Title
Phoenix Community Safety Plans Update
Description
This report provides the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee with an update on the Phoenix Community Safety Plans (CSPs) and the recommended next steps.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
In 2022, the City Council approved the CSPs, a collaborative effort involving multiple City departments, using technology and community-based resources to address safety concerns and increase the quality of life along the I-17 corridor. The CSPs focused on five areas along 19th and 27th avenues, Bell Road, and Hatcher Road in west Sunnyslope.
City staff have collaborated across departments to implement interventions within the CSP strategy areas, advancing the CSPs goals and desired outcomes. In support of this effort, the City engaged Arizona State University (ASU) to conduct an independent analysis of the CSPs. Over the past three years, ASU has collected crime incident data, attended internal and Community Committee meetings, met with City staff, and been closely involved with the implementation of the CSPs. ASU used this information to assess progress of the CSPs goals and desired outcomes, which is presented in their report now available for review in Attachment A.
ASU Key Recommendations
In addition to assessing the impact of the CSPs, ASU examined the overall processes used throughout the initiative and provided several recommendations for the City’s consideration. Six of the primary recommendations are summarized below; these represent the main points but not the full list of recommendations outlined in the report.
- Routinely involve community stakeholders in identifying public-safety problems and in developing and implementing solutions, as it improves effectiveness, builds trust, and increases public understanding of complex issues.
- Create a flexible, inter-agency structure to address chronic public-safety issues, with designated police and City officials leading tailored working groups to identify problems, develop and implement response plans, and assess results.
- Periodically monitor conditions after each public-safety problem initiative has been formally completed to ensure that problems don’t resurface once focused attention ceases.
- Expansion of the Real-Time Operations Center (RTOCs) ensuring sufficient staffing to maximize the use of surveillance technology. Use this technology not only for responding to crimes but also for detecting and analyzing emerging public-safety issues.
- Enhance the Police Department’s and City’s promotion of public safety through design strategies such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to prevent crime before it happens.
- Affirm that public safety is a shared responsibility among police, government agencies, community organizations, and residents, with police rarely addressing issues alone.
CSP Community Committee Feedback
To support CSP implementation, measure impact, and identify areas needing additional attention, Community Committees were established to provide ongoing community input and guidance to staff. Staff presented the results of the ASU Study to each CSP Community Committee to gather feedback on the findings and discuss next steps.
The 27th Avenue CSP Committee acknowledged increased collaboration among City departments and with the community but emphasized that significant issues remain in the area. While some improvements were noted, the Committee strongly recommended continuing the CSP along 27th Avenue with focused attention on the persistent challenges identified in the Perceptions of Safety Survey: drug use, prostitution, homelessness, and blight/trash. They also raised concerns about social media glamorizing prostitution, which they believe continues to attract activity to the corridor. Staff will explore strategies to counter this narrative.
The Bell Road CSP Committee noted a positive shift in the area and found the data collected through the CSP effort to be very promising. They identified the underpass area as a location that would benefit from continued attention and expressed a desire for ongoing City coordination. While committed to staying engaged, the Committee was open to meeting less frequently to check in on progress.
The Hatcher Road CSP Committee reported notable progress, highlighting cleaner, safer conditions and effective involvement of community leaders in implemented solutions. The Committee expressed the need for quarterly follow-up to ensure the few remaining pockets of issues are addressed and emphasized the importance of continued involvement from the Office of Homeless Solutions in developing community-based responses. They stressed the importance of maintaining oversight and accountability to sustain momentum.
The 19th Avenue CSP Committee recognized some improvements driven by the increased coordinated City response, the City's willingness to engage with the community on the issues, and some progress on crime incidents. However, they stressed the need for ongoing efforts to address drug-related activity, blight, and trash. The Committee supports continuation of the CSP along 19th Avenue to further address these issues.
CSP Next Steps
After reviewing the ASU Study findings and incorporating feedback from our Community Committees, staff identified areas of significant progress as well as those where additional work is needed. The ASU Study highlights key successes of the CSP initiative, including reductions in violent crime, theft, and trespassing. At the same time, the City fully recognizes that serious community concerns remain particularly related to drug offenses, prostitution, and homelessness. The City remains firmly committed to sustaining and strengthening its efforts through the CSPs, with a continued focus on supporting neighborhoods with resources to help mitigate the ongoing impacts of these challenges, connecting vulnerable individuals to supportive services and resources, and working across departments to address the presence of criminal activity in these areas. Based on this analysis and ongoing community input, we recommend the following next steps to build on the progress achieved to date:
- Continue meeting quarterly with the Hatcher Road Community Committee to ensure remaining pockets of issues are addressed and issues do not resurface.
- Transition the Bell Road CSP to quarterly meetings with the Bell Road Business Alliance to monitor progress, while continuing ongoing efforts related to the underpass and involvement in community cleanups.
- Continue the 19th and 27th Avenue CSPs with a more focused, data-driven, and community-informed approach. Staff will work with residents and use data to identify smaller corridors with the highest concentrations of crime, allowing for targeted interventions. As progress is made, ongoing collaboration and data analysis will help identify emerging areas of concern and bring in the appropriate partners to respond.
- Evaluate the feasibility of expanding the Police Department’s RTOC operations to 24/7 coverage, utilizing existing traffic cameras to broaden monitoring capabilities, and exploring the possible integration of other city facility cameras.
These next steps reflect a commitment to continuous improvement, grounded in both data and community input. By building on what’s working within the CSPs and remaining responsive to evolving challenges, the City aims to ensure safer, healthier neighborhoods for all residents.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the City Manager's Office.