AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: WAYNE BYERLEY
POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT:
title
PROPOSED ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM GRANT AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING BUDGET AMENDMENT
summary
Summary:
The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) awarded the Signal Hill Police Department a grant in the amount of $100,000, which is $10,000 more than originally budgeted. The STEP grant funding would allow the Police Department to carry out traffic safety enforcement, targeting primary collision factors including driving under the influence. If accepted, the grant would help offset the cost of staff overtime, training, and related supplies. Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution accepting the grant and authorizing a budget adjustment to increase the grant revenue by $10,000.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability and resilience.
Goal No. 2 Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting public safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.
recommendation
Recommendations:
1. Authorize the Police Chief to accept grant funding through the OTS STEP grant.
2. Adopt a resolution, entitled:
3. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25
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Fiscal Impact:
If accepted, OTS would award the City a grant in the amount of $100,000 to be used during the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, to offset related expenditures. The current budget anticipated a $90,000 grant; therefore, a budget adjustment is necessary to increase grant revenues (275-21-4341) in the amount of $10,000 and related expenditures by the same amount.
Background and Analysis:
The Signal Hill Police Department has been successful in securing OTS grants since the early 1990s. OTS grants have been utilized to fund training, enforcement activities, and the purchase of traffic safety equipment such as a DUI trailer, preliminary alcohol screening devices, traffic calming devices, and radar trailers. OTS grant applications are accepted statewide in January and the award selection is made between July and August. Upon OTS review and determination, grant awards are made based primarily on traffic safety data contained in the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
The City’s awarded STEP grant funding would allow the Signal Hill Police Department to carry out traffic safety enforcement targeting primary collision factors that contribute to traffic collisions (Attachment A). The eligible grant funded enforcement activities include:
• Maintaining a “Hot Sheet” program to notify patrol and traffic officers to be on the lookout for identified repeat DUI offenders with a suspended or revoked license due to DUI convictions.
• DUI/driver’s license checkpoints and enforcement patrols.
• Traffic enforcement patrols.
• Traffic enforcement operations targeting drivers using a handheld cell phone.
• Motorcycle safety enforcement operations.
• Traffic safety educational presentations.
• Pedestrian and bicycle enforcement operations.
The grant would also provide funding for police officers to attend the following training and certification courses:
• Advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training (16 hours).
• Standardized field sobriety testing training (16 hours).
• Drug Recognition Expert training (80 hours) and recertification.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Police Chief to accept the OTS STEP grant in the amount of $100,000 and adopt a resolution approving a budget adjustment to increase grant revenues and expenditures in the amount of $10,000 (Attachment B). If approved by the City Council, the Police Department would begin conducting eligible grant funded enforcement and education activities this year.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
Attachments:
A. OTS Grant Agreement
B. Resolution
Exhibit A: Budget Adjustment Summary