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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-06-2016 Public Comment, GouldCOUNCILMI".i'.lING: O�l�c kof Zs I6 ITEM NO.:1� 2\7"C w�. Christian, Kevin To: Gallagher, Carrie Subject: RE: non agenda item: enforcement of unruly gatherings and noise R ECEIVED From: Kit Gould-Himelblau [mailto:kit.gouldl@gmaii.com] SEP O 6 2016 Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 4:47 PM To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncill@slocity.arg> SLO CITY CLERK Subject: non agenda item: enforcement of unruly gatherings and noise I have lived on Ramona Dr. with my family for the last 10 years and I have been active in building community in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has received a City of SLO Neighborhood Matching Grant and in a few weekends we will hold our first neighborhood event of the year, an Ice Cream Social to welcome college student in our neighborhood. Many of us want our first interaction with students to be a positive one. Most students in our neighborhood are good neighbors. However, with the start of the fall semester at Cuesta College and soon to follow the beginning of Cal Poly's Fall Quarter I would like to address the need for better enforcement of noise and unruly ordinances in our neighborhood. I want to share a specific story from my neighbors across the street. On Saturday, May 28th they were disturbed by a large student party happening two houses away from them. They saw many students (possibly. 300!) in the backyard. My neighbors reported the disturbance. Two SNAP officers came 10 minutes later and it appeared that they had asked the partiers to disperse. No DAC was issued and hundreds of drunk students were now leaving the party without any SNAP or police supervision. My neighbors were concerned and stepped outside their front door. My neighbors were then spotted by large clusters of drunks who then started yelling profanities at them. One students came onto their property and keyed their truck in front of them, causing $2,000 in damage. My neighbor's called 911 and about 30 minutes later two SLO Police officers showed up. By that time all partiers were gone, except for one who was waiting for a ride. A report was written and one officer advised my neighbors to park their truck on the other side of town during the weekends. I am left with the following questions: 1. Why wasn't a DAC issued? 2. Why did the SNAP officers leave the scene and not help disperse the crowd? 3. Why didn't SNAP call for backup? 4. Why wasn't the party host cited for unruly gathering? 5. Why wasn't the party hosts cited for noise? 6. Why wasn't there follow up with the tenants of the house that had the party? Over the last few years I've been disheartened by some of the stories I've heard from my neighbors. Many of these stories end with the neighbors expressing frustration and fearing for their safety. Some neighbors talk about moving out of the neighborhood and I know of two families that actually did. I believe that student tenants are educated about their responsibilities as tenants and neighbors and about the consequences of infractions. Student renters are educated by: 1. Landlords. Students sign a rental agreement that I assume would at least include a statement about not hosting large, loud parties. 2. Cal Poly: Cal Poly Dean of Students office has a Student Community Success Program and Educated. Student Renter Certificate Program, both lay out city ordinances and Cal Poly's code of conduct. 'The Dean of Students office follows up with all students who receive citations and there are consequences. 3. San Luis Obispo Police: The police department has a website called Respect SLO that has a section devoted to students. Around this time last year the police department working with Cal Poly hung Avoid Party Regret placards on some of the rentals in our neighborhood. Students know the ordinances, and even if they don't, they should still be held accountable. I believe that there needs to be consistent enforcement of unruly gatherings and noise ordinances. Students need to be held responsible for bad behavior. Thank you, Kit Gould 330 Ramon Dr.