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Home My WebLink AboutCS Boyd Park ClosureCITY OF�aq Agenda Item No: 5.b Meeting Date: February 2, 201 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Community Services Prepared by: Carlene McCart, Director City Manager Approval: mkLlo SUBJECT: Emergency Closure of Boyd Park RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council accept this report. BACKGROUND: Illegal activity in Boyd Park has steadily increased over the last five years. The presence of drug use and sale, alcohol consumption, overnight camping, after hours use and dangerous debris has continued despite concentrated efforts of the Police Department, Park Ranger Staff, the Parks Division of Public Works Department, and outreach to local service providers. The number of resident complaints over illicit behavior in Boyd Park, intimidation of the public by people in the park, and general park conditions has risen in past months. In 2014 San Rafael Police Department was on site at Boyd Park, patrolling or responding to incidents a total of 389 times. Officers made 80 reports at Boyd Park. The violations included drug possession, drunk in public, indecent exposure, probation violation, assault and battery, unlawful camping, amongst others. During January, 2015, the Boyd Gate House was vandalized, the closed restroom building was broken into for a second time and used for storage of personal and stolen items, and a fire started in the same building. Mayor Phillips convened a meeting with City Manager Mackie, Assistant City Manager Schutz, Police Captain Starnes and me on Thursday, January 22. After review of options it was consensus to temporarily close Boyd Park to the public to stem the destructive and illegal behavior. Effective Monday, January 26, 2015, 1 authorized the temporary closure of Boyd Park to the public for an initial 30 -day period to allow response to the health and security issues created by chronic littering, illegal behavior, the presence of abandoned drug paraphernalia suggestive of illegal narcotics activities, and vandalism. I took this action in accordance with the San Rafael Municipal Code: 8.10.160 - Park closure. Any park, building or portion thereof may be declared closed to the public by the director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals (daily or otherwise) and either entirely or only to certain uses, as the director finds reasonably necessary for the protection of FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: .2--1-9 Council Meeting: Disposition: Lc1z4��-L �� SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 property or for the public health, safety or welfare. No person shall enter or remain in any park, building, or portion thereof, which has been closed and noticed as closed by appropriate signs, fencing or cordoning, or by warning cones. The Park was posted closed with signage approved by the City Attorney's office and Police Department, on Monday, January 26, 2015, and remains closed. ANALYSIS: The goal of the closure is to end the destructive behavior in Boyd Park and to create a safe and attractive environment when the general public resumes use of the facilities. This report recommends a 30- day closure, during which time the following will occur: • The Police Department will enforce the closure. • Community Services Department, Department of Public Works, the Volunteer Coordinator will organize a systematic cleaning, clearing and basic restoration of the Park, involving the community as it is safe to do so. • Community Services will propose a schedule of family oriented events and activities when the park re -opens. The closure may be extended to accomplish the objectives listed above. Throughout the time period of closure there will be outreach to residents and businesses on progress made, and how to engage in the park's revitalization. FISCAL IMPACT: The Police Department will not incur additional costs, but deploy current resources for the initial closure period. Department of Public Works will assess the initial need to clean and clear the site for safety, and provide the necessary resources. Costs for larger corrective measures will be presented at a future date. Likewise, Community Services will prepare a schedule and cost proposal for public events and activities in the park after re -opening to stimulate interest and positive experiences. At this time there is no estimated fiscal impact with the action of temporary closure. OPTIONS: 1. Accept the report and the proposed activities during an initial 30 -day closure of Boyd Park 2. Re -open Boyd Park to the public ACTION REQUIRED: Accept the Report on the Emergency Closure of Boyd Park CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL / AGENCY. SRSA / SRCC AGENDA ITEM NO. r. DATE OF MEETING: February 2, 2015 FROM: Carlene McCart, Director DEPARTMENT: Community Services Department DATE: January 26, 2015 TITLE OF DOCUMENT: Emergency Closure of Boyd Park Department Head (signature) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (LOWER HALF OF FORM FOR APPROVALS ONLY) APPROVED AS COUNCIL / AGENCY AGENDA ITEM: City Manager (signature) NOT APPROVED REMARKS: APPROVED AS TO FORM: .. City Attorney (signature) To: San Rafael City Council Subject: Closure of Boyd Park Date: February 1, 2015 Dear Councilmembers, When you consider accepting the Park & Rec director's recommendation to maintain a 30 -day closure of Boyd Park, I urge you to consider the negative public impacts of closing the entire park during renovations or while plans are being made for anticipated repairs. Although I am not a resident of San Rafael, I work here every weekday. I am not homeless. I regularly use Boyd Park because it is two blocks from my office and it is a pleasant place to eat lunch outdoors. There is no comparable public resource so close to my work. I was surprised to find the west pedestrian gate on Mission chained shut on Tuesday, January 27. I had eaten lunch at Boyd Park just the day before. I did not notice anything dangerous or unsafe about the picnic area where I sat on Monday. When I called Parks & Rec, the representative said the mayor had closed the entire park because there had been a fire in the abandoned cinder -block bathroom the previous Thursday. Boyd Park is large, and I was in no danger from the burned structure as I enjoyed my lunch in the park. I am aware of the difficulties the city has had maintaining a civil ambience in Boyd Park. And I applaud the city's expected effort to renovate the park's facilities and to increase the diversity of the park's patrons. But closing Boyd Park entirely is bad public policy. The social problems of homelessness and drug addiction in San Rafael will not go away because you close Boyd Park. You will only accomplish their relocation. As you and the Parks & Rec department decide what repairs or renovations to pursue in the coming months, I fear you will likely keep the gates shut indefinitely, long past the 30 -day "cooling off period." Please keep Boyd Park open and make renovations of the park's facilities in stages with only the affected zone closed, leaving the rest of the large park open for public enjoyment. Sincerely, 71AC Vd1K d414 Marc van Anda Marc van Anda 1845 Solano Ave. I Albany, CA 194706 To: San Rafael City Council Subject: Closure of Boyd Park Date: February 1, 2015 Dear Councilmembers, When you consider accepting the Park & Rec director's recommendation to maintain a 30 -day closure of Boyd Park, I urge you to consider the negative public impacts of closing the entire park during renovations or while plans are being made for anticipated repairs. Although I am not a resident of San Rafael, I work here every weekday. I am not homeless. I regularly use Boyd Park because it is two blocks from my office and it is a pleasant place to eat lunch outdoors. There is no comparable public resource so close to my work. I was surprised to find the west pedestrian gate on Mission chained shut on Tuesday, January 27. I had eaten lunch at Boyd Park just the day before. I did not notice anything dangerous or unsafe about the picnic area where I sat on Monday. When I called Parks & Rec, the representative said the mayor had closed the entire park because there had been a fire in the abandoned cinder -block bathroom the previous Thursday. Boyd Park is large, and I was in no danger from the burned structure as I enjoyed my lunch in the park. I am aware of the difficulties the city has had maintaining a civil ambience in Boyd Park. And I applaud the city's expected effort to renovate the park's facilities and to increase the diversity of the park's patrons. But closing Boyd Park entirely is bad public policy. The social problems of homelessness and drug addiction in San Rafael will not go away because you close Boyd Park. You will only accomplish their relocation. As you and the Parks & Rec department decide what repairs or renovations to pursue in the coming months, I fear you will likely keep the gates shut indefinitely, long past the 30 -day "cooling off period." Please keep Boyd Park open and make renovations of the park's facilities in stages with only the affected zone closed, leaving the rest of the large park open for public enjoyment. Sincerely, AC VttM a4l)eL Marc van Anda Marc van Anda 1845 Solano Ave. I Albany, CA 194706