Title
Apartment Complex Maps (B)
Explanation
This item was referred to the Public Safety Committee at the May 12, 2008 City Commission meeting. The referral was initiated after a suggestion was presented to then Gainesville City Commissioner Ed Braddy by a police sergeant who had concerns about operationally and tactically being able to provide expeditious public safety response to large apartment complexes. The concern was based on the idea that large complexes are difficult to navigate and challenging for emergency responders to provide public safety. The sergeant suggested large complexes should be required to provide "wayfinder" maps at the entranceways of complexes. "Wayfinder" maps would be easily accessed by emergency responders and provide them with a clear understanding of the layout of large apartment complexes.
Discussion of this referral began at the July 29, 2008 Public Safety Committee meeting. At that meeting, Commissioner Mastrodicasa requested staff look for ways to work with the apartment complex owners on this issue and come back to the Committee when they were ready to make recommendations.
At the September 24, 2008 Public Safety Committee meeting, GPD staff recommended that GPD staff, at the First Step Design Out Crime meetings with apartment complex owners, will be responsible for requesting that "wayfinder" maps be made available at the entrances of large apartment complexes. The Committee voted unanimously to let GPD staff handle this issue.
Fiscal Note
There would be no cost to the City for this requirement to be implemented.
Recommendation
The City Commission 1) approve GPD staff to handle the issue of wayfinder maps at large apartment complexes at the First Step Design Out Crime meetings; and 2) remove this item from the Public Safety Committee referral list.