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1 <br /> Hempfest 2003 Police Staffing Plan <br /> Introduction: City of Eugene Parks and Open Spaces guidelines for park events specifies <br /> certain requirements for large activities held in city parks. For the Eugene Police <br /> Department they include; determining security and traffic control needs and notifying <br /> event organizers of required staffing needs. Pursuant to those guidelines event organizers <br /> will be charged for all services provided by City of Eugene police officers. <br /> The success of the first Eugene Hempfest will determine whether or not this event will likely <br /> occur in the future. Public safety and traffic issues will have a significant impact upon the <br /> perception of the individuals attending and the community around similar future events. <br /> The expectation of the Eugene Police Department is that event organizers will host a lawful <br /> event, discouraging illegal behavior and cooperating with police to maintain the peace and <br /> enforce applicable laws, including drug and alcohol laws. <br /> The Hempfest organizers anticipate an estimated crowd of 2,500 people. The event opens at <br /> 9:OOAM and goes until 10:OOPM. The Hempfest will occur in a enclosed area bordered by <br /> portable fencing and vendor booths. Based upon similar events of this size held in this park, <br /> Eugene Police will post a total of 4 officers, divided into two person roving foot patrols to patrol <br /> the inside of the enclosed event perimeter. The officers would be in place from 8:30AM to <br /> familiarize themselves with the layout and provide an immediate visible presence to those <br /> arriving at the festival. The 4 officers would be present throughout the duration of the event and <br /> remain for one hour after closing to be available to assist Parks staff and/or event organizers with <br /> clearing the crowd from the enclosed area at the conclusion of the event. Officers assigned to this <br /> event will manage all aspects of police services that occur in the venue, including enforcement <br /> applicable laws. One recognized aspect of Hempfest events elsewhere is the illegal use of <br /> marijuana. Police officers assigned to this event will take appropriate enforcement actions <br /> for observed violations of drug laws including possession, sales and use of marijuana. <br /> It is difficult to estimate the level of traffic congestion likely to occur with this event. From past <br /> experience we know that even a moderate contingent of vehicles arriving within a short duration <br /> of time can easily create a backlog of vehicles if left to self manage with existing traffic control <br /> devices and lights. A minimum of 2 officers will be required to manage a moderate flow of <br /> traffic at the park entrance off of Country Club Rd. This number would be the initial minimum <br /> traffic staffing requirement. If traffic flows grow to the point of adversely impacting Centennial <br /> or other Country Club Rd. intersections, additional teams of officers would be required to staff <br /> these intersections, generally working in pairs at the affected intersection. <br /> Without having a previous history for this event it is difficult to project the peak traffic time for <br /> staffing traffic positions. Based upon other events I feel it would be prudent to have two officers <br /> in place at the park entrance 30 minutes prior to opening (8:30AM) to facilitate the initial arrival <br /> of visitors. I would supplement with two additional officers at 10:30AM to facilitate the arrival <br /> of larger, late morning crowds. <br />