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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07232002 - HA1 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA TO: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FROM: Robert McEwan, Executive Director DATE: JULY 23, 2002 SUBJECT: RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REGARDING RESIDENT FIRE SAFETY AT THE BAYO VISTA PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, RODEO SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION 1. RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE the report included in this Board Order from the Housing Authority regarding resident fire safety at the Bayo Vista public housing development in Rodeo. 11. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. Ill. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND At the closed session of the Board on May 14th, 2002, the Board asked me to report on the administrative action steps taken to improve the conditions that may have contributed to the tragic events of July 27, 2000 when Kevin Stroughter, an eight year old boy who was visiting the Bayo Vista Public Housing Development in Rodeo was severely and tragically burned playing with gasoline. Allegations were made that children got the gasoline out of the rear yard of a vacant unit. They then proceeded through a hole in the refinery's perimeter fence that separates the refinery from the public housing development. This fence, then owned by TOSCO, leads onto the adjacent TOSCO Refinery property, a vacant field. Phillips 66 Company now owns this property and the fence. It is in the best public interest to take whatever steps are reasonable to make sure that access to flammables by children is prevented and that"attractive" areas such as the refinery field are properly fenced so that kids are deterred from entry. To these ends, the following steps have been taken. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON July 23, 2002 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I N Julie i4aii.na } TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED July 23, 2002 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY �(i`tWai& EPUTY H:\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\BOARD\BO-Bayo Vista Site Safety.doc 1. Hazards of any kind, including flammable liquids, are to be removed from public housing units within 24 hours of a vacancy. Upon vacancy, an initial safety inspection will be conducted with a written inspection report showing that the unit has been secured and that no accessible hazards exist, including flammable liquids. This report is to be signed by the Maintenance Supervisor and a copy will be maintained in a separate log. 2. Cutting holes in the perimeter fence by public housing residents or others has been an ongoing and serious problem for many years. We are working with Phillips 66 to inspect and report fence damage and, where possible, the perpetrators. Phillips has pledged to patrol or walk the fence line at least once each day to detect holes and arrange for repair as soon as possible. Historically, there have been periodic reports from the Housing Authority to TOSCO and Phillips 66 Company regarding the condition of the their fence that is on the border of the Bayo Vista Development and the refinery. New procedures have been put in place that requires Housing Authority management staff to conduct monthly inspections of the fence. Although the fence is owned and maintained by Phillips 66 Company, this procedure was established to provide an extra measure of safety. Upon completion of the inspection or upon observation of damage to the fence, copies of the written results are supplied to the refinery representative for action. A separate log of these reports is maintained. 3. We have contacted several Fire Protection Districts and are planning fire safety presentations for our residents. These presentations will include information on fire safety in the home and on the proper supervision of children. These presentations will be designed to raise the awareness of the importance of fire safety. It is my belief that these steps will increase the overall safety of our public housing residents.