TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution for Council's consideration that would recognize December 14, 2017 and every second Thursday in December henceforth, as Aviles Law Remembrance Day.
DISCUSSION
On December 14, 2007, the three young Aviles sisters, Jasmine, Jocelyn, and Stephanie, lost their lives in a fire while sleeping in a garage that had been illegally converted into a living space at 1052 Martin Luther King Avenue. Upon investigation, Fire Inspectors and Building Officials identified multiple fire and life safety code violations likely created when two of four attached garages were sealed to create a non-permitted living space, in violation of the Long Beach Municipal Code. There were no working smoke detectors, no exit windows in the bedroom nor heating as required by code.
On December 14, 2010, the Council requested the City Attorney to draft a resolution for Council's consideration that would recognize the various provisions of the Long Beach Municipal Code that regulate the illegal conversion of garages as the "Aviles Law". This resolution was adopted on April 5, 2011, and since then, the Aviles Law serves to educate the public and reinforce the dangers of illegal garage conversions. Being that this week marks the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, it is respectfully requested for the City Attorney to draft a resolution recognizing December 14th, 2017 and every second Thursday in December, henceforth, as Aviles Law Remembrance Day. Time has passed since the incident, but the family nor Council District 6 will ever forget this tragedy, and it is an important part of Long Beach history that can be memorialized with a remembrance day.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS
SIXTH DISTRICT