Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-226 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $479,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND APPROPRIATING $360,010 TO THE POLICE GRANT FUND FOR THE SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded $479,000 to the Police Department for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. The goal of this program is to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic crashes involving alcohol and other primary collision factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378(b)(5) 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.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
The California Office of Traffic Safety's (OTS) mission is to effectively and efficiently administer traffic safety grant funds to reduce traffic deaths, injuries, and economic losses. 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 have enhanced the Traffic Unit by funding new positions, traffic enforcement operations and supplies/equipment used during traffic enforcement operations.
The Police Department has received funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. Throughout the one-year grant period (10/1/2015 to 9/30/2016), traffic enforcement operations will be conducted on an overtime basis. Grant-funded operations include DUI/driver license checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-involved collisions. Warrant service operations will target multiple DUI offenders who fail to appear in court. Distracted driving operations will focus on drivers using hand-held cell phones and texting. Other traffic enforcement operations include primary collision factor violations, motorcycle safety enforcement operations and bicycle and pedestrian enforcement operations. Additionally, traffic safety educational presentations will be conducted throughout the grant period, with a goal to reach 1,000 community members, on the topics of distracted driving, DUI, speed, bicycle and pedestrian safety, seatbelts and child passenger safety.
Funds provided by this grant will also be utilized for training and the purchase of checkpoint supplies used during the traffic operations.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has determined that the action contemplated by this item is ministerial, secretarial, manual, or clerical in nature and, as such, does not require the City Council members to make or participate in making a governmental decision, pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18704.4(a)(1). Consequently, this item does not present a conflict under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.). Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. This resolution supports the goal of Strong and Secure Neighborhoods by proactively addressing traffic safety in the city, with the goal of reducing deaths and injuries in traffic related collisions.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the acceptance of $479,000 of grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Since the grant period crosses between two fiscal years, $360,010 will be appropriated to the fiscal year 2015/2016 budget of the Police Grant Fund and $118,990 will be included in the proposed fiscal year 2016/2017 budget. For the current fiscal year, $352,467 will be appropriated to the personnel category and $7,543 will be appropriated to the supplies and services category. The funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety will completely offset the costs of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, resulting in no net fiscal impact.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact for accepting these grant funds.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Jonathan Alegre