1 Mayra Ochiqui
From:Lupe Lugo
Sent:Friday, April 22, 2022 5:47 PM
To:City Clerk
Cc:Joel Hockman
Subject:4/25 City Council Mtg. Public Comment
Dear Dakota,
I hope that you’re doing well. I wanted to share my notes for the City Council meeting public comment. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend (4/25) in person however I’m hoping that my comments can be read aloud for the Council.
Please know that I have spoken with Joel about my concerns regarding public safety and feel good about our conversation. He has promised to dedicate patrol to Woodruff Place by shifting some shifts around. Having said this, I feel that it is important to publicly document the communities concerns.
Here is my public comment:
Appreciation: Woodruff Place property owners are thankful to Joel Hockman and Jerry Stock for their support in addressing some of the parking and enforcement challenges associated with the overcrowding on the street. They met with property owners on the sidewalk to personally inspect and see the experience from a resident/property owner perspective.
Problem: Public safety/nuisance concerns
Currently when residents call the Bellflower sub station after 7PM they are routed to the Lakewood Sherriffs Dispatch.
There is no urgency on their part to respond to residents calls for help addressing illegal activity like suspected drug deals (around the area of 15301‐15311 Woodruff Place) and or drinking in public and loitering. People involved in these activities have learned that there is no surveillance or consequence. People also routinely park in front of the red curb that is located between 15134 Woodruff Pl. and 15142 Woodruff Pl. and consume alcohol and smoke marijuana in the car.
Request:
‐We are requesting routine patrol on Woodruff Place after 7 PM during the week and on weekends. ‐Installation of a physical barrier (i.e. large flower pot) in front of red zone located between 15134 Woodruff Pl. and 15142 Woodruff Pl. (Crime prevention through environmental design/barriers).
Problem: Overcrowding has created the parking issues, ongoing parking violations, increasing public nuisances, and straining City resources. Multi‐unit landlords need to be held accountable to their strain on the City.
Request:
‐Increase taxes on multi‐unit landlords and use the increased revenue towards City patrolling and beatification ‐AND/OR implement maximum occupancy of 2 adults per bedroom and one car per bedroom. Enforce and fine the landlords and tenants (similar to airbnb). Post a sign in front of each unit (indicating occupancy) so that the community can call and report on specific units while maintaining anonymity.
Problem: There are multiple apartments on Woodruff Place therefore almost every day, there is someone moving out.
Large and small items are left on the sidewalks. It’s an eyesore, indicator that no one cares, and brings property values down.
Request:
2 ‐Fine apartment owners, hold them accountable to the trash their business is producing at the City’s expense. ‐Schedule large item pick ups 3 times a week, instead haphazardly responding to resident calls
Concern: The City of Bellflower has contracted police services from Lakewood Sherriffs since 1958. The Lakewood Sherriffs also vends their police services to Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount, and an unincorporated area. The population of the 5 Cities and the unincorporated area they also serve, exceeds a population of 250,000 and it’s a large geographic area. Bellflower is not a priority and all things being equal on a call, who receives the attention? When does this contract get renewed?
Request: Revisit the terms of the current contract with Lakewood Sherriffs, are they delivering on the terms? Also, put this contract out to bid so that other agencies can compete for Bellflower’s business.
Thank you,
Lupe Lugo 562‐644‐0940