TO: Chair and Members of the Board
FROM: Diane Colonna, Executive Director
DATE: January 11, 2017
Title
REQUEST TO FUND ADDITIONAL SECURITY FOR WATERFRONT FOUNDATION CARNIVAL (JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 5, 2017)
BACKGROUND:
The Executive Director of the Margate Waterfront Foundation, Mitch Pellecchia, has submitted a letter requesting additional police security for the foundation’s upcoming carnival event to be held on CRA owned property (see attached letter). There have been several incidents at recent carnivals, most occurring on weekend evenings and involving teenagers and young adults. The Margate Police Department has expressed serious concerns regarding the activities at these events. Many teens are dropped off at the carnivals without adult supervision, with the police having to deal with mobs of youths involved in fights and unruly behavior (see attached Margate Police Department Memorandum).
According to the Police Department, the typical carnival security and associated costs are as follows:
Friday 4 officers and 1 supervisor: $1,308.00
Saturday 5 officers and 1 supervisor: $1,560.00
Sunday 3 officers: $630.00
Total for a weekend = $3,498.00 x 2 weekends = Grand Total: $6,996.00
Costs can be higher if the details prove difficult to fill, and higher hourly rates are required. For past carnivals, the cost for these services have been paid to the Police Department by the event sponsor.
The Margate Waterfront Foundation is requesting the utilization of the police observation tower for the duration of the 10-day event, as well as the City’s Special Response Team (SRT) on Saturdays. The following are the estimated costs of that additional security:
Skywatch Tower:
1) CSA to set up - $74.64
2) CSA to break down - $74.64
3) Police Officer - $227.70 (to man the tower for a six hour day; assuming ten, six-hours days, the cost would be $2,277)
SRT: Approximately $974.28 per hour on an overtime basis; assuming two, six-hour days, the estimate would be $11,691.36.
The letter from the Margate Waterfront Foundation states that “providing added security falls in line with the mission of the City/CRA to promote Margate as a safe place to live, work and play.” While that is certainly an objective of the CRA, costs for additional security for non-City/CRA events are more appropriately the responsibility of the event provider.
Per state statutes, CRA’s can support the costs of community policing innovations, which according to the MCRA Redevelopment Plan include “community mobilization, neighborhood watch block, citizen patrol, citizen contact patrol, foot patrol, neighborhood storefront police stations, field interrogation, or intensified motorized patrol.” These would be ongoing programs and activities implemented to address and deter crime in areas within the redevelopment area. Providing security for events that are not sponsored by the City or CRA is not specifically addressed. Unlike City/CRA downtown events, the carnivals are not geared toward branding the downtown as a destination, or promoting the City’s image as an art and culture destination. The CRA has allowed the use of its land for carnivals primarily as a means to enable local nonprofits to raise funds for their organizations. The fees for the use of the land have already been waived for this particular event, resulting in a revenue loss of $5,000.00. If the CRA were to pay for the tower and SRT (combined total of almost $14,000), it would be a cost of almost $19,000 for this event alone.
It is noted that at the time this Agenda Fact Sheet was being prepared, the applicant had not yet gone through the City’s Development Review Committee (DRC) process, which is typically when the police make recommendations regarding security needs. Given the concerns expressed in the memo from the Police Department, the board should discuss whether or not these types of events should continue to be held on CRA property at all (other than events that have already been approved).
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the fact that this activity is not addressed in the CRA Plan, and on the overall potential cost to the CRA for this event (approximately $19,000) staff does not support the funding request.
FISCAL IMPACT: Estimated cost of Skywatch Tower and Special Response Team: $13,968.36
CONTACT PERSON: Diane Colonna, Executive Director