[BCMA] Building Security Issues - Thank You!

Sun Apr 19 07:34:16 PDT 2015

One final note on light and crime.

At higher levels of policing and policy there is a more nuanced approach to lighting. The RCMP  to advocate for more lighting, and now it has been changed to appropriate ( http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/ccaps-spcca/safecomm-seccollect-eng.htm).  That more light is not always a panacea concept is well established, and that adding very bright lights can actually create light islands in-between which criminals can hide out and lay in wait is where the lower level wash of light, motioned sensitive lighting, and in some cases no lighting is the way to go. The Dark Campus idea has been used with great success (not to mention cost savings due to reduced power bills) especially where vandalism is the primary concern http://www.darksky.org/assets/documents/is054.pdf.

Sharon B.C. Mansiere
Biology Professor
Okanagan College
250-492-4305<tel:250-492-4305> (local 3234)
smansiere at okanagan.bc.ca<mailto:smansiere at okanagan.bc.ca>

On Apr 16, 2015, at 3:35 PM, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. <bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>> wrote:

Thank you so much to everyone who has chimed in with advice and leads for me to follow up on, I very much appreciate it.

I should clarify a couple of things about the project that I am planning.  First of all, it would by no means be an ugly security fence, I am bringing forward quotes for 3 foot high wrought iron fences only.  I am fully aware that a fence can be jumped over and this is why I feel that the only way said fence would be effective is by also having cameras.  Not cameras that simply record activity, but cameras on motion detection 24/7, that are monitored by an alarm company who will call the police immediately in the case of trespassing.  I have my doubts that either of these methods would be effective without the other.  I would in no way be planning on having the Society pay for the project, I just want to present the complete idea to council in the hopes that they will see it worthwhile of funding.  I fear that if I leave it up to them to figure out, I WILL end up with an ugly security fence or some other “solution” that I do not agree with.

As far as an audio deterrent, I actually had loud gramophone music piped out onto the porch at all hours last summer and I was shocked out the way people did not care and just put up with it.  Not only that, but they would often crank up their own music in an attempt to drown out mine which of course made the porch look like even more of a hangout.  The seniors housing unit across the street eventually complained because some of the residents said they couldn’t sleep and I had to turn it off.  I am hesitant to try a mosquito due to the fact that the music was so ineffective and also because I really DON’T want the Museum to seem so uninviting.  I think walking by a heritage building with a nice wrought iron fence is much nicer than one with a high pitched squeal coming from it, but perhaps that is only me that think so..?

As far as lighting goes, we do have lighting on all sides of the building.  Since I started, the motion lights in the back corners have been changed to run dawn to dusk and extra lighting was added to one side of the building so both sides are well lit, plus there are two large overhead lights on the porch.  I am almost inclined to believe what Sharon said about less lighting being more beneficial but I know I could never suggest that as a solution after everyone has been taught the opposite for so long.  It was a recommendation from Community Policing that suggested and had the district install the extra lighting.

We have spoken to the groups of people who are often there and even tried to involve them around the Museum.  We have one guy who helps our gardener in the mornings… unfortunately, in the afternoon he also sits on the steps and drinks beer.  Sometimes he even tries to pull a lawn chair onto the porch so he can pass out in the sun.  There is another guy who claims to love the museum and always picks up the garbage.  He also drew a happy face and wrote “Hi Hazel” on the building in a sharpie marker last week.

I will also fully agree that fencing people out will never fix the problem of a community, but at this point I am just too concerned about the welfare of our heritage building to try and tackle solving the big picture problem myself.    As suggested by Cuyler, we are currently working with Community Services to ask these group what they want and why they are so drawn to the museum.  I am convinced that it is both the shelter of the overhang as well as the limited open hours ensuring they won’t be disturbed.  Unfortunately, even if we create an alternative area, I am not convinced it will replace the museum as a hangout but rather just be an additional one, unless we do something to lessen the draw of the museum building and make it more trouble than it’s worth to loiter.

I look forward to speaking to all the contacts that were suggested to me.  Thank you again for all your input on the matter thus far, I will gratefully accept any additional comments or suggestions anyone else may have on the subject.

Hazel Godley
Manager
 <image001.jpg>
Operated by the Mission District Historical Society

Antique Appraisal & Identification Clinic
Saturday June 6, 2015: 1-4pm
33201 2nd Avenue, Mission BC  V2V 1J9

Book Now!
604-826-1011
info at missionmuseum.com<mailto:info at missionmuseum.com>
www.missionmuseum.com<http://www.missionmuseum.com/>

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca> [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 4:09 PM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>
Subject: [BCMA] Building Security Issues

Please Help!

We are facing some security issues at our museum which pertain to the outside space, the museum grounds.  Unfortunately, because of the location and style of our building, as well as very limited open hours, it has become somewhat of a local “hangout” where groups of street people will gather, smoke, eat, spread their stuff out etc., along with other undesirable activity, much illegal.  The worst part about it is that our 108 year old building is at serious risk.  Cigarette butts are constantly snuffed out on the wooden porch or flicked into the nearby bark mulch (even during a 35 degree summer day) plus excessive garbage is always left behind and vandalism to the building is a constant problem; new “tags” are added daily despite us constantly painting over them.  Sometimes dangerous garbage (drug paraphernalia) is also left behind, leaving other members of the public as risk.

I have done a lot of research into possible solutions to the problem and have come to the conclusion, after trying many more subtle approaches, that the only way to keep this from happening is to have our grounds fenced in, monitored for trespassing, and only open during the hours that the museum is open.  However, our building (and the grounds) is owned by the District of Mission and leased to the Historical Society for $1 per year, so I have run into the argument that you cannot fence in “public” grounds.  As far as I’m concernd, the grounds are just an extension of the Museum and if you can’t wander through the Museum (which is a public building) when it is closed, why should you be able to wander through the grounds?

Does anyone else have this security situation in place?  Do you know of any Museum’s (in Canada) that do?  As in, the building is owned, but not run, by the city/district/town and yet the grounds are fenced?  I am hoping to find examples of where this does happen to present with my argument.  Could anyone suggest any other Museums for me to contact that may have such a system in place?

Please respond via the listserv or directly to info at missionmuseum.com<mailto:info at missionmuseum.com>

Thank you in advance for any input on this matter, I appreciate any and all help I can get!

Hazel Godley
Manager
 <image004.jpg>
Operated by the Mission District Historical Society

604-826-1011
info at missionmuseum.com<mailto:info at missionmuseum.com>
www.missionmuseum.com<http://www.missionmuseum.com/>

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