Area briefing

RTC ADOPTS GUIDELINES TO SHAPE VALLEY’S FUTURE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada recently adopted guidelines for Southern Nevada government entities as they plan and build streets to better accommodate all modes of transportation, including cars, bicycles, transit vehicles and pedestrians.

The Complete Streets guidelines can increase a road’s capacity, improve safety, stimulate economic growth, lower emissions and promote smarter growth, said Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, chairman of the RTC board.

The guidelines, based on similar standards developed for Los Angeles County, do not dictate how to design streets but define what Complete Streets are and how transportation planners and engineers can consistently apply the principles.

For more information, visit rtcsouthernnevada.com.

RAPE CRISIS CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

The Rape Crisis Center is seeking volunteers 21 or older to assist in responding to sexual assault victims 24/7, among other tasks.

Volunteers assist the center’s staff in answering crisis calls around the clock, making referrals to victims and others who are seeking assistance. They also represent the center at community outreach and educational events and help with fundraising activities.

Volunteers must undergo 50 hours of training over the course of five weeks for three evenings per week. Volunteers must be able to complete a background check and commit to a minimum of six months of volunteer service and at least six hours per week on call.

Those who are interested should complete an application and set up an interview. For more information, visit therapecrisiscenter.org and click on the volunteer icon or call 702-385-2153.

Committed to the prevention of sexual assault, center volunteers and staff members work with the Clark County School District to conduct educational events to help children identify signs of being molested or inappropriately touched. They also work with nightclubs to educate security personnel on how to identify sexual assault in the club. Volunteers also help organize community service campaigns targeted toward young women, the most vulnerable demographic for sexual assault, to educate them on how to avoid high-risk situations.

The center said that crisis response volunteers are its greatest need.

TERRORISM TO BE 1ST TUESDAY TOPIC

Residents can learn what law enforcement officers are doing to keep the valley safe from terrorism during the Metropolitan Police Department’s 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. April 2 at the department’s valleywide area commands.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 702-828-3111.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING FORUM PLANNED

A Human Trafficking Family Rally and Forum is planned for 9 a.m. to noon April 6 at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road.

Discussions will be led by police and judicial system officials. Topics are to include human trafficking and sexual exploitation; signs and symptoms of human trafficking; social media and recruiting methods; and youth exploitation and legislation.

The valley is a major hub for human trafficking due to its nightlife and adult entertainment industry, organizers said.

For more information, call 702-658-2722 or visit canyonridge.org.

CITY LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE SEARCH
FOR NEW LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE CHIEF

The city of Las Vegas began a nationwide search March 4 for a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue chief following the Feb. 7 retirement of Mike Myers.

A candidate is expected to be appointed to the position no later than July 1, the city said. Deputy Fire Chief Scott Fuller is serving as interim fire chief. Candidates have until April 5 to submit their résumés.

Applicants will be screened, with the most qualified ones selected to take part in an evaluation process being developed by city officials. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-May.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has 19 fire stations, two support stations, 664 authorized positions and an 2013 operating budget of $111.1 million.

FIREFIGHTERS COVERING RURAL AREAS TRAIN TO FIGHT PROPANE FIRES

Volunteer firefighters at Mount Charleston, Sandy Valley and other rural communities in Clark County recently underwent specialized training to fight liquefied petroleum gas tank fires.

Many homes in rural areas use 250- to 500-gallon liquefied petroleum gas tanks for heating and cooking. The tanks are usually in close proximity to homes.

During training in Moapa Valley, simulation equipment was provided by the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division. The session included built-in mechanisms to ensure a safe educational experience for participants, Clark County Fire Chief Bertral Washington said.

Homeowners are required to obtain a one-time permit to install liquefied petroleum gas tanks larger than 300 gallons. Commercial use of the tanks requires a permit whenever the aggregate quantity of fuel is more than 30 gallons.

Assistance in applying for permits can be obtained at clarkcountynv.gov or by contacting the Clark County Fire Prevention Bureau at 702-455-7316.

COURT PROGRAM TO FOCUS
ON REPEAT TRAFFIC OFFENDERS

A new city of Las Vegas specialty court has been created by Judge Heidi Almase to focus on chronic traffic violators.

The Serious Traffic Offender Program, or STOP Court, is designed to establish connections with multiple agencies to put repeat traffic offenders through a program that will change their behavior and improve public safety.

The court focuses on drivers who receive 10 or more moving violations in a year. It is a partnership with Las Vegas Municipal Court, the Nevada Department of Transportation and its Zero Fatalities campaign, the Nevada Highway Patrol and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Each defendant in the program is required to have one open case with 180 days of jail suspended, obtain no traffic violations, obtain a valid driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance and pay all pre-existing traffic fines.

STOP Court takes place at 9 a.m. Thursdays in Municipal Court Department 3 on the fifth floor of the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/government/municipalcourt.htm.

FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSE TO INCLUDE PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins and the Clark County’s fire and parks and recreation departments plan to host an open house and pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m. April 6 at Fire Station 20, 5865 Judson St., near Nellis and Lake Mead boulevards.

Participating agencies are set to include Safe Kids Clark County, the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition, the Clark County Water Reclamation District, the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada, Nevada Child Seekers, the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada, Clark County School District police, the Metropolitan Police Department’s McGruff the crime dog and staff members from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, Recorder Office and Department of Business License. A fire safety house for children also is planned.

The Clark County Fire Department hosts open houses with community partners every other month at stations around the county. The next open house is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8 at Fire Station 21, 5015 W. Oquendo Road, near South Decatur Boulevard and Russell Road.

Residents with physical disabilities requiring an accommodation should notify the department of specific needs at least five days before the event by contacting Assistant Fire Chief Sandra Baker at 702-250-8404.

FREE CAR SEAT CHECKS TO BE OFFERED
FOR NEW WEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Parents who are confused about an upcoming change to weight requirements regarding child-safety seats can have them checked free at ongoing inspection events.

Sunrise Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Clark County offer monthly car seat checks from 10 a.m. to noon every third Saturday at The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, Henderson, and from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Wednesday at Sunrise Children’s Hospital, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway.

The new weight rule, set to go live in 2014, forbids the use of lower anchors for installing child-safety seats if the child and the seat have a combined weight of 65 pounds or more. Child seats typically weigh 15 to 33 pounds.

The rule, which officials say has caused confusion among area parents, is a precautionary measure should the lower anchors be unable to secure the seat.

Manufacturers have been federally required to install lower anchors in motor vehicles since 2001 to make child-safety seats easier to install.

Even with the anchor system, four out of five car seats are improperly installed, said registered nurse Jeanne Cosgrove Marsala, director of Safe Kids Clark County.

The new rule means parents will have to take the weight of their car seat and their child into consideration with every selection and installation of a car seat, Cosgrove Marsala said.

For more information, including additional safety seat inspection dates and locations, visit safekidsclarkcounty.org/events.php or call 702-731-8666.

COUNTY SEEKS TO HIRE LIFEGUARDS,
OTHER WATER-SAFETY POSITIONS

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking applicants to fill cashier, lifeguard, water-safety instructor and management positions for the 2013 pool season.

Jobs are available for those 15 or older, with hourly pay ranging from $9 to $15, based on experience and certifications.

Those who hold American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application at clarkcountynv.gov/parks.

Those who wish to apply for a lifeguard or other water-related position must complete the training course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd., or the Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility, 8275 Spring Mountain Road.

The training course costs a reduced rate of $70 if participants sign an employment contract with the county. Otherwise, the cost is $140. The course includes lifesaving skills, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator and emergency first aid. The five-day course is held multiple times until the last one, set to start May 2.

Prerequisite skills include the ability to complete a 300-yard continuous swim and retrieve a weighted object from 7 to 10 feet of water. Applicants with no prerequisite skills can attend a lifeguard preparation course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center for $10. The class is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Friday and April 12.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov/parks or call 702-455-8508.