HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 0717INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0717
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2023
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SUBJECT: COMMUNITY CENTER SECURITY
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The purpose of this Informal Report (IR) is to provide information regarding security at community
centers operated by the Neighborhood Services (NSD) and Park & Recreation (PARD)
Departments.
The following security measures are in place at all NSD and PARD centers:
• Panic buttons that will immediately contact the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD);
• Doorbell access during Summer Day Camp or other programmed youth activities:
o Serves as soft lock -down where members or residents are granted access on a
case -by -case basis; and
o Hard lock -down would prohibit access and is done on an as -needed basis.
• "Avoid, Deny, Defend" Active Shooter training for all center staff completed on May 22 and
31, 2023; and
• Background checks on all adult volunteers and staff.
The following FW@6 (Late Night Program) sites have Crime Control and Prevention District
(CCPD) funding for FWPD security:
• Chisholm Trail Community Center;
• Como Community Center;
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center;
• Northside Community Center;
• Sycamore Community Center; and
• Worth Heights Community Center.
In addition to the above program sites, Diamond Hill, North Tri-Ethnic, and Southside Community
Centers receive CCPD funding for private security. Historically, CCPD funding has not been
provided for security at other facilities. Limited funding is available through CCPD community
policing, which allows for the utilization of FWPD officers and contracted security for highly
publicized special events (i.e. concerts, festivals, tournaments, etc.).
FWPD will assist with increasing its presence by:
• Neighborhood Police Officers (NPO) will perform business checks at all centers;
• Code Blue members will be encouraged to do patrols at the centers; and
• NPOs will encourage Home Owner and Neighborhood Association leaders to schedule
meetings at centers (officers are included at these meetings), as well as other
neighborhood events where police may be involved.
As additional funding becomes available, additional security enhancements could include:
• Additional FWPD security on an as -needed basis to address current safety issues or deter
inappropriate behavior of patrons;
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0717
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2023
Page 2 of 2
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SUBJECT: COMMUNITY CENTER SECURITY
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• Installation of remote unlocking and locking capacity for front door access. The barrier to
this is the older infrastructure of the buildings. During the meeting to discuss these
requests, the same need was mentioned for NSD centers;
• Coordination with FWPD to complete security assessments of facilities to include
recommendations for changes to improve safety; or
• Updates to emergency plans to include protocol for responding to an active shooter event
to include recommended areas to utilize for hiding.
Please contact Sonia Singleton, Assistant Director, Neighborhood Services Department, at
sonia.singleton(a)fortworthtexas.gov, or Kelli Pickard, Assistant Director, Park & Recreation
Department, at kelli.pickard(a)fortworthtexas.gov, for additional information.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS