Minutes were taken by Greta Mosley of the 19WCA. Minutes were to be posted on the old 19wca.org after approval but there were problems with the website and they are slowly repopulating their new website.  I'm posting them here for your convenience.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Public Safety Meeting – 19^th Ward

Location: Rochester Presbyterian Home ----Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

256 Thurston Rd

Rochester, NY 14619

(585) 235-9100

Minutes:

Moderator-John Borek –Absent-

Neighborhood Service Center Officer-Not present

Introductions:

Moderator: -Scribe-

1. Question posed to attendees: Are their any concerns about public safety in the area?

2. Response: ---

A resident that lives on a block away on the west side of the park by the tennis courts area had a complaint about people that use Genesee Park that will play their music extremely loud and believe because they have a permit they can do what they want with regard to playing music loudly. This endangers the welfare of the children; it can hurt their ears and is an issue of public safety being that they are disturbing the peace for people that live close to the park and it can endanger drivers in the area with regard to their safety (not being able to hear horns honking). My house is a block away and the park inhabitants have sound systems and or bands that are extremely loud, such that it is hard to hear in ones own house. The permit issued does not give them license to have noise levels that exceed the Noise Ordinance. When they are asked to turn it down, they reply that they have a permit to be in the park. However, the noise ordinance must be followed. The permit does not give them license to have noise levels that are exceeded. I have had confrontations with some of the people in the park about this matter. I am very frustrated and have called and left a message with the Assistant Park Director and have not gotten a reply to date. This was unnerving. I should have gotten a reply. This problem has been going on for 20 years and has been getting progressively worse as time progresses. I have spoken with the individuals and their reply is that they have a permit. A suggestion would be to have the permit indicate that they must comply with the City Noise Ordinance. My future response to this type of reckless respect for neighbors will involve leaving flyers around the neighborhood in support of having the neglect by park users stopped.

Response: Police should be called whenever something like this occurs because they have to have a record in order to make the area a priority. Get as many neighbors involved to actually call 911 as well so that the police can follow up.

Resident: This issue happens on both sides of the park and it has to stop.

Response: Neighbors have suggested that the Neighborhood Service Center should be called to be made aware. Please call 428-7632 and ask for David Hawks. He is the liaison to the community in this area and can speak on your behalf to get the problem attention and eventual cessation. Use him as another resource to resolve the problem.

Resident: Drug deals happening on Brooks Avenue. Police should start surveying the area. There is, a strip that does not have houses where the deals are occurring during the day, mid morning and

early afternoon.

Resident: Concerned citizen of the Rochester Presbyterian Home, indicated that there is a lot of concern among the residents because of the crime in the area. We have people coming to visit and new residents looking to live here at the Presbyterian Home and people coming to the home for

jobs. The crime activity does not bode well to attract people to the Presbyterian Home or the 19^th Ward. As we use Lift Line we notice the criminal activity and this is not make us feel safe, and this causes distress and disappointment.

Resident: Rochester City School District is sponsoring an attendance blitz with staff of RCSD on tomorrow, September 25, 2014 and members of the community to knock on doors of our students to encourage them to go to school. The participants will gather at 9:00 a.m. at the Monroe County Office Building in conference Room 3A and B. Here they will be given safety tips and how to go about speaking with students and parents about their child attending school. At 9:30 a.m., the participants will pair up with staff that will have the lists of the houses to visit.

Resource Fair will be held in December 2014. More details to follow.

Resident: NYSERDA is offering commercial property owners grants for changing their lighting to LED lighting and uses 66% less energy than they typical existing lighting used.

Meeting Adjourned.