Kingfield Crime and Safety Meeting
Tuesday, December 18
7-8:30pm
MLK Park
Attendance
Kingfield Residents- 14
MLK Park Staff: Brian Cornell, MLK Park Director
MPD- CPS Tom Thompson; Lt Marie Przynski
Fifth Precinct Community Attorney- Lisa Goden
Crime and Safety Task Force Board Representative- Amy Gracyalny
KFNA Staff- Joanna S. Hallstrom, Project Organizer
Guest: Matt Perry, EHNA
Announcements:
1) The Minneapolis Police Department is seeking nominations for its annual Building Blocks and 2007 Teresa S. Ruhland Youth awards. The Building Blocks awards recognize successful block clubs in the city, and the Teresa S. Ruhland Youth Award recognizes the efforts of a volunteer who works with young people.
Minneapolis has a long tradition of strong block clubs that work with the police to prevent crime, connect neighbors, and take on issues in the neighborhood. The Minneapolis Police Department recognizes this partnership by giving its annual Building Blocks awards to the most active and effective block clubs in the city. The deadline for the receipt of nominations for the annual Building Blocks awards is Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. HYPERLINK “http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07BuildingBlocks.pdf” \o “blocked::http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07BuildingBlocks.pdf
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07BuildingBlocks.pdf” Annual Building Blocks Awards nomination information (pdf)
The Teresa S. Ruhland award is given annually to a Minneapolis resident volunteer who does an outstanding job of getting youths involved in the community. Nominations for this award must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. HYPERLINK “http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07RuhlandFlyer.pdf” \o “blocked::http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07RuhlandFlyer.pdf
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/docs/07RuhlandFlyer.pdf” 2007 Teresa S. Ruhland Award nomination information (PDF)
2) The Kingfield Redevelopment Committee continues to collect resident statements/ concerns regarding the Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation proposed development at 3700 Nicollet. Residents can fill out comment cards provided at CPaS meetings or they can email comments to HYPERLINK “mailto:” .
3) Driftwood is open. CPaS will hold its January meeting at Driftwood and possible all other meetings if the location works well for meetings.
4) Hallstrom handed out information on the sex offender that is residing in the area of the 4400 block of Grand Ave. The Community Notification Meeting was held on December 4th at MLK Park. Residents were informed via the KFNA email notice and a CCPSafe email notice.
Open Forum Issues of Concern:
1) On November 27th residents witnessed a drive by shooting at 39th and 1st between 5pm-6pm and called 911. There was another series of suspected shots fired reported by residents living around this area between 10pm-11pm that same night. In recent weeks, a resident living at 38XX 1st Ave. witnessed a group of young men, shooting a hand gun as they walked down they alley between Nicollet Ave. and 1st Ave. behind her home. Guests had just left her home via her alley and she had just put her infant down for a nap. Residents are also concerned about youth loitering at 38th & Nicollet and 38th and 1st Ave.
CPS Thompson confirmed that there was a drive by shooting on November 27th. Shots fired were aimed at 3848 1st Ave. This is a known residence of members of an active local gang. However, they were the victims of this crime and there is not much the police can do. Residents reported that there are often loud parties at this house as well. CPS Thompson encouraged them to call 911 to report a noise disturbance at this specific address whenever it becomes a problem.
The group discussed local gang activity, most of the discussion had to be “off-the record†because information is not public at this time. CPS Thompson did report that the State Gang Strike Task Force can pick up suspected gang members for probable cause or if they have a warrant for arrest for another offence.
2) An email was sent to the KFNA office regarding a resident concerned about kids intimidating new comers at MLK Park. Brian Cornell of MLK has not received any notice of this nor has he or his staff observed any of this behavior. Hallstrom will try to find out more specifics about the concern.
3) A resident reported that a neighbor at 44th and 1st had their back porch broken into but they do not think their neighbor reported this to the police. They were encouraged to tell their neighbor to report this incident.
4) A resident from 42nd and 1st reported that 4211 1st Ave. has boarded up since a police raid a few months ago however, neighbors are still seeing activity – boards tampered with, lights on, people moving about the house, people moving stuff in and out of the house etc. The resident was encouraged to call 311 to report it to housing inspections and 911 every time they see people there.
5) A resident reported that 4242 1st Ave. was broken into in the middle of the day.
6) A resident reported that her neighbor was mugged at 37th and Pleasant at 6am earlier this month. CPS Thompson is aware of this incident.
Neighborhood Crime Reports:
CPS Thompson and Lt. Przynski reported the burglaries are up 18% and again urged residents to lock their homes, garages and cars, as many of the theft is from unlocked areas.
There has been an increase in activity at 46th and Nicollet, displaced from Chicago Ave. 5th Precinct police are stepping up patrols of this intersection. 46th and Nicollet is a police focus zone as well at 38th and Nicollet.
Crime Prevention and Safety Strategies:
Matt Perry, East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association President presented mplsblockclubs.org, a website/list serve that EHFNA is launching as a way for block leaders to interact in real time. Perry is interested in inviting other neighborhoods to use the site once the bugs have been worked out of it. Perry will keep KFNA updated as to their progress.
The group discussed the use of video cameras by residents to capture criminal activity at problem properties. The police stated that this type of information is very helpful but did not make a recommendation about how residents could best use this tool. Lt. Przynski reported that there is a City ordinance that Grocery Stores much have cameras and any info recorded must be turned over the police upon request. Lt. Przynski also reported that the City has some loans for small businesses to install cameras.
Residents were encouraged to go after problem properties via nuisance laws as well as reporting suspected criminal activity to 911. When enough verifiable complaints are built up the City can take actions to confront the property owner and eventually hold them accountable for their tenants and property maintenance.
Residents were encouraged to participate in the Court Watch Program as a way to monitor how individuals charged with crimes are being sentenced and processed through the court system. It is a way to monitor the court system and the program provides a tool buy which to submit community impact statements to attorney’s and judges hearing cases.
Residents were encouraged to participate in the Citizen Housing Inspectors program. Citizens can be trained to do general housing inspections and initiate communication with property owners who are out of compliance before it reaches the City level.
Michael Vanderford gave reported that the West-of-King block clubs are still meeting and organizing. Their December meeting was poorly attended to due to weather and various holiday commitments that people had. They are in the process of creating a phone tree and identifying block leaders for each of the nine blocks in their area.
Lt Przynski is still working on confirming a date for the citizen training on Minneapolis gangs. This training will be precinct wide.
Tri Neighborhood Court Watch Program:
The next meeting will be on January 7th at 3pm at the 5th Precinct offices.
Minutes completed by Joanna Hallstrom, Project Organizer – KFNA