TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to report back on how the City can expand its enforcement of fireworks violations through ordinance changes, the City's ability to enhance and/or develop an administrative citation process for fireworks violations, include more technology based ways of reporting fireworks violation, evaluate the possibility of utilizing video to enforce violations, and evaluate the feasibility of video evidence of fireworks violations provided to the City by residents being used in enforcement and/or citations. Data and research compiled by the individual council offices should be utilized as a reference.
DISCUSSION
Every year in the weeks and months building up to the 4th of July as well as weeks and months following, there are major concerns from residents throughout the City with fireworks creating negative impacts to neighborhoods, and community quality of life. Fireworks cause injuries and damages to property, they frighten pets, create added risk of fires in residential neighborhoods and are illegal in all of Long Beach.
This year, led by the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD), the City continued to expand their efforts to address fireworks violations, and have made positive progress. More community outreach and public information campaigns through social media and traditional media was done this year, in addition to a campaign to protect pets from the Lo.ng Beach Animal Care Services (ACS). As always, all public safety officers were on duty during the 4th of July. The LBFD and ACS should be commended on their
proactive efforts.
Between July 1 and July 5 this year, there were 979 fireworks related calls to the City's Dispatch Center, whereas last year there were 1,227 fireworks related calls; this represents a 30 percent decrease in fireworks related calls. For the 24-hour period of July 4, the Dispatch Center handled 3,246 calls (9-1-1 and the non-emergency line), and 1,419 calls-for-service. In comparison, on an average day...
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