Neighbors of Belknap Lookout:
Meeting Minutes for Tuesday March 11, 2008
Meeting
was called to order by Chair, Pete Stieler at 6:03pm
Welcome
to all.
Introduction
of Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk, Deputy Chief James Farris
and Captain Pam Carrier.
Grand
Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk spoke before the board on what is
important for the police department to focus on for the next few
years and offered their 4 basic component plan:
Youth
initiatives: much of the crime today is caused by problem
youths. After school programs, boy and girls clubs, and places like
Camp O’Malley are important alternatives and great deterrents
to criminal activity. However, some neighborhoods are underserved
and don’t have many after school programs. Curfew violations
of underage youth are a continuing problem and must be addressed by
a sustained effort of deterrence.
Crime
prevention: identifying neighborhoods prone to crime and looking
for patterns of activity in those particular areas so they can be
addressed early on. Installing cameras in crime-ridden areas might
help to catch suspects in action. Community policing is also
important to help curb crime.
Staff
development: offer training and resources necessary so they can
go out and do their jobs professionally and more effectively.
Organizational
support: Utilizing new hardware and dash-cams to better serve
the officers on patrol. This includes the dispatching system and
coordinated support from all staff.
Deputy
Police Chief James Farris offered that he will be implementing
service areas throughout Grand Rapids: North, West, South, and South
East. He will get together with the community officers and/or
Service Area Captains and ask them what the GRPD can do to better
serve them in their efforts to curb crime and maintain safety.
Police
Captain Pam Carrier reassured us that the GRPD will continue to
work with our community to resolve the various issues and/or
complaints that may arise. She welcomes our feedback and opinions.
Because of the cutbacks in the police force, it is important for the
neighbors in our community to come together and have a working
relationship with the department. If you know of problems: be they
possible criminal acts, drug houses, abandoned vehicles, etc., let
her know so that the issues can be fully addressed.
Answers
to questions from the board:
Spectrum
Health security does not have the authority to enforce the law in
our neighborhood; only on Spectrum property.
Instead
of implementing a “citizens arrest,” it is best to call
the GRPD and let them handle the situation.
This
spring and summer, the GRPD will be more present in the Belknap
Neighborhood.
If
there is something that both the community and the police department
can work on in tandem, they will let us know.
Security
at 4th of July will go on as scheduled.
Incidents
are handled by order or priority or importance: shootings
supersede curfew violators, etc…
Traffic
Safety: Fire department needs to be involved with regards to
speed bumps or bump-outs. All requests must be routed through
traffic safety. 60% of the population in the area must also agree
to the proposed changes.
Presentation
by Sharon Handy, League of Women Voters: try to increase voter
turnout for the school board election in May. Less than 5% of
population came to vote for school board representatives during the
last election. We need to get the word out that the vote is coming
up… How do we get the word out? By flyer, going door to door?
WeVoteGR.org, e-mail: slhandy@comcast.net
Minutes
for February were reviewed: motion to accept made by Jessica
Doane, seconded by Phil McConahy, all in favor… Motion was
carried.
Safety
Report: Jayne Johnson, Kristi DeKraker.
Financial
Report: tabled until next month.
Reminder:
Public Charrette Meeting to be held on March 18th. Need
to pass out flyers and notify the public.
Motion
to adjourn at 7:02pm by Joe Berens, seconded by Jessica Doane,
all in favor… Motion was carried.
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