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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3b. March Safety Enhancement Zone Response Plan Cal Poly & City PresentationST. PATRICK’S DAY: CAL POLY PREPARATIONS Presented by: Cynthia Vizcaíno Villa, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Allison Baird-James, Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance KEY EFFORTS Comprehensive Response Plan •Proactive outreach students to discourage neighborhood partying and disruptions. •Security on and off campus, including collaboration with the city and police to maximize enforcement. •Planning a special event that draws students to campus. •Targeted communication and outreach. / 15 ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH IN CITY •Holding students accountable for violations of law and campus policies. •Off-campus violations to be reported to Cal Poly’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. •Enhanced patrols and coordination with SLOPD for maximum enforcement — high visibility, zero tolerance. •Ongoing outreach to Fraternity and Sorority Life. •Promotion of city’s Safety Enhancement Zone. / 16 ON-CAMPUS ENFORCEMENT •Increased number of officers on campus. •No guests allowed in University Housing from March 13-18. •ID checks and increased staffing at all building entrances. •Road closures and parking restrictions in place. •Quiet hours to be strictly enforced. / 17 ON-CAMPUS EVENT •March 15 on campus — significant investment to draw students out of neighborhoods. •Early -morning event with amplified sound in Sports Complex Lower Fields. •Ticketed event, 18+, open to public. •5,000 attendance cap. •Headliner to be determined. / 18 HARM REDUCTION & CLEAN UP •Harm-reduction efforts: hydration boxes, overdose education, food and water stations. •Clean-up efforts on March 16 organized by Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Center for Service in Action. / 19 Multi -Prong Approach to Ending the Party •Visible presence on campus leading up to and throughout the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. •Clear communications and messages to all students. •Meetings with the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. PARTY PREVENTION / 20 TOP PRIORITIES Priorities for the weekend: •Health and safety. •Minimize damage and disruptions. •Successful university event to keep students on campus. / 21 IN SUMMARY We have zero tolerance for breaking laws and policies. We will hold students accountable for violating laws and policies, such as possession of alcohol and drugs, inviting out-of-town guests, etc. Cal Poly will host a safe alternative event to keep students on campus. The event will be held on campus on Saturday, March 15. Safety is our top priority. Many additional staff members will be on site. We will offer hydration and food as well as proactive education. / 22 Thank you for your partnership. / 23 March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation City Council Presentation February 4, 2025 Safety Enhancement Zone Overview •December 2004 -Council enacted Chapter 9.22 of the San Luis Obispo MC. •Entire City a safety enhancement zone during specific dates/times. •Protect the public health, safety, and welfare of SLO Community: •Chapter 9.04 Possession or consumption of alcohol in public •Chapter 9.05 Social Host –minors consuming or possessing alcohol •Chapter 9.12 Noise Control •Chapter 9.13 Unruly Gathering •Chapter 9.16 Dangerous and Deadly Weapons •Chapter 9.20 Urinating in Public Safety Enhancement Zone Overview Chapter 9.13 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code: Unruly Gatherings “conduct that causes a substantial disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property in a significant segment of an immediate neighborhood, or presents a threat to the health and safety… shall include, but is not limited to, …presence of persons on rooftop areas not designed for occupancy” Safety Enhancement Zone Overview •2004 –SEZ adopted to police Mardi Gras after riot occurred in February 2004 •2010 –Halloween & St. Patrick’s Day SEZ were added •2013 –Start of School SEZ was added •2024 –SEZ expanded dates for more coverage of St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween •During a SEZ, fines for public urination, open container, unruly gatherings, and noise are doubled Safety Enhancement Zone Overview Routine Fines •First Offense: $350 •Second Offence (in 12 mo. Period): $700 •Third and subsequent (in 12 mo. Period): $1000 Safety Enhancement Zone Fines •First Offense: $700 •Second Offence (in 12 mo. Period): $1000 •Third and subsequent (in 12 mo. Period): $1000 Safety Enhancement Zone Overview Chapter 9.22 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code: Safety Enhancement Zone “12:01 a.m. on March 17th until 7:00 a.m. on March 18 th AND include the two weekends prior to St. Patrick’s Day, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and ending at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. Should St. Patrick’s Day fall on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the safety enhancement period would begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and end at 7:00 a.m. on Monday.” Safety Enhancement Zone Overview March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation Challenges and Lessons Learned •Reactive approach led to difficulties in managing the situation •Growing numbers of attendees, specifically out-of-town students •“Pregame” damage at Cal Poly •Return to rooftop gatherings and pole climbing March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation Improvements and Successes •Shifted to proactive approach. •Significant increase in both arrests and citations. •Recognized event has evolved into a destination “party”. •Successes included: o Many known party houses and Greek houses did not host parties, reducing crowd staying power. o Interception of alcohol before reaching the street party, reducing alcohol-fueled issues. o Significantly cut the duration of the event. March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation Key Strategies for 2025 •This year will be much more proactive based on resources. •Proactivity starts early: o Low to no tolerance for behaviors the month leading up. o Increased educational efforts, including: o Presentations to Greek life organizations, Interhousing Council, ASI o Neighborhood Canvasing beginning February 15 th o Social Media paid and organic posts (state -wide ads) o Properties receiving DAC/Cite to receive SEZ handout in Feb/March o Messaging to Other Universities to Discourage Attendance March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation General Plan for This Year The number one goal is SAFETY for entire community and responders. Max Personnel Deployment •Patrol •Foot Patrol •Bike Patrol •Motor Units •Additional assistance from other agencies •Fire and Medic Rescue March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation Zero Tolerance Enforcement Efforts •Proactive Enforcement •Alcohol Violations •Assault-Related Crimes •Administrative Violations with a Focus on Safety Enhancement Zone March Safety Enhancement Zone Preparation Defining Success •Early Intervention: o Partnership with Cal Poly to end this unsanctioned event in the neighborhood. o Proactively diverting & managing crowd. o Early Deployment to address potential issues before they escalate. •Alcohol Interception: o Preventing illegal alcohol consumption to reduce disorderly conduct. o Enforcing laws to limit excessive drinking and its associated risks. •Reduction/Elimination of Dangerous Behaviors: o Preventing hazardous actions such as pole climbing and individuals accessing rooftops. o Minimizing incidents of property damage to maintain a safe and orderly environment. •Safety and Well-being: o Ensuring there are no serious injuries among citizens or peace officers. o While the goal is to end the unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day-related event, this will take time. •Current success criteria is to reduce attendance.