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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8025' INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY ,�-iUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8025 W, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Z35 September 3, 1996 Page I of 4 XA Subject: REPORT ON THE BICYCLE ]HELMET ORDINANCE FUND PROGRAM On June 11, 1996, the Fort Worth City Council adopted an ordinance requiring children seventeen (17) years of age and younger to wear bicycle helmets while riding or operating a bicycle on public property. Included in the ordinance is the establishment of a Bicycle Helmet Fund. Donations are to be used for the purchase of helmets for children of very low income families. The fund is administered by the Director of the Parks and Community Services Department. An advisory committee, with representatives from the Fire, Municipal Court and Police Departments, as well as Cook Children's Medical Center, are assisting in the development of this program. The Department is currently working with the Department of Law to deten-nine the feasibility of amending the ordinance to recommend changing the Bicycle Helmet portion of the ordinance from a criminal to a civil violation. Because of the steps required in processing a criminal violation as opposed to a civil violation, staff believes that a violation will become more punitive than necessary and amending the ordinance to a civil violation level, will enable expediting the citation process. In an effort to generate donations to the fund, letters have been sent under the Mayor's signature to various businesses and foundations requesting contributions to the Bicycle Helmet Fund. To date, $140.00 and one (1) helmet has been received. Grant requests have also been made to the Communities Foundation, Speedway Children's Charities and the Texas Department of Health. This report is submitted as an update on the Bicycle Helmet Fund Program. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Libby Watson, Assistant City Manager, or Richard Zavala, Parks and Community Center Director. PROGRAM GOAL Establish a fund for the acceptance of bicycle helmets and monetary donations to purchase additional helmets for exclusive distribution to children in very low income families. Distribution will be based on available supply. 1. To make the public aware of the availability of bicycle helmets at a reduced cost to children in families that meet the most recent Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and reside within the Fort Worth City limits. 2. To conduct an intake and certification of families applying for reduced cost bicycle hell-nets to determine income eligibility, at seven (7) Neighborhood Resources Development Program (NRDP) sites. 3. To continually seek funding sources to replenish the bicycle helmet inventory through grants, individual and other donations. ...... OFFICIAL RECORD ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CIT r,r JUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8o25 To the Mayor and Members at the City Council September 3, 1996 Page 2 of 4 ;ex 5 Subject: REPORT ON THE BICYCLE HELMET ORDINANCE FUND PROGRAM 4. To provide bicycle safety information and other educational information to youth and family members through City facilities, schools and other locations. ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES 1. Applicants (heads of households) must be residents of the City of Fort Worth . a. Self referrals, referrals from peace officers of the City of Fort Worth, Municipal Court, Fire Department or other non-profit agencies. 2. Eligible applicants (head of household) will be required to: a. Review (with caseworker) and receive a copy of an overview of the Bicycle Helmet Ordinance guidelines (English or Spanish); b. Sign a Bicycle Helmet Request/Acknowledgment/Release Form; C. Receive Instructions (youth and Parent/Guardian) on proper use of helmet; and d. Pay a fee of$5 for one (1) and $2.50 for each additional helmet requested for that household. Fees for helmets must be made payable to the City of Fort Worth in personal checks or Money Orders. PROCEDURE 1. Helmets will be picked up weekly from the warehouse by Community Center Supervisors from the seven (7) distribution sites (Como, Martin Luther King, Northside, North Tri-Ethnic, Riverside, Southside and Worth Heights). 2. Intake and certification will be scheduled : twice weekly at seven (7) NRDP sites from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays and on the first and third Friday evenings, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Applicants and youths will be required to view a video on bicycle safety following the intake and review of the ordinance with caseworker. 3. Following the viewing of the video, staff or a volunteer will properly fit and issue a helmet (s) to the youth (s). W I WARNINGS ITA! 1. Fort Worth Police Officers will be provided a City of Fort � Wortlx, Texas Bicycle Helmet Warning Notice Book and a list of the NR.D offices, the phone numbers and the zip codes served by each site. a. Two (2) notices will be printed in duplicate. 2. During the education period of the ordinance (September 15, 1996- March 15, 1997) Officers may issue Warning Notices to any youth ages 17 or younger (or to their parents) seen operating or riding a bicycle on public property without a helmet. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO C, UNCIL MEMBERS No. 8o25 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 3, W 1996 6 Subject: Page 3 of 4 7873 REPORT ON THE BICYCLE HELMET ORDINANCE FUND PROGRAM 3. Youth seen in violation of the ordinance, at the Officer's discretion, may receive either a verbal or written warning. a. If a written warning is issued, violator will receive the duplicate. The original will be submitted at the Officer's roll call location and sent through inter- office mail to the Parks and Community Services Department/ Community Services Division. b. Information from the Warning Notice will be entered into a data base for tracking and reporting purposes. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROCESS I The Bicycle Helmet Ordinance (Sec. 22-249 of the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Code [English and Spanish]) will be made available, for posting, to all sporting goods stores, other appropriate businesses and City departments. 2. Weekly articles will appear on the City Page during the month of September and monthly through February 15, 1997, with an overview of the ordinance, locations and telephone numbers of the NRD Centers and the zip codes they serve, for those who wish to apply for reduced cost helmets. The number for Cook Children's Medical Center's Advocacy Office will also be included for those who are over the Poverty Income Guidelines. 3. Information will also be provided through the City Times, City Cable, Community Centers and community newsletters. Education 1. Bicycle Rodeos - Fort Worth Police Department's Neighborhood Police Officers 2. Presentations to Elementary and Middle School students by Fort Worth Firefighters 3. Bicycle Safety Videos- Community Center programs 4. Fort Worth Independent School District, Because We Care Counselors 5. Coupon and prize distributions by Fort Worth Police Officers and Firefighters-Solicit coupons from fast food businesses and other small prizes provided by the Parks and Community Services 111,C0 1) Department for youth they observe wearing their helmets while K riding bicycles on public property. 6. Teen Court I Vu 141014,dii, ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITYrP ")UNCIL MEMBERS No. 8025 C" A®RTEP To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 3, 1996 x Page 4 of 4 R A Subject: 1873 REPORT ON THE BICYCLE HELMET ORDINANCE FUND PROGRAM CURRENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS I The Fire Department currently refurbishes and distributes bicycles at Christmas to low income children. The Police Department also distributes donated bikes to youth during the Christmas holidays. a. Bicycles distributed by both departments, will now be accompanied by a safety approved bicycle helmet. , Bab Ter 11 City Manager ................. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS