HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/21/2023 Public comment - non agenda item, Walker
From:Pease, Andy
Sent:Sunday, February 19, 2023 3:09 PM
To:E-mail Council Website; Kathie Walker
Subject:FW: St. Fratty's Day Info & Preparation
Attachments:St. Frattys Day 2023.pdf; Cal Poly St. Frattys & Patricks Day Preparation 2022.pdf; St.
Frattys 2022 Calls from Police Log.pdf
Hi, Kathie! Thanks for writing. I’m routing your correspondence through emailcouncil@slocity.org – it’s the best
way to reach us and staff most efficiently.
Andy
Andy Pease
pronouns she/her/hers
Council Member
Office of the City Council
990 Palm, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249
E apease@slocity.org
slocity.org
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From: Kathie Walker <
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2023 2:28 PM
To: Francis, Emily <EFrancis@slocity.org>; Stewart, Erica A <estewart@slocity.org>; Pease, Andy <apease@slocity.org>;
Shoresman, Michelle <mshoresm@slocity.org>; Marx, Jan <jmarx@slocity.org>
Subject: St. Fratty's Day Info & Preparation
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I've attached a letter with information about last year's St. Fratty's Day, which I personally witnessed, and some
suggestions for handling it this year. I plan to attend Tuesday's council meeting so hope that you'll have a chance to
review my letter beforehand. Thank you.
-Kathie Walker
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Dear City Councilmembers,
I’m writing to express my concern about Cal Poly’s annual St. Fratty’s Day and to offer some potential solutions. St.
Fratty’s Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Cal Poly’s winter finals, whereas St. Patrick’s Day is always
on March 17. It is a stand-alone event that was started by the Cal Poly fraternity that occupied 348 Hathway Street.
Last year, St. Fratty’s Day was on Saturday, 3/12/2022, five days before St. Patrick’s Day, on Thursday, 3/17/2022. Many
college students left town once they finished their finals and did not stay in San Luis Obispo to celebrate St. Patrick’s
Day. This year, St. Patrick’s Day and St. Fratty’s Day are back-to-back on Friday and Saturday 3/17-3/18/2023.
Every year - beginning at 4:00 am and lasting for about six hours - our neighborhood must endure fireworks and masses
of rowdy young adults taking over the sidewalks, streets and rooftops for the annual St. Fratty’s Day event. It’s
impossible to describe the level of disruption and, unless you experience it, I don’t think you can grasp how bad it is. It’s
anticipated ahead of time and entirely predictable yet is allowed to continue.
Last year, in 2022, the city of San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly joined efforts beforehand and came up with a plan. (See
Attachment: Flyer from 2022, City of SLO and Cal Poly St. Patrick’s Day Advance Preparation and Outreach ) The plan
acknowledges “the neighborhood party” and includes, among other things, providing 500 free breakfast burritos
curbside on Grand Avenue from 5:00 am – 7:00 am Saturday morning, before students walked into our neighborhood
for the alcohol-fueled party. A Safe Party Booth was on the corner of Foothill and California from 6:00 am – 8:00 am,
with snacks and “party safe education.” These things seem to enable the partygoers to believe that “the neighborhood
party” is somehow sanctioned and acceptable, which is wrong.
The plan also anticipates the need for law enforcement and includes “CPPD & SLOPD at increased deployment through
the weekend...” However, there was only one SLOPD unit in our neighborhood from 4 am – 5 am and it was quickly
apparent that there were not nearly enough officers on patrol to handle the situation as it evolved. Officers were
overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that filled yards, streets, and rooftops and parked their vehicles at the
intersections feeding Hathway. Many stood near their vehicles while they observed the crowd. At 7:00 am, the officers
at the intersection of Fredericks and Hathway told me they had called their supervisor to respond to the scene and were
unable to do anything about the overwhelming number of people that had taken over the streets and rooftops. At one
point, a fire truck drove down Hathway while honking its horn, trying to clear a path. Some people were taken to Sierra
Vista Hospital for alcohol poisoning.
Our neighborhood was not cleared out until 10 am, and the parties started up again that night. We cleaned up the trash
in our yard, but the streets were covered with broken glass for 24 hours before they were swept on Sunday.
During the City Council meeting on Tuesday 3/15/2022, three days after the event, some council members and st aff
downplayed what had taken place and described it as “pre-partying for St. Patrick’s Day”. They said that the event is
“trending downward.” Jan Marx said that she had lived in the neighborhood for decades and understood the problem.
She wanted to agendize a possible safety enhancement zone for the event, but other council members did not support
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her. The consensus was that conversations should take place with Cal Poly and at SCLC meetings. One council member
said that the Greek community does not condone the name of “St. Fratty’s Day” ignoring the fact that fraternities fuel
the event and nearly every citation issued was to a satellite fraternity house.
I think we all need to be honest with ourselves and our community and admit that the so-called pre-party is actually the
stand-alone event of St. Fratty’s Day which is the rowdiest, most disruptive party of the year in San Luis Obispo. The
records from SLOPD’s dispatch log do not paint an accurate picture of the magnitude of what occurred during St. Fratty ’s
Day, 3/12/2022. It is not trending downward.
I called SLOPD dispatch at around 5:00 am to report the party at 348 Hathway (a fraternity house) but my call does not
appear on the Police Log. At approximately 6:45 am, I called SLOPD dispatch to report a h uge party at 1220 Fredericks
Street (a fraternity house) and that call does not appear on the Police Log, either. The party at 1220 Fredericks Street
was still going at approximately 9:30 am so I called again, which is on the Police Log.
I subsequently spoke with a captain at SLOPD about the reason some calls do not appear on the Police Log and was told
that it takes about two minutes to build a call in the system and when multiple calls are coming in, not all the calls are
logged. The calls listed on the Police Log and the number of citations issued do not correlate with the reality of the
situation on the ground.
I created a spreadsheet using the SLOPD Police Log that day to better understand what happened, according to those
records. (See Attachment: St. Fratty’s 2022 Calls from Police Log) According to SLOPD Police Log, the first call was at 4:21
am and no citations were issued. By 4:30 am, loud music was coming from nearly every house on Bond Avenue and
people were already gathering on sidewalks and the street. There was one officer driving around the neighborhood. He
did not get out of his car and told me he could not address the parties because he was still on the fireworks call.
The noise and number of people walking into the neighborhood increased exp onentially, very quickly. Between 06:11 –
09:19, several citations were written but mostly, police stayed next to their vehicles at the intersections in the
neighborhood as hordes of students partied on the streets, sidewalks and rooftops. I understand the perspective of the
officers, and obviously they don’t want to cause confrontation and be attacked by the crowd or incite a riot. However,
the entire situation should not have been allowed to evolve to the point where the neighborhood was overtaken.
There were six calls made to SLOPD dispatch that morning which were not able to be responded to in a timely manner
because officers were occupied with the out-of-control situation on Hathway Avenue and Bond Street. By the time
response was finally made to those calls, hours later, the large parties (one with 100+ people reported), noise and/or
people on the roof had dissipated and no citations were issued.
Many residences on Bond, Hathway, and Fredericks had loud parties that were not cited. One that stands out is 348
Hathway which was at the epicenter and started shortly after 4:00 am. Timestamps on TikTok videos show a huge party
was still happening there more than five hours later, at 9:36 am, with people on rooftops while the yard is filled with
partying college students. My call to SLOPD for 348 Hathway does not even appear on the Police Log.
It’s frustrating to hear members of city staff and City Council downplay the facts surrounding what happened on St.
Fratty’s Day and its impact on our neighborhood. I’m reaching out so hopefully you can understand how disruptive and
dangerous it is, and you will help bring forward solutions to prevent it from happening. Below are some suggestions:
Issue Citations When Appropriate According to the Municipal Code: Issuing citations for noise and/or unruly gatherings
is one of the most underutilized and powerful tools at SLOPD’s disposal. The SLO Municipal Code spells out what
constitutes a violation and SLOPD officers should be familiar with the elements of the city’s ordinance. Some officers
don’t seem to understand what constitutes a violation for noise or unruly gatherings. In August, an officer told me that
he could not cite a loud party with hundreds and hundreds of college students in the backyard as an unruly gathering
because there wasn’t a live band, which is not what the ordinance says. Two weeks ago, I took video of a loud party at
348 Hathway that was not cited for noise, but Lt. Bryan Treanor subsequently acknowledged that it should have been.
There was an identical party at the same house last weekend (2/10), I called SLOPD dispatch, and my call didn’t even
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appear on the Police Log.
After the COVID shutdown was lifted in 2021, I called SLOPD dispatch for some very loud parties and later found that
they were logged as ‘unable to locate’ or ‘negative violation’ in the SLO Police Log. I began taking videos of the most
flagrant parties and sent some videos to Chief Rick Scott when I found they were not cited. He acknowledged the
oversight, which I appreciate. However, loud parties continue regularly in our neighborhood and are not cited. It seems
that our neighborhood has been written off as a casualty for college-student rowdiness and problematic behavior and,
as a result, parties and noise that should be issued a citation are overlooked by SLOPD.
If SLOPD consistently enforced the noise ordinance and the unruly gathering ordinance, as they are written, citations
would be issued, and the message would be spread that the city is serious about not tolerating disruptive events in the
neighborhoods. Those who received citations earlier in the school year would not be able to register their parties based
on their previous behavior and they would be subject to a citation without a warning. It would have a huge impact to
curb the problems encountered on St. Fratty’s Day.
Safety Enhancement Zone
The City Council should allow the Police Chief to designate a safety enhancement zone (SEZ) for a specific period when
they become aware of an elevated concern related to an upcoming event. The previous Police Chief requested this
ability, but the proposal was rejected by the City Council. The current Chief said he would welcome such a tool, but it
has never been agendized or discussed. Currently, there is a shortage of SLOPD officers and recruitment of sworn
officers has been difficult, so Council should offer this free tool to our Police Chief to enable him to enact a SEZ ahead of
time for potentially problematic events, to lessen the strain on law enforcement and help keep our community safe. It
should not take a crisis, such as serious injuries, to prompt our leadership to enable such protections after the fact.
A SEZ for St. Fratty’s Day was suggested after the roof collapse at 348 Hathway in 2015, and an argument made by some
council members against doing so is that college students will just move the celebration to another weekend in March.
Applying the same logic to the annual Halloween celebrations, that isn’t likely to happen. After the City Council adopted
a SEZ for Halloween, students did not move their parties to another weekend in October to avoid the increased fines.
They still party on Halloween, or during the closest weekend, and face increased fines afforded by the SEZ.
There is also a SEZ for Mardi Gras, but St. Fratty’s Day parties far outweigh Mardi Gras celebrations and St. Fratty’s Day
does not have a safety enhancement zone. It doesn’t make sense. St. Fratty’s day is the craziest party day of the year
and a SEZ should be in effect for that event. Please consider expanding the SEZ to include the weekend before winter
finals or allow the Police Chief the ability to declare a SEZ for an anticipated problematic event.
Preemptive Patrol: SLOPD and Cal Poly’s University Police should preemptively patrol the targeted area in greater
numbers before 4:00 am. There should be a large presence at key intersections to stop crowds from converging in
masses into the streets, instead of posting police vehicles in the intersections after the party is already out of hand and
they are helpless to do much. Bicycle officers and foot patrol would be most effective. People on rooftops should be
cited immediately. Also, loud parties should be cited when they are observed by officers rather t han waiting for calls to
come in. Large efforts should be made early to prevent the event from spiraling out of control.
Monitor Social Media: Last year, college students communicated through social media apps like YikYak, which is now
called Sidechat and requires a Cal Poly email to join. Students communicate about parties through this app so
monitoring it could be helpful in learning about large parties ahead of time.
I'm hopeful we can prevent another disruptive event this year and ask for your support in protecting our neighborhood.
Thank you,
Kathie Walker
City of SLO and Cal Poly St. Patrick's Day Advance Preparation & Outreach
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Collaboration and creativity have been essential in addressing the challenges we face on and off campus during St. Patrick's Day
celebrations. This year, staff from Cal Poly and City representatives met multiple times prior to the expected neighborhood party
weekend (March 12 & 13) and developed comprehensive collaborations to develop a variety of tactics to inform students of
expectations and encourage safety and responsibility. The downtown bar celebration will take place on March 17th which is the
SLMC designated safety enhancement zone.
• Dean Pedersen will send a campus -wide email offering St. Patrick's Day safety tips and alternative programming options to
the entire student body on March 10th
• Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) will send a letter signed by all council presidents, Greek Life community emphasizing safety
and potential repercussions for violations. Clubs to send out a similar letter to all CP Clubs.
• FSL and Campus Health & Wellbeing (CHW) partnered to create 17 Party Safe boxes including 5400 items. Boxes will be
distributed to houses that register a party through FSL. Items included: water bottles, Aware Awake Alive messaging,
granola bars & other snacks with PULSE/CHW safe partying messaging, Narcan & fentanyl education, condoms, and
educational flyers with information on standard drink sizes, BAC estimates, and safe partying tips.
• CHW/PULSE students will table on -campus on March 11th and on the corner of Foothill & California on March 12th from
6:00am-8:00am. Intervention will include a spin wheel with facts about drinking and partying safer, making St. Patrick's Day
stress balls with party safe education, handing out snacks and water, and 200 Don't Drink & Drive keychains.
• CHW/PULSE developed 2 coasters with safer partying and DUI messaging. 1000 of these coasters will be distributed to local
bars through the Downtown SLO.
• IHC is hosting a Midnight Breakfast on Friday, March 11 with free breakfast to the first 150 students. PULSE safe partying
messaging will be disseminated by IHC staff. 1000 students expected to attend.
• IHC distributing water, Liquid IV, bananas, and 5000 granola bars with PULSE safe party messaging the week of St. Patrick's
Day to every available front desk in Residential Life.
• ASI sponsoring breakfast burritos for 500 to be distributed by CHW and FSL students and staff from 5:00am-7:00am on
March 12t' (the traditional heavy party day) with safety messaging and encouragement for students to be more mindful in
their consumption. Distribution will be in front of Vista Grande on Grand Ave.
• Disseminated Safety Enhancement Zone (SEZ) information to be distributed throughout campus via digital and hard copies.
SEZ ads were also purchased to run on Instagram — algorithm set for San Luis Obispo County, targeting residents ages 18 to
26. Finally, SEZ posters were distributed via Downtown SLO Food, Beverage, Service Committee for display in
bars/restaurants.
• Christine Wallace attended IFC, Panhellenic and USFC board meetings to distribute SEZ information. She also attended four
fraternity and one sorority chapter meetings, sharing SLMC information including SEZ and St. Patrick's Day expectations.
• Center for Leadership and Service hosting a Fraternity & Sorority Life community clean-up day Sunday, March 131h to
remove expected party related trash from neighborhood streets and sidewalks.
• Campus Health & Wellbeing will relaunch its Party Safe website featuring a list of alternative events, resources, safety tips
and information about alcohol poisoning.
• CHW/PULSE designed and distributed PPT flyers for all Housing displays beginning in early February. Messaging included
information on safe partying, binge drinking & alcohol poisoning, and mixing medications and alcohol.
• CPPD to conduct ABC compliance operations on March 12, 13, 17 & 18.
0 CPPD & SLOPD at increased deployment through the weekend and March 17th
Call time Arrived Cleared Response time Address Type Outcome
4:21 4:39 4:42 18 min 208 Hathway Loud party/Fireworks No violation
4:38 4:42 4:52 4 min 260 Santa Lucia*Fireworks No report
4:51 4:57 5:15 6 min 146 Stenner*Loud yelling/music Citation
5:09 5:22 5:22 13 min 561 Luneta*Loud music Unable to Locate
5:11 5:18 5:33 7 min 322 Hathway Music & Fireworks DAC
5:50 5:54 6:03 4 min Hathway Alley Gathering per YikYak Unable to Locate
6:11 6:12 6:23 1 min 281 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
6:12 n/a 6:25 canceled 1784 McCollum*Noisy crowd in street Canceled
6:30 6:31 6:35 1 min 1218 Bond Noise/Party Citation
6:30 10:02 3 hr 32 min 451 Chorro*Noise/Party No violation
6:39 6:39 6:47 0 min**274 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
6:52 0 min**281 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
6:56 7:07 7:47 11 min 306 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
7:08 7:08 7:29 0 min**Bond & Hathway Intoxicated Person Arrest PC647(F)
7:13 7:13 7:29 0 min**1213 Bond Intoxicated Person Arrest PC647(F)
7:20 9:15 9:18 1 hr 55 min 1441 Slack*Noisy people No report
7:26 7:26 7:33 0 min**208 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
7:47 7:48 7:53 1 min 281 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
7:50 7:50 7:57 0 min**Hathway & Fredericks UIP Citation
8:00 8:00 8:16 0 min**Hathway & Carpenter Intoxicated Person Arrest PC647(F)
8:01 9:49 9:51 1 hr 48 min 175 Hathway Large Party 100+ UIP No violation
8:07 9:22 9:22 1 hr 15 min Loomis & Graves*Noisy people Unable to Locate
8:15 8:15 8:38 0 min**291 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
8:21 8:21 8:42 0 min**200 Block Hathway Assault/Oth Weapon Report to follow
8:25 8:25 8:35 0 min**291 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
8:38 10:09 10:10 1 hr 31 min 334 Foothill*Noisy people No violation
7:00 AM -Multiple police vehicles posted at intersections in neighborhood (3 hours after initial disturbances)
Officers standing at Fredericks/Hathway say they've called their supervisor to respond to the scene
Timeline of events on 3/12/2022 "St. Fratty's Day"
College student-aged people have begun to gather in street at Hathway/Bond and loud parties are throughout neighborhood
Large crowds have overtaken Hathway Ave from Carpenter to Fredericks overflowing onto Bond
SLOPD POLICE LOG - 3/12/2022
5:15 AM - Police increasing presence in lower Alta Vista neighborhood (1 hour after initial disturbances)
9:02 9:03 9:07 1 min 208 Hathway Noise/Party Citation
9:03 9:07 9:17 4 min 133 Orange Noise/Party Citation
9:19 9:19 9:29 0 min**191 Orange Noise/Party Citation
9:26 9:28 9:41 2 min 1220 Fredericks Noise/Party-ppl on roof Citation
10:02 10:13 10:26 11 min 1050 Foothill - The SLO Apts*Noise/Party Citation
10:26 12:03 12:07 1 hr 36 min 200 Block Kentucky Large Party-ppl on roof Unable to Locate
11:01 11:01 11:35 0 min**Longview DUI Arrest
11:11 11:42 11:43 31 min Kentucky Alley Males kicking…No report
12:09 12:18 12:22 9 min 1700 Kentucky Large Party-ppl on roof No violation
12:13 13:19 13:27 1 hr 6 min 1050 Foothill - The SLO Apts*Noise/Party No violation
***St. Fratty's Day is meant to start at 4am and be over by mid-mornnig (i.e. 4am - 10am)
By 10:00 AM - 6 hours after the initial disturbances - the lower Alta Vista neighborhood has mostly quieted down***
Police are back in their vehicles and "mopping up" after crowd dispersed
*Outside of the lower-Alta Vista neighborhood which is the area targeted for St. Fratty's Day
**zero (0) min response could be officer observation and not a "call" for service