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Collage of 4 images. A gated alley segment, police officers on bicycles, two homeless liasons conducting engagement and a group of volunteers participating in a community cleanup and

Successes of City of Phoenix Community Safety Plans

April 12, 2023 12:45 PM
The City of Phoenix is making significant progress on the implementation of its Community Safety Plans (CSP), one year after receiving City Council approval for two pilot programs. The multi-department, collaborative effort aims to improve the safety and quality of life in selected areas along the I-17 corridor and along Hatcher Road in west Sunnyslope. The second phase, which began in March 2023, includes focus areas along 19th Avenue along I-17 was approved as part of the 2022-23 Fiscal year budget.  

The Neighborhood Services, Police, Street Transportation, and Parks and Recreation Departments, along with the Office of Homeless Solutions, Public Health Advisor, and Prosecutor’s Office, are working together, utilizing strategic resources, technology and input from community partners to proactively address community issues and concerns.   

“The residents who live in these communities have been essential partners in implementing our Community Safety Plans,” said Nickolas Valenzuela, Special Projects Administrator managing the programs. “We heard their concerns. They want to take back their community and have pride in the neighborhoods where they live and are raising their families. We are listening to them every step of the way to identify problem areas and make sure what we are implementing addresses their concerns to give them real results.”  

Each focus area has a dedicated Community Committee made up of local stakeholders who provide staff with ongoing feedback on the implementation of the CSPs. Through their valuable input, staff adjusted the original CSP strategies to better align with the concerns and needs of the communities and implement the most appropriate strategies. These strategies are:   
  • Safety of Public Spaces  
  • Access to Services  
  • Education and Prevention  
  • Crime Detection and Response  
The major accomplishments within each strategy area in the first year of the pilot programs are outlined below:  

Safety of Public Spaces 
This strategy builds and maintains relationships with residents, businesses and stakeholders to improve the safety around buildings and public spaces.   

Neighborhood Services Department:   
  • Two new positions added:  
    • A dedicated Neighborhood Specialist and a dedicated Neighborhood Inspector for both CSP areas. These staff members are working with the community and other City departments to identify a list of top priorities within each area for code compliance concerns such as graffiti, overgrown vegetation, inoperable vehicles and other common blight violations. 
  • Five community cleanups conducted from Indian School to Northern between fall 2022 and spring 2023 removing trash, litter and debris with the help of volunteers and staff. 
  • 23 alley segments funded in the area through the Gated Alley Program, with 16 more identified as eligible for future Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. 
  Street Transportation Department:  
  • 27 th Avenue CSP:   
    • Additional lighting installed in the I-17 underpasses from Peoria Ave. to Bell Rd. 
    • Upgraded existing streetlight wattage in specific areas along 27th Ave. identified in coordination with Police. 
    • Four new streetlights will be installed by fall 2023. 
  • Hatcher Road CSP  
    • Weekly street cleanings conducted around Hatcher Road and 10th Avenue, with support from the Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) to provide outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the area.  
  Parks and Recreation Department:   
  • Piloting additional security services between 8p.m. and 10 a.m. at three parks in the CSPs:   
    • Cortez Park, Cielito Park and Washington Park.
  • Security contractor works with OHS to conduct outreach within the parks.  
 
Access to Services  
This strategy focuses on the increased coordination of outreach services to residents experiencing homelessness, mental and behavioral health issues and/or those victimized by human trafficking. The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) is leading the ongoing coordination of outreach services within the CSP focus areas.  
Office of Homeless Solutions:  
  • New Homeless Liaison positions added.
    • ​These staff members are working with the community and neighborhoods to provide resources, information and outreach to connect individuals with available services and/or shelter. The Liaisons also coordinate outreach events in specific areas of the CSPs as identified through the Community Committees.
  • Adding 270 new indoor shelter beds with support services to the CSP area through partnerships:  
    • ​The Haven is a new Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) shelter for seniors 55+. The City of Phoenix invested $4 million to fund the rehabilitation of an old hotel to convert it to a 170- unit shelter for seniors.
    • The North Mountain Healing Center is new a Community Bridges Inc., shelter. The City invested $4 million to fund the rehabilitation of a commercial building to convert it to a 100-unit shelter. 
  • ​​ Improving referrals to health and social services through PHX C.A.R.E.S., the Community Assistance Program, the Office of Public Health and the City’s behavioral health partnership with Mercy Care.   
 
Education and Prevention  
This strategy focuses on proactively addressing community concerns by providing the community with information on resources and services and actively working with the community to identify solutions and inform the service approach.   

Police Department:  
  • 25+ Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audits conducted to assist area property owners.  
  • 300+ Authority to Arrest properties established or maintained.  
 
Prosecutor’s Office:  
  • Six new positions added:  
    • Four Community Prosecutors 
    • Two Community Justice Specialists 
    • One Legal Assistant 
  • Three existing attorneys reassigned to support the work in the CSP areas.
  • 25+ community meetings, engagements or trainings on criminal justice processes, programs and resources including crime prevention, trespassing, Authority to Arrest and human trafficking. 
 
Neighborhood Services Department:  
  • Participated in numerous strategic meetings with businesses and neighborhoods to discuss safety and crime prevention and educating them on how to become involved in reducing blight, graffiti and other concerns. 
  • One business alliance reestablished and provided resources for the potential creation of future business alliances. 
 
Crime Detection and Response  
This strategy focuses on reducing violent crime and quality of life offenses through the Phoenix Police Department’s use of Real Time Operations Centers (ROTC) in conjunction with field operations and criminal investigations. Gunshot detection, license plate readers and fixed-point cameras will relay real-time information into the RTOCs. Phoenix Police is actively engaged in establishing the RTOCs in the Cactus Park and Desert Horizon Precincts, once fully operational the ROTCs will provide 20 hours of coverage per day.  
Police Department:  
  • 10 Police Assistant positions added and trained.  
  • One lead IT Specialist added for the implementation and monitoring of the technology solutions feeding into the RTOCs.  
  • 200+ Bike Patrol man hours.  
  • 40 collaborations with the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit.  
  • 92 of 228 gunshot detectors received and installed in CSP areas.
  • 10 of 45 license plate readers installed in strategic locations on 27th Ave. and Hatcher. 
  • 75 fixed-point cameras, delivery expected May 2023. 
The City is partnering with Arizona State University (ASU) to conduct pre-and post-intervention studies of the CSP areas, to determine the success of the initiative measured by metrics established by ASU through feedback from the City and Community Committees.   

The Community Safety Plans encompass areas across four Phoenix City Council Districts: District 1, District 3, District 4 and District 5. The support from the City Council members has been instrumental in the implementation of the plans as they have provided an environment for staff to work outside of traditional silos to collaboratively address the issues at a comprehensive level.    
 
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, District 1, Chair of the Public Safety & Justice Subcommittee:  
“These Crime Safety Plans are really the result of the community calling for help. They are community driven through residents serving on the committees representing the various regions within the plan. A wholistic approach to community safety includes an active and engaged community, which these pilot programs do. Coupling in the latest technology, like license plate readers and gunshot detectors, we’re one step closer to returning to safe neighborhoods and a high quality of living.”  

Councilwoman Betty Guardado, District 5, Chair of the Community & Cultural Investment Subcommittee:  
“To create thriving neighborhoods, we need to take holistic approaches focused on overall quality of life for our residents. In District 5, we have created two community safety plans that look at economic opportunity, neighborhood activation, public health, and so much more. We are lucky to have the support of our first responders, neighborhood services, homeless solutions, and most importantly the community.”  

Councilwoman Debra Stark, District 3:  
“I am very excited about Hatcher Road being a part of the Phoenix Community Safety Plans. The businesses along Hatcher Road created a business alliance several years ago and are ready to assist the City in any way to see the program become a success.”   

Councilwoman Laura Pastor, District 4:  
"I fully support the work of these City departments coming together to address issues highlighted by concerned community members. I am looking forward to real action being done to address these issues."  

Learn more about the Community Safety Plans

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