Public Safety
Chair: Mary Ann Smiley
Vice Chair: TJ Martens
Members: Art Sims, Steven Robertson, Tess Reyes-Dunn, Annie Palai, Alan Schweizer
Regular Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday at 6:30
Goals: Our objective is to increase the safety of our stakeholders. The WNC has had a long history linked to the various agencies that keep our neighborhoods safe, including the police department and neighborhood watch.
Some of our members belong to citizen safety groups like CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams). Our belief is that we are a partner with the rest of the city and the community in keeping our community safe.
The Public Safety Committee will deal with safety issues and provide information to our constituents that will help them remain safe.

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Agenda
August 18, 2008
Minutes
2008
April 15, 2008
2006
January 19, 2006
February 21, 2006
March 20, 2006
April 17, 2006
May 18, 2006
July 17, 2006
2005
January 17, 2005
February 20, 2005
March 21, 2005
April 18, 2005
May 16, 2005
June 20, 2005
November 21, 2005
2004
August 16, 2004
Notes
September 20, 2004
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LAPD ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
At the April 15, 2008 meeting Captain Sherman discussed the Topanga
station planned for opening January 2009. The response time to calls
will most likely be quicker since the station is closer. And PALS,
Explorers, Jeopardy and the Reserve Officers will also be on-site.
Senior Lead Officer Maldonado was on hand to hear concerns about
graffiti, vagrants, and bars. There was a discussion about possibly
installing graffiti watch cameras that not only take pictures of taggers
in action, but sound an alert notifying them that they are being
watched. This system is hoped to deter graffiti. The committee is
working with Officer Maldonado to determine the best places for camera
installation.
The committee recommended that the WNC board make a stand in favor of
Jamiel's law, which would repeal the LAPD's policy of disregarding the
immigration status of persons who are arrested or convicted of
committing violent crimes. This law was proposed when Jamiel Andre Shaw,
a high school football star was gunned down near his home by a recently
released man serving time for assault with a deadly weapon. He may have
been here illegally. Read more about
Jamiel's Law. Additional
commentary about Jamiel's Law.
RUNNYMEDE PARK UPDATE FOR APRIL 06
04/06/06 By JJ Popowich
Over the last year the WNC has been working with stakeholders, the LAPD,
Park Rangers, and Recreation & Parks to address problems at Runnymede
Park.
LAPD Senior Lead Officer Raigoza has been instrumental in helping the
WNC clean the park up. Through her efforts we’ve been able to arrange
well over 30 hours of Vice and Bike Patrols. The results have been
arrests for gambling and public drunkenness. Stakeholders in the area
have noted the improvement as well.
The newest problem to pop up at the park are reports of loitering near
the Gifford Street entrance. The Public Safety Committee held a hearing
earlier this year and voted to request the entrance be closed. The
request has been sent to the Department of Recreation and Parks, but
they have expressed some concerns.
The Parks feels that the closure is a drastic measure that should be a
last resort. This is an issue the WNC wrestled with in our public
hearing. We had hoped that more stakeholders would have attended to
express their opinions about the closure. Unfortunately there were only
a very few who showed. The problem with this entrance and the loitering
is that the LAPD can only do so much. The laws that apply to loitering
require the officers to provide a warning first. If the individuals move
on, then they can't arrest them. Those that have been observed loitering
always disperse willingly. This is the reason the LAPD recommended we
close the entrance.
The WNC will continue to work on this issue and negotiate solutions with
the LAPD and Recreation & Parks. However, if you still see issues at
this park and are truly interested in resolving the problems then we
urge you to come to our meetings and work with us to address the
communities concerns. The five committee members can not do it alone.
RUNNYMEDE PARK - WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST
The WNC is making progress in regards to cleaning up Runnymede Park.
As a result of the WNC's actions over the last few months the City has
stepped up to the plate and is starting to address stakeholder concerns
at the park.
Late last month several members from various agencies met with
Councilmember Zine's Field Deputy to review the park and the WNC's
requests. On October 11, 2005, several Board members had a chance to
meet with several high level representatives of various agencies
regarding the park in an informal get together after the Board meeting
was canceled.
As a result of our focus the LAPD Vice and Bike squad has spent a
combined 30 hours over the last week and a half at the park. Officer
Crosby from the West Valley Division announced that the Vice unit made
two arrests for gambling and one for public drunkenness. The Bike squad
made another three arrests for gambling. He commented that this is a
tremendous effort and focus on this park that is unusual and it's had a
positive impact.
Acting Chief Park Ranger, Albert Torres, commented that they are also
committed to cleaning up this park. Chief Torres said he has requested
the Recreation & Parks to add additional signage at the park with the 24
hour hotline for stakeholders and park goers to call to report problems.
The Rangers have committed to responding as soon as possible to the
reports. He cautioned there are only 24 Rangers serving all of Los
Angeles and a number of support personnel. While they can't guarantee
immediate response (it depends on where the Rangers are at the time of
the call) they will respond and follow up on complaints.
Chief Torres pointed out that resolving the problems at Runnymede will
take a partnership between the residents and the various city agencies.
Chief Torres continued by saying his focus is to look at the trends as
well as address the immediate concerns. He urged residents and park
goers to report problems. The more data he has to see trends the better
he can allocate resources and work with other agencies to get the
resources that are needed.
Recreation & Parks had two representatives in attendance. Superintendent
X and Laura Bauernfeind. Ms. Bauernfeind said the park is increasing the
sign postings in both English and Spanish listing restrictions against
moon bouncers. They will also be posting new signs with the Park
Ranger's number as well. She also announced that they will be adding
additional trash cans throughout out the park.
One of the main requests the WNC made in it's motion from earlier in the
year was to reduce the number of picnic tables in the park. Ms.
Bauernfeind said that Recreation & Parks did consider the request but
felt that they number of tables was warranted. She explained that the
decision was based on the belief that the families that use the park
would have a bigger benefit if they were left. She commented that this
should encourage family usage.
WNC President, Mr. Popowich, questioned the logic of leaving the tables.
He asked, "What am I supposed to say to the stakeholders when they ask
why we can't get the tables removed?" He went on to ask at what point
the stake holder's desires matter to the City. He pointed out that the
WNC has held meetings where we had over 30 stakeholders asking for the
benches to be removed. He also spoke about his own observance of
gambling and how they use the tables, describing in detail the gambling
operation. He stressed that we have to present results to these
stakeholders.
Superintendent X committed to reviewing the issue again. He asked for an
opportunity to have his staff look at the park this week and see if they
can present a compromise proposal on the number of tables. He confirmed
that they will consider reducing the tables. X will report back to the
Board with a compromise by the next regular Board meeting. He also
stressed that this was an opportunity to get the community to work to
resolve their issues.
Mr. Popowich said, ''the WNC and City have struggled for several months
to get this problem addressed." He went on to say that he was thankful
the City was able to stay and talk to them and said he feels, "this is a
new beginning and the start of what looks like a good working
relationship."
The WNC will continue to focus on this problem and is still planning to
have a Winnetka Night Out at the park once we can ensure we have enough
stakeholders who are willing to assist in arranging the event.
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