Block by Block ambassadors can serve in a variety of capacities, such as hospitality and safety services, street cleaning and homeless outreach. (photo courtesy of Block by Block)

Residents and business owners on the east side of West Hollywood could soon see increased security measures as the city looks to expand its Block by Block partnership.

At its Oct. 18 meeting, City Council set forth the process to amend a city agreement with Block by Block to add a security ambassador kiosk and additional staffing near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

The city provides public safety through a contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a contract with PacWest for security guards at the city’s public facilities and a contract with Block by Block to provide supplemental security ambassador patrols in the community.

Over the past several years, Block by Block ambassadors have provided visible uniformed presence on streets throughout West Hollywood. Security ambassadors are deployed on bicycles along major streets, alleys, parking lots and in residential neighborhoods as they work in collaboration with the sheriff’s department on quality of life issues.

“Over the years, the addition of Block by Block security ambassadors have been an effective and financially sound way to increase security on the city’s main commercial corridors and in residential neighborhoods,” a staff report read.

Due to the program’s success, its budget has gradually expanded from $700,000 in 2016 to $2.1 million this year, according to a staff report. Now, many residents on the east side of the city would like the Block by Block presence to be expanded yet again.

Staff will prepare an amendment to the city’s current agreement to add a security ambassador kiosk at a to-be-determined location near Santa Monica and La Brea, similar to those at Plummer Park and West Hollywood Park prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

Resident Emilio Castellanos said a new Block by Block kiosk could help improve safety at Santa Monica and La Brea, and he saw the success of the kiosk in Plummer Park near his home.

“The park was once a magnet for drifters and drugs and is now a thriving centerpiece to our neighborhood with children laughing, birthdays, picnics and other activities,” he said. “The east side is a natural corridor to access Hollywood Boulevard, and drifters will remain in the area if security ambassadors are not present, so expanding Block by Block to other areas of the east side will have a dramatic effect [in] the long run, hopefully as much as it has had on our park.”

In recent years, the city has increased car and foot patrols in the area, but some residents said it is still not enough because the intersection attracts a high number of individuals experiencing homelessness or those with substance abuse disorders. Residents requested a prominent, physical presence such as a public safety kiosk to decrease dangerous activity and offer services to those in need.

“I think a security kiosk at this location would not only help local residents feel safer and help the next businesses that move in on this corner to succeed, but the security officers can also be a great asset to offer help to the homeless people willing to take it,” resident Jeff Palkevich said.

The addition of the kiosk and associated staffing would cost about $100,000 to $140,000 per year, depending on how many days a week the kiosk would be staffed. Staff would be stationed at the kiosk from morning until sunset.

The higher cost represents staffing seven days a week while the lower represents five-day staffing with no workers present on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Council members were supportive of the increased safety in the area, but cautioned that the additional kiosk should be used for providing services, not for surveillance of residents.

“I want to make sure that this east side kiosk is engaged in helping people, not merely recording people’s actions and reporting them,” Councilman John D’Amico said. “ … We need to be clear that this is about helping people, not about surveillance.”

City staff will bring an amendment, which will include allocation of additional funding, before the council within 30 days.