement. Currently, there is already one cadet responsible for the operation of the Resource Center. It would also duplicate the services provided at both locations. The cadet would not be available for minor duties leaving only deputies to complete certain tasks. The one parking/commercial vehicle truck would be out -of- service during scheduled office hours. 4. Direct atn rol deputies to utilize only he High Street location The relocation provides not only excellent report writing space but also storage for personal equipment, assigned file cabinets and private interview rooms. The Towne Center donated this space for the Resource Center at no cost believing there would be a police presence, as do any citizens who visit the Resource Center. Duplicate office equipment will have to be provided (computer and printers) and may be cost prohibitive. Volunteers work closely with the deputies in a team capacity to provide a service to the community. With the move to the new location it is expected some volunteers will donate additional time to provide for staffing during selected evenings. They have expressed concern for their security if there will be access restrictions placed on deputies at the new 000119 Resource Center. Removing the police presence would not only reduce efficiency, security and communication between the volunteers and deputies but would also result in police problems not being promptly resolved. Daily interaction with the volunteers ensures citizens concerns are relayed to the area deputy. Lastly, many of the volunteers serve in this capacity because they are interested in the law enforcement area. Reducing police contact would reduce their interest to serve as a volunteer. Staff spoke to the citizens who were in attendance at the 10/4/95 City Council meeting. Each expressed a desire for a police presence on High Street. Their concerns centered not on the Resource Center itself, but the desire to see police units parked and/or patrolling on High Street. The move to Towne Center will not reduce the regular patrol on High Street but would only reduce the time a police unit is parked during Resource Center drop -ins. With the recent funding of a patrol officer and the anticipated establishment of the California Highway Patrol office on Moorpark Avenue, it can only be assumed there will be increased police units traveling the roadways in the downtown area. It is estimated that the CHP alone will drive on High Street 24 times a day and deputies a minimum of 36 times a day. This area along with Los Angeles Avenue has the highest level of patrol service. Directed patrol can always be increased for the High Street area if the need arises. Staff has determined there is no police department need at this time for the cubicle space at the High Street location. Staff has discussed other City uses of the space with the Deputy City Manager. The use of the space for files and work area by the Building & Safety Office and Engineering would be the most efficient use of the space since these offices already occupy the rest of the building. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends allowing Charles Abbott and Associates the use of the space, and removal of the work surfaces and partitions formerly used by the Police Resource Center to the annex to create an additional work area. 000120