April 2008 Committee Report

City Ordinance Prohibits Furnishing Air Guns to Minors
Teenagers were recently observed at the park battling with BB or pellet guns near the paved paths as youngsters were playing nearby. Fortunately nobody was injured and, when confronted by adults, the teens respectfully ended "play."

In another incident last month, a resident reported a broken window caused by an errant BB or pellet.

Though unrelated, the incidents prompted a review of applicable city ordinances. According to Article I, Sec. 21-14 (a), "It shall be unlawful for any person within the city to sell, or give to, or place in the possession of, any person under the age of sixteen (16) years, any gun which discharges a bullet or missile by means of compressed air, or any gun discharging a bullet or missile by means of a spring."

Further, the ordinance states firing such weapons in city parks is prohibited. While the FSR park is indeed private, please follow the spirit of the ordinance for the safety of all. It may be a rite of passage for many Texas youths, but the possession of these guns by minors in San Antonio is technically illegal.

Operation of a Motor Vehicle in Drainage Easement Prohibited
In another park related incident, motorcyclists were observed riding through the park in the presence of pedestrians. Residents living along the city drainage easements can attest to the annoying motor traffic along these greenbelts. This activity is illegal according to Article XV, Sec. 19-501 of city code. Since these motorists are illegally accessing the park via a city easement, do not hesitate to report these incidents to SAPD, whether occurring in the park or not.

Blue Armor Patrol Summary

Blue Armor initiated random speed limit enforcement by radar along Finesilver Dr. as a courtesy to FSR residents and visitors. Please render our security officers the respect afforded the law enforcement community. Speed along Finesilver Dr. is a common safety complaint among neighbors, and Blue Armor provides a high visibility approach to slowing drivers to the posted 25 MPH limit. The speed limit on all other streets in FSR is 15 MPH.

SAPD Responses

Officers responded to a total of 21 incidents in FSR during April 2008. This is above the 15 calls per month average during 2007 and stems from a surge in false burglar alarms. The same month last year there were 17 SAPD responses.

The 21 calls for service included two vehicle burglaries, one reported April 20 on Atwell Park, the other on the 24th occurring on Sweetwood. Officers also responded to nine burglar alarms, three disturbances, two suspicious person calls, and five "miscellaneous."

The Greenbriar neighborhood near Nichols ES recorded two disturbances. Greenbriar, though much smaller than Finesilver Ranch (approximately 70 homes to FSR's 392 homes) is the closest gated community and, presumably, has similar demographics for crime reporting comparison purposes.

Sex Predator Watch. As of this post, no documented sexual predators reside in FSR.

SAFD Responses. According to SAFD, there were no responses to FSR by the neighborhood's "first-due" engine stationed on Mystic Park.