Santa Cruz police prepare for busy New Year’s Eve

The energy, abundance of bars and food will bring thousands of people to downtown Santa Cruz to ring in 2017.

“Just have a good time, enjoy the New Year,” said Josh of Watsonville.

“Everyone gathers around the clock tower right around midnight and counts down,” said Angel from Watsonville.

The Catalyst Club is empty now but preparations are underway for the big night. They’re expecting at least 1,200 people.

“We’re hoping for a good time,” said Corrie Atkinson with Catalyst Club. “I think our job is to provide a good time and a safe environment for people to do so.”

Santa Cruz Police also said safety is a priority. They’re upping staff and creating a safety enhancement zone in downtown Santa Cruz this weekend.

“Try to create a family friendly environment,” said Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Dan Flippo. “Let people enjoy our downtown but also make sure that people don’t overindulge or other things. Create problems and disturbances.

From 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday, violators will face triple fines for drinking, urinating or defecating in public, along with abusing trees and other greenery.

“The triple fines are basically to discourage any overindulgence of alcohol or other public nuisance type crimes that would affect the overall atmosphere of the downtown,” said Flippo.

Police said alcohol related violations are the biggest problem. The Catalyst Club said they will have security and plan to be on the lookout for those who may have had a little too much to drink.

“It’s a matter of working with the Santa Cruz PD in terms of like coming up with a game plan on where to send these people that may be a little over intoxicated,” said Atkinson.

ORIGINAL STORY: Santa Cruz police are taking an “all hands on deck” approach as they prepare for a busy New Year’s Eve.

Police announced this week that the downtown corridor will be designated a Safety Enhancement Zone, and every available officer will be on patrol downtown and in city neighborhoods.

The Safety Enhancement Zone allows for “triple fines” for certain Municipal Code violations, such as possession of alcoholic beverages.

To view a map of the Safety Enhancement Zone and planned road closures, click here .

The city hopes that expensive penalties will serve as an additional incentive to keep rowdy behavior in check.

Tonight, KION’s Maya Holmes looks at plans for parties and policing as Santa Cruz gets set to ring in 2017.