The Dallas City Council public safety committee on Monday endorsed a voluntary program in which apartment complexes can earn a "gold star" certification for crime prevention efforts.

The committee also approved a draft plan to estimate the number of adults at every apartment complex so that the Police Department can calculate an individual complex's per capita crime rate and target those properties that need extra attention.

The effort will document the addresses of every apartment and is likely to be massive, because there at least 3,200 complexes in the city. Often apartment complexes can have numerous addresses, which makes it difficult to determine exactly how serious a complex's crime problem is.

"This will make it more objective," said Police Chief David Kunkle.

The proposals are part of a proposed ordinance that is still being written, city officials said.

The Police Department estimates that 32 percent of the city's serious crimes occur within 100 feet of apartment complexes, and city officials say more than half the city's residents live in apartments.

The department will use the new data on apartment addresses to determine which complexes have a crime rate that's outside the statistical norm. Under the ordinance, those would be required to participate in a remedial program that seeks to lower crime. The complexes would participate in a security survey, complete a letter of agreement on how the complex could reduce crime, and agree to increased police monitoring of the property.

The other part of the proposed ordinance, the Police Department's "carrot approach," is currently dubbed the "Dallas Gold Star Program."

It was modeled after efforts in Houston, Chicago and Mesa, Ariz. Dallas officials said Houston, for example, saw an 18 percent decrease in serious crimes at apartment complexes.

Apartments that complete the requirements of the program, which include a security survey and workshops, would receive gold star certification. Police officials plan to create special signs to be posted at those complexes that get the certification.

Kathy Carlton of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas said her group supports the "gold star" program but has additional questions before it can say whether it endorses the program to target specific properties that show higher crime rates.