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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of an Application for $127,080.00 in Grant Funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) through Fiscal Year 2024.
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Meeting Date: January 23, 2023
Contact Person/Dept.: Captain Peter Hernandez, Police Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-6394
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/18/2023)
Department Approval: Jason Sims, Interim Police Chief (01/12/2023)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an application for grant funds in the amount of $127,080.00 from the California Office of Traffic Safety, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) through FY 2024.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) announced the availability of grant funds under STEP for Fiscal Year 2024. Through this program, OTS intends to administer traffic safety grant funds to reduce traffic deaths, injuries and economic losses. OTS has identified the following priority areas of concentration for funding:
• Alcohol-Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Drug-Impaired Driving
• Occupant Protection
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
• Traffic Records
• Emergency Medical Services
• Roadway Safety
• Police Traffic Services
• Motorcycle Safety
The proposed grant will fund officer overtime costs to conduct Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement actions through the use of check points, saturation patrols, and traffic safety education presentations. The application also includes funding requests for officer overtime costs for enforcement details and educational opportunities that focus on bicycle/pedestrian issues and distracted driving behavior.
A more proactive approach toward DUI enforcement is a goal contained in the Police Department’s current strategic plan. The grant application requests $94,600.00 for DUI enforcement efforts. The requested funds will afford the Department the opportunity to conduct operations where efforts are focused specifically on DUI drivers.
Through adoption of the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, the City Council provided policy direction regarding projects that the City Council generally supports. Such projects include safe routes, various paths, and the creation of bicycle friendly streets. The STEP grant application requests the following officer overtime costs: $8,000.00 to conduct bicycle/pedestrian education and enforcement operations and $13,000.00 for Traffic Enforcement operations that focus on primary collision factor violations (unsafe speed, left turn and failing to yield to oncoming traffic and running red lights). The grant application requests officer overtime costs in the amount of $3,200.00 to focus on Distracted Driving enforcement.
The grant also requests funds in the amount of $5,400.00 for Officer training, $2,000.00 to conduct Traffic Safety Education presentations and $880.00 to staff a phlebotomist at the DUI Checkpoint.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The STEP funding amount being requested is $127,080.00 for Personnel costs (overtime), Officer training, Contract Services and Traffic Safety Education Presentations.
There are no matching funds required. This is a reimbursement grant that requires quarterly reimbursement claim reports be submitted to the California OTS. The quarterly claims are to be submitted within 30 days after the end of the quarter. The funds are reimbursed to the City 30 days following the approval of the claims report.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Approve an application for grant funds in the amount of $127,080.00 through the FY 2024 California Office of Traffic Safety, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP); and,
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.