Safety Officials Prepare for Music Festival

The third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival will take place the last weekend in August, and West Hollywood is busy preparing for the 10,000 to 15,000 people who are expected to attend.

The city is no stranger to large crowds: Pride and Halloween Carnaval top the list, with the Sunset Strip Music Festival as the third-largest event in West Hollywood each year.

Public safety is the No. 1 concern for the fire and police departments, and local law enforcement and emergency response teams are gearing up to deal with the music fans who will pack the streets and bars of West Hollywood. Last year, there were only a few minor altercations with occasional public drunkenness, and one narcotics-related arrest.

"The city of West Hollywood works closely with the Los Angeles [County] Sheriff's Department to ensure participant safety at the Sunset Strip Music Festival," said Tamara White, public information officer for the city.

West Hollywood is spending approximately $34,000 on law enforcement and public safety for this year's festival. Police presence will be strong this year, with officers ready to crack down on unlawful behavior. At last year's festival, more than 70 officers patrolled the street festival.

"We have a strong public safety incident action plan in place, which includes a unified command with the sheriff's and fire departments as well as crowd control training and other additional preparation for law enforcement officers," said White.

Keeping alcohol confined to designated areas, such as beer gardens and the indoor venues, will be a top priority, and no one will be allowed to enter the festival with alcohol of their own.

The Viper Room is the only 21 and over venue. The other venues such as the Key Club, Roxy Theatre, Cat Club, and Whisky A Go Go will be open to all during the Aug. 28 street fest, said Courtney Kemp, communications manager for the Sunset Strip Business Association. IDs will be checked in all venue bar areas.

Drinking alcohol on the street will not be allowed. Beer gardens will have strictly enforced boundaries.

The West Hollywood Fire Station #7 will provide an emergency medical services booth; an incident command post manned by Battalion 1 and Engine 7; two paramedic units; and three ambulance units at the festival, said fire Capt. Fred Salmo.

Dispatchers have been been briefed on which hospitals are closest to the festival so that people who need more serious medical treatment can be quickly transported.

With all this planning, officials are confident that attendees will be able to safely enjoy the festival's primary focus: the music.