TITLE:
Receive Report and Consider Adoption of City Council Resolution Approving Grant Funding and Contracting with the Department of California Highway Patrol to Conduct Preventative and Proactive Driving Under the Influence Enforcement ISSUE:
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs represents a costly and deadly threat to the public nationwide. In the City of Fort Bragg, our per capita arrest rate for driving under the influence is over seven times higher than the State average. Additionally, 34.3% of traffic collision related fatalities in Mendocino County involve alcohol. This is nearly 30% higher than the state average.
Driving under the influence is not just a public safety issue; it is a public health issue that requires a preventative and proactive approach involving public education and effective enforcement.
The small size of the Fort Bragg Police Department does not allow us to have dedicated traffic and DUI enforcement officers like larger police agencies. Ensuring that our staff is properly trained in effective and legally sound DUI investigations increases public safety on our roads and reduces liability for our Department.
ANALYSIS:
The Police Department applied for and was awarded a grant through the Department of California Highway Patrol for $46,549.56 with funding available on July 01, 2023. This funding will allow for the following:
The purchase of two changeable message sign (CMS) boards. These CMS boards are the same as those used by road construction crews to announce “road work ahead” These CMS boards will be used once a quarter at both primary entrances to the City 24 hours prior to DUI saturation events. These DUI saturation events involve one or more trained Officers to be assigned on a Friday or Saturday evening to specifically patrol for suspected DUI drivers. DUI saturation events do not involve DUI checkpoints; no DUI checkpoints will be executed as part of this grant.
The grant funds eight DUI saturations events over the course of the fiscal year. Four of these events will be announced publicly with CMS boards posted 24 hours prior, and four of the events will not be announced. This allows data to be collected regarding whether public notice of DUI events reduces the number of DUIs.
Reimbursement for staffing and equipment in order to hold four public education events over the course of the year. These education events will involve hosting a table in the downtown area where bar patrons can voluntarily be administered a breathalyzer in an attempt to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Patrons who can guess their BAC within a predetermined range will be awarded a small prize. The education event will also allow bartenders to attempt to guess their patron’s BAC in an attempt to win a prize. These events will allow data to be gathered demonstrating how aware and accurate the public and alcohol servers are at understanding an individual’s level of intoxication.
Funding and reimbursement to send additional Officers to standard and advanced DUI investigation training.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolution approving budget amendment, acceptance of the grant, and contract with the Department of California Highway Patrol.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Provide alternative direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This grant will have no fiscal impact outside of minor administrative costs for ensuring compliance with the grant.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IMPACT:
This project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by convincing more bar patrons to ride share or walk to the bars.
CONSISTENCY:
N/A
IMPLEMENTATION/TIMEFRAMES:
Funding for this grant was available July 01, 2023. The first DUI saturation and public education events are expected to be held in early August.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Budget Amendment
Contract with Department of California Highway Patrol
NOTIFICATION:
None.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 8D
AGENCY: City CouncilMEETING DATE: July 10, 2023DEPARTMENT: Police DepartmentPRESENTED BY: Chief Neil CervenkaEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]: City CouncilMEETING DATE: July 10, 2023DEPARTMENT: Police DepartmentPRESENTED BY: Chief Neil CervenkaEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: July 10, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Chief Neil Cervenka
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: July 10, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Chief Neil Cervenka
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY