To: City Manager, City Commissioners and Sarasota Police Department From: Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association By Linda Holland, President Re: Condition of Gillespie Park Date: June 15, 2012 The residents of the Gillespie Park neighborhood are increasingly concemed about the situation that currently exists in the pavilion and surrounding areas of the park environs relative to vagrants monopolizing the use of the pavilion and intimidating park users and residents in the neighborhood. The following are specific issues that require immediate action: (1) A group of approximately 10-15 individuals are living in the pavilion on a daily basis. There is bedding, clothing, cooking equipment (microwave) and eating utensils, food and personal belongings that litter the pavilion all day and overnight. The attached photographs, taken at 11:00 p.m. on June 12, 11:30 a.m. on June 14, and 11:00 pm. on June 14 confirm this information. As part of the take-over of the pavilion and surrounding areas, some people of washing their clothes in the pond and hanging the clothes to dry on trees and benches. There are no public restroom facilities in the park and therefore the vagrants are using the park environs as toilet facilities. Walkers in the park have observed human excrement and corresponding toilet paper in various locations in the park since the group has taken up residence in the pavilion. (2) The grill located just outside of the pavilion is being improperly used by burning of tree branches to cook food. The grill is designed to utilize charcoal for cooking. Additionally, the grill and the surround area is littered with trash and cigarette butts. (3) The vagrants are taking public property without permission; the electricity from outlets in the pavilion to charge cell phone, plug in other electronic devices and cook with the microwave. Other citizens are required to establish and pay for electric service; city tax dollars are paying for these services for the vagrants. (4) Overnight camping, prohibited by city ordinance, is more and more frequent. This presents greater opportunity for illegal activities being conducted in the park and more opportunity for harm to those sleeping in the park. This also requires more calls for service fiom residents to the Sarasota Police Department. (5) There are incidents of dogs belonging to the vagrants not only being off leash in the park but being encouraged to terrorize the duck population in and around the pond. (5) Smoking is prohibited in public parks but the pavilion and surrounding area is covered in cigarette butts. This situation did not exist before the group took over the pavilion area. Additionally, alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park but the area is littered with brown bags containing empty beercans. As all of you well know, this neighborhood has worked diligently for many, many years in a cooperative relationship with the City of Sarasota. The desire of the residents is very simply for a safe and clean place to live. We are seeking a reasonable and swift resolution to this unbearable situation and are willing to cooperate in any way to achieve our rights to a safe and clean living environment. .. I - - '5 555 .Fb .1343 - .. June 14 Abandoned Properly Pavitionfi