New contract approved for Pacific Security

The Leavenworth City Council has approved a new contract for Pacific Security for 2017. The approved contract is not to exceed $50,103. City Administrator Joe Walinski said the contract is for two levels of service.

One is parking enforcement, which is six, three-hour shifts per week. The six shifts are randomly selected during the seven day period.

“We try and focus on the times where we think there is high intensity use at the paid parking lots,” Walinski said, at the Feb. 14 city council meeting. “But, also in the past year, we’ve provided additional authority to these officers, so they can write tickets for yellow curb parking, parking in the intersection, blocking traffic...those sorts of things.”

Having these types of enforcement action while there is a big crowd in town, helps keep a handle on the parking and keeps traffic flowing, allowing greater pedestrian and bicycle access, Walinski said.

The second level of service is for security patrols.

“We have one officer that comes in four times a week from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, a second officer joins him at 10 p.m. Basically, they do walks throughout the downtown. They also check out Waterfront Park and Enchantment Park,” he said.

Two or three times a night, a Pacific Security Patrol covers the residential neighborhoods and the school areas within the city. A portion of the contract is covered through lodging tax funds, because this started off as a commercial venture downtown.

The additional security patrol started in September of 2012, with subsequent contracts in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 and 2016, the contract included security patrol and limited parking enforcement. The 2017 contract is similar to the past two years.

“One of the things we did take out of the contract was the Waterfront Park observation. We’ll come back to that topic later on, as we see what is best for the summer,” Walinski said. “Not sure we got full value for that service last year.”

For the most part, the parking enforcement is paid through the parking fines. In 2016, the city collected $21,342 in parking enforcement fees and spent $20,858 for services.

“If there is any shortfall, the parking fund pays for the shortfall. We did not make any money off the parking fines. What we want, at the end of the day, is compliance,” Walinski said.

The security patrol contract is for 20 weeks, running May 1 to Sept. 30 and the period from the Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s weekend. The base schedule is 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, plus two rotating evening shifts per week.

The additional officer will be added Friday and Saturday evenings, plus holiday/festival weekend shifts when necessary, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The base schedule and hours are subject to review and modifications based on the needs of the community.

The city will be provided with shift logs, which may be reviewed by the council on an ongoing basis.

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.