HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2004-45Suggested by:
Councilor Ross
CITY 017 KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-45
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORANCE OF WEARING PROTECTIVE HELMETS WHILE
RIDING BICYCLES, SIMILAR VEHICLES OR ICE SKATING AND TO PROVIDE
INCENTIVES FOR PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS TO WEAR SUCH
PROTECTIVE HELMETS.
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Kenai is concerned that minors riding bicycles,
unicycles, skateboards, motorized or non-motorized scooters, toy motorized vehicles or
using in-line, roller or ice skates (hereinafter "bicyclists") suffer injuries that could be
avoided or lessened if they were protected by helmets; and,
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Kenai finds that the death and disability of
minor bicyclists and ice skaters accident victims is a serious threat to the public
health, welfare and safety of the people of Kenai; and,
WHEREAS, a study in the July 2004 issue of medical journal Pediatrics shows that
children who ice skate are at risk for head injuries and should wear a protective
helmet while skating; and,
WHEREAS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that children are
more likely to be hospitalized from bike accidents than from any other sport; and,
WHEREAS, nearly half of the children aged 14 and under treated in emergency rooms
for bicycle related injuries are diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries; and,
WHEREAS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has also found that bicyclist-
related accident victims who wear protective helmets are 85% less likely to suffer head
injuries; and,
WHEREAS, nearly 60% of all child bicycle-related deaths occur on a minor road,
typically within one mile of the child's home; and,
WHEREAS, the National Safe Kids Campaign estimates that 75% of bicycle-related
fatalities among children can be prevented with a bicycle helmet; and,
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Kenai finds that despite overwhelming evidence
of the need to wear properly fastened, certified protective helmets, many minors do not
wear them while bicycling or ice skating; and,
WHEREAS, it is the goal of the Council of Kenai to reduce the incidence and severity of
head injuries to minor bicyclists and ice skaters.
Resolution No. 2004-45
Page 2 of 3
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA, that:
SECTION 1.
The City Manager is hereby directed to develop a program to educate the citizenry
regarding the dangers of riding bicycles, unicycles, skateboards, motorized or non-
motorized scooters, toy motorized vehicles or using in-line, roller or ice skates without
protective head gear and to develop a program of incentives to motivate parents to
ensure that there children wear proper head gear when bicycling and to motivate
children bicycling to wear such head gear.
The City Manager is further directed to develop a program to educate parents to better
ensure safe cycling and ice skating by their children and to educate children to wear
proper head gear when bicycling and ice skating.
SECTION 2.
Said program shall be implemented by the police, fire and/or parks and recreation
departments of the City of Kenai in accord with protocols established by the city
manager's office. When police officers on duty observe minor bicyclists wearing
protective helmets with the chinstrap appropriately fastened, they may contact the
child when appropriate and give him/her an emblem or other reward for responsible
bicycling.
When police officers on duty observe minors bicycling on public property, including
highways, streets, roads, bike paths, trails or rights-of-way, without properly fitted
protective head gear, they may contact the child when appropriate to inform him/her
of the hazards of bicycling without a helmet. The purpose of such a contact is to
educate and provide information pertinent to the safety offered by the wearing of
helmets.
The police department may contact the parents of the child and provide information
encouraging the parents to acquire proper headgear for their child and to encourage
its use.
SECTION 3.
This resolution shall remain in effect for three years after its adoption. During the
effective period of this resolution, the city manager will annually submit a report to the
city council as to the effectiveness of this educational effort. The report will include
recommendations as to whether additional measures should be taken to enhance
bicyclists' safety.
Resolution No. 2004-45
Page 3 of 3
SECTION 4.
"Proper head gear" is defined as a helmet containing a manufacturer certification that
it meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute, American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE City of Kenai, ALASKA, this fourth day of August,
2004.
ATTEST:
JOHN J. WILLIAMS, MAYOR
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk