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Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan | Neighborhood Safety & Crime Prevention

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This priority area addresses the enhancement of physical elements of the neighborhood to enhance public safety and the strengthening of relationship with law enforcement through partnerships.

Goal: Create a safe environment for residents and visitors to live, work, learn, and play through social engagement and the revitalization of the Greater Bond Neighborhood.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 1:
Lack of a proactive approach to address criminal activity

Desired Outcome:

The neighborhood is actively engaged in crime prevention efforts.

Strategy 1.1: Engage and educate neighborhood residents and stakeholders (churches, schools, business owners, landlords) on crime reporting, fire prevention and personal safety techniques.

Action Item 1.1.1: In collaboration with members of the Public Safety Collective, develop and implement a neighborhood crime prevention and education plan, which focuses on the techniques that residents can implement individually and in partnership with local law enforcement.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD), LCSO, FAMUPD, Big Bend Crime Stoppers, area schools, area churches and businesses

Action Item 1.1.2: Collaborate with local public safety officials and Tallahassee Community College to conduct workshops on personal and neighborhood safety.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD, TFD), TCC, LCSO, area schools, Tallahassee Police Athletic League, parents

Action Item 1.1.3: Meet with area businesses to discuss and explore opportunities for partnerships, and obtain buy-in through an agreement or pledge to address the neighborhood’s security concerns.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD, TFD), LCSO

Action Item 1.1.4: Provide animal control for stray cats and dogs and education to residents on leash laws and animal population control.

  • Lead: : City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD)
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association

Action Item 1.1.5: Host a Safety Summit & Showcase event.

  • Lead: :Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD), local churches

Strategy 1.2: Increase resident involvement in neighborhood activities and events.

Action Item 1.2.1:  Expand and enhance how residents are provided information regarding law enforcement activities, programs, and services by utilizing the neighborhood block captain network, Operation Safe Neighborhoods and a neighborhood webpage.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), local schools, parents, police

Action Item 1.2.2: Host public safety/ resource fairs.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, City of Tallahassee (TPD, TFD), LCSO, Big Bend Crime Stoppers, FAMU, FSU, area schools

Action Item 1.2.3: Host Operation Safe Neighborhoods walks.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (TPD)
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 1.2.4: Host church services outside in the neighborhood.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Area churches

Action Item 1.2.5: Engage with parents at school orientations, open houses and other school events

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Area schools

Strategy 1.3: : Leverage dollars and community assets to address crime.

Action Item 1.3.1: Partner with local businesses and community organizations to support and/or sponsor neighborhood activities and events that highlight the importance of reporting crime.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Big Bend Crime Stoppers, local nonprofits, credit unions

Action Item 1.3.2: Seek grant opportunities that support neighborhood safety efforts including the establishment of a one-stop service hub (or “Village Center”).

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: : Local nonprofits

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 2:
Perceived lack of visibility of law enforcement in the neighborhood

Desired Outcome:

Law enforcement is visible and engages with residents.

Strategy 2.1: Promote community policing efforts.

Action Item 2.1.1: Highlight law enforcement efforts in neighborhood.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (TPD), LCSO
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Communications, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TFD)

Strategy 2.2: Host activities that provide opportunity for law enforcement officials and neighborhood residents and stakeholders to interact.

Action Item 2.2.1:  Host breakfasts or workshops for the area’s 23 church leaders

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD, TFD), LCSO, area schools, area churches

Action Item 2.2.1: Collaborate with the TPD, TFD and LCSO to host quarterly meetings/events in the neighborhood to provide positive social interaction between law enforcement officers and neighborhood residents.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD, TFD), LCSO, area schools

Action Item 2.2.3: Recruit residents to participate in the TPD’s youth and adult Citizens Police Academies, Rape Aggression Defense, and Ride-Along programs with special Southside officers that volunteer and are good at working with riders. Offer a special preview workshop for the Citizens Police Academy.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (TPD)

Action Item 2.2.4: Invite law enforcement officials to participate in regularly scheduled neighborhood association activities, such as the monthly neighborhood association meeting.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD)

Action Item 2.2.5: Recognize and honor law enforcement officials, kids, parents, and others who have partnered with the neighborhood to address neighborhood issues.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD)

Action Item 2.2.6: Recruit law enforcement officials to attend and serve as volunteers in neighborhood-run youth and children’s programs.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD, TFD), LCSO, FAMU, FSU, area schools

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 3:
Lack of a comprehensive Neighborhood Crime Watch program

Desired Outcome:

The Greater Bond Neighborhood Crime Watch is active, inclusive and effective.

Strategy 3.1: Develop a comprehensive Neighborhood Crime Watch program.

Action Item 3.1.1:  : Identify Block Captains for hot spot areas in neighborhood.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 3.1.2: Encourage neighbors and stakeholders to look out for each other and report suspicious activities to the police.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (TPD), LCSO, Area schools, Big Bend Crime Stoppers, area schools, local businesses, FAMU, FSU

Action Item 3.1.3: Update neighborhood residents about criminal activities taking place in the neighborhood. Use technology (i.e., Nextdoor).

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (TPD)
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 3.1.4: Partner with businesses to obtain donations to be used as incentives for resident involvement.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Area businesses

Action Item 3.1.5: Nurture strong relationships between neighborhood advocates and individual officers/law enforcement in general.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, TPD)

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 4:
Abandoned/derelict housing, overgrown vegetation and the perceived lack of Code Enforcement to address these issues.

Desired Outcome:

There is a significant reduction in the number of dilapidated and/or abandoned structures in the neighborhood.

Strategy 4.1: Rehabilitation or removal, if necessary, of neighborhood structures that are dilapidated.

Action Item 4.1.1: Reach out to owners to ascertain their desired use of property.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Real Estate)

Action Item 4.1.2: Implement an education program that informs residents about how to properly report code enforcement issues related to dilapidated, substandard and/or abandoned structures.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Growth Management, Community Housing and Human Services)

Action Item 4.1.3: Promote the use of City rehabilitation programs for owner-occupied houses (financial assistance with home rehabilitation).

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners:  City of Tallahassee (Growth Management, Community Housing and Human Services)

Action Item 4.1.4: Coordinate with nonprofit organizations that assist with helping homeowners address dilapidated, substandard and/or abandoned structures or lots (physical assistance with home rehabilitation).

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Rainbow Rehab, Habitat for Humanity

Action Item 4.1.5: Promote financial/housing assistance programs offered by nonprofits (financial assistance with home in general).

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Tallahassee Lenders Consortium

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 5:
Current physical environment leads to criminal activity

Desired Outcome:

There is adequate physical and social neighborhood infrastructure that prevents or reduces opportunities for criminal activity.

Strategy 5.1: Develop and implement physical improvements to prevent and/or reduce criminal activities.

Action Item 5.1.1: Create green spaces throughout the neighborhood.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (Growth Management, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure)
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association

Action Item 5.1.2: Update lighting survey and enhance/install adequate street lighting throughout neighborhood

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (Electric Utility)
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 5.1.3: Use the principles and practices of CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) to reduce opportunities for crime

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (TPD)n
  • Potential Partners:  Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, City of Tallahassee (TFD), LCSO