Some 50 Montclair residents concerned over pending budget cuts affecting police and other public services met at United Methodist Church Monday to launch a Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council in cooperation with the Oakland Police Department.

The incidence of some crimes -- such as car burglaries -- rose last year Montclair. Still, the area remains one of the safest in Oakland, city officials said.

"We should prepare now -- work on the problems before they plague us," urged Nick Vigilante, an organizer of the proposed group. "We can also help Oakland."

One advantage of neighborhood groups like NCPCs, supporters say, is that they strengthen ties among community members.

"Safety is attitude, not altitude," said City Councilwoman Jean Quan, who represents Montclair-Laurel. "There are some communities safer than Montclair in poorer areas because they have close community ties. There is a lot of turnover in the hills. An NCPC does more than reduce crime, it builds a community."

"This is great," Don Link, head of Oakland's Community Policing Advisory Board, said of Monday's gathering. "(Montclair) residents are going in so many different directions, it's like herding cats."

NCPCs can be set up in two ways, according to Link. They can be organized as an open forum, in which all area residents are invited to attend regular meetings. Or they can use a representative approach -- in which a district is divided into several sections, each headed by a representative. The representatives meet and then report concerns to the general membership.

Montclair NCPC supporters have not decided which organizational method to use.

Lt. Lawrence Green, a North Oakland police commander, explained how police monitor Montclair.

"Have you ever seen a crime in progress?" he said. "It is unlikely that a marked police vehicle is going to see anything. This is why you rarely see patrols driving around this neighborhood. It is safe."

Oakland police depend on residents to call the police when they see someone suspicious or they suspect someone is dealing drugs in the area. The phone number for officers on the Montclair beat, 13Z, is 510-520-9913. Alternate numbers are 510-520-9213 and 510-777-3333.

Green also reminded residents to dial 510-777-3211 when calling the police regarding an emergency and using a cellphone.

One persistent issue plaguing the area is illegal dumping, which falls under the jurisdiction of the city's litter enforcement officers. Green urged residents to report illegal dumping by calling 510-434-5101.

As Oakland moves to cut school security forces in half, Green said, NCPCs will become increasingly important. Coupled with closures and cuts in hours at libraries and recreation centers, the changes may leave many young residents at loose ends.

"The city is (looking at) $36 million in budget cuts. We are falling on hard times. We must prioritize. We must all be involved," Quan said.

The residents forming the proposed NCPC plan to meet again in late February.