CCAgenda-4/12/04WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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SAFE CIVIC CENTER The City will provide for the safety and security of downtown residents and visitors. Public safety is an essential municipal responsibility, and is a key factor in maintaining downtown's economic strength and appeal. Actual safety as well as perception of safety is paramount. People come downtown for many reasons, but they are less likely to come if they donXt feel secure and respected. In turn, a vibrant, active, artful, engaging downtown, with people out and about, increases "eyes on the street" and the sense of urban well-being. Police Police activities address deterrence of criminal activity through surveillance, police presence and apprehension of individuals engaged in criminal activity. Police officers assist with safety issues and provide information about downtown. Partnering with DEI's downtown guides has increased surveillance and assistance downtown and enhanced the efficiency of the Police Department's limited resources. Community policing downtown is a major component of the Eugene Police Department's Strategic Plan. Public support is necessary to maintain a downtown Community Police Station, currently at the downtown LTD Eugene Station. A new downtown police station will be required in the near future, due to major seismic concerns and space constraints in its existing location at City Hall. An 8th Avenue address is highly desirable, but will have to be considered in light of a number of functional factors influencing its location. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fire and EMS will soon be located in a new facility at Willamette Street and 13th Avenue for efficient access to downtown, mid-town and the West University neighborhood. Buildings downtown need to accommodate emergency vehicular access and provide adequate staging areas. This need is particularly critical adjacent to high use facilities, i.e., convention, entertainment, and multi-story structures. Space for fire fighting or EMS access needs to be considered in the design of new developments, and existing buildings may require retrofitting. Transportation Streets downtown need to be designed to favor pedestrians, but also to facilitate effective emergency vehicle access through the downtown area. Traffic calming measures need to be balanced with ease of access for emergency vehicles and equipment. As many downtown streets as possible should be converted to two-way access. As noted under Great Streets, Willamette Street should be opened through the Hult Plaza, between 6th and 7th Avenues, for emergency vehicles as well as public transit. Design for Safety Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) looks for ways to make an environment work better and to encourage desired behaviors. CPTED concepts are applicable to public and private developments. CPTED principles focus on creating environments where people feel safe, and should be encouraged for all new development 35