Housing and Homelessness
Committee Memorandum
TO: HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2023 COMMITTEE FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE ISSUE:
Conceptually approve proposed changes to the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program by the Riverside Police Department.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Housing & Homelessness Committee:
Recommend the discontinuation of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program by the Riverside Police Department; Conceptually approve the replacement Multi-Family Watch Program and recommend approval to the City Council; and Direct staff to prepare the necessary amendments to Titles 1 (General Provisions) and 19 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code to reflect changes proposed by the Riverside Police Department and forward proposed changes to City Council for final consideration.
BACKGROUND:
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (Program) is a crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on apartment properties. The Program was first developed at the Mesa, Arizona Police Department in 1992. The International Crime Free Multi-Housing program has spread to nearly 2,000 cities in 48 U.S. States, 5 Canadian Provinces, England, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico, to name a few.
In the City of Riverside, there are approximately 120 properties involved in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (Attachment 1). The Program is required for any Multi-Family housing project. Each year, the Riverside Police Department (RPD) holds the training at the Magnolia Police Station. Property Managers are required to attend CFMH training annually to remain certified. Property inspections are also conducted annually by the Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator.
The Program includes three phases that are completed under the supervision of the local police department. The property becomes certified upon successful completion of all three phases of the Program. Property managers can individually certify after completing training in each phase. A summary of the three Phases includes:
Phase 1 – Management Training
Phase 2 – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Survey Phase 3 – Community Awareness Training
Benefits of the Program generally include keeping crime out of rental properties and providing tenants with a safe, living environment. In Riverside, the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program benefits have included a stable, satisfied tenant base, lower maintenance and repair costs, and increased safety for tenants, landlords, managers, and the surrounding community.
There are several references to the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program in the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC), as summarized in Attachment 2.
DISCUSSION:
The RPD has been involved in discussions with various City Departments about the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and how it relates to the re-entry into society of formerly incarcerated persons.
Current Status of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
The International Crime Free Association (Association) sets the standards for Crime Free Multi-Housing training and certification. The RPD conducted research into the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and the Association’s requirements. A member of the Community Services Bureau began taking the training required by the Association and discovered the City of Riverside was not conducting the program to Association standards. Some of these standards relate to running background checks on potential tenants and requiring the enforcement of a Crime-Free lease addendum. The City does not monitor this activity as part of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. As the City does not enforce the standards set forth by the Association, in the event that the City were to face litigation regarding the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, the Association would not provide any assistance.
Future Status of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
The RPD is proposing that, rather than working to meet the Association’s guidelines, the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program be discontinued. In its place, RPD proposes to modify existing Business and Neighborhood Watch programs for multi-family housing properties. In accordance with this proposed change, the RPD would also no longer call the program the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program or issue signs designating participation in the Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program.
The proposed replacement program for multi-housing safety would be called Multi-Housing Watch and would focus on providing Multi-Family Housing owners, property managers, and residents with community-oriented trainings as follows:
RPD will host and conduct voluntary training for multi-housing managers and owners which will include, but not limited to:
Introduction to the Neighborhood Policing Personnel.
Instructions on who to call within the city of Riverside for any issues.
Presentation from Gang, Narcotics and Property Crimes Detectives.
Discussions of rights as property owners and managers.
The importance of seeking counsel from their personal legal representation before taking any civil removal steps.
RPD will coordinate with the property owners and managers to host a Multi-Housing Watch meeting for the residents. This will be based on current Neighbor and Business Watch programs.
The Community Service Officers for the Neighborhood Policing Center where the property is located will coordinate with property management and the area’s Problem Oriented Policing officer to conduct Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design inspections, similar to inspections RPD conducts for single family residences and businesses.
Replacing the Crime Free Multi-Housing program with the Multi-Housing Watch Program enables the City to accept feedback from the community on what types of training and support are the most useful for meeting multi-housing safety goals. Replacing the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program also allows the City to be more flexible and responsive in meeting the needs of the community in accordance with local laws and policies without requiring oversight from the International Crime Free Association.
This change will require amendments to Titles 1 (General Provisions) and 19 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code to replace refences to the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program with Multi-Housing Watch or similar alternative program. Chapters requiring amendments are summarized in Attachment 2.
The Community & Economic Development Department concurs with this report.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
The Multi-Family Watch Program aligns with the following Strategic Priorities of the Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan.
Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being (Goals 2.4 and 2.5) Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government (Goals 5.3 and 5.5) Alignment with the Cross Cutting Threads includes:
Community Trust – The Multi-Housing Watch Program aligns with the Community Trust Cross-Cutting Thread in that it allows for an open dialogue on the Programs benefits and possible constraints so that the public has an opportunity to provide input into the Program. It allows the members of the community to address concerns within their community with the Police Department.
Equity – The Multi-Housing Watch Program aligns with the Equity Cross-Cutting Thread in that all projects that are required to participate in the program are provided an opportunity to participate in the discussion.
Fiscal Responsibility – The Multi-Housing Watch Program aligns with the Fiscal Responsibility in that no additional funds are needed to discuss or implement the future Program.
Innovation - The Multi-Housing Watch Program aligns with the Innovation Cross-Cutting Thread as it reports out the specifics of the Program and relationship with the Riverside Municipal Code.
Sustainability and Resiliency – The Multi-Housing Watch Program aligns with the Sustainability and Resiliency Cross-Cutting Thread by providing for a discussion on the Program that provides safe housing opportunities for generations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Larry Gonzalez, Police Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney Attachments:
List of CFMH properties
Summary of Municipal Code References to Crime Free Multi-Housing Program Presentation