Travis County Commissioners Court

May 8, 2012 - Item 4
Agenda

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Item 4 consider and take appropriate action on a proclamation declaring May 6 through 12, 2012, as Arson Awareness Week in Travis County.
mr. Fire marshal, should I read the proclamation?

>> please, sir.

>> whereas the theme for 2012 arson awareness week is prevent youth fire setting.
whereas between 2005 and 2009 fires started by children playing accounted for an average of 56,300 fires with associated losses of 110 civilian deaths, 880 civilian injuries, and $286 million in direct property damage per year.
whereas the 2010 -- in 2010, 40% of arson arrests were juveniles with 47.6% of those children under 16 years of age.
whereas parents should teach young children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
keep matches and lighters out of reach and set a good example by safely using matches, lighters and fire.
and whereas we will use the week of may 6 through 12 to focus public attention on the importance of a collaborative effort with fire and emergency service departments, law enforcement, mental health, social services, schools and juvenile justice to help reduce the occurrence of juveniles engaged with fire.
now therefore be it resolved that we the Travis County Commissioners court on behalf of its citizens do hereby recognize the week of may 6, 2012, 6 through 12, 2012, to be arson awareness week in Travis County and pay special attention and special tribute to all fire and law enforcement investigative agencies for their dedicated and tireless service.
and I move approval.

>> second.

>> thank you, judge.
we have some guests this morning.
I won't take up much of your time but I would like to recognize the guests.
we have representatives here from Austin fire department, representatives from emergency service district 3, 6, 9, 10, and the Travis County fire marshal's office.
every year these agencies spend a great amount of time in fire prevention education with a big push in October during fire prevention week.
but there is a program in Travis County that many of these emergency service districts are involved in called the juvenile fire and mentoring program.
and this program is aimed at children that have been identified as having fire-setting behavior.
parents can refer their children to this program.
law enforcement, mental health officials, the courts, there are many different organizations that refer children to these programs. And once they are referred in, one of these groups of people that you see sitting here will do an assessment and an education program not only with the child but with the parent of the child to -- to try to determine what is their risk for setting fire in the future.
and if in the mind of the person doing this assessment this child or this family needs additional help, then they will be referred out for additional help.
so I would like to say thank you to all the people that are involved in that juvenile fire intervention program and thank you for the proclamation.

>> thank you for bringing it.

>> mr. Dillon, you have comments relative to this item?

>> yes, sir.
responsible adults know how to conduct a safe fire.
and it's not proper for the afl-cio to be giving free food to county employees.
in regard to the arson awareness week proclamation, resolution, I think that it's not only silly but it's a colossal waste of time.
my elected officials are in the habit of declaring days and weeks and months to be national head cancer awareness week or national love your cell phone month or, you know, just anything and everything you can dream up.
it occurs to me while the brass is here picking up their awards and their resolution, proclamation, honorary certificates and so on, that somebody should be back at the station watching the fort.
in the public safety interest.

>> thank you, mr. Dillon.

>> yes, sir, you are welcome.

>> judge?

>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.

>> I had a comment before you close --

>> we've already vote but you can give your comment.

>> judge, I just want to say, gus pena and I have been through the sheriff's academy and former i.r.s.
investigator.
I want to thank these individuals from different fire departments.
I respectfully disagree with the prior speaker.
I thank them for the service to our community and the police officers and afl-cio because they have helped out in the community in whatever needs.
thank you all very much, ladies and gentlemen, for being here and representing and helping our community.
thank you.
I have to go.
bye.

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