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Residents urge Montclair to secure transit-center gate after trespassing incidents
Summary
Two residents of the Village at Montclair told the council they have experienced trespassing and attempted entries to their units and urged the city to secure the Montclair Station gate, increase patrols and work with property management; city staff said they will explore closing the gate and retrofitting it for electronic access.
Two residents of the Village at Montclair raised safety concerns during public comment, saying people have entered apartment common areas and, on one occasion, a person tried to get into a unit.
"I immediately contacted the Montclair Police Department, and I appreciate the officer's quick response and the arrest that was made," said Candace Concepcion, a Village at Montclair resident, who described an incident in which a man attempted to enter her home and later was found sleeping on her patio.
Leslie Franco, another resident, said she has experienced people trying apartment doors, pounding on glass, and exposure at a nearby park fountain since moving into the complex. "I want to be safe where I live, and I want to be welcomed where I live," Franco said.
Mayor Pulte Martinez asked City Manager Starr to follow up, and City Manager Starr told the council staff would "revisit that issue" and discuss it with property management. Starr noted code enforcement has concentrated at the Transit Center and said the gate was originally intended to be electronic and access-driven.
Starr said staff will examine retrofitting options and "talk to staff tomorrow about closing the gate until we can get that matter resolved." The council did not adopt any immediate ordinance; Starr’s statement constituted a staff commitment to explore short-term and longer-term changes.
The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period; councilmembers and staff acknowledged the Montclair Transit Center's role in the community while stressing that residents' sense of security is a priority.
