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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2e - Proposed grant awards for Traffic Enforcement�� GPyIF O g�V f9 -r A.gu 5,19x3 C i -U4ity ofd 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