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DATE:
TO:
FROM:
STAFF REPORT
August 20, 2013
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Robert Guthrie, Chief of Police
By: Jennifer Brutus, Management Analyst
Police Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT TWO
PROPOSED GRANT AWARDS FROM THE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC
SAFETY (OTS) -- $31,810 FROM THE SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT
GRANT PROGRAM AND $43,000 FROM THE SELECTIVE TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM -- FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS
RELATED TO VARIOUS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CHECKPOINTS TO
BE HELD DURING THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2013, THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Police Department has applied for two grants from the Office of Traffic
Safety (OTS) -- $31,810 from the 2013 -14 Sobriety Checkpoint Grant Program and
$43,000 from the 2013 -14 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) -- for
reimbursement of costs related to multiple traffic enforcement checkpoints for the period
of October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014. OTS has tentatively approved the
funding request. With City Council approval, the grant agreement will be fully executed
on or before September 3, 2013.
BACKGROUND
The Sobriety Checkpoint Grant Program was established by OTS, through the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to fund sobriety checkpoints throughout
California. With the goal of reducing the number of victims killed and injured in alcohol -
involved crashes in participating cities, the grant program funds checkpoints during
periods where alcohol - involved fatalities and injuries are known to be higher such as the
Labor Day Mobilization (August 16 to September 2) and the Winter Holiday Mobilization
(December 14 to January 1). The program is administered and coordinated by the
University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research Education Center
(SafeTREC) for OTS.
Grant Awards from Office of Traffic and Safety Grants
August 20, 2013
Page 2 of 3
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Grant Program (STEP) is administered and
coordinated by OTS directly. The grant is designed to help reduce the number of
persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol, speed, red light running, and
other primary collision factors. The program funds various enforcement strategies
including DUI saturation patrols to apprehend drunk drivers, warrant service operations
targeting DUI violators who fail to appear in court or violate probation, and stakeouts.
The program also supports measures that concentrate on speed, aggressive driving,
seat belt enforcement, intersection operations with disproportionate numbers of traffic
collisions, and special enforcement operations encouraging motorcycle safety.
Overall, the grants are used to mitigate traffic safety program deficiencies, expand
ongoing activity, or develop new programs. Grant funding cannot replace existing
program expenditures, nor can traffic safety funds be used for program maintenance,
research, rehabilitation, or construction.
DISCUSSION
The Sobriety Checkpoint Grant Program will reimburse the Department for actual
overtime costs for checkpoint operations up to the contractual cost per checkpoint and
up to the award amount of $31,800, which includes a maximum of $4,210 for the
purchase of pre- approved checkpoint supplies. The Department will be required to
conduct a total of six checkpoints during the period of October 1, 2013, through
September 30, 2014. Two checkpoints will be conducted during the Winter Holiday
Mobilization, one during the Labor Day Mobilization, and three additional checkpoints
outside of these mobilization periods.
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program will reimburse the Department for personnel
costs and travel expenses related to conferences and trainings that support STEP
and /or traffic safety goals, in an amount not to exceed $43,000. During the federal fiscal
year of October 2013 to September 2014, the Department will engage in several DUI
saturations, warrant service operations, traffic enforcement operations, and distracted
driving operations.
Both grant awards will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. The Department will be
required to comply with the terms and conditions of each grant, including expense
reporting and auditing.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs related to the Sobriety Checkpoint Grant Program and Selective Traffic
Enforcement Program will be off -set by reimbursement at the end of the grant period, up
to $31,800 for the Sobriety Checkpoint Grant Program, and up to $43,000 for the
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. OTS will reimburse the Department for all pre -
approved costs upon receipt of the Department's claim.
Office of Traffic and Safety Grants
August 20, 2013
Page 3 of 3
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to accept
two proposed grant awards from the Office of Traffic Safety -- $31,810 from the Sobriety
Checkpoint Grant Program and $43,000 from the Selective Traffic Enforcement
Program -- for reimbursement of costs related to various traffic enforcement checkpoints
to be held during the period of October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014.
Approved-
Dominic LazzareW
City Manager