Report Prepared by: Lance Eber, Crime Analyst, Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Authorization to Accept $80,000 in Grant Funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety to Conduct DUI Checkpoints, DUI Saturation Patrols, Distracted Driving Enforcement, Pedestrian/Bicycle Enforcement, Seat Belt Enforcement, Motorcycle Safety Enforcement, Traffic Safety Enforcement, Along with Conducting Assemblies for Middle Schools, and Purchasing Children Bicycle Helmets as Part of the 2019 California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers accepting grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety offered to the Merced Police Department in the amount of $80,000 from the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant to conduct DUI Checkpoints, DUI Saturation Patrols, Distracted Driving Enforcement, Pedestrian/Bicycle Enforcement, Seat Belt Enforcement, Motorcycle Safety Enforcement, Traffic Safety Enforcement, along with conducting assemblies for middle schools, and purchasing children bicycle helmets.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting the grant and increasing the revenue budget in account 035-1016-324.01-02 by $80,000; and,
B. Appropriating the same to Fund 035-Police Office of Traffic Safety Grant Fund; and,
C. Approving the use of pooled cash until reimbursement from the grant is received; and,
D. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by Staff; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer back to Staff for reconsideration of specific items.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2019-20 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
Background
The Merced Police Department (MPD) first received this same grant funding beginning in October 2007. This upcoming grant funding/award will be our eleventh year that the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has offered us grant funding to operate their traffic/DUI enforcement grants.
Description
The MPD submitted a grant application for grant funding from the OTS. OTS is offering the grant funding to the MPD.
The grant requested funding under OTS’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant. The grant’s mission is to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes and other primary collision factors. The funded strategies include conducting DUI checkpoints and DUI patrols. The program will also conduct stakeout operations for officers to concentrate on repeat DUI offenders on probation who have had their license suspended or revoked. Court sting operations will focus on DUI offenders with suspended or revoked license who get behind the wheel after leaving court. Warrant service operations target repeat DUI violators who failed to appear in court or violated their probation. Other operations include targeted patrols for speeding, distracted driving, motorcycle enforcement, seat belt violations, and other traffic laws. These operations are designed to earn media attention with press releases thus enhancing the overall deterrent effect for drinking and driving and obeying traffic laws.
There is money set aside for travel expenses related to training on DUI enforcement.
There is money set aside to conduct assemblies at the middle schools.
There is money set aside to purchase bike helmets for children.
The application included our request to fund the program accordingly:
Personnel & Benefits = $73,404
Travel (in state only) = $2,896
Contractual Services = $3,000
Equipment = $-0-
Other Direct Costs = $700
TOTAL REQUEST = $80,000
Match Amount = $-0-
This grant does not require a match of any type (in-kind or cash). It is a 100% reimbursement grant. Funds are first expended by the MPD and then requests for reimbursement are submitted on a quarterly basis. The grant program period will be October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Staff is requesting that Council accept the grant award and increase the revenue budget in account 035-1016-324.01-02 by $80,000; and, appropriate the same to Fund 035; and, allow the use of pooled cash until reimbursement from the grant is received. Without grant funding, the operations described in this grant would not get accomplished.
ATTACHMENTS
1. OTS STEP Grant Agreement/Award