HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-2017 Item 14, RowleyCOUNCIL MEETING:�RECEIVED��
ITEM NO.:_) y JAN 17 2017
From: RQN of SLO [
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2017 11:07 AM
To: Pease, Andy <a ease slocit .or >; Gomez, Aaron <agomez@slocity.org>; Christianson, Carlyn
<cchristianson@slocity.org>; Harmon, Heidi <hharmon sloc_ity.org>; Rivoire, Dan <DRivoire@slocitv.org>; Cantrell,
Deanna <DCantrell@slocity.org>
Cc: Goodwin, Heather <hgoodwin@slocity.orrg>; Goodwin, Heather <hgoodwin@slocity.org>
Subject: Item 14, Safety Enhancement Zones Amendment
Kevin/Heather, please include the attachment in Council Correspondence. Thank you.
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 12604 . San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
January 17, 2017
Re: Item 14, Ordinance Introduction, Safety Enhancement Zones Amendment
Dear Mayor Harmon and Members of the Council,
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods (RQN) supports staff's recommendations. We are
confident that the Police Department has objectively interpreted and used the data they
compile and maintain to put forth a program that considers and is in the best interest of the
entire community.
Of the approximately 30,000 Cal Poly and Cuesta students, it is a minority who "party -hardy."
However, the disruptions - especially the noise, caused by this minority are significant and
affect permanent and student residents alike. Sleep interruptions and the deprivation of sleep
caused by noisy roaming crowds and excessive party noise from nearby properties late at night
have health consequences, regardless of one's age.
We think it is troubling that student leadership wants to exclude Noise Control from the
proposed amendment. This appears equivalent to saying they do not intend to monitor or
control noise.
It is important to note that all noise complaints do not result in a warning or citation. Police
officers have the discretion to categorize a noise complaint as a negative violation if they think
the noise emitted does not rise to the level needed for either a warning or citation. However,
when the noise does rise to the level of being a serious disturbance, it is important to catch it
early - before the gathering gives rise to negative behaviors such as assault, vandalism or public
urination/defecation.
Unfortunately, the city lost control of Poly Royal in 1990 and Mardi Gras in 2004 because we
did not adequately address the rise in negative behaviors until it was too late. Poly Royal as it
had been celebrated was suspended and renamed. Mardi Gras was discontinued; it took
several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so.
Students have said they like a break from their studies during this time period, so it would be a
shame if these St. Patrick's Day/St. Fratty's Day celebrations suffered the same fate because of
irresponsible parties and activities. And it would be a shame if the city had to spend untold
man-hours and thousands upon thousands more dollars before these events were controlled.
News reports from 2016 show that the celebrations were quieter than in 2015, but nowhere
did they report it was quiet. There were more than 50 noisy -party calls received by police that
occurred March 12th and from March 171h through March 20th (Thursday - Sunday). Of those
several had from 50-150 attendees.
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If students act responsibly and considerately, watch out for each other and the neighbors, and
intervene when necessary, there will be no problem with the increased fines. For the few who
don't act responsibly and considerately and don't adjust their behavior when given a friendly
warning by their peers, e.g., bystander intervention, there will be consequences for disturbing
other residents and the neighborhood in which they all live.
We recommend approval of the proposed amendment.
Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chairperson, RQN
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