REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 28, 2017
FROM: KRISTINA CHAMBERLIN, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Senior Management Analyst
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions related to a grant for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program:
1. Authorize the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department to accept a grant in the amount of $120,000 from the State of California Department Office of Traffic Safety for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program.
2. ***RESOLUTION - 27th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $120,000 from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program. (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council (1) Authorize Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department to accept a grant in the amount of $120,000 from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program, (2) authorize the PARCS Assistant Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to accept and implement the grant, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, and (3) adopt the 27th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2017-165 to appropriate $120,000 for the program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PARCS Department has been awarded a $120,000 grant from OTS to initiate the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program at various neighborhood centers, after-school sites and the Weekend Recreation and Fitness Program sites located throughout the City of Fresno.
BACKGROUND
The State of California OTS administers Federal Highway Safety Program funds and partners with entities at the State, County and local level to design and implement programs that promote highway safety, and the behavioral factors that impact safety on the road. The goal of the program is to prevent serious injuries and deaths resulting from vehicular crashes so that all roadway users are able to arrive at their destination safely. Funded strategies may include classroom education, bicycle rodeos, community events, and workshops. These countermeasures should be conducted in communities with high number of pedestrian and/or bicycle related collisions including underserved communities, older adults and school-aged children.
The PARCS Department will utilize the grant funds to initiate the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program at various neighborhood centers, after-school sites, and at the Weekend Recreation and Fitness (WRFP) Program school sites located throughout the City of Fresno. This program will augment current PARCS programs by providing important safety education workshops that will help attract more residents to the WRFP sites. Free helmets and safety lights will be presented to participants upon completion of the training. Additionally, funds will be used for the Second Annual CenCalVia Open Streets event on Ventura Avenue from First Street to Cedar Avenue on October 1, 2017. Well over a 1,000 residents on bikes, skate boards, scooters, and wheelchairs, as well as pedestrians participated in the first CenCalVia Open Streets. Local organizations and businesses participated by providing information and referral services, bike repair, health education and other fun family activities. There was art, live music, street dancers, bike polo, and Zumba. PARCS will work in partnership with The Fresno County Bicycle Coalition (FCBC) and Cultiva La Salud to make this a premier event to promote and encourage safe pedestrian and bicycle activity in Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, accepting this grant funding is not a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this item does not include an award of a construction or consultant contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund as the revenues received from the grant will offset all direct costs associated with the program.
Attachment: AAR