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HomeMy Public PortalAbout11) 7.J. Every 15min Program at Temple City High SchoolAGENDA ITEM 7.J. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DATE: April 16, 2013 MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable City Council �( FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager I JV Via: Mark Persico, Community evelopment Director By: Bryan Ariizumi, Public Safety Officer SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE OF TEMPLE CITY BOULEVARD FOR THE "EVERY 15 MINUTES" PROGRAM AT TEMPLE_ CITY HIGH SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to approve the temporary street closure of Temple City Boulevard between Camino Real Avenue and Lemon Avenue on April 18, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the "Every 15 Minutes" program at Temple City High School. BACKGROUND: 1. On April 7 and 8, 2005, the City of Temple City, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and Temple City High School (TCHS) presented the first "Every 15 Minutes" program to the junior and_ senior student body at the high school. 2. On April 26 and 27, 2007, the "Every 15 Minutes" program was presented to the junior and senior student body at TCHS. 3. In 2005 and 2007, the accident scene was recreated on the TCHS football field. 4. On April 2 and 3, 2009, the "Every 15 Minutes" program was presented to the junior and senior student body at TCHS. 5. On April 14 and 15, 2011, the "Every 15 Minutes" program was presented to the junior and senior student body at TCHS. 6. In 2009 and 2011, the accident scene was recreated on Temple City Boulevard. City Council April 16, 2013 Page 2 ANALYSIS: The "Every 15 Minutes" program is a two-day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others. The program's name was derived from the fact that in the early 1990's, every 15 minutes someone in the United States died from an alcohol- related traffic collision. However, with the implementation of new laws, grass roots programs like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Friday Night Live (FNL) and other programs such as these, the death rate is now every 30 minutes, a figure which continues to be unacceptable. Alcohol related collisions are a major social, health, and economic problem. California reported 1,597 persons killed and 31,099 injured in alcohol-related vehicle collisions in 2006. Teen drivers are responsible for a highly disproportionate number of these collisions, injuries, and deaths. The City has created partnerships with community-based organizations, Temple City Unified School District (TCUSD), and emergency personnel (i.e., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County Fire and Paramedics and the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office) to implement the two-day program. The activities that partake during this event are described below. Day One One student is removed from class every 15 minutes and becomes one of the "living dead." Throughout the day, a tombstone representing the "living dead" is placed in a temporary cemetery on the school campus so friends and classmates can mourn their loss. Students will witness a dramatization of the aftermath of a fatal alcohol-related traffic collision involving two automobiles. Emergency personnel, including police, fire, paramedics and the coroner's office will respond to the collision scene and transport those that are critically injured, while others are declared dead and are removed by the coroner. The "drunk driver" is given a field sobriety test and then is arrested and booked into jail. The dramatization provides convincing overtones as to the loss felt by everyone due to a fatal alcohol-related collision. At the end of day one, the "living dead" are taken overnight to a retreat at a local hotel. Once a student is a member of the "living dead," there is no contact with family or friends. At the retreat, the students participate in team building activities and learn firsthand from people who have been involved or affected by a drunk driving incident. The evening ends as students write letters to their loved ones, expressing the thoughts they would convey if they had not been killed that day. City Council April 16, 2013 Page 3 Day Two The members of the "living dead" return to school to attend a student body assembly. The "living dead" are seated in the auditorium in front of the student body. During the assembly, everyone in the auditorium watches a video of the previous day's events. A guest speaker affected by a drunk driving incident speaks to the student body. At the end of the assembly, some of the "living dead" and their parents read the letters they wrote the night before. They share with their family and friends what it felt like to die or lose a loved one without having a chance to say goodbye. After 24 hours on an "emotional roller coaster," parents and "living dead" students are reunited. The goal of the "Every 15 Minutes" program is to reduce alcohol-related accidents through an increase of safety and awareness in the community. The City, LASD, CHP, and TCHS are presenting the "Every 15 Minutes" program to the junior and senior student body on April 18 and 19, 2013. This year, staff is requesting that the fatal alcohol-related traffic collision be recreated on Temple City Boulevard, in front of Temple City High School. Recreating the accident scene on Temple City Boulevard has a deeper impact on the students because of the realistic feel of the accident scene. If approved, Temple City Boulevard will be closed between Camino Real Avenue and Lemon Avenue on April 18, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The street closure will be handled by the City and Sheriff's Department staff. The street closure will have a limited impact on parking on Temple City Boulevard. Parking is prohibited (red curb) along the west curb of Temple City Boulevard and parking is prohibited between 7:30 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. along the east curb. Temporary no parking signs will be posted along the east side of Temple City Boulevard, prohibiting parking between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Residents may have limited access to their properties. City staff or LA County Sheriff's Department personnel will determine which properties may safely be accessed. Letters will be hand delivered to the residents along Temple City Boulevard informing them of the street closure. Staff will also post our temporary message board on Temple City Boulevard, informing passing motorist of the upcoming road closure. Traffic on Temple City Boulevard will be detoured to either Oak Avenue to the west or Golden West Avenue to the east. CONCLUSION: The City Council is requested to approve the temporary street closure of Temple City Boulevard between Camino Real Avenue and Lemon Avenue on April 18, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. City Council April 16, 2013 Page 4 FISCAL IMPACT: This item does not have a fiscal impact on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012-13 City Budget. City staff will be assigned to assist with the event during regular working hours and special assignment deputies from other cities (i.e., Rosemead and South EI Monte) will assist the during their regular working hours. ATTACHMENT: A. Every 15 Minutes Accident Recreation Layout Map