The decision ultimately was to meet again @ Ravenna-Eckstein, April 22, 5:30-7:00. By then, the plan for the final touches on the first formal presentation by this subgroup to the Mayor, sometime in May, will have been made.
In the meantime, the "small groups" - Illegal Behavior, Public Health & Safety, and Park Design - continue to report.
Illegal Behavior has dealt mostly with camping and partying. Several strategies to deal with these problems have been discussed, mostly having to do with enforcement of ordinances already on the books. Some type of "citizen patrol" may also be organized.
Public Health and Safety may become a less important group as there is considerable overlap with Illegal Behavior, but for now they are dealing with park, bathroom, and parking lot hours as well as on street parking issues.
Park Design continues to institute changes chiefly at Cowen. You really ought to take a stroll through it to appreciate what's already been done.
The only thing discussed tonight that warmed me up was the perennial problem of homeless youth. My impression was that some peoples' resolve to enforce the no camping ordinance for ALL park users was faltering. I was assured that was not the case and that the accused were simply reflecting on preventative strategies.
This interestingly led to "congregate housing" which we all know University Park has well in excess of the City's "dispersion criteria." This led to some sharp commentary by neighbors especially those of us who just found out the Lutheran church where we vote is closing its day care center to open a homeless shelter. Did the DCLU ask for public comment? Is it even necessary once a nonconforming use has been established?
Anyway, that's why even if you're not particularly interested in these parks, information directly pertinent to UPCC pops out not to mention the fact that it never shows up in minutes... which I'll distribute once I get them.
Probably the most important piece of information I have to offer you is to identify Officer Hope Bauer, 684-0794, as our Community Police Officer (not to be confused with Community Service Officer). She has been very helpful in the parks and would be a good contact on the street for major ongoing problems in our neighborhood.