Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.I
Meeting Date: September 16, 2026
From: Daniel Anes, Police Sergeant
Title: 2026–2027 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant PT27027
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant PT27027 in the amount of $50,000 for the grant period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND:
Recognizing the ongoing traffic safety challenges in Cathedral City, the Police Department applied to the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant for the 2026–2027 federal fiscal year.
The STEP Grant supports best-practice strategies intended to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes involving alcohol, drugs, unsafe speed, right-of-way violations, distracted driving, and other primary crash factors. The program also supports motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic-safety education efforts.
DISCUSSION:
The OTS STEP Grant is a one-year grant beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. The grant agreement authorizes up to $50,000 in federal funding.
Grant-funded activities include:
DUI Enforcement: Two DUI/Driver’s License checkpoints, 14 DUI saturation patrols, and two collaborative DUI enforcement operations.
Traffic Enforcement: Twelve traffic enforcement operations focused on primary crash factors, plus two collaborative traffic enforcement operations. Specialized Operations: Four distracted-driving operations, one motorcycle-safety operation, and one pedestrian/bicycle safety operation. Traffic Safety Campaigns: Participation in state and national traffic-safety campaigns and continued monthly DUI BOLO notifications for identified repeat DUI offenders.
The grant budget allocates $44,771 for personnel overtime, $1,560 for in-state travel, and $3,669 for DUI checkpoint supplies. No grant funds are allocated for equipment or contractual services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The OTS STEP Police Grant (Fund 247) provides up to $50,000 in federal reimbursement funding for eligible grant activities, including overtime, approved travel, and DUI checkpoint supplies.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2026-2027
FY 26/27 OTS
STEP Grant
Expenditures
247-300-310-
312-8XXX-
8XXX
G050XX $50,000 ONE TIME
2026-2027
FY 26/27 OTS
STEP Grant
Revenues
247-300-310-
312-6700-6731 G050XX ($50,000) ONE TIME
2026-2027 Total $0.00
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
E-6 Safety: Community education and awareness
ATTACHMENTS:
1. OTS Grant Agreement PT27027