St.
Petersburg FlPublic Opinion by author: Robert Neff
In 2017, Police responded to multiple noise calls located at 201 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg's Downtown Core. From February 28 to March 12, there were 6 noise calls. Another call was made from 215 Central Avenue, and in the officer's notes, the subject indicated the rooftop bar had just opened.
The Landing at Jannus Grand Opening was March 1, 2017.
There was one incident report issued. According to the Officer's Notes,
Even though the Officer heard the music, there was no citation issued. The only citation to an individual at a business address was Park & Rec and that was the only two citations to a bar address in 2535 noise calls. St. Petersburg noise ordinance cites the individual at the business, and not the business.
On March 6, 2018, during the 3rd Noise Ordinance Public Meeting, The Landing at Jannus owner spoke and told the audience that he does not live downtown, because it's too noisy. At the City's February Public Services and Infrastructure Meeting, former Mayor Foster was recognized and introduced to as representing The Landing at Jannus.
In 2017, the address, 201 1st Ave N, generated 10 noise calls plus one officer assigned call to caller's address, 215 Central Ave, referencing a rooftop bar that just opened. There are a total 153 calls, which include 11 noise.
The calls are for two addresses totaling 179 calls. Officers use 201 1st Av N and reference The Landing at Jannus in several reports in the article. According to The Landing at Jannus website, the business address is 200 1st Av N.
While Public records may provide a few records for free, there can be a charge.
After reading the Officer's notes in the Call For Service Requests at the end of the article, put yourself in the resident's position. You have been disturbed by the noise for 14 days. Told the officer you called 5 times. You hear it. Officer was in your bedroom and heard it. The Police have asked the Landing to turn down the music. What is the resident thinking now? Why isn't the police doing anything to stop the music? Can I afford to move? Why isn't the police protecting me in my home? What would you do?
Here are the days and times of the calls.
February
Noise ordinance does go into effect until 11 PM
I have reviewed over 200 noise Call For Service Reports and Incident Reports. One theme is evident. Police have no problem asking them to turn down the music. They also have no problem returning time after time. The Police do have a problem issuing a citation. The failure to issue a citation is wasting resident's tax dollars, which could go toward sewage.
Police Supervisors are well aware of the calls and patterns on their watch. I had communicated the calls and trends to the Police from 2014-2018. Why are the Police overlooking the patterns? Or are the police ignoring the calls? Are the Police sharing these calls with the neighborhoods?
I have a letter from City Legal and Police legal, dated 24 February 2017, stating the officer may ask the business to turn down the music if this is deemed inadvertent. However, the pattern of Police asking to turn down the music is evident in the reports. From November 2009 to 2016, this is well documented at the Flamingo Resort. Police asked the Flamingo Resort to turn down the music in 66 out of 169 Call For Service Reports for noise, according to Public Records.
Council needs to have Chief Holloway in front of Council and ask if the Police Supervisor or he has ever read the Call For Service Reports OR listened to the audio of these calls. Were they aware of the noise calls? Then ask if the Police Supervisor knew there were multiple calls in March and why they did not investigate the pattern?
Since that was the last call until December, there is a high probability the resident was frustrated with the police and stopped reporting the noise. Yet, the police were not aware of this, nor was City Council.
The Call For Service Reports were obtained through a Public Records Request. The images were cropped for the article.
E2017052336 on Thursday, 3/02/2017 at 11:02 PM, an Incident Report 2017010636 was generated.
The Landing at Jannus Grand Opening was March 1, 2017.
There was one incident report issued. According to the Officer's Notes,
NEW BAR ENTRANCE TO JANNUS LANDING.. CALLED LANING..MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE INSIDE COMPL CONDO SPOKE WITH COMPL AND WENT TO HER APT. HEARD THE MUSIC FROM HER BEDROOM. SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER OF THE BAR (JEFF KNIGHTS) NIECE. ASKED TO TURN MUSIC DOWN. GOT WITH ACTING SGT REF THIS NEW OUTSIDE BAR.
Even though the Officer heard the music, there was no citation issued. The only citation to an individual at a business address was Park & Rec and that was the only two citations to a bar address in 2535 noise calls. St. Petersburg noise ordinance cites the individual at the business, and not the business.
On March 6, 2018, during the 3rd Noise Ordinance Public Meeting, The Landing at Jannus owner spoke and told the audience that he does not live downtown, because it's too noisy. At the City's February Public Services and Infrastructure Meeting, former Mayor Foster was recognized and introduced to as representing The Landing at Jannus.
In 2017, the address, 201 1st Ave N, generated 10 noise calls plus one officer assigned call to caller's address, 215 Central Ave, referencing a rooftop bar that just opened. There are a total 153 calls, which include 11 noise.
The calls are for two addresses totaling 179 calls. Officers use 201 1st Av N and reference The Landing at Jannus in several reports in the article. According to The Landing at Jannus website, the business address is 200 1st Av N.
- TABLE 1: (153 Calls) Non-Noise calls for 201 1st Av N
- TABLE 2: (26 Calls) Administrative calls for 200 1st Av N and 201 1st Av N
While Public records may provide a few records for free, there can be a charge.
It has been determined that the charge for the production of the records you have requested will exceed $20.00. The City is providing you with an itemized estimate of the anticipated charges: 3 Hours of labor to produce/review for redaction @ $19.00 per hour = $57.00On March 29, I asked Mayor Kriseman to authorized the request to be provided at no cost. To date, there has been no response.
Estimated Total: $57.00
After reading the Officer's notes in the Call For Service Requests at the end of the article, put yourself in the resident's position. You have been disturbed by the noise for 14 days. Told the officer you called 5 times. You hear it. Officer was in your bedroom and heard it. The Police have asked the Landing to turn down the music. What is the resident thinking now? Why isn't the police doing anything to stop the music? Can I afford to move? Why isn't the police protecting me in my home? What would you do?
Here are the days and times of the calls.
February
- E2017049721 on Tuesday, 02/28/2017 at 00:47 AM
- E2017051478 on Wednesday, 03/01/2017 at 11:38 PM
- E2017052336 on Thursday,03/02/2017 at 11:02 PM—Incident Report 2017010636. This has been requested.
- E2017053479 on Saturday, 03/04/2017 at 1:32 AM
- E2017055705 on Monday, 03/06/2017 at 11:07 PM
- E2017057484 on Thursday, 03/09/2017 at 1:56 AM —This location was listed as 215 Central but the call references a rooftop bar.
- E2017060150 on Sunday, 03/12/2017 at 00:26 AM
Noise ordinance does go into effect until 11 PM
- E2017102400 on Sunday, 04/30/2017 at 10:18 PM
- E2017105979 on Thursday, 05/04/2017 at 9:23 PM
December
- E2017282667 on Friday, 12/08/2017 at 1:07 AM. A verbal warning was issued…Next call for Service a citation will be issued.
I have reviewed over 200 noise Call For Service Reports and Incident Reports. One theme is evident. Police have no problem asking them to turn down the music. They also have no problem returning time after time. The Police do have a problem issuing a citation. The failure to issue a citation is wasting resident's tax dollars, which could go toward sewage.
Police Supervisors are well aware of the calls and patterns on their watch. I had communicated the calls and trends to the Police from 2014-2018. Why are the Police overlooking the patterns? Or are the police ignoring the calls? Are the Police sharing these calls with the neighborhoods?
I have a letter from City Legal and Police legal, dated 24 February 2017, stating the officer may ask the business to turn down the music if this is deemed inadvertent. However, the pattern of Police asking to turn down the music is evident in the reports. From November 2009 to 2016, this is well documented at the Flamingo Resort. Police asked the Flamingo Resort to turn down the music in 66 out of 169 Call For Service Reports for noise, according to Public Records.
Council needs to have Chief Holloway in front of Council and ask if the Police Supervisor or he has ever read the Call For Service Reports OR listened to the audio of these calls. Were they aware of the noise calls? Then ask if the Police Supervisor knew there were multiple calls in March and why they did not investigate the pattern?
Since that was the last call until December, there is a high probability the resident was frustrated with the police and stopped reporting the noise. Yet, the police were not aware of this, nor was City Council.
The Call For Service Reports were obtained through a Public Records Request. The images were cropped for the article.
TABLE 1. Non-Noise calls for 201 1st Av N
TABLE 2. Administrative calls for 200 1st Av N and 201 1st Av N
The opinions here are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bay Post Internet or the Blog Publishers where it appears.
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