REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Robert Handy, Chief of Police
Subject:
title
Approve, accept and authorize execution of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Safety Grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS); and, approve appropriations
body
Statement of Issue:
On August 8, 2018, the Police Department received notice from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) that the City of Huntington Beach was tentatively awarded a new one-year traffic safety grant. The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant provides funding in the amount of $550,000. These funds are intended to reimburse costs associated with Sobriety/Driver License checkpoints, one full-time DUI officer, multi-faceted traffic enforcement details, and computers for motor officers. These events are designed to reduce traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities through enforcement, education, and media attention.
Financial Impact:
This one-year reimbursable grant is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. The amount of $550,000 is to be utilized between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. The appropriation request is fully offset by the estimated revenues from the grant.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Approve and accept the OTS STEP Grant agreement #PT19050 between OTS and the City of Huntington Beach for $550,000; and,
B) Increase appropriations by $550,000 plus accrued interest in the Police Department for the grant and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the grant agreement with OTS.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The City of Huntington Beach has always been concerned with the safe and efficient movement of vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on our highways, streets and bike paths. The City of Huntington Beach is currently going through several development projects, some of which will add to both seasonal and year-long traffic related issues.
In 2016, the Huntington Beach Police Department arrested over 902 DUI drivers. This grant will allow us to use progressive and innovative enforcement techniques to increase our DUI enforcement efforts.
In addition to the DUI enforcement, we will be working to improve our ranking in several of the Office of Traffic and Safety categories. The most recent OTS statistics indicate Huntington Beach is fifth (5th) out of 57 comparable cities for alcohol involved collisions and ranks fifth (5th) for bicyclist involved collisions. Huntington Beach also ranks 22nd for total fatal and injury collisions, drivers who had been drinking under 21 years of age, motorcycle involved, pedestrians over 65 years of age, bicyclists under 15 years old, speed related, and nighttime collisions (9:00 PM to 3:00 AM). We are seeking to use the proposed funding to increase traffic enforcement actions and work to identify behaviors that contribute to the root causes of collisions. Further, we would like to provide additional methods of education to inform the public that careless and negligent behaviors will result in drastic consequences to themselves, their passengers, or other affected citizens in and around our roadways.
This particular grant will reimburse the City of Huntington Beach for expenditures associated with Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoints, one full-time DUI officer, and a variety of traffic related details. OTS will administer and handle the grant funds for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.
Environmental Status:
N/A
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain public safety
Attachment(s):
1. Email from OTS notifying the Police Department of the tentative grant award
2. Grant Agreement for OTS STEP Grant #PT19050