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Residents tell council they feel unsafe near downtown gathering spot; council says it will push for more lighting and citywide cameras
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Summary
Residents and a reverend urged action after a nearby shooting; the mayor said police will pull year-long reports and staff outlined options to add street lighting and citywide block cameras to improve safety.
Residents and council members described a recent shooting near a convenience/liquor store and urged the city to expand lighting and camera coverage.
Mayor Willis said people told him they avoid the store because crowds gather there, and he recounted a shooting that shattered a homeowner's window. "They didn't intend to shoot in her house, but they did. They shot the window out of her house," he said. Willis said he had asked the police chief to pull the last year's incident reports for that location so the city can better understand patterns.
A reverend who identified himself during public comment said he came in support of congregants from Rogers Chapel AME Zion Church and relatives living in the affected neighborhood, and voiced concern about the shootings. The reverend said he "came and supported my colleagues" and urged community action.
A staff member explained procedures for requesting and installing street lights: residents submit an address and the city reaches out to the local utility (referred to in the record as Albon Power) to evaluate placement. The staff member said street lights have spacing rules and noted a practical placement constraint — lights are typically allowed within about 70 feet of one another — but that the city can arrange additional lights where warranted. Councilors and staff also discussed block cameras, with a speaker describing cameras that will be "strategically situated" to capture activity on the west side and across the city.
Council accepted these public-safety concerns and indicated staff will pursue coordination with the utility and with the police department to review incident reports and identify locations for lights and cameras. No formal ordinance or expenditure for additional cameras was approved at this meeting; camera purchases and other equipment (six "flock" cameras and SWAT equipment) were listed as first-time agenda items to be considered at a future meeting.
The council then proceeded with consent and business items on its agenda.
