HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12h - Grant Award from Selective Traffic Enforcement ProgramDATE: September 15, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Robert Guthrie, Chief of Police
By: Dr. Jennifer Brutus, Sr. Management Analyst
SUBJECT: GRANT AWARD FROM THE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY –
SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR
REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS RELATED TO VARIOUS TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,000
Recommendation: Accept
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Police Department has applied for a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety (“OTS”) for the 2021 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which will
reimburse expenses related to traffic enforcement operations during the period of
October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. OTS has approved the funding request
of approximately $67,000. With City Council approval, the grant agreement will be fully
executed on or before October 31, 2020.
BACKGROUND
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, traffic safety presentations, and special enforcement operations encouraging
motorcycle safety. A copy of the tentative approval letter from the Office of Traffic Safety
is attached to this staff report.
Overall, the grant is 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.
Grant Award – Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (“STEP”)
September 15, 2020
Page 2 of 2
DISCUSSION
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program will reimburse the City for personnel costs,
supplies, and travel expenses related to conferences and trainings that support STEP
and/or traffic safety goals in an amount of approximately $67,000. During the federal
Fiscal Year of October 2020 to September 2021, the Department will engage in several
DUI saturations, warrant service operations, traffic enforcement operations, distracted
driving operations, and traffic safety presentations.
The grant award will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. OTS will reimburse the
City for all pre-approved costs upon receipt of the Department’s quarterly claims. The
City will be required to comply with the terms and conditions of each grant, including
expense reporting and auditing.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), based on Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can
be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter
is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The anticipated OTS STEP expenditures have been included in the adopted FY 2020-
21 Budget. All costs related to the Program will be offset by reimbursement at the end of
the grant period, in the amount of approximately $67,000.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this project is exempt under the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and accept a grant award from the
Office of Traffic Safety – Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for reimbursement of
costs related to various traffic enforcement operations in the amount of $67,000.
Attachment: Approval Notification from the Office of Traffic Safety
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Spaid, Stephanie@OTS
Brutus, Jennifer
Bourgeous, Brett
RE: OTS Tentatively Approved Your Application - Arcadia PT21008
Thursday, August 20, 2020 5:45:53 PM
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Congratulations! Through a competitive process, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has tentatively
approved your application 21-002584 in the amount of $67,000 with the proposal titled “Selective
Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).” This tentative award is contingent on approval from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Your OTS Coordinator will contact you to discuss your proposal and explain the grant agreement
process. It is our goal to have all new grants start the first of October. If approval from a City Council
or the Board of Supervisors is required, you should begin that process now. Do not incur grant
reimbursable costs yet, as this is a tentative award.
The Office of Traffic Safety will initiate a statewide media news release regarding this year's
applications selected for funding. Your agency should not publicly announce this tentative award
until the grant agreement is fully negotiated and signed by OTS.
Again, congratulations on the success of your application.
Sincerely,
Barbara L. Rooney
Director