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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-15-0011 Cover MemoSEOPW Board of Commissioners Meeting March 30, 2015 SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM ? r Board Chair Keon Hardemon and Members of the CRA Board Date: March 20, 2015 File: 15-00332 Subject: Resolution Authorizing a Grant to the City of Miami for the SEOPW CRA Police Pilot Program. From {Clarence E. Woods, ill References Executive Director Enclosures: Supporting Documentation; Legislation BACKGROUND: The attached Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") authorizes a grant, in an amount not to exceed $700,000 (initially budgeted for $1,025,000 for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2105), to the City of Miami to underwrite costs associated with a Police Pilot Program within the Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Area ("Pilot Program"). Since the inception of the CRA in 1982, crime has been a serious concern within the Redevelopment Area and continues to affect the CRA's ability to execute the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency Plan. The CRA's Finding of Necessity further states that the mere "physical environment of the Redevelopment Area is conducive for the commission of crimes, such as the sale and use of narcotics," thereby, evidencing the need to address crime within the Redevelopment Area. In an effort to enhance the general patrol services provided by the City of Miami Police Department within the Redevelopment Area, the CRA has funded several community policing innovation programs with the Redevelopment Area, such as the Police Visibility Pilot Program (CRA-R-08-0024 & CRA-R-10-0047) and the ShotSpotter Flex Gunfire Alert Pilot Program (CRA-R-13-0067). While the aforementioned programs aided in the prevention of crime in the Redevelopment Area, there is a significant need for additional community policing innovations therein. Thus, the City of Miami Police Department seeks to implement the Pilot Program, The nature of the services to be rendered by the Pilot Program consists of police services to supplement the general patrol within the Redevelopment Area for the purpose of providing enhanced police support to the area. The implementation of this Pilot Program is meant to improve public safety by providing enhanced policing services, including, but not limited to, foot patrol, field interrogation, and intensified motorized patrol. The Pilot Program also includes installation of nine (9) closed-circuit television cameras within the Redevelopment Area, for the purposes of allowing the City of Miami Police Department to instantly monitor and/or record video images to prevent crime and conduct investigations within the area. The Board of Commissioners, by Resolution No. CRA-R-14-0069, passed and adopted on December 29, 2014, previously authorized a grant, in an amount not to exceed $275,000, for the provision of said service. JUSTIFICATION: In order to aid in carrying out the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency Plan ("Plan") and its overall objectives, measures must be taken to address the criminal activity in the Redevelopment Area, by means provided for within the Plan and the Florida Statutes as restated herein. Section 163.335, Florida Statutes, states that the existence of slum and blighted areas greatly contributes to the spread of disease and crime causing economic and social burdens to the community, thereby negatively affecting the tax base and impairing sound growth within the community. In response to the existence of slum and blight within the State of Florida, Section 163.356, Florida Statutes allows for the creation of community redevelopment agencies to address these conditions by engaging in "community redevelopment". Section 163.340(9), Florida Statutes, therein defines "community redevelopment" in part as "undertakings, activities, or projects of a ... community redevelopment agency in a community redevelopment area ... for the reduction or prevention of crime". Moreover, Section 163.340(23), Florida Statutes provides a means for community redevelopment agencies to address crime through "community policing innovations" which is defined as "policing technique or strategy designed to reduce crime by reducing opportunities for, and increasing the perceived risks of engaging in, criminal activity through visible presence of police in the community, including, but not limited to, community mobilization, neighborhood block watch, citizen patrol, citizen contact patrol, foot patrol, neighborhood storefront police stations, field interrogation, or intensified motorized patrol." Section 163.387(1)(a), Florida Statutes, states that redevelopment trust funds "shall be used by the agency to finance or refinance any `community redevelopment' it undertakes pursuant to the approved community redevelopment plan." Further, Section 163.387(6)(h), Florida Statutes, states "[mjoneys in the redevelopment trust fund may be expended from time to time for undertakings of a community redevelopment agency as described in the community redevelopment plan for ... [t]he development of `community policing innovations'". Pursuant to the Plan, at page 128, the CRA shall be empowered "to establish, implement, and fund community policing innovations" and has incorporated therein the statutory definition of community policing innovations, stated above, at page 135 of the Plan. Further, Section 2, Goal 6, at page 11, and Principle 5, at page 14 of the Plan lists "improving quality of life for residents" and states that "[w]alking within the neighborhood must be accessible, safe, and pleasant" as stated redevelopment objectives. Section 2, Principle 1, at Page 14 of the Plan states that "walkability" is "a key component of the vibrant and healthy neighborhood." Thus, Implementation of the Police Pilot Program within the Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Area ("Pilot Program") will enhance the existing policing services provided to the Redevelopment Area by the City of Miami and assist the existing law enforcement in effectively serving the Redevelopment Area. The goal of the Pilot Program is to reduce and prevent crime within the Redevelopment Area, thereby enhancing the quality of life of its residents and encouraging growth and development in the area in accordance with the Plan. FUNDING: $700,000 allocated from SEOPW Tax Increment Fund, entitled "Other Grants and Aids" Account No. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.