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SAFE CIVIC CENTER <br />The City will provide for the safety and <br />security of dozuntozun residents and visitors. <br />Public safety is an essential municipal responsibil- <br />ity, and is a key factor in maintaining downtown's <br />economic strength and appeal. Actual safety as well <br />as perception of safety is paramount. People come <br />downtown for many reasons, but they are less likely <br />to come if they don't feel secure and respected. In <br />turn, a vibrant, active, artful, engaging downtown, <br />with people out and about, increases "eyes on the <br />street" and the sense of urban well-being. <br />Police <br />Police activities address deterrence of criminal <br />activity through surveillance, police presence and <br />apprehension of individuals engaged in criminal <br />activity. Police officers assist with safety issues and <br />provide information about downtown. Partnering <br />with DEI's downtown guides has increased surveil- <br />lance and assistance downtown and enhanced <br />the efficiency of the Police Department's limited <br />resources. Community policing downtown is <br />a major component of the Eugene Police <br />Department's Strategic Plan. Public support is <br />necessary to maintain a downtown Community <br />Police Station, currently at the downtown LTD <br />Eugene Station. A new downtown police station will <br />be i°equired in the near future, due to major seismic <br />concerns and space constraints in its existing <br />location at City Hall. An 8th Avenue address is <br />highly desirable, but will have to be considered in <br />light of a number of functional factors influencing <br />its location. <br />Fire and Emergency Medical <br />Services <br />Fire and EMS will soon be located in a new facility <br />at Willamette Street and 13th Avenue for efficient <br />access to downtown, mid-town and the West <br />University neighborhood. Buildings downtown need <br />to accommodate emergency vehicular access and <br />provide adequate staging areas. This need is <br />particularly critical adjacent to high use facilities, <br />i.e., convention, entertainment, and multi-story <br />structures. Space for fire fighting or EMS access <br />needs to be considered in the design of new <br />developments, and existing buildings may require <br />retrofitting. <br />.. <br />~ -. <br />a~ ~. ~ <br />~- _ The original fire <br />f station, here showing <br />~~~~ "` '~ ~° Hook and Ladder # I, <br />_ r ~ ~#„~~~ ~ on the Park Blocks. <br />- '~'~`'~' ~ The upstairs was the <br />~_~ ~ ~ original City Hall. <br />Transportation <br />Streets downtown need to be designed to favor <br />pedestrians but also to facilitate effective emergency <br />vehicle access through the downtown area. Traffic <br />calming measures need to be balanced with ease of <br />access for emergency vehicles and equipment. <br />As many downtown streets as possible should be <br />converted to two-way access. As noted in the Great <br />Streets section, Willamette Street should be opened <br />through the Hult Plaza, between 6th and 7th <br />Avenues, for emergency vehicles as well as public <br />transit. <br />Design for Safety <br />Crime Prevention through Environmental Design <br />(OPTED) looks for ways to make an environment <br />work better and to encourage desired behaviors. <br />OPTED concepts are applicable to public and pri- <br />vate developments. OPTED principles focus on <br />creating environments where people feel safe, and <br />should be encouraged for all new development <br />downtown. Examples of OPTED measures include <br />placement of doors for greater visibility and inter- <br />action and lighting that illuminates faces. <br />f" <br />~..-_ <br />~~:.~r;.._ ~ ~N <br />w s'- "- y <br />Police presence downtown <br />is a critical public safety <br />element for crime deterrence <br />and public assistance. <br />EUGENE DOWNTOWN PLAN APRIL 2004 35 <br />