TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to review the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department's public permitting process; and request that City Council adopt the following public safety policies:
A) Requirement that Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department notify the Police Department whenever a permit is issued to a group of twenty-five or more.
B) Establishment of a public safety fee for permits issued by the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department to a group of twenty-five or more, with those fees directed towards funding Park Rangers or a “park patrol” that can patrol parks and alert the Police when there is a problem.
C) Require that signs be posted notifying the public that a permit is required for groups of twenty-five or more and that violators will be fined and not allowed to use the park for a one year period.
D) Require that signs be posted notifying the public that alcohol is not permitted.
DISCUSSION
On Saturday June 5, 2010 approximately fifty residents living around Pan Am Park in the north side of the Fifth District attended a community meeting that I organized to discuss a shooting that occurred on Memorial Day at the park. The neighborhood had many questions and wanted to know what preventative measures would be taken to increase park safety on holidays.
In addition to Long Beach City Manager, Pat West, Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell, and Parks and Recreation Director, Phil Hester, attended the meeting and both departments brought key staff members that are involved in the Fifth Council District.
On June 1, Commander Laura Farinella, and Phil Hester provided the City Council with a brief report on the incident that occurred on Memorial Day.
A) A large family from Compton held its annual barbeque at Pan Am Park on Memorial Day. This group has done so for about eighteen years without incident.
B) The family did not obtain a permit from the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department -- which is required for all groups over twenty-five...
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