Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-018-09Cla~~~on REPORT ceaarng me woy ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: May 4, 2009 Resolution #: ~A'3a~-o l Report #: EGD-018-09 File #: By-law #: Subject: ROB PIONTEK SKATE PARK -NOISE AND LOITERING MITIGATION MEASURES Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Council endorse increased planting, and additional barrier railings at the Rob Piontek Skate Park to be funded from the Courtice Skate Park capital account; 2. THAT Council endorses the use of private security patrols at the Rob Piontek Skate Park in 2009 on a trial basis up to a max. of $2000 and; 3. THAT interested parties be advised of Councils decision. Respectfully by, ~.~~ Submitted by: A. .Cannella Director of Engineering Services ~ J ~ Re iv ewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer ASC/PW/dv April 27, 2009 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905.623-3379 F 905-623-9282 REPORT NO.: EGD-018-09 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 7.1 Since the opening of the Rob Piontek Skate Park in July 2008 the Municipality and Durham Regional Police have received complaints about noise, loitering and litter at the skate park from residents of the Nantucket condominium complex located south of the skate park. The residents' concerns have been relayed to the Municipality through letters, e-mails, and meetings with staff and members of Council. The primary concerns appear to be that the skate park has become a gathering place for youth hanging around the skate park or the adjacent parking lot. The noise from car stereos, tires squealing, and loud voices have been the main concerns. Other concerns include excessive litter, foul language and lewd conduct. On April 18 the Community Services Department in conjunction with Alcatraz Skates began the first Learn to Skate Board program at the park. As well as learning the basics of skate boarding, these four week programs will emphasis safety, respect and etiquette. In the fall of 2008 the Municipality revised the by-law to regulate, protect and control all public parks. Implementing a Dusk to Dawn curfew at all parks was one of the key revisions to the by-law. Therefore any loitering or use of the skate park outside of daylight hours is a violation of the by-law and the police will issue tickets on that basis. The Durham Regional Police prepared a report in December 2008 indicating that they have received an increase in calls for service since the park opened. The calls from residents are primarily in the evening hours after 9:OOPM. Most of the calls were in the disorder category for youth loitering, followed by fights and noise complaints. The police recommend increased patrols after 9:OOPM to help curb the calls for service. They also recommend that By-law infractions be issued by municipal law enforcement staff and the police, suggesting that the fines would act as a deterrent. They further recommend that the Municipality should consider having municipal law enforcement staff conduct checks outside of normal business hours. On April 2, 2009 engineering staff, community services staff, and some members of Council met with the Durham Regional Police to obtain more information on the extent and nature of the calls for service that the police have received since the skate park opened in July 2008 and to discuss possible solutions. On April 8, 2009 engineering staff and two officers from the Durham Regional Police met with residents and the management company for the Nantucket condominiums to obtain feedback on the possible methods of mitigating noise and loitering at the skate park in 2009. REPORT NO.: EGD-018-09 2.0 COMMENTS PAGE 3 2.1 The location of the new skate park in Courtice was selected due to its ease of access by public transit and by foot, its central location within the community, the amenities offered at the Courtice Recreation Complex, and the open/visible site. From a crime prevention and user safety perspective locating the skate park in an open visible area was preferred to locating it behind a building or at another remote location. Public surveillance from the constant traffic in and out of the complex and the ease of access for police surveillance were desirable attributes of the site. The park has been very popular with its intended users. It has been described by many as the best skate park east of Toronto and receives heavy use from both skate boarders and BMX riders. Unfortunately it has also become a night time gathering place primarily by youth who do not come to use the skate park but rather to hang out at the west edge of the park or in the parking lot. The closest residential properties are located in the Nantucket condominiums 60m south of the skate park. Those residents accounted for most of the calls for service received by the Police. 3.0 ANALYSIS 3.1 The Park Use By-law was revised in October 2008 to include a Dusk to Dawn curfew at all municipal parks. The main entrance sign at the skate park has been revised to reflect those new hours of use. Four additional signs citing the park hours and noise by-law (attachment 1) have also been installed to ensure that there is no confusion about the permitted hours of use or the noise by-law. By- law infractions will be laid by the police with fine amounts of up to $5,000 as determined by the courts. The police have indicated that they will increase both daytime and evening patrols at the skate park in 2009. In their report they also recommended increased patrols by municipal law enforcement staff. Since the majority of calls for service are occurring in the evening after 9:OOPM it would not be practical or cost effective to utilize municipal law enforcement staff for evening patrols. Private security firms can be hired to patrol the park to augment police patrols. The City of Pickering and Town of Ajax have used private security patrols with great success to reduce the same types of loitering and noise issues at their skate parks. Staff has discussed the use of private security patrols at the skate park with Durham Regional Police and representatives from the Nantucket Condominiums. Both agree it will help reduce after hours loitering and noise at the park and should be implemented in 2009. In addition to the increased police presence and private security patrols, more trees and shrubs could be planted between the Skate Park, the parking lot, and the Nantucket condominiums. This would create a visual and physical buffer and REPORT NO.: EGD-018-09 PAGE 4 over time would also help attenuate noise emanating from the parking lot and Skate Park. Another issue identified by staff and users of the Courtice Complex is the potential for collisions between skate boarders and cars when skate boarders ride across the entry plaza onto the road. Steel barrier railings should be installed along the edge of the plaza to prevent skate boarders from going out onto the road. Due to the donation of concrete from St. Mary's Cement and very few contingency expenses, there is a minor surplus in the account allocated for the construction of the project. The funding for additional tree planting and barrier railings could be drawn from the construction surplus. The construction of the skate park was a Development Charges related project and therefore the project funding cannot be used for operating expenses like private security. An alternate source of funding would be required to implement private security in 2009. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Private Security It is recommended that private security patrols be implemented on a trial basis in 2009. The patrols would be at random times and the number of patrols would vary based on time of year, day of the week, or weather conditions. The costs of the security patrols have not been accounted for in the Municipality's 2009 budget. Upon discussion with the Clerks Department, it was agreed that $2000 of these costs may flow through the Clerks Department operating budget account 100-19-191-00000-7161. Based on preliminary figures obtained by the Purchasing Division this would allow for approx. 130 patrols. 4.2 Additional Planting It is recommended that additional trees and shrubs be planted between the Skate Park, the parking lot, and the Nantucket condominiums. The estimated cost of $2500 could be, drawn from the capital account for the skate park. 4.3 Barrier Railings Steel railings staggered to allow access but positioned to prevent skateboarding onto the road are recommended. The estimated cost of $3000 could be drawn from the capital account for the skate park. REPORT NO.: EGD-018-09 PAGE 5 5.0 CONCLUSION Council direction is required to proceed with private security patrols in 2009 as there has been no funding spec~cally allocated for it. Funding is available through the Clerks Department to implement a program of patrols scheduled to correspond with the most frequent problem times, after 9:OOPM during warm weather months. If implemented the effectiveness of security patrols and increased police presence could be monitored throughout 2009 to determine if any further action is warranted. If private security or any other steps are required in the future to control loitering and noise at the Rob Piontek Skate Park they would be included for consideration in the 2010 budget. Attachments: Attachment 1-Parks By-Law sign List of Interested Parties: Wallace-Rivard & Associates Ltd. ~e rSCdd~V(B~Ct!@ a~:~: ~ V~ • J.l_ Landing the Way The Rob Piontek Skate Park is open during DAYL/GHT HOURS ONLY Loitering or use of this facility outside of daylight hours is a violation of Municipal By-Law 2006-126 Music or excessive noise is a violation of Municipal By-Law 2007-071