Title
Approval to Use $50,000 of the Council's Goal Fund for Police Emphasis Patrols and Parks Security
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the use of $50,000 of Council Goal funds for Police Downtown emphasis patrols and Parks security
Report
Issue:
Whether to authorize use of Council Goal Funds to provide additional resources to increase public safety downtown and at the Artesian Commons, Percival Landing, and the Olympia Center during the summer months.
Staff Contact:
Lt. Paul Lower, Olympia Police Department, 360.753.8410
Presenter(s):
Laura Wohl, Administrative Services Manager, Olympia Police Department
Background and Analysis:
Relevant Council Goal:
Champion Downtown - Create a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming downtown for all to enjoy.
During the summer months, downtown Olympia typically experiences an increase in criminal activity. The Police Department provides Walking Patrol officers seven days per week downtown, but only during business hours. The funding will be used to extend the hours of downtown law enforcement coverage an additional four hours, from 5pm until 9pm, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The patrols will be assigned from May through the second week of September and will be covered using officers working overtime. The expected cost for emphasis patrols is $40,000.
The Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department has also identified three locations that are heavily used by the public and would benefit from a regular patrol: the Artesian Commons (formerly the Artesian Well Parking Lot), Percival Landing, and The Olympia Center. The Parks Department proposes to contract with Pacific Coast/Pierce Security for regular patrols at these venues during the summer months. The expected cost for this contracted service is $10,000.
Financial Impact:
If approved, $50,000 will be used from the Council Goal fund for this purpose. The Council Goal Fund currently has a balance of $100,000.