Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges changes to Juneteenth layout, cites safety and cleanup concerns
Summary
Lake Wales resident Howard Davies told the City Commission that Juneteenth celebrations near his home have been "unsafe, disorderly, and disrespectful," and asked the city to enforce closures, tow violators, require on-site cleanup crews and redesign parking to preserve emergency access.
Howard Davies, a Lake Wales resident, told the City Commission that the way Juneteenth and related neighborhood celebrations have been managed has created recurring safety and quality-of-life problems for people who live nearby.
"They're unsafe, disorderly, and disrespectful to the residents," Davies said, describing vehicles that drive around barricades, park in the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) lot behind the Walker Building and blast music that interferes with the event sound system.
Davies told commissioners that police on scene have heard the same noise but have not issued citations, towed vehicles or otherwise enforced lot restrictions. He said cleanup has been delayed until the next day after events and recounted personally collecting trash left in streets and storm drains. He also warned that the current event parking plan—cars parked on both sides of narrow residential streets—could prevent fire and emergency medical services from reaching homes quickly.
Davies asked the commission to take four concrete steps: require and maintain barricades that cannot be bypassed; close the CRA parking lot behind the Walker Building to non-event use and direct police to enforce the closure; direct police to tow vehicles that illegally enter closed areas or otherwise interfere with the permitted sound system; and require event organizers to provide a cleanup crew to clear Lincoln Avenue and side streets immediately after an event ends.
The commission did not take formal action on the requests during the meeting. After public comment concluded, the agenda moved on to board appointments and other business.
