Council OKs buying thermal cameras

Ellen McCarty

ISSUE: THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The City Council decided to purchase one $21,662 thermal imaging

camera. The camera allows firefighters to see victims, the layout of a

room and the source of a fire when they are blinded by dense smoke.

In one month, the Women’s Club will hold a fund-raiser to purchase a

second camera, and the council voted to supplement any extra funds needed

for the purchase.

The council debated whether to buy three cameras, one for each of the

three front-line emergency response engines, but decided to reconsider

the purchase of a third camera in a year, when the technology will most

likely be more advanced.

“You see movies on fires where you can see firefighters fighting a fire,

but what you never see is the smoke,” said Councilman Guy Carrozzo. “I

was amazed that because of the smoke in a burning house, I wouldn’t be

able to see a fire burning a few feet in front of me.”

ISSUE: CHURCHES IN COMMERCIAL ZONES

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The council adopted an ordinance amending the city Municipal

Code to allow religious facilities in commercial zones, subject to a

parking study.

ISSUE: EUCLID STREET IMPROVEMENT

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The council awarded a $112,000 contract to Harris and Associates

to provide construction inspection services for the Euclid Street

improvement project.

ISSUE: TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND COORDINATION TIMING

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The council awarded a $203,000 contract to Albert Grover &

Associates for a traffic signal and coordination timing project. The

cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and

Westminster are embarking on a joint project to coordinate 250

intersections along all major, primary and secondary streets. The project

should allow faster traffic flow within and between cities.

ISSUE: Y2K COMPLIANT TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The council approved a $70,140 purchase of upgraded telephone

software program, a telephone battery back-up power system and an

upgraded replacement of the city’s 30-year-old electric generator as part

of the city’s Y2K compliance program.

ISSUE: AGENCY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The council approved a $21,840 contract with Gabriel Elliot to

assist with the Planning Department’s heavy workload. The strong economy

has caused a flurry of development activities, including the Fountain

Valley School Site, Miller property development and Palm Island, and the

two professional planners in the department cannot keep up.