Title
Authorization to Accept Donation of Lock Boxes from Phoenix Realtors
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to accept a donation of 100 lock boxes from the Phoenix Realtors.
Report
Summary
An ongoing challenge for the Phoenix Fire Department is accessing the homes of seniors or individuals with special needs. Fire staff is often called to the residence of an individual who is too ill to grant access, or in response to a concerned family member requesting staff to check welfare. When this occurs and no one is available to answer the door, Fire staff are faced with the dilemma of having to use force in order to access the residence. In order to address these challenges, staff requests authorization to accept donation of 100 lock boxes from the Phoenix Realtors to establish the Residential Lock Box Access Program. This program will provide lock boxes to seniors and individuals with special needs in order to avoid using force to access their residence.
The Fire Department's Community Involvement Section will process applications, install the lock boxes, maintain a database of installations, and ensure the Phoenix Fire Regional Dispatch Center codifies the data in a premise alter for responding units. The Residential Lock Box Access Program will use the donated lock boxes to implement a pilot program in City Council District 1. This will allow the program managers to determine scope, challenges, and logistics to best serve the community then expand access citywide.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the City's General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was approved at the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee meeting on Dec. 14, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.