HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Public Safety 2001-11-01TOWN OF ESTES PARK PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AGENDA November 1#, 2001 7:30 A.M. Preparation date: October 29,2001 *Revision date: October 31, 2001 POLICE DEPARTMENT Action 1. Purchase Radio Equipment Upgrade for Communication Project *2. Riverwalk usage's Reports 1. Riverside Plaza FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. State Firefighters Convention - road closure 2. Biological and Chemical incident response The committee reserves the right to consider other appropriate business not available at the time the agenda was prepared.
Estes Park Police Department emo To: Public Safety Committee From: Lt. Mike van Deutekom Date: 10/31/2001 CC: Chief Lowell Richardson Re: Uniform Boundaries for Bicyde, Rollerblade and Skateboard Enforcement Background: During the recent past summers, the Police Department has found it difficult to enforce the boundary limitations pertaining to downtown bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding, as there are different limitations for each infraction. It is also difficult for full-time and seasonal officers to remember which boundary pertains to a particular violation. Currently the Town code for restricting bicvclinq applies to "...any portion of Riverside Plaza and the portion of the riverwalk from Barlow Plaza to its intersection with East Riverside Drive."(EP Municipal Code 9.18.040) Rollerblades however are prohibited from TI)...300 East Elkhom to and including 200 West Elkhorn Avenue, including the public sidewalks appurtenant to this section of Moraine Avenue; (2) 100 Moraine Avenue to its intersection with Elkhom Avenue... (3) Riverside Plaza; (4) the transportation center; (5) The municipal parking lot; and (6) Parking lot No.2." (EP Municipal Code 9.18.030) Skateboards have the same restrictions as rollerblades with the exception that skateboards are prohibited in 15) All municipal parking lots; and (6) All public sidewalks appurtenant to the public areas listed in Subparagraphs (1) through (5) above." (EP Munidpal Code 9.18.020) Another concern regarding the enforcement areas centers on the issue of public safety. Since the inception of the popular riverwalk, Estes Park has been fortunate to experience an increase of visitors. This has led to an increased usage of the riverwalk pedestrian traffic. The potential problem of pedestrian traffic mixed with 1 a.
bicyde, skateboarding and rollerblading on the narrow portions of the riverwalk will inevitably result in an injury accident on some type. It is anticipated that foot traffic will increase with the addition of several new businesses along the riverwalk between the Barlow Plaza and Ed's Cantina along south side of E. Elkhom. Budget There are no antidpated impacts to the Town's budget. Action: Staff recommends that the prohibition of bicydes, skateboards and rollerblade from the downtown core area be made uniform to all three violations. Staff further recommends that the prohibited areas begin at the farthest east portion of the riverwalk at the pedestrian tunnel, including all of the riverwalk to Tregent Park on West Eli¢'tom, all of the Riverwalk Plaza, and also the entire riverwalk portion along West Riverside to Piccadilly Square. Included in the restricted areas would indude the transportation center and all municipal parking lots. • Page 2
October 4, 2001 Mr. Stephen Gillette, Chairman Public Safety Committee Town of Estes Park Box 1200 Estes Park, CO 80517 Dear Steve, I am increasingly concerned about bicycles and skateboards, and to a lesser degree roller blades, on public sidewalks and the river walk in our end oftown. I have nearly been run down by bicycles on the sidewalk in front of our store and have seen some near misses when people have stepped out of our front door. A human body is no match for a person on a bike doing 15 or 20 miles an hour. It is only a matter oftime until someone is knocked down and seriously injured. I realize that the ordinance is sketchy regarding this matter and that only in certain areas is riding on the sidewalk or river walk prohibited. I would ask the Public Safety Committee and the Town Board as a whole to take a look at this problem and update the code to give the police the authority to enforce no-ride zones. In the center oftown, where there are more pedestrians on the sidewalks, I suppose that this is less of an issue. But down here where the walking traffic is lighter, it is an invitation for the cyclists to ride fast with little regard for the people on foot. I would ask that this matter be taken up soon so that something can be done by next summer. Sincerely, Gerald H. Brownfield, President Brownfield's Leather Shop, Inc. 350 East Elkhorn Avenue, Box 250 Estes Park, CO 80517 970-586-3275 cc: John Baudek, Mayor Lowell Richardson, Chief of Police
Addendum to Agenda
Estes Park Police Department Memo To: Public Safety Committee From: Lowell C. Richardson, Chief of Police CC: Cherie Bartram, Support Services Manager Date: 10/31/2001 Re: Radio Upgrade Project Background The Estes Park Police Department Communications Center budgeted funds to initiate a radio equipment upgrade from 400 Megahertz to 800 Megahertz. The need to facilitate this transition is based on all other communications center within Larimer County have or are in the process of implementing to 800 Megahertz capabilities. This is a higher frequency that provides greater quality of emergency services communication and is a natural progression to maintain quality communication capabilities to communicate with other agencies in Larimer County. Currently, the communications center consists of two dispatch consoles, at our current rate of incoming phone inquiries and 911 calls (approximately 17,000 to date) a third radio dispatch console is required. This radio console provides the communication center staff the ability in emergencies to staff a 911-call taker and two dispatchers for radio communications, it also allows for increased staffing. Implementing the radio upgrades in conjunction with the communication center remodel allows for a more efficient project flow primarily due to relocation of radio consoles, switches, and power sources. Budget Budgeted funds for project cost of $105,000.00. Action Staff is requesting approval to expend funds for this project. 1
RIVERWALK PLAZA ENFORCEMENT Estes Park Police Department Prepared for Chief Lowell Richardson The Riverwalk Plaza attracts a variety of people including some who unfortunately there have been some criminal violations that have occurred there since its inception. On July 24, 2001 the Town Board adopted resolution 30-01 which regulates the usage of Confluence, Bond, Tregent and Peacock Parks. Please note that on the first attachment labeled "4 Year Trend Riverwalk Plaza", the graph indicates that over a four year period there has been over a 400% increase ofpolice contacts in Riverwalk Plaza rising from a total of 13 contacts to 56 contacts. (*It should be noted that the 2001 chart is a year to date number, as this year' s numbers will not be able to be compiled until the beginning of 2001.) On the attachment labeled "Riverwalk/Plaza stats", the year 2001 (to date) shows that beginning in the month of May, 1 report was taken. By June at total of 9 contacts had been made by the police department, escalating in July to a total of 31 police contacts. In i the month of August, police contacts dropped significantly to a total of 13 for the month. It can be inferred from the data that ifthe police had not intervened at the plaza in late July, it is probable that many more calls for service could have occurred.
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Date Violation Guilty Not Guilty 8-18-01 Prohibited X forfeited skateboarding skateboard 7-29-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 7-25-01 Bicycling prohibited X 7-20-01 Bicycling prohibited X 7-14-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 7-13-01 Bicycling prohibited X 7-12-01 Bicycling prohibited X 7-08-01 Bicycling prohibited X 7-07-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 7-06-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 7-05-01 Prohibited X (Nolo) skateboarding 7-05-01 Prohibited X (Nolo) torteited skateboarding skateboard 7-05-01 Disturbing the peace X 7-01-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 6-30-01 Unlawful tobacco use X 6-29-01 Prohibited X (nolo) skateboarding 6-29-01 Prohibited X skateboarding 6-28-01 Unlawful tobacco use X Totals 18 0 Two of the eighteen violations occurred after passing the limited unlawful use ordinance. (1) felony crime a criminal mischief to a local merchants property (broken window) has been filed with the district attorney's office.