HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 09/17/2024 - Memorandum from Adam McCambridge and Mike Calhoon re Public Comments Regarding Safety Concerns at Whitewater Park
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Collins, CO 80522
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Date: September 10, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Jeff Swoboda, Chief of Police
Dean Klingner, Director of Community Services
From: Adam McCambridge, Assistant Chief
Mike Calhoon, Director of Parks
Subject: Public Comments Regarding Safety Concerns at Whitewater Park
BOTTOM LINE
During the public comment portion of the City Council meeting on September 3, 2024, a
community member described safety concerns in and around the parking lot of Whitewater Park
and the business at 320 East Vine Drive.
BACKGROUND
City staff shares these concerns and appreciates the comments and suggested mitigations.
Since the beginning of 2024, there have been approximately 120 police calls for service from
just west of the Gateway Bridge to Whitewater Park. Approximately 80 of these were initiated by
officers, often due to HOPE or District One officers conducting routine patrols. Parks rangers
also routinely patrol the area. As a result, the area along the river from west of the bridge, under
the bridge, and Whitewater Park was identified as a public safety concern because of illegal
camping, depositing waste, intravenous drug use/discarded needles, and other criminal
behavior.
NEXT STEPS
The following actions are being initiated:
• Parks has initiated the process of installing additional signs in the parking lot
• Parks is increasing private security patrols
• Police Services will continue focused patrols in the area
• Police will deploy a portable surveillance camera to assess its impact on crime and
perceptions of safety
• HOPE team will also proactively engage with the property manager at 320 East Vine to
discuss various security issues, including graffiti, trespassing, and criminal mischief
• Gateway Bridge Mitigation Project-this project uses a whole-of-government approach,
combined with Crime Prevention through Environmental Design concepts, with the goal
of reducing the frequency of crime and disorder and increasing the real and perceived
safety in the area. Work began on August 30, 2024
• Parking Services will increase proactive daytime patrols in the area and address any
observed Traffic Code violations
Docusign Envelope ID: 454D392E-83F0-42A7-ADDE-BE3D70BDC291
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• Traffic Operations and Parking Services will review parking use along Vine Drive,
adjacent to the Whitewater Park, to determine appropriate on-street signage to curb
parking behavior
o This assessment will take approximately three weeks. We will communicate the
conclusions of the assessment and any next steps to Council via memo or
Leadership Planning Team.
Docusign Envelope ID: 454D392E-83F0-42A7-ADDE-BE3D70BDC291