Ongoing Initiatives
Safety Town Lead Department: Parks and Recreation Appropriation (Grant) Funds: $250,000 (28% of total cost)
Drowning Prevention (2007-2015)
Capital Outlay: $650,000
Lead Departments: Fire/EMS, Communications and Marketing
During the school year, Safety Town hosts about 2,500 kindergarten children from public and private schools throughout Coral Springs teaching them fire safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, how to cross the street safely, stranger danger and more. There is no charge for the school children.
Operating Expenses: Existing
Appropriations funds were received in 2014 to help offset the cost to replace the 18 year old “Safety Town” trailer with a concrete building. Replacement of the current trailer is necessary due to the wear and tear, roof issues and overall repair needed to make the trailer safe for the children who pass through on an almost daily basis. This building will be used to provide a comprehensive early childhood, hands-on safety education program designed to introduce all kinds of safety situations to children between the ages of 4 ½ and 6 ½.
University Drive LED Street Light Pilot Lead Department: Public Works
Drowning is a leading cause of death among kids and, in Florida, is the number one cause of death in children under age five. Too many families in and around Coral Springs have experienced this unimaginably horrible family tragedy. In a majority of the drowning deaths, the child has been seen five minutes or less before being missed and subsequently found in the pool. The City makes it a priority to heighten community awareness and focus on prevention efforts. The Coral Springs Fire Department, together with various local partners, administers a program called “Watch Your Kid, You’ll Be Glad You Did”. This effort coordinates with community groups to present educational sessions that raise community awareness and provide pool safety instruction. Multiple media approaches are employed to reach as many people as possible, including numerous public service announcements. The City will continue this effort, and will look for new and improved program enhancements for Fiscal Year 2015.
Capital Outlay: $20,000 Falling prices are spurring a global transition from older lamp technologies to the much-touted improved safety and efficiency of LED street lights. FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) has initiated numerous pilot programs around the State, catching the attention of local communities. LED lighting provides a true, color-rendering, white light, compared to the yellowish glow of today’s high pressure sodium lamps. Proponents claim this white light improves vision for motorists and pedestrians, allowing for faster, easier recognition of movement along roadways, providing more reaction time. The white light may also promote a more lively, friendly atmosphere, making architecture appear more authentic. Some studies show LED lighting contributes to an enhanced feeling of safety, allowing people to recognize faces and colors more easily. LED lights have been shown to reduce energy consumption up to 50% and last longer, resulting in energy and maintenance savings. In order to verify the presumptive benefits of LED street lights, the City will retrofit 11 existing light fixtures on a section of University Drive, between 28th Street and 31st Street. After installation, message boards will be posted along University Drive to encourage public feedback and comment. An evaluation will be made to determine if the benefits of LED truly exist without jeopardizing mandated lighting standards.
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Public Safety Dispatch Equipment Upgrade (2013-2015) Lead Department: Police Capital Outlay: $5.5M This project’s goal is to replace the existing analog communication equipment with an improved technology system. The current communication system is more than 15 years old and critical components of the system are no longer supported by the manufacturer. A study was conducted to analyze the existing public safety radio system and the alternative solutions for the upgrade. This project provides an opportunity not only to upgrade the technology, but also to provide interoperability with other agencies, a necessary factor in coordinating large-scale emergency response. The City plans to obtain a General Obligation Bond to finance the acquisition of the new dispatch equipment, to be voted on by residents in November 2014.
Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Budget