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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/09/23 Item 8 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT "BJ;i;',ili"' ~ (lIT OF ;; - - - CHULA VISTA 09/23/2008 Item~ ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $525,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE POLICE GRAl"lT FUND FOR THE our PROSECUTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAM CHIEF OF POLICEJ!(}.I!+ ~ CITY MANAGE~5~ 4/5THS VOTE: YES X NO SUBMITTED BY: REVIEWED BY: SUMMMARY The Police Department has been awarded grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety to develop a program focused on the vertical prosecution of traffic related cases including DUI offenders, hit and run collisions and injury/fatal collisions. This program will also involve a regional collaboration of local agencies conducting DUI / driver license checkpoints and saturation patrols, with the goal of reducing the number of alcohol-involved collisions in the South Bay region. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This proposed activity has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and it has been determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. RECOMMENDATION Council adopt the resolution. BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Not Applicable. 8-1 09/23/2008, Item ~ Page 2 of3 DISCUSSION The California Office of Traffic Safety's (OTS) mlSSlOn is to obtain and effectively administer traffic safety grant funds to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from traffic related collisions. The Police Department has been awarded various OTS grants, including the Serious Traffic Offenders Program (STOP), Comprehensive Traffic Safety Program, DUI Enforcement Program, and Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which all enhanced the Traffic Unit by funding new positions. Additionally, 01S administers mini-grants such as the Sobriety Checkpoint Program and Click It or Ticket, which funds traffic enforcement operations on an overtime basis. The Police'Department has recently been awarded $525,000 for the Dill Prosecution and Awareness Program that covers a two-year grant period of 10/1/2008 to 9/30/2010. The South Bay region of San Diego County has a large number of traffic issues affecting public safety. These include repeat DUI offenders, hit and run collisions, and serious injury/fatal collisions. Statistics show that there are many offenders who have a suspended license or no license issued. With the increasing number of these cases, the South Bay Branch of the San Diego County District Attorney's Office has the burden of working a large caseload with no District Attorney handling these cases. These cases are prosecuted on an as needed basis, leaving law enforcement officers with no expert to rely on for prosecution. This causes the offenders to dismiss the seriousness of the crime(s) they have committed. The funding from OTS will address this very issue. A Deputy District Attorney and a Criminal Legal Secretary at the South Bay Branch Pistrict Attorney's Office will be retained on a contractual basis for the two-year grant period. The Deputy District Attorney and Criminal Legal Secretary will review, file charges and vertically prosecute the more difficult and serious misdemeanor and felony cases submitted by South Bay region law enforcement agencies. In addition to the prosecution services provided by the District Attorney's Office, the Police Department will coordinate regional efforts to conduct DUl/driver license checkpoints, saturation patrols and warrant services patrols. Participating law enforcement agencies include San Diego, Coronado, National City and San Diego Sheriff. These enforcement operations will be conducted on an overtime basis by all agencIes. 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 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 1 8704.2(a)(l) is not applicable to this decision. 8-2 09/23/2008, Item~ Page 3 of3 FISCAL IMPACT The grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in the amount of $525,000 will completely offset the total project costs. Along with the contractual costs with the District Attorney's Office and overtime costs to conduct the enforcement operations, there will be one-time equipment expenses of a digital camera/video recorder, office supplies and checkpoint supplies. When the grant ends in September 20 I 0, the contractual services with the District Attorney's Office will also end. The Police Department will work the District Attorney's Office on the continuation of these important services after September 20 I O. Acceptance of this grant has no net fiscal impact to the General Fund, as detailed in the table below. OUI Prosecution Program r~~~tr~~~I{;;;r~ ~i".'i'~~~~~~1ifl!~liJ'~~ ~~tft,'Ll,",,~__~,," P'..i. ' ~~~~..:~;0,hOYt"""',~_.,.,. $230,870 $239,966 $54,164 $0 OT8 Funding $230,870 $239,966 $54.164 $0 Net Impact to General Fund $0 $0 $0 $0 ATTACHMENTS None. Prepared by: Jonathan Alegre, Senior /'v'Ianagement Analyst, Police Department 8-3 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING $525,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE POLICE GRANT FUND FOR THE DUI PROSECUTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAM WHEREAS, the California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded $525,000 to the Police Department for the DUI Prosecution and Awareness Program; and WHEREAS, this program is focused on the vertical prosecution of traffic related cases including DUI offenders, hit and run collisions and injury/fatal collisions; and WHEREAS, a Deputy District Attorney and a Criminal Legal Secretary at the South Bay Branch District Attorney's Office will be retained on a contractual basis for the two-year grant period of 10/1/2008 to 9/30/2010; and WHEREAS, the Police Department will coordinate regional efforts to. conduct DUl/driver license checkpoints, saturation patrols and warrant services patrols on an overtime basis; and WHEREAS, the grant funds provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety will completely offset the total costs of this program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby accept $525,000 from the California Office of Tramc Safety and appropriate $34,509 to the personnel services category and $196,361 to the supplies and services category of the Police Grant Fund for the DUI Prosecution and Awareness Program. Richard P. Emerson Police Chief Presented by: 8-4 - .-.---,..-