HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-2015 Public Comment Codron, Gesell, JohnsonMAR 17 2015
Council
March 11, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council COUNCIL MEETING: 03
FROM: Michael Codron, Assistant City Manager ITEM NO.:
Steve Gesell, Police Chief
Derek Johnson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Council Discussion Regarding the Hathway Roof Collapse Incident
The events surrounding the roof collapse over the past weekend have been a stark reminder of
the ongoing challenges that Cal Poly, Cuesta, residents and the City face with respect to
town /gown issues. Large scale parties and unorganized gatherings present a serious health and
safety issue to the community and neighborhoods.
The purpose of this memo is to outline efforts underway that the City Council may wish to
consider on a future agenda. The March 17 agenda does not provide for a discussion of the issues
encompassing the event. To maintain Brown Act compliance, this memo is intended to help
guide Council discussion about direction to staff regarding future agenda items.
Community Civility Working Group Report
The Civility Working Group ( "Group ") is made up of representatives from student organizations,
residents, City, Cal Poly, and Cuesta College (Attachment A). The Group has been meeting for
approximately one year to assess issues surrounding the town /gown relationship. The mission of
the Group is to "Research, identify, and implement Cal Poly, Council and Cuesta strategies to
enhance the quality of life for all residents with an emphasis on building positive relations
between residential and student -aged neighbors through a cultural shift in social behaviors."
The final work product will include a series of recommendations and is expected to be produced
before the end of the month. Given the timeframe, it may be prudent to review the
recommendations of the report before determining a specific response to the events of March 7.
Regardless, staff plans to place the review of the report on a future agenda for Council
consideration, discussion, and direction. Currently, the recommendations of the Civility Working
Group report are scheduled to be presented to the Council on May 19.
Ordinance Prohibiting Social Gatherings on Roof Tops
The Council may direct staff to develop a new ordinance prohibiting social gatherings and /or the
consumption of alcohol on roof tops for consideration by the City Council on a future agenda.
The phenomenon referred to as "brewfing"" is popular with students in the City. An ordinance
could be crafted to address this dangerous behavior that provides for potential penalties for
landlords and tenants.
1 Combination of'beer' +'roof. The act of sitting on a roof and drinking beer. (www.urbandictionary.com)
Hathway Roof Collapse Incident Page 2
Direction to Staff to Research and Report Back on Other Enforcement Options
By many accounts, the collapse of the roof is a symptom or consequence of a large number of
inebriated young adults congregating both on private and public property. The community
avoided an even more serious situation on March 7 due to the management of the situation by the
City's Police Department, along with the Fire Department and other responding agencies. The
disbursement of party goers dissuaded the event from growing even larger and preventing other
dangerous situations from emerging.
It is clear that Cal Poly, Cuesta, City and Neighborhoods need to work together to find effective
strategies to detect large social events before they occur and to deter large crowds of students
from migrating off campus onto City streets and neighborhoods.2 With Council direction, staff
can research additional tools to deter large masses of young people from congregating and
jeopardizing the health and safety of the community. If the Council wishes to direct staff in this
manner, then direction should be provided to add the discussion to the March 31 Council agenda
allowing for specific discussion on a course of action and workload priorities.
Attachment
Neighborhood Wellness /Community Civility Group Effort- Organizational Chart
\ \chstore7\team \communications \3 -7 hathway \council options memo. docx
2 A summary of options will be presented to the City Council on May 19, 2015 that is a result of the six objectives
detmed dv the Newhborhood weiniessluommunity c;ivilav t;ttort. tnese lncluae:
1. Define short -term actions that could be implemented to enhance quality of life for all
residents particularly associated in the timeframe around the opening of the Cal Poly and
Cuesta Campuses at the beginning of the school year.
Objectives: 2. Define Stakeholders' Needs and Success
3. Identify University /City Best Practices
4. Review Enforcement Best Practices
5. Engage Stakeholders: Review Current Educational And Information Efforts
6. Prepare for Sustained Engagement to Achieve Desired Vision and Goal
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