TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager to direct City Traffic Engineer to impose traffic restrictions on a portion of Henderson Avenue between 19th Street and 20th Street. (District 6)
DISCUSSION
It is requested that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Long Beach City Manager to direct the City Traffic Engineer to post signs prohibiting vehicles from stoppin~ standing or parking along the east or west curbs of that portion of Henderson Avenue between 19 Street and 20thStreet. The traffic restrictions will take effect 72 hours after traffic control signs are posted. the restrictions will apply to all hours ofthe day or night and will remain in effect for 30 days. This request is submitted by the City Prosecutor as part of an overall collaborative plan with other city agencies to prevent criminal or nuisance behavior that is being facilitated by vehicles that stop. stand or park along the subject portion of Henderson Avenue.
BACKGROUND
Henderson Avenue between 19th Street and zo" Street has a history of crime, particularly drug offenses, and other nuisance behavior. In 1991. Henderson Street was closed to through traffic in an effort to reduce the incidence of crime. This street closure had a short-term positive deterrent effect on crime, but when the street closure was lifted the criminal element returned to the area. The substantial majority of the housing in this area consists of non-owner-occupied multiple-unit apartment buildings. These apartment buildings are not members of Apartment Watch and typically do not have on-site property managers. Tenancies in this area tend to be very transient with a high turnover rate. There is an unacceptably high concentration of high-risk tenants such as parolees or probationers.
A survey of crime reports for the subject portion of Henderson Avenue from January 2005 through September 2005 shows there were 85 Part 1 or Part 2 crimes in the subject area. The crimes of interest break out as follows: 31 drug offenses; 12 warrant arrests; 8 vehicle offenses; 4 vandalism offense; 4 battery offenses; 4 auto burglaries; 3 parole violations; 3 LBMC violations; 1 residential burglary; 1 receiving stolen property offense; 1 loitering for prostitution offense; and 13 miscellaneous offenses. Preliminary analysis of the calls for service does not reveal any obvious patterns of criminal activities except for the overall prevalence of drug offenses. There were several arrests of drug traffickers who live on nearby streets but who came to this portion of Henderson Avenue to engage in their drug sales. This fact underscores the notoriety of this portion of Henderson Avenue as a wellknown drug market.
The crime reports and other information make a strong connection that vehicles stopped, standing, or parked along Henderson Avenue are used to facilitate criminal and nuisance activity. Drive-by drug sales, loitering nearby or inside parked vehicles to use or sell drugs, and using parked vehicles as cover for other activities have all been observed. This Resolution will afford law enforcement an opportunity to eliminate the use of stopped, standing or parked vehicles as the means to commit crimes or other nuisance activities. Following the expiration of these traffic restrictions, law enforcement will conduct an analysis of crime and nuisance activities in this area to assess the effectiveness of these traffic restrictions as a prevention tool.
IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
(1) ADOPT THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TC DIRECT THE CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO IMPOSE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS O~ HENDERSON AVENUE BETWEEN 19TH STREET AND 20TH STREET.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY PARKING, STANDING AND STOPPING PROHIBITION ON THE 1900 BLOCK OF HENDERSON AVENUE
Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS REEVES
CITY PROSECUTOR