Title
Adopt City Council Resolution Authorizing the Fort Bragg Police Department to Establish Security Checkpoints at Noyo Beach to Address Public Safety Needs During the Independence Day Fireworks Event
Summary
For many years Fort Bragg's Independence Day fireworks display has lit up the sky (or fog) over Noyo Bay, thrilling spectators at locations on public and private property around the bay. In recent years, there has been an increase public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and the illegal discharge of fireworks at Noyo Beach during the Independence Day fireworks event. In an effort to address safety concerns and ensure compliance with existing laws prohibiting consumption of alcohol in public and the discharge of fireworks in public parks (and countywide) and to reclaim the beach as a "family friendly" location for viewing the fireworks display, the Fort Bragg Police Department proposes to establish "security checkpoints" at the entries to Noyo Beach. At the checkpoints, persons with fireworks and/or alcohol in their possession will be given the opportunity to discard the items, to return the items to their vehicles, or to be denied entry to Noyo Beach. The City Council discussed this issue on a publicity campaign (using press releases, public service announcements, social media and signage) be implemented to get the word out to the public regarding the security checkpoints at Noyo Beach and the strict enforcement of existing laws prohibiting public consumption of alcohol and the discharge of fireworks. to ensure that there is adequate ingress and egress for emergency response vehicles. Adoption of the resolution is recommended.