CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve a Resolution Authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Commerce and Street Racing Kills (SRK) to Provide Driving and Intervention Program Management Services in and Around the City of Commerce Meeting Date: December 13, 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider approving a resolution authorizing the City’s participation in a Memorandum of Understanding with Street Racing Kills to provide driving and intervention program management services in and around the City of Commerce.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Commerce is charged with enforcing and regulating street racing within its boundaries. In 2015, City Council appropriated funds to conduct a traffic study to address street racing issues surrounding industrial zones in the City. The traffic study aimed at exploring various engineering measures to dissuade speed racers from engaging in speed exhibition contests and worked collaboratively with the Community Services Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Following the study, on June 21, 2016, a three-month pilot program was implemented, this included, installing speed cushions on Malt Avenue, from Garfield Avenue to Telegraph Road. Upon completion, the pilot program was able to address the concern of street racing had been addressed on Malt Avenue.
In September 2016, Councilmember Rebollo requested that City staff advise the Council on regulatory laws that are embedded within the City Municipal Code (CMC), State, or County laws. Under the CMC, street racing is an unlawful activity, and further adds that any person is to be knowingly present as a spectator at any illegal motor vehicle speed contest/exhibition conducted on a public street or highway. A consensus among the City Council directed staff to increase the fine from five hundred dollars to one thousand dollars to further discourage the dangers of illegal street racing.
To further create awareness and minimize the dangers that come from street racing and other reckless driving practices, Street Racing Kills, a non-profit organization, has been involved with the City of Commerce and surrounding jurisdictions with related relevant programming.
Founded in 2014 by Lili Trujillo Puckett, Street Racing Kills organizes safety and driving intervention programs at high schools, colleges, and community events throughout the nation aimed to prevent fatal accidents.
ANALYSIS:
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is the lead traffic safety organization. Located within the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the OTS is tasked with developing and implementing a highway safety program that addresses the behavioral factors that impact safety on the road. OTS provides an effective means of eliminating fatalities, injuries, and economic losses resulting from crashes. Through grant funding made available to California by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), OTS annually funds over 80 million dollars in innovative, evidence-based education and enforcement programs and technologies designed to make California’s roadways safer.
Using Federal Highway Safety Program funds, the OTS partners with political subdivisions of the state to address California’s highway safety needs at the state, county, and local levels. The OTS cannot directly fund a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; however, non-profit organizations are eligible for funding through a “host” government agency (sub-recipient) as a contractor.
Staff recommends that the City collaborate with Street Racing Kills and serve as a grant host for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Highway Safety Program Grant for the implementation of the Reckless Driving Intervention Program, which will include facilitating the Program to individuals across the State, including the City of Commerce. Through the partnership established with Street Racing Kills through this MOU, Street Racing Kills will be responsible for program administration, implementation, oversight, and administration of consultant and contracting services, as needed. The MOU will authorize Street Racing Kills to administer, manage, facilitate, and implement the program consistent with the management procedures established by OTS.
The term of this MOU may commence upon the date of execution by the City of Street Racing Kills. Program funding will be available during the 2023 Federal Fiscal Year through September 30, 2023, unless sooner terminated or extended.
The activities to be performed as part of this MOU will include but are not limited to mentoring individuals and increasing awareness about the dangers of reckless driving to prevent future crashes and fatalities. Topics of discussion will include street racing, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, burnouts, ignoring stop signs and signals, driving impaired, takeovers, doughnuts, and other reckless driving activities.
CONCLUSION:
The City of Commerce has a large daytime population relative to the number of residents and is key to the movement of vehicles and goods for the region. Any effort made to enhance vehicular safety and/or the region would be a great benefit to the City of Commerce. The objective of this MOU between Street Racing Kills is to prevent serious injury and death resulting from motor vehicle crashes so that all roadway users arrive at their destination safely by raising awareness of the dangers of reckless driving and bringing educational programming to the City.
Should the City Council approve staff’s recommendation, the City of Commerce will serve as the grant host for the non-profit for the 2024 Federal Fiscal Year Federal Highway Safety Program Grant that will implement Reckless Driving Intervention Programming to residents living within the City of Commerce and surrounding areas.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff recommendation; and/or
Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact is unknown at this time. It is projected that 8-12 staff hours will be donated as an in-kind contribution to this effort.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
The agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan
Community Quality of Life
Guiding Principle #4
To support and evaluate community services, programs, and events that promote health and quality lifestyles for our residents. Enhance public safety and social services through innovative programs that meet the needs of the residential and business communities Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager Approved by: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager
Prepared by: Gisselle S. Delgado, Management Analyst
Approved as to form: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS:
Memorandum of Understanding