REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $81,000 of California Office of Traffic Safety Grant Funds for the FY 2015/16 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program
Report
GRANT SUMMARY
The City Manager applied for and, on June 1, 2015, the City was awarded grant funds in the amount of $81,000 to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for Selective Traffic Enforcement.
In 2012, the DPS Bureau of Patrol Services, Division of Traffic Safety identified bicycle and pedestrian safety as a public safety issue requiring additional resources to properly monitor and enforce. The State of California Office of Traffic Safety statistics showed bicycle and pedestrian accidents ranking in the top three collision factors -- along with driving under the influence (DUI) - resulting in injuries, fatalities, and arrests in Sunnyvale.
The City is committed to ensuring the safety of Sunnyvale residents as they participate in new cycling and walking programs such as Safe Routes to Schools, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, and San José Bike Parties. DPS encourages and supports these efforts and initiatives; however, the resulting increase in pedestrians and bicyclists requires increased community policing efforts.
In response to the need for enhanced enforcement in traffic safety, a long-range, comprehensive approach was adopted by DPS, and continues to be implemented, with the goal of reducing motor on pedestrian and motor on bicycle collisions in Sunnyvale. The approach includes:
• Educational outreach to the community, especially high school, middle and elementary students and families, including:
o Traffic safety presentations at schools located throughout the community;
o Distribution of free bicycle helmets to students and community members participating in bicycle rodeos; assistance with properly fitting bicycle helmets; and
o Facilitation of two bicycle rodeos, providing an opportunity for children and teens to practice and develop skills that will help them become better bicyclists and increase awareness of typical collisions factors.
• Targeted Traffic Enforcement, including:
o DUI saturation patrols in corridors or near intersections identified as high-risk (where the majority of accidents have occurred);
o Additional enforcement operations targeting Prime Collision Factors (PCF) in corridors or near intersections identified as high-risk (where the majority of accidents have occurred);
o Quarterly data collection to monitor the trends in PCF’s; and
o Additional traffic patrol for San José Bike Parties, grassroots organized group bicycle events that traverse various communities throughout the county and region, promoting safe and fun bicycling.
• Collaboration with Santa Clara County’s AVOID the 13 Lead Agency, including:
o Participation in planning and scheduling meetings and seminars;
o Scheduling operations and collecting traffic enforcement data during any AVOID campaign; and
o Hosting/assisting with DUI Checkpoints.
The Selective Traffic Enforcement (STEP) Grant for FY 2015/16 includes funding of the objectives listed above, as well as funds to purchase LIDAR/RADAR guns for use in speed enforcement operations, and needed equipment for the Department’s DUI Checkpoint trailer. Additionally, this grant provides funding for two bicycle rodeos, enhanced educational outreach, bicycle helmets for low-income elementary and middle school students, and funding for DPS personnel to conduct additional focused enforcement at high risk intersections and corridors.
The total award for the Fiscal Year 2015/16 Grant is $81,000. The grant period will be October 1, 1025 through September 30, 2016.
The DPS Bureau of Police Services, Division of Traffic Safety will be responsible for enforcement and operations; the Bureau of Special Operations, Division of Administrative Services will be responsible for managing the grant.
Granting Agency
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via the California Office of Traffic Safety
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.1.5 Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships
1. The City Manager may accept or reject donations, contributions and sponsorships, both solicited and unsolicited, of money, equipment and in-kind contributions to City Departments or the City in general up to $100,000, so long as they do not require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses not already planned in the City’s Resource Allocation Plan. Donated funds will be expended for the specific purpose as agreed upon with the donor or for general purposes, as one-time supplements to the department’s operating budget.
Budget Resolution 651-14 (Amended March 24, 2015)
4.A The City Manager is authorized to appropriate, to the designated fund, grant revenue of up to $100,000 from grants that meet the City Manager's authority for accepting and appropriating grant funds, as set forth in Council Policy 7.1.5. The City Manager is authorized to accept and appropriate grants up to $100,000, so long as they do not require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses not already planned in the City's Resource Allocation Plan. The City Manager may appropriate qualified grant funds up to $100,000 through an administrative budget modification. Any grants of $100,000 or more, or that require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses, shall require Council approval of a budget modification before funds can be expended by staff.
This grant does not meet all of the criteria to be administratively appropriated by the City Manager because the department anticipates a need to continue using the equipment purchased through these grant funds on an ongoing basis. Therefore, a budget modification is required because there may be ongoing expenses associated with maintenance or replacement of the equipment.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity does not require environmental review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding Source
State of California, Office of Traffic Safety
Required Local Match
NONE
Increased Cost To City Upon Grant Termination
This grant includes funding for equipment that is necessary to perform the enhanced traffic enforcement operations included in the grant objectives. Upon completion of the grant objectives, equipment funded by this grant will be added to the current department inventory that is utilized in routine and special traffic enforcement operations. This equipment has an expected five year life, creating an ongoing cost to the City for replacement. Staff will seek grant funding for the replacement cost of this equipment when it reaches the end of its useful life.
Budget Modification No. #
FY 2015/2016
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
General Fund |
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
FY 2015/16 OTS STEP Grant (PT1691) |
$0 |
$81,000 |
$81,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
New Project FY 2015/16 OTS STEP Grant (PT1691) |
$0 |
$81,000 |
$81,000 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to appropriate Office of Traffic Safety STEP Grant funds in the amount of $81,000 to a new project, FY 2015/16 Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant to promote vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian safety.
Staff
Prepared by: Elaine Ketell, Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Chief Frank Grgurina, Director, Department of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Assistant Director, Department of Finance
Reviewed by: Jane Chambers, Interim Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Grant Agreement PT1691, Selective Traffic Enforcement Grant