Item No.10 - CONSIDERATION OF FIREWORKS REWARD PROGRAMX
DATE: June 1, 2021
AGENDA ITEM NO. 10
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF FIREWORKS REWARD PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the following resolution implementing a fireworks reward program:
RESOLUTION NO.2021-59 - RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, ESTABLISHING A FIREWORKS REWARD PROGRAM AND
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO UNDERTAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS CONSISTENT
THEREWITH
2. Appropriate approximately $2,000 from General Fund Reserves into 110.31.3110.6571.
BACKGROUND:
The West Covina City Council has taken a zero tolerance policy regarding fireworks violations. As such, the Police
Department wants to increase its ability to cite violators and reward witnesses who report the use of illegal
fireworks.
From mid -May through mid -July, the City and surrounding areas are flooded with numerous complaints of illegal
fireworks. These calls have increased dramatically over the years. Residents are reluctant to provide information
about the persons that are in violation of state laws and the City's ordinance related to fireworks. This is a problem
because often times when officers arrive, the violation has been committed and officers are unable to locate the
violators. This emboldens the suspects and allows them to continue firing illegal fireworks through the days and
nights leading up to the Fourth of July, generating repeat calls for service to the same area for the rest of the season.
Addressing violations early on in the season will set the tone that violators will be fined and in some cases
prosecuted, with the goal of reducing the number of firework calls generated throughout the fourth of July season.
The Fireworks Reward Program being proposed is similar to that of the graffiti reward program. This approach has
been used and proven to be successful in the area of graffiti enforcement. The graffiti enforcement program grants a
$100 reward for those who provided information that led to the identification and successful prosecution of vandals.
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department is proposing a reward system for individuals who provide information that leads to a
citation issued to the subjects. This program will encourage community members to call the police immediately
when individuals are seen using illegal fireworks. The program would work in the following way:
• Any person who witnesses someone in the act of firing fireworks can report it by calling the Police
Department anytime, 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. It is preferred that the caller identifies him or
herself, but it is not mandatory. If the caller desires, they can remain anonymous.
• Upon receipt of the specific information regarding the description, identity, and location of the subject, the
police dispatcher will obtain the information of the informant and provide them with the event number. The
dispatcher will obtain the informant's call back number unless the informant would like to remain anonymous.
If the informant is anonymous, the informant will have to call back for the final disposition of the call. Police
officers will be dispatched to investigate the call for service.
• If the police officer does in fact locate and cite the subject for the illegal fireworks, the person having first
called the Police Department concerning the violation will be eligible for an immediate reward of $200 in
cash. The reward will be paid as soon as possible.
• The Watch Commander will make immediate arrangements for the eligible caller to receive the $200 reward.
Twenty (20) $100 bills will be kept in the Watch Commander's office to be used for this purpose and will be
replenished from the General Fund Reserves as needed. A log will be kept by the Watch Commander to
document the incident and reference the arrest and the report number.
The rewards program must be both immediate and apparent to be effective. Providing the reward as soon as
possible to the original call and in cash will accomplish both of these objectives. Reward programs promising
money "upon conviction," which may be months in the future, have not been effective.
The Police Department feels this program will be successful in encouraging citizens to call and report an instance
of a fireworks violation as it is occurring. It is proposed to establish this program to begin as soon as possible and
end one week prior to the Fourth of July to get a head start and reduce the repeat number of calls generated by
illegal fireworks in the City of West Covina.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the resolution and approved it as to form.
Prepared by: Richard Bell
Fiscal Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no expected cost to the fireworks reward program since the prosecution of illegal fireworks calls will
impose a $1,000 fine.
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 - Resolution No. 2021-59
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Protect Public Safety
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-59
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A
FIREWORKS REWARD PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING
STAFF TO UNDERTAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS
CONSISTENT THEREWITH
WHEREAS, fireworks are the cause of many fires and personal injuries; and
WHEREAS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2019 Fireworks Annual Report,
published in June 2020, states that fireworks were involved with an estimated 10,000 injuries
treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during calendar year 2019, and 7,300 fireworks -
related injuries (73%of the total estimated fireworks -related injuries in 2019) were treated in U.S.
hospital emergency departments during a one -month special study period between June 21, 2019
and July 21, 2019. The report states that children younger than 15 years of age accounted for 36%
of the estimated fireworks -related injuries, and nearly half of the estimated emergency department -
treated fireworks -related injuries were to individuals younger than 20 years of age; and
WHEREAS, the use of illegal fireworks in the City of West Covina is an immediate public
peace, health, and safety concern; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article III (Fireworks) of Chapter 15 (Miscellaneous Provisions
Relating to Public Health and Safety) of the West Covina Municipal Code, the sale, use and
discharge of fireworks, including safe and sane fireworks, is prohibited within the City; and
WHEREAS, the use of illegal fireworks is a particularly prominent problem around the
Independence Day holiday; and
WHEREAS, illegal fireworks activities can promote among residents feelings of fire
danger, decreased safety, and nuisance —and those feelings should be mitigated; and
WHEREAS, the support of the community through reporting of fireworks violations
greatly aids the Police Department's efforts to cite and prosecute fireworks violations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a cash reward program to encourage
members of the community to report such violations in order to increase the opportunity for
Police officers to cite fireworks violators; and
WHEREAS, implementing the reward would be consistent with and taken for the
immediate protection of public peace, health, and safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby fomnally endorses and establishes the West
Covina Police Department fireworks reward program.
SECTION 2. A cash reward in the amount of $200 is hereby approved and authorized
for individuals who provide information that leads to a citation for violation of the provisions of
Article III (Fireworks) of Chapter 15 (Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Public Health and
Safety) of the West Covina Municipal Code or for violation of provisions of California law
related to fireworks.
SECTION 3. The following persons are not eligible for the reward: City employees,
City officials, and City contractors.
SECTION 4. The City Council directs City officials and staff to take appropriate steps in
fw•therance of the establishment of the fireworks reward program to promote the citation and
prosecution of fireworks violators.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby delegates to the Chief of Police the authority to
execute all documents on behalf of the City consistent with this resolution.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall enter
the same in the book of original resolutions and it shall become effective immediately.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of June, 2021.
Letty Lopez-Viado
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM ATTEST
Thomas P. Duarte Lisa Sherrick
City Attorney Assistant City Clerk
I, LISA SHERRICK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California,
do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2021-59 was duly adopted by the City Council
of the City of West Covina, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 1st day of June,
2021, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Lisa Sherrick
Assistant City Clerk