Laurelhurst Community Club                                                     

Serving 2800 Households and Businesses in Seattle’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood                                                                             

January 23, 2007

Sergeant Paul Pendergrass

Officer T.J. Havenar

Seattle Police Department North Precinct

10049 College Way North

Seattle, Washington  98133

Diane Horswill

Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention

University District Service Center

4534 University Way NE

Seattle, Washington  98105

Royal Alley-Barnes

Seattle Parks and Recreation Department

8061 Densmore Avenue North

Seattle, Washington  98103

Kathy Jolly, Principal

Laurelhurst Elementary School

4530 46^th Avenue NE

Seattle, Washington  98105

RE:      Continuing Disturbances at the Laurelhurst Playfield

Dear Sergeant Pendergrass, Officer Havenar, Ms. Horswill, Ms. Alley-Barnes and Ms. Jolly,

            The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) Board of Trustees appreciates your efforts to address the increasing and escalating disturbances we have been experiencing at the Laurelhurst Playfield over the past couple of years and the information you provided at our January 8 meeting.  Your advice and recommendations have been invaluable in developing a strategy to work with neighbors and the community center advisory council to address the illegal activities. 

            Over 30 neighbors, other than LCC trustees and committee members, attended our January meeting to express concerns about problems at the Playfield.  These problems include:

• Underage drinking and parties at the fire pit and other areas of the Playfield on a regular basis,
• Illegal drug use,
• Illegal use of the fire pit without authorization or the required permit,
• Constant and excessive littering after parties at the Playfield (beer cans and bottles, aerosol cans, hard liquor bottles, aerosol cans, etc.),
• Loitering and trespassing at the Playfield after park hours,
• Trespassing in neighbors’ yards and at the Seattle Community Church,
• Destruction of trees and removal of tree bark for use in the fire pit,
• Theft of construction materials for use in making fires at the fire pit,
• Rolling burning logs from the fire pit area towards residents’ homes,
• Vandalism at the Playfield, the Seattle Community Church and at neighbors’ homes,
• Graffiti,
• Malicious mischief (damage to nearby neighbors’ cars and property),
• Loud music and raucous behavior,
• Rude and threatening behavior and obscene remarks and conduct on the part of those participating in parties towards neighbors,
• Speeding at high rates and reckless driving on the arterials and narrow streets in the vicinity of the Playfield.

The Board of Trustees and neighbors appreciated the excellent advice from Sergeant Pendergrass encouraging neighbors to:

• Continue to be good witnesses, gathering information such as license plate numbers, keeping track of the dates and times of incidents, how many people are illegally in the park and what they are doing, so that neighbors can serve as the eyes and ears of the police,
• Continue to communicate with him and report incidents to 9-1-1,
• Provide information to him on the response received as a result of 9-1-1 calls (how long it took for officers to respond, whether or not the problem was solved, whether the problem occurred again after the initial police response),
• Work together in organizing “citizen patrols” where a group of neighbors patrol the Playfield together, and
• Keep each other informed about the problems at the Playfield and the neighborhood strategy in implementing solutions.

We were glad to learn how the juvenile system works and that the police enforce the Parks Exclusion Ordinance, which allows the police or parks staff to issue an exclusion notice to individuals who engage in illegal activities or who do not follow park rules.  The first notice excludes the individual for one week; the second for 90 days and the third for one year and a weapons violation automatically excludes the person for one year.  The ordinance is an important tool for police because they can rely upon reports from neighbors, rather than having to witness the illegal conduct themselves. 

It was especially important to have Officer Havenar at our meeting to provide his perspective about problems at the Playfield and the culprits as he has broken up 500-600 teen parties over the years.  Many neighbors were surprised to learn that approximately 90 percent of those causing problems at the Playfield are Laurelhurst kids and their friends.  It was also enlightening to learn that approximately 50-60 percent of the teen parties are at the fire pit, and that vigilance is necessary at the jungle gym, the stairs on 48^th and by the tennis courts.  Neighbors were encouraged to learn that the tagging that has occurred is not gang-related.  We are sure that neighbors appreciate Officer Havenar’s insights based upon his long term experience and how conscientious he is in responding to incidents at the Playfield and in safeguarding our neighborhood.

            The “2007 Focused Response Plan – Laurelhurst Park” provided by Royal Alley-Barnes serves as an excellent blueprint for addressing the problems we continue to experience.  That plan calls for neighbors working together with the North Precinct, the school district and the Parks Department, compilation of a history of incidents at the Playfield and park structures contributing to problems and continued communication among stakeholders.  Neighbors attending the meeting, as well as the LCC Board of Trustees, supported your proposal to remove the fire pit and replace it with a portable unit that could be brought in for special neighborhood events.  Neighbors were encouraged that Officer Havenar supports removal of the fire pit.  The Board and other neighbors were receptive to the idea of surveying the Playfield to redesign certain park elements to promote public safety and to allow a clear view of party areas to assist law enforcement patrols and neighbors who call 9-1-1 to report incidents.

            The Board of Trustees and neighbors appreciated the insights provided by Diane Horswill in explaining actions taken by other neighborhoods with similar problems, such as thinning trees and bushes to provide a clear line of sight for neighbors and to eliminate the privacy sought by party-goers.  The LCC will follow up with her on this idea and others presented and will work with neighbors to increase participation in the Block Watch program as she has recommended.  The LCC is grateful for Diane’s commitment to Laurelhurst and helping to resolve problems at the Playfield.

            It was important to have the participation of Laurelhurst Elementary School Principal Kathy Jolly at the meeting.  The Board appreciates Kathy Jolly’s commitment to the community as well as the school in helping to resolve the many issues.

            As a result of the January 8 meeting and hearing from neighbors, the police department and crime prevention and the parks department, the Community Club has agreed to the following:

• Feature an article in the next issue of Laurelhurst News outlining problems at the Playfield and proposed solutions,
• Coordinate with the Laurelhurst Community Center Advisory Council regarding LCC’s recommendation for removal of the fire pit to secure its recommendations,
• Encourage neighbors to be diligent in reporting illegal activities at the Playfield and surrounding area to 9-1-1,
• To assist law enforcement and to prohibit retaliation against neighbors reporting incidents, ask neighbors to use the address of the Playfield (4454 NE 41^st Street),
• Encourage the Seattle Community Church to sign a “No Trespass Notice” to allow the police to arrest trespassers after hours,
• Request increased police patrols of the Playfield,
• Encourage parental involvement to ensure that they know of the problems at the Playfield and where their kids are at night,
• Encourage the police to more diligently enforce the Parks Exclusion Ordinance,
• Evaluate other areas in and around the Playfield that are used for congregating and illegal activities for possible changes to promote crime prevention through environmental design,
• Promote block patrols and increased participation in the Block Watch program,
• Promote increased communication among neighbors about problems at the Playfield,
• Continue to work in cooperation with Laurelhurst Elementary School and the advisory council to resolve issues relating to the Playfield and the surrounding area,
• Install “Drug-Free Zone” signs in the vicinity of the Playfield and school,
• Include additional crime prevention information on LCC’s website, and
• Accept zero tolerance for illegal activities at the Playfield.

            We look forward to working together to resolve the issues at the Playfield and receiving additional information about the fire pit removal and the replacement plan, along with schematics or an example of what the portable unit would look like and the budget.  Should there be a future meeting on the topic, it would be helpful to review all of the options, such as leaving the fire pit as is, removing the seating wall only, moving the entire fire pit to a more public location and adding a “fire permit required” sign. 

            The LCC Board of Trustees again would like to thank you for your participation in our community meeting, the advice you have provided and your willingness to work with our community in resolving the continuing disturbances and illegal activities at the Playfield. 

Sincerely,

Maggie Weissman                                                       Brian McMullen

Crime Prevention Co-Chair                                        Crime Prevention Co-Chair

5222 Ivanhoe Place NE                                              3872 43rd Avenue NE

Seattle, Washington  98105                                        Seattle, Washington  98105

206-527-6646                                                              206-367-9325

maggiew@windermere.com                                       v-bmcmul@microsoft.com

Jeannie Hale, President

3425 West Laurelhurst Drive NE

Seattle, Washington  98105

206-525-5135 / fax 206-525-9631

jeannieh@serv.net

cc:  Larry Campbell, Seattle Parks and Recreation Department Security; Dena Schuler, Laurelhurst Community Center Coordinator, Members of the Community Center Advisory Council

Question 5:  Write-In Classes or Activities:

Question 6: Arts & Culture

Most popular Arts & Culture choices were Clay Creations for Kids/Afternoon, Drama for Kids/Afternoon, and Clay Creations for Tots/Morning:

Question 6: Out of School Care/Summer Camps

Most popular Out of School Care choices were Art Summer Camp for School Age Kids/Half Day, Half Day Soccer Camp, and Half Day School Age Nature Camp:

Most popular Sports and Fitness choices were Flexibility & Strength Yoga/Evenings, Ballroom Dancing, and Outdoor Fitness/Evenings:

Question 6: Special Events

Most popular Sports and Fitness choices were Family Night, Cooking – Thai, and Cooking-Italian:

Question 7: Other Comments