Council Honors April Rovero, Declares March Prescription Drug Awareness Month

In the last couple years, few San Ramon residents have gone through more and have worked harder than April Rovero. For her work, the San Ramon City Council honored her Tuesday night.

In December 2009, Rovero's son Joey died while attending Arizona State when he took a fatal cocktail of prescription drugs. Since, Rovero started the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription drugs.

Earlier this month, the Rovero family learned that the doctor that sold the drugs to Joey was for Joey's death and the death of two others.

But at the council meeting Tuesday night, the focus was on Rovero's work to try and help others understand the risks of prescription drugs.

"I truly believe my son would be alive today if he was aware of the risks," Rovero said. "He wasn't a big risk taker. He just didn't know."

Mayor Bill Clarkson read a proclamation declaring March Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month in San Ramon. Rovero is working to make March prescription drug awareness month on the state and national level.

There are a number of events in San Ramon this month in recognition of prescription drug awareness month. Highlighted by "Overdosed America," an event hosted by ABC7's Carolyn Johnson at the on March 26.

Also at the meeting...

The council received a report on the city's traffic improvement plan.

Since 2010, the city has installed a camera system from Rhythm Engineering at 18 intersections — on Bollinger Canyon and Crow Canyon Roads — that looks at traffic and can determine when is the best time for the light to be green.

The main goal of the project was to improve traffic flow and traffic engineer Mike Talley said the system has exceeded expectations.

Travel time through the two corridors has decreased by 25 percent. City staff also estimated that fuel consumption and emissions has decreased about 44 percent.

The traffic system cost about $1.4 million and 89 percent of it was paid for by grants.