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CITY COUNCIL APRIL 5, 2021 CONSENT CALENDAR

SUBJECT: EMERGENCY CALL BOX - UPDATE

INITIATED BY: FACILITIES AND RECREATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT (Steve Campbell, Director) (Helen Collins, Facilities and Field Services Division, Manager)

______________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT:

The City Council will consider a plan to install emergency call boxes at three City park locations.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the recommended plan for installation of emergency call boxes at City parks as outlined in this staff report.

BACKGROUND / ANALYSIS:

At its regular meeting on September 23, 2019, the City Council directed staff to explore a plan to install emergency call boxes in public locations, such as City parks, and report back to the City Council with recommendations for installation, including a request for additional funding as needed. Staff researched the emergency call systems and is recommending that full implementation of this program be phased and coordinated with planned improvements for the City parks. The West Hollywood Park Phase II Project includes the installation of emergency call systems and staff will ensure that any future planning for improvements at Plummer Park, and other City parks, includes the installation of emergency call systems and is coordinated with plans and documents for construction. To begin a phased implementation of the systems within City parks, staff is recommending installation of the call stations at Laurel Park, King’s Road Park, and Hart Park beginning in July 2021.

The total proposed budget for implementation of the program at the (3) three recommended locations is $56,600. The estimated cost includes the purchase of the equipment and its installation. The first year of the required connection service and maintenance is included in the initial cost. Beginning in year two, an ongoing operational cost of $564 per location will be budgeted for a total annual operational cost of $1,692. Should Council approve the recommended plan, funding will be requested as part of the upcoming fiscal year budget.

CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN:

This item is consistent with the Primary Strategic Goal(s) (PSG) and/or Ongoing Strategic Program(s) (OSP) of: OSP-1: Adaptability to Future Change.

AGENDA ITEM 2.N.

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OSP-7: Collaborative Public Safety. In addition, this item is compliant with the following goal(s) of the West Hollywood General Plan: PR-3: Provide high quality, functional, safe and well-maintained parks, open space

and recreational facilities. SN-8: Provide public safety services in a manner that reflects and is sensitive to the

characteristics and needs of the West Hollywood community.

EVALUATION PROCESSES:

N/A.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH:

N/A

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

N/A

OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY:

FACILITIES AND RECREATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT / FACILITIES & FIELD SERVICES DIVISION

FISCAL IMPACT:

None. Funding in the amount of $56,600 will be requested as part of the upcoming Capital Improvement Budget. Beginning in year two, operational expenses will increase to $1,692 annually for service connectivity and maintenance of the three stations.

ATTACHMENT:

Attachment A – Staff report dated September 23, 2019.

CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

SUBJECT: PUBLIC SAFETY CALLBOXES AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING

INITIATED BY: COUNCILMEMBER LAUREN MEISTER

PREPARED BY: COMMUNITY & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIVISION (John Leonard , Manager).~ fuR J\.. (Andi Lovano, Senior Mana~ment Analys~ ,

STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT:

The City Council will consider directing staff to develop a plan to install emergency call boxes at public locations throughout the City and to organize an emergency preparedness active shooter training for members of the public.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1) Direct the Facilities & Field Services Division to explore the installation of emergency call boxes in public locations, such as City parks, and report back to the City Council with recommendations for installation, including a request for additional funding as needed.

2) Direct the Public Safety Department to organize an active shooter training for members of the public geared towards nighttime entertainment establishments.

BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS:

Emergency Call Boxes

Emergency call boxes are devices intended to increase public safety by providing instant two-way communication directly with 911, police, and fire. They have one button, which is intended to be simple to use and provide a quick response. They often feature bright colors or lighting to ensure they can be easily spotted by someone potentially in danger, and their visibility may serve as a deterrent and potentially help prevent incidents.

Emergency call boxes are included for installation as part of the West Hollywood Park project and will be included in the future Plummer Park project as well. However, it will likely be two to five years before these boxes are activated.

The City is currently piloting two smart nodes, which are customizable street light poles that include services such as Wi-Fi, emergency communications, electric vehicle charging, and various sensors. The smart nodes will have an emergency help button to connect to 911, similar to a call box. This is a feature the City installed at the request of

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AGENDA ITEM 2.GG.

ATTACHMENT A

the Public Safety Commission . The smart nodes have been installed in front of City Hall and the Sal Guarriello Memorial Park, and are expected to be active in the next few weeks. The City will be evaluating the utility of the call boxes based on usage and/or abuse as part of the pilot program to determine if they should be continued or expanded.

Because the permanent call boxes at City parks will not be on line for several years , this item directs staff to explore options, in the meantime, to install emergency call boxes in certain public locations in the City, specifically in Plummer Park and other City parks. Staff will research the potential cost of the installation and ongoing monthly costs and return to City Council with an evaluation and recommendations for deployment.

Active Shooter Training

Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes before law enforcement can arrive on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department constantly prepares and trains for active shooter events that could harm communities. The City's Public Safety Department and Sheriff's Department have partnered to organize active shooter trainings for City staff and the public. In 2016, the City held a training at the former House of Blues building on Sunset Boulevard . The training was aimed at providing readiness skills to people who work in local businesses and nighttime establishments.

This item directs the Public Safety Department to organize another active shooter training for all members of the public, geared towards nighttime entertainment establishments. The training will discuss recent active shooter incidents and lessons learned from them, as well as best practices in how to deal with an incident, and how to evaluate places for quick and effective evacuation.

CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN:

This item is consistent with the Primary Strategic Goal(s) (PSG) and/or Ongoing Strategic Program(s) (OSP) of:

• OSP-7: Collaborative Public Safety. • OSP-12: Actively Participate in Regional Issues.

In addition, this item is compliant with the following goal(s) of the West Hollywood General Plan:

• SN-6: Maintain adequate levels of law enforcement, fire protection and emergency

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medical services.

• SN-8: Provide public safety services in a manner that reflects and is sensitive to the characteristics and needs of the West Hollywood community.

EVALUATION PROCESSES:

NIA

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH:

NIA

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

NIA

OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY:

FACILITIES AND RECREATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT I FACILITIES & FIELD SERVICES DIVISION

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT

FISCAL IMPACT:

None at this time. Staff will research the potential cost of the installation of call boxes (including new equipment, required infrastructure, and ongoing monthly costs) and will return to City Council for approval of costs and a plan for deployment.

The active shooter training will be covered by existing funds in the Public Safety Department FY 19-20 budget.

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