Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.7 After Action Report Fireworks CITY CLERK File # D~[3J[Q]-[k][Q] AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: August 5,2008 SUBJECT: Safe and Sane Fireworks Background and After Action Report for July 4, 2008 Public Safety and Staff Activities Report Prepared by Bonnie Terra, Fire Marshal of the Alameda County Fire Department, Kurt von Savoye, Lieutenant of the Alameda County Sheriffs Department, and Joni Pattillo, Assistant City Manager ATTACHMENTS: /one RECOMMENDATION: \ Receive Informational Report FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None DESCRIPTION: At the City Council meeting of July 15, 2008, the City Council requested that Staff prepare a report to the City Council July 4th Activities including a brief background as it relates to the sale and use of "Safe and Sane Fireworks" in the City of Dublin. Back2:round Since the incorporation of the City of Dublin in 1982, the City has allowed for the sale and use of "Safe and Sane Fireworks." There were two Fireworks Advisory Ballot Measures whose purpose was to ask the Dublin Voters "Should the City Council of the City of Dublin enact an ordinance prohibiting the manufacture, sale and use of 'Safe and Sane Fireworks'?" The first Advisory Ballot Measure took place in November 1982 and the second Advisory Ballot Measure was in June 1988 (at the Consolidated Primary Election). Each time the voters did not want the City Council to move forward with an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of "Safe and Sane Fireworks." Staff completed an extensive review of information on file and were unable to find any fire related incidents in regard to the use of "Safe and Sane Fireworks". The fire incidents that had occurred over the years were related to the use of illegal fireworks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COPY TO: Page 1 of3 ITEM NO. ~ .7 After Action Report from Julv 4. 2008 The following is a report on the Public Safety and Staff Activities associated with this past July 4, 2008, within the City of Dublin. This report includes calls for service, booth activities, enforcement activities and summary of complaints. Several tactical elements continued to be deployed this year to ensure that citizens of Dublin, as well as visitors, were operating under the City sanctioned use of "Safe and Sane" fireworks in a safe environment at the three designated City Parks (Dublin Sports Grounds, Emerald Glen Park and Alamo Creek Park) or at private residences, and to control the use of illegal fireworks. Key tactical elements utilized this past July 4, 2008 included: . The use of additional Police and Fire Patrol personnel to augment regular compliment of staff. . Increase of Supervision. . Designated Units assigned to each of the designated City Parks. . Use of citations for the possession/use of illegal fireworks based on City Ordinance. . Utilization of bicycle patrol teams. . 'u se of crowd control barricades to block off fireworks in the three designated parks to assist in crowd control and boundaries for safe fireworks usage. . Vegetation management. The Alameda County Fire Department responded to two fireworks related calls on July 4, 2008. At 6:14 p.m., Fire Station 18 responded to a call at 3275 Dublin Blvd. for a malicious false alarm call. Upon arrival, an alarm was sounding, and after investigation, it was determined that someone had ignited a small smoke bomb which activated the smoke detection system within the parking garage. The alarm was reset with no further information regarding responsible party for the smoke bomb. The second call was to 11975 W. Vomac where upon arrival by Fire Station 16, a small amount of vegetation was found to be burning. It was quickly extinguished. The cause of the fire was illegal fireworks landing in dry cut vegetation. Fire Staff assisted PD in the seizure of illegal fireworks. Dublin Police Services responded to 38 calls relating to fireworks. This number is down from last year's number of 46. Approximately 80 lbs. of illegal fireworks were confiscated. Two citations were issued for possession of illegal fireworks. No fireworks related arrests were made on the July 4th. Overview on the Three (3) Designated City Parks Dublin Sports Grounds: Cleanup required 4 hours of labor and removed approximately 4 yards of debris. Emerald Glen Park: Clean up required 7 hours of labor and removed 5 yards of debris. Alamo Creek Park: Clean up required 3 hours of labor and removed 6 yards of debris. There was no reported damage in the parks attributable to the use of fireworks in the three designated parks. The main complaint this year was the fact that Dublin continued to sell "Safe and Sane" fireworks with all the California wildfires going on and the dry conditions. Booth activities appeared to run smoothly with 13 booths selling "Safe and Sane" fireworks. Most reported a significant drop in sales this year. There were three organizations whose deposits were not returned because they failed to remove all items from their site prior to the established deadline. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council receive this informational report regarding July 4, 2008 Public Safety Activities.