REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 20, 2018
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: MICHAEL REID, Police Captain
Traffic Bureau
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2019 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant
1. Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $657,015 in grant funding for the 2019 STEP grant awarded to the Fresno Police Department from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 6th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2018-157 appropriating $543,000 for the Police Department’s STEP grant (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize acceptance of $657,015 in grant funding from the OTS, allowing the Chief of Police to enter into and execute the agreement and all required documents, and adopt the 6th Amendment to AAR No 2018-157 to appropriate $543,000 funding into the FY 2019 budget. The remaining funds will be utilized in FY 2020. Funds have been awarded for the 2019 STEP grant to the Fresno Police Department’s Traffic Bureau.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has been awarded grant funds of $657,015 from the Office of Traffic Safety to undertake the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The grant period is from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. The goal of the STEP program is to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol, speed, distracted driving, and other primary collision factors. Grant funds will be used to fund overtime pay for officers to implement approved best practices strategies and purchase tablets for motor officers assigned to the Traffic Bureau. Council approval is needed to authorize the agreement and appropriate $543,000 into the FY 2019 budget. The remaining funds will be budgeted and expended in FY 2020.
BACKGROUND
The OTS grant for the STEP program will pay for overtime to allow the department to employ innovative enforcement strategies to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. To reduce the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol, speed, distracted driving, and other primary collision factors, “best practice strategies” will include: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, surveillance to apprehend and hold accountable repeat drunk drivers and those on probation for DUI, warrant service operations targeting DUI violators who failed to appear in court or violate probation, stakeouts, and a “HOT Sheet” program. The program will also concentrate on speed, aggressive driving, intersection operations with disproportionate numbers of traffic crashes and special enforcement operations encouraging motorcycle safety. These strategies are designed to earn media attention, thus enhancing the overall deterrent effect. The educational component of this grant targets junior high and high school students emphasizing the importance of pedestrian safety and the dangers of impaired and distracted driving.
In addition to the enforcement and educational programs, the grant funds a technology component. This component will provide the means to equip every motor officer with a tablet which will replace the aging ticket writing hardware and provide new capabilities for motor officers in the field. These tablets will allow officers to access investigative information without the use of dispatch just as a patrol car. Effectively, this tablet will work just as a patrol vehicle’s lap top in that the motor officer will now be able to report write and access the computer assisted dispatch (CAD), the Department of Motor Vehicles records, Axon camera footage and other important investigative resources. These tablets will expand the Fresno Police Department Traffic Bureau’s capacity to expedite their daily activities allowing each officer to instantly retrieve investigative information from the field.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because accepting grant funds does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no net impact to the General Fund. The grant provides full cost recovery for all operations, training and supplies for this program. Expenses will be claimed and reimbursed on a quarterly basis. This funding will enable the Fresno Police Department to continue its efforts to educate the public and reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions within the City of Fresno.
Attachment: 6th Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2018-157
Grant Agreement