Public Safety was the focus of the latest Central City 2035 (CC2035) symposium on April 22nd. Service providers and neighborhood representatives came together and discussed the importance of a safe physical environment to commerce and life in the Central City for the next 25 years. Public safety is critical to ensuring that the Central City runs smoothly and efficiently, whether it is in response to a disaster or in protecting the daily lives of residents.

A number of issues raised at the meeting include:

• Communication and Coordination - A modern communications system and coordinated efforts are essential to public safety.
• Resilience and Response - The density and layout of the Central City will need to be accounted for to ensure access, safety, and efficiency in responding to natural disasters and emergency situations.
• Crime - actual crime rates have been in decline throughout much of the Central City, yet the perception of a safe environment is undermined by nuisance activities and personal crimes.
• Density - Increasing density in the Central City creates potential for both enhanced safety and increased tensions between differing uses and activities.

The results from this symposium will be incorporated in the development of the draft Concept Plan for CC2035, and is one of the integrated themes under discussion about the Central City. Materials from previous and upcoming symposiums (when available) can be found in the Current Documents section of the website.