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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8311 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8311 o To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Ap ril 3, 2001 *�M Cx Subject: Fort Worth Police Department �� Crime Free Multi-Housing Program Neighborhood Policing District # 4 is planning the implementation of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program in the Woodhaven apartment communities. This is an effective program that improves the quality of life for the tenants, property values for the owners, and the neighborhood as a whole. Through the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, other cities across the nation have benefited from apartment communities with solid tenant bases, lower crime rates, and decreased calls for police services. The program in NPD # 4 will be the department's pilot program before expanding to the divisional and citywide levels. BACKGROUND The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program began in Mesa, Arizona in July 1992, in response to the ineffectiveness of traditional block watch programs among the more transient populations of apartment communities. There have been approximately 1700 cities and 44 states trained in the program since conception. The main concept of the program is the empowerment of apartment owners and managers in the management and operation of their properties with the goal of reducing and preventing crime. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program allows for a new partnership between property owners, their managers, and the police department. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a unique, three-phase certification program for rental properties of all sizes. PHASE ONE: TRAINING The first phase is the completion of an eight-hour program taught by police officers and City attorneys. Guest speakers, such as representatives from the Apartment Association of Tarrant County, the Fort Worth Housing Authority, and justices of the peace who hear eviction cases, attend the seminar to address specific topics relating to rental properties. Managers will be required to pay a nominal fee for their workbooks in order to cover printing costs. Managers will be taught the legal requirements to evict tenants through the local courts. They are instructed on the value of conducting thorough background checks on prospective tenants to weed out the criminal element. In addition, they are instructed on the use of the Crime Free Lease Addendum, which puts new tenants on notice that they can be evicted for misdemeanors and felonies on or near the property, as well as other non-criminal behaviors not tolerated on the property. Finally, drug and drug -s paraphernalia recognition is taught by police department narcotic officers. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. TER To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 3, 2001 Page 2 of 4 Subject: Fort Worth Police Department Crime Free Multi-Housing Program After completion of the eight-hour training program, each participant will receive a green certificate that has been signed by the chief of police and the program coordinator of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. This certificate is to be displayed in the leasing office or in a prominent place visible to rental applicants. Participating managers should immediately implement the Crime Free Lease Addendum. Prospective residents should be informed of the apartment complex's participation in this program. Finally, if the management is conducting background checks that include credit and criminal information, the applicant should be informed before they turn in the application or pay any fees or deposits. Every prospective resident must be treated exactly the same as the others. PHASE TWO: Fort Worth Police Department Inspection Survey In the second phase of the program a representative of the police department will inspect the rental property to assess physical security and general appearance of the property. If the property meets the agency's requirements, they will be given a red certificate signed by the chief of police. Security standards include minimum one-inch deadbolt locks, 180-190 degree peepholes, strike plates, anti-slide door and window locks, lighting, and landscaping that does not limit visibility. Additionally, properties must be maintained with a neat, clean appearance so the common areas encourage the legitimate users to enjoy them, therefore, discouraging the illegitimate users, PHASE THREE: SAFETY SOCIAL In the third and final phase of the program, the police department will conduct a Safety Social for residents at the rental property. This will include information about general safety principles and crime prevention, including block watch information. This will also give law enforcement the opportunity to explain the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program to the residents of the rental community. Management is responsible for providing food, non-alcoholic drinks and entertainment for this event. It is necessary to conduct at least one meeting per year to maintain membership in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, A blue certificate will be issued at the Safety Social to demonstrate to the residents that management is committed, and has completed all three phases of the program. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CRY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8311 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 3, 2001 Page 3 of 4 Subject: Fort Worth Police Department Crime Free Multi-Housing Program FULL CERTIFICATION Once fully certified, the property manager will receive a gold certificate that must be renewed each year after the annual Safety Social has been conducted. The management may now post the CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM signs on the property. It is recommended that one sign be posted at each entrance to the property where prospective residents will see them. There is a one-time registration fee of estimated at $20.00 for each sign to cover costs. The sign is the property of the sponsoring police agency, and permission to display the sign can be revoked if the property is sold or the management no longer wishes to participate in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. It is the responsibility of the management to maintain and replace all lost or damaged signs. Program monitoring includes property audits by police personnel, mystery shops by police volunteers to ensure managers are representing the properties as members of the �t program, and contact cards that are left for the managers by patrol officers malting calls on their properties. If managers do not comply with the program, their membership in the program may be terminated and the Crime Free signs removed from their properties. Apartment managers are expected to call the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program coordinator every Monday to request crime statistics from the previous week. If the request is not made, statistics will not be faxed to properties in the program. This is an attempt to stay in contact with property managers and make them responsible for the activities on their properties. INCENTIVES Owners will have the use of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program logo in all appropriate advertisements, as well as on company letterheads, business cards and associated paperwork. This logo has achieved a very high level of recognition in the United Sates and Canada. It has proven very effective in attracting honest residents looking for safe housing. It has worked equally well to discourage those looking for an apartment unit for conducting criminal activities. Finally, property owners may benefit from lower insurance premiums as a result of joining this program. Through the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, apartment managers are able to maintain higher occupancy rates, resulting in less damage to the apartments and fewer evictions. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. giii 0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April '), 2001 Page 4 of 4 *% 1. RX Subject: Fort Worth Police Department yen Crime Free Multi-Housing Program IMPLEMENTATION After completion of the training workbook, brochures, and all other forms, a meeting will be conducted with the owners of the twenty-two apartment complexes in Woodhaven to introduce them to the program and obtain their commitments. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for the end of April 2001. By mid-May 2001, NPD 9 4 plans to host the first training seminar. The training seminars will continue on a monthly basis during the first t� year to allow for training of the management of all properties wishing to participate. After the first year of implementation, plans are to continue recruiting apartment communities for the program and to continue the training seminars for new managers and leasing agents on a quarterly basis. Zn Existing personnel in NPD # 4 will be utilized to include the lieutenant, NPO sergeant. and \,TPOs to that area. The East Division's crime prevention specialist will conduct the property inspection surveys and the East Division's crime analyst will assist roll the NPOs in obtaining the crime statistics. CONCLUSION The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is designed to combat all elements of crime in apartment communities by reducing the opportunity for crime and preventing rentals by convicted criminals. It is a commitment by the apartment owners and managers., in partnership with the police department, to the tenants and neighboring residents that crime will not be tolerated in their apartment communities. If you would like additional information, please contact Police Chief Ralph Mendoza or Assistant City Manager Libby Watson. "�&ity v Jackn U Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS