REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Brian Schrieber, Lieutenant, and Ingrid Ono, Sr. Exec. Asst.
Subject:
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Accept the Fiscal Year 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety Child Passenger Safety Program Grant No. OP27013 in the amount of $39,000 and approve the related appropriation
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Statement of Issue:
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded the City of Huntington Beach a one-year Child Passenger Safety Program grant, No. OP27013, in the amount of $39,000. The grant period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Grant funds will reimburse the City for overtime associated with child passenger safety check-up events, child safety seat education classes, traffic safety fairs and community events, roll call training on occupant protection, and individual car seat check-ups by appointment, as well as child safety seats and educational materials.
City Council action is requested to accept the grant and to appropriate the grant funds, which are fully offset by reimbursement revenue from OTS.
Financial Impact:
This one-year grant is funded by OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a reimbursement basis, and no local match is required. The City will incur eligible expenditures and submit quarterly reimbursement claims to OTS.
The total award of $39,000 is to be expended between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, and is allocated as follows: personnel costs of $35,400 for education and outreach overtime; and other direct costs of $3,600, consisting of $2,100 for child safety seats and $1,500 for educational materials.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Accept the Fiscal Year 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety Child Passenger Safety Program Grant No. OP27013 in the amount of $39,000 for the grant period of October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Ratify the execution of Grant Agreement No. OP27013 by the Chief of Police as the designated Authorizing Official, and authorize the Chief of Police, or designee, to execute any amendments, reimbursement claims, reports, and related documents necessary to administer the grant with an appropriation of $39,000.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Huntington Beach presents a distinctive pedestrian and bicycle safety environment. Crash data identified in the grant application underscores the need for sustained intervention. Research cited in the application indicates that correct car seat use reduces an infant's risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71 percent, yet an average of 46 percent of child car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly.
The Child Passenger Safety Program grant funds a coordinated program of education, technical assistance, and safety seat distribution designed to reduce the number of children killed and injured in traffic crashes. The Department currently has four personnel trained as NHTSA-Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. During the grant year, the Police Department will conduct six highly publicized child safety seat check-up events at community locations, 12 individual car seat check-ups by appointment, four child safety seat education classes, and participation in four traffic safety fairs and community events. The Department will also participate in two check-up events hosted by other agencies and certify, recertify, or renew one technician.
As a condition of the award, the Police Department will submit quarterly reimbursement claims and quarterly performance reports to OTS and will complete a final evaluation at the close of the grant year.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 8 - Public Safety, Strategy A - Community-wide comprehensive risk reduction program to optimize public safety's emergency response and reduce the number of calls.
Attachment(s):
1. Fiscal Year 2026/27 OTS Child Passenger Safety Program Grant Agreement No. OP27013