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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHS (2)Agenda Item: 15 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: DATE: January 8, 2008 SUBJECT: 2008 PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHS DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION Mayor Bob Kellar 1. City Council approve the implementation of the "2008 Public Safety Months" Program. 2. City Council approve the transfer of $40,000 from City Council Contingency Account 19300-5401.001, to Communications Account 11500-5161.001, for expenditures to implement this program. BACKGROUND In line with the City Council's ongoing commitment to public safety; Mayor Bob Kellar proposed the "2008 Public Safety Months" Program. The year-long observance will designate each month with a special message to the community which will include Sheriff, Fire, and other community safety issues. The purpose of each month's message will be to raise awareness of public safety issues among our residents and enhance the City's existing efforts to keep Santa Clarita safe. Staff will be utilizing a multi -media approach to promote each month's message which will include Sunday articles in the Signal, advertisements in strategic publications such as the SEASONS brochure and the City Newsletter, regular posting on the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's webpage and the City's homepage, television and radio service announcements, etc. Staff will be working to tie each month's message with existing safety programs and workshops that are offered by the City and the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Department. By tying our monthly message and our existing programs together, our safety programs will receive maximum exposure. The following is a list of the proposed monthly messages: If= • Motorcycle and Bicycle Safety and Awareness • Traffic Safety Awareness • Emergency Preparedness • Keep Santa Clarita Clean • Personal Security and Safety Awareness • Identity Theft and Senior Safety • Gang Awareness • Parenting and Teen Awareness • Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Awareness • Kid Safety •' DUI Awareness/Protecting Yourself During the Holidays If approved by Council, City of Santa Clarita will use January to prepare the implementation of each month's message for every month in 2008. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT Allocate funding in the amount of $40,000 from City Council Contingency Account 19300-5401.001 to Communications Account 11500-5161.001. If approved, this action would result in a balance of $882,500 in the City Council Contingency, Account. ATTACHMENTS Proposed Program Outline 2008 PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHS Overview: During 2008, the City, Fire, and Sheriff Departments will be working together to bring a special public safety message to the community each month through a series of outreach methods. Aimed at promoting a clean, safe and healthy community, the 2008 public safety awareness program will focus on important aspects of home, personal and community safety, of import to Santa Clarita residents and businesses. We will utilize a multi -media approach, utilizing radio, print and television where applicable to promote these monthly messages. Partnerships with other agencies, including the school districts, utilities, etc. will be included. We will seek to tie into existing programs and projects for maximum exposure. January: This is the month we announce the 2008 Public Safety month campaign. Mayor Kellar will roll-out the proposed 2008 campaign in a�special five minute announcement at the first City Council meeting in January. February: Motorcycle and Bicycle Safety and Awareness month— We plan to tie in safety messages with our Tour of California media, including the message to wear helmets when'riding bicycles and motorcycles; to share the road, to look for riders and remind riders to wear reflective gear. The focus of this month is to promote safe motorcycle and bicycle riding on city streets, as well as promoting the message of "sharing the road" with bicycle and motorcycle riders. Over the last year, we've lost young people to tragic motorcycle accidents; something we would like to prevent in 2008 through an awareness campaign. March: Traffic Safety Awareness month: Traffic safety is a high priority to the City and its residents. During this month-long campaign, we will promote messages including the "pull to the right" message, driving safely and within the posted speed limits, wear seat belts at all times and others. We will utilize some little-known traffic codes to garner more attention such as: do you know the speed limit in school or residential zones? We plan to use articles written by traffic deputies in the local media. We plan to redistribute the City's pull to the right campaign in Spanish and English. We will also use this month to promote the "no cell phone while you are driving" law that goes into effect later this year. April: Emergency Preparedness month. As part of the city's popular Emergency Preparedness Expo, we will provide information to residents about being prepared at home, work, car, while also promoting attendance at the Expo. Messages will focus on preparing our children for an emergency by promoting exit drills, practice getting in and out of windows, learning how to shut off the gas/water, etc. May: Keep Santa Clarita Clean month - We will have our Pride Week event during May, as well as a "Saturday wipe out graffiti" day. This includes a community -wide litter pick up day, and promotion'of reporting graffiti to the City's hotline. June: Personal Security and Safety Awareness month - We will promote various aspects of crime prevention, including being proactive, locking the doors at home and in the car, being vigilant and careful to lock windows, etc. Also included in this awareness campaign are pool safety and vacation home checks. We will also focus on information about preventing residential and business burglaries. July: Identity Theft and Senior Safety awareness month - We will promote ways to avoid identity theft, especially for seniors, and what to do if you suspect yours might be stolen. This includes our award-winning FITE program! August: Gang Awareness month - This message will focus on understanding gangs, how to use your cell phone to call 911, how to be a witness, and the importance of being vigilant. September: Parenting and Teen Awareness month - This will coincide with our Teen Scene Unplugged, promoting attendance as well as parenting classes and "do's and don'ts" for those with teens. Messages will also include: "how to get help" and "how to obtain resource," and "how to parent" (ACTION). We are also planning a public safety appreciation day on September 11, in conjunction with the Red Cross "Heroes" program. October: Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Awareness month - We will work with the home stores to obtain free smoke alarms to hand out to people via the media. We will also promote "candle with care" and Christmas tree safety. November: Kid Safety: This month will focus on how to keep our kids safe, including preventing accidents, having the right car seats, medicine chest safety, toy safety and obtaining Kid print identifications. December: DUI Awareness month/Protecting Yourself During the Holidays: We will utilize our award-winning DUI prevention program, called "The cost of drinking and driving," via television, radio, newspapers. We will also be promoting holiday shopping safety, including being aware of your surroundings, not leaving valuables in view in the car, and possibly promoting self-defense classes offered by the City's Recreation program.