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Home My WebLink About2006/09/26 Item 4 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item: Meeting Date: 9/26/06 4 ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING $410,731 FROM THE OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR THE SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, ADDING ONE POLICE AGENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR. SUBMITTED BY, Chi,f of POIi~ REVIEWED BY: City Manager (j I (4/5ths Vote: YesLNo _l The Police Department has received funding from the Office of Traffic Safety to develop and implement a program focusing on traffic enforcement strategies to reduce persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. This funding will create a dedicated Agent position in the Traffic Unit to oversee the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt the resolution accepting $410,731 from the Office of Tratfic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, adding one Police Agent to the authorized staffing level of the Police Department and amending the FY 2006/2007 Police budget by appropriating $155,103 for personnel costs, $3,000 for supplies and services and $41,200 for equipment. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: N/A DISCUSSION: A recent citizen's survey of Chula Vista residents found that traffic issues - speeding, aggressive driving and running red lights - topped the list of concerns. In response to these concerns, the Police Department proposes to participate in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which is administered by the Office of Traffic Safety. The STEP program will enhance the existing traffic unit of the Police Department by adding one Police Agent, and employ overtime on various enforcement operations, with the main goal of reducing fatalities and injuries in traffic collisions. Monthly DUI/driver license checkpoints and DUI roving patrols will be conducted along with enhanced traffic safety enforcement operations. This program will also develop a "Hot Sheet" program to notify patrol and traffic officers to be on the lookout for identified repeat DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses who get behind the wheel after leaving court. Enforcement operations will target red light runners, aggressive speeders, drivers with vehicles equipped with illegal street racing equipment and unbelted vehicle occupants. Additionally, enforcement operations will be directed to 4-1 Page 2,ltem: Y Meeting Date: 9/26/06 intersections with disproportionate number of traffic crashes. The STEP program will also seek vOluntary compliance with traffic laws by generating publicity throughout the two-year grant period (10/1/06 - 9/30/08). The objectives of the STEP program complement the efforts made by the City's Neighborhood Traffic and Pedestrian Safety program. The general focus of both programs is to improve traffic safety and reduce accidents in the City. The Police Department believes that the enhanced traffic enforcement efforts of the STEP program will provide invaluable benefits to the Chula Vista community. Because traffic safety will always be a major concern for our City, it is the Department's intention to continue this program beyond the life of the grant. As part of the June 8th, 2006 budget workshop, the Police Department presented various staffing recommendations for the FY 2007 budget. Included in this presentation were the details of this grant program. The Department indicated that an appropriation outside of the normal budget process would be needed later in the fiscal year, as the Department had not yet received final approval of the grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. The Department has since received final approval for this grant and is now seeking adoption of this resolution. DECISION MAKER CONFLICT: Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500 feet rule found in the California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. FISCAL IMPACT: The grant funding from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in the amount of $410,731 will offset the cost of implementing the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. Along with the salaries/benefits costs of the Agent to oversee the STEP program and the overtime for the enforcement operations, there will be one-time expenses of supplies/equipment, which include a fully equipped police motorcycle, a handheld radar unit, educational/promotional items, a handheld breath tester, and a crash data retrieval system. The City will absorb the ongoing costs to continue the program after the grant expires in September 2008, creating a net fiscal impact to the General Fund as detailed in the table on the following page. STEP Program Costs OTS Funding Net 1m act to General Fund $199,303 $199.303 $0 $218,259 $172.246 $46,013 $224,620 -.-$39.182 $185,438 $233,606 $0 $233,606 4-2 RESOLUTION NO. 2006- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $410,731 FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR THE SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, ADDING ONE POLICE AGENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS WHEREAS, the Police Department was awarded a two-year grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (hereafter referred to as STEP); and WHEREAS, the STEP program focuses on traffic enforcement strategies to reduce persons killed and injured in traffic collisions; and WHEREAS, the STEP grant funds will be used to create a dedicated traffic enforcement position and add one Police Agent to the authorized staffing level of the Police Department; and WHEREAS, the grant funds will also be used to purchase equipment and materials for the STEP program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby accept $410,731 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, adds one Police Agent to the authorized staffing level of the Police Department and amends the FY 2006/2007 Police budget by appropriating $155,103 for personnel costs, $3,000 for supplies and services and $41,200 for equipment. Presented by: Approved as to form by: Richard P. Emerson Police Chief ~~\'\\SH~r>~ Ann Moore City Attorney J:\Attorney\RESO\POLlCE\Accepting $410K from Ote of Traffic Safety (09w26.06).doc 4-3