Title
Gated Alley Program Updates
Description
Request City Council approval to allow neighborhoods to install customized gates based on specific criteria and use available Community Development Block Grant funds to gate additional alleys in focused areas of the City's Community Safety Plans.
Report
Background
As a result of the overwhelming demand and success of the Gated Alley Program Pilot, City Council approved funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 program budget for an ongoing permanent Gated Alley Program. This action included creating a new project manager position in the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) and allocated $500,000 in general funds to install gates for an estimated 45 alley segments.
In September 2022, City Council approved the program, and the gate installations became a City function, rather than a neighborhood grant program. Interested residents requested gating their alleys by meeting eligibility requirements and submitting a request form. Neighborhoods could install the gate themselves using their own funding or apply for the City to install the gates through the allocated funding, with $100,000 set aside to ensure equitable access for low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Summary
Through Jan. 15, 2023, the Gated Alley Program received 137 requests. After a thorough review involving the Neighborhood Services, Public Works and Planning and Development departments, a total of 46 alley segments across the City were approved, including 10 in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Staff are working with two contracted gate installation vendors on the installation schedule, with a currently estimated completion in the spring.
Of the 91 remaining requests, 32 alley segments have been fully vetted and eligible; 14 segments are not eligible due to the alley locations’ circumstances; and 45 requests are still under review.
Neighborhood Services staff continue to receive interest and feedback from the community, including recently conducting a satisfaction survey for neighborhoods the 23 alley segments included in the expanded pilot, who have had their alleys gated for one year. A total of 18 responses were provided from neighborhoods located in Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7.
All respondents provided positive feedback, noting they felt their properties and their safety are better protected with the gates. Of the residents surveyed, no fires or graffiti were reported in the year since the alleys were gated; all but one reported no illegal dumping; all but one reported no encampments and; all but two reported no criminal activity. Even those who did report these activities noted a decrease in the activity since the gates were installed. An alley captain from District 3 commented they “feel so much safer, more comfortable leaving home or being home alone.” An alley captain in District 4 explained that prior to having a gated alley, their neighborhood constantly had to deal with illegal dumping issues.
Some of the respondents noted a few issues they experienced with the gates’ functionality, particularly with the locks. Four respondents found gate locks that have been cut, locks that were jammed due to being pried open, or locks that were simply faulty. Staff worked with the contractors to add a metal plate to deter this activity and are working with lock companies to find additional solutions to these issues.
Request for Customized Gates
Recently, one of the residents of the Royal Palm neighborhood expressed an interest in using program funds to install gates matching those they installed during the early pilot, which differ from the design standards established by the Gated Alley Program. This would provide better continuity with the existing neighborhood funded gates that reflect the community's appearance. However, since the newly launched Gated Alley Program made the installation and maintenance of the gates a city function, it would not be economically feasible to accommodate varying standards for gates in every neighborhood. NSD worked with the resident to develop a recommendation for new option for neighborhoods with approved gated alley requests to seek customization of their gates.
To be eligible for the customization option, the requestor must:
- Partner with an established non-profit or business registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission. This could be a neighborhood organization, if they have nonprofit status.
- Agree to receive prior review and approval of the gate design, which must meet or exceed the Gated Alley Program design standards.
- Agree to separately fund any costs beyond the average installation cost per city standard gate.
- Agree that the city will reserve the right to remove or replace the gates with standard gates if they are not maintained in good appearance and working order.
- Agree that if the gates are not completed within the fiscal year in sufficient time for the city to expend the funds, the funds may not be available.
The partnering nonprofit or business would be required to enter into an agreement with the city to install the gates in accordance with the above criteria and be reimbursed up to the average amount for the cost, or the city could direct pay the installation contractors if they meet the additional requirements. The agreement would require all necessary permits and approvals be obtained, Gated Alley Program locks be used, and any other necessary procedures or standards as they are identified and worked thru with the city and neighborhood association.
Community Safety Plans
In February 2022, the City Council approved a 27th Avenue Community Safety Plan that included an action to identify potential alleys, as appropriate, to recommend further expansion of the Gated Alley Program Pilot as part of the Safety of Public Areas strategy. A similar 19th Avenue Community Safety Plan was later developed and approved in the FY 2022-23 Budget. While the Gated Alley Program provides broad funding for citywide alley gates, limited funding does not currently allow for the prioritization of these Community Safety Plan corridors, which are predominately in low- and moderate-income census tracts. Currently, there are more than a dozen requests submitted that do not have available funding in these corridors. Staff recommends using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help fund additional gates in these corridors, as available.
Funding Impact
Funding for potential alley segments to be gated through the Gated Alley Program as part of the Community Safety Plans is made available through the CDBG. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previouis Council Action
On Feb. 1, 2023, the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee recommended City Council approval of the addition of the Customized Gates Request option to the Gated Alley Program and approval to use CDBG to help fund additional alley segments within the 27th Avenue and 19th Avenue Community Safety Plans.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Neighborhood Services Department.