Holiday shopping safety was the topic at the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council at the November 5 meeting. Members of Shapell were on hand to provide updates on Porter Ranch Towne Center security. They have installed 27 cameras which will retain recordings for three weeks. The cameras can be accessed remotely as necessary by LAPD. The Towne Center also has security staff eight hours a day. The security staff schedule is adjusted based on anticipated need.
Volunteer Bike Surveillance at the Towne Center Supports LAPD
Walmart has its own camera system and security staff, but was not present to discuss their plans for holiday security. Board Member Pat Pope recalled that Walmart made certain security promises when applying for their alcohol permit in 2012. Those promises included 40 hours per week security guard coverage for three years. In years past Walmart has increased security by 50% targeted at peak shopping hours, provided barricades, developed contingency plans with LAFD, and coordinated with LAPD who covers all of the Towne Center.
Walmart shared its plans for holiday shopping safety by email on November 25, "Safety first! Throughout the holiday season, Walmart's priority is providing customers with the easiest and safest shopping experience. To accomplish that, Walmart will have more registers open during peak hours than ever before, so customers can get in and out of the store quickly with the products they want. We're also bringing back some tactics that have proven to work: 1) every store has a site-specific crowd management plan designed to help our customers have a safe and enjoyable experience and 2) our comprehensive plans were developed with nationally recognized experts and contain proven crowd management techniques tailored to a retail setting."
During public comment, stakeholder Dave Hasson asked the PRNC about the status of requested street parking for Holleigh Bernson Park and restriping of turn lanes on Porter Ranch Drive. The PRNC sent letters requesting street parking to Councilman Greig Smith June 2011 and Councilman Mitchell Englander in 2012 and has asked the council office for a status update.
The meeting closed with President Paula Cracium reading a letter of resignation from Board Member Dick Rippey, who resigned for health reasons. Stakeholders interested in applying for the open seat should send their qualifications to the secretary at EricNam [at] PRNC.org. See www.PRNC.org/open-seat for more information.
Please join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, December 3, 6pm at the Porter Ranch Community School multipurpose room. We will have an abbreviated meeting to allow for time to enjoy the holidays socializing with your neighbors and board members over refreshments.
