STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of November 12, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager SUBMITTED BY: Joseph Vasquez, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Grant Award From the State of California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to accept the State Office of Traffic Safety grant award of $75,000 on behalf of the City of Hercules.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The state of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) sponsors several grant programs to improve the safety of the state’s freeways and highways. The City applied for assistance to address these issues in our community and recently received official confirmation that the City had been awarded a grant. The Office of Traffic Safety has awarded the Hercules Police Department (HPD) with a Select Traffic Enforcement Program grant for $75,000 to provide funding for specific enforcement procedures and targeted safety issues including driving under the influence, pedestrian safety, collaborative enforcement, and hands-free driving.
BACKGROUND:
The grant will allow the City to focus on a comprehensive approach to enforce, educate, and encourage compliance with seatbelt use, impaired driving, speed limit, and other traffic laws. Education and enforcement are two very important components of collision reduction. The acceptance of the grant will allow the Hercules Police Department to bolster its enforcement and education efforts in the aforementioned areas of concern.
The grant award for $75,000 will allow the Hercules Police Department to perform overtime operations related to DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols, as well as traffic enforcement operations linked to distracted driving and primary collision factors. These comprehensive programs have a long-lasting impact in reducing both fatal and injury collisions.
ANALYSIS:
In the past, the City of Hercules benefited from the funds associated with these types of grants (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program or STEP grants) and was able to purchase electronic citation writers, software specifically designed for collision investigations, and a new speed trailer with a digital message board which can be used for special events, road closures, and speed violation deterrence. The Hercules Police Department will also be able to continue our robust enforcement and education efforts. Staff recommends that Council accept the STEP grant in the amount of $75,000 and approve the budget amendment to use these funds for approved activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Acceptance of the STEP award will provide $75,000 in funding to support our community’s law enforcement services. It will assist with the Police Department’s expenditure for the enforcement of people driving under the influence of controlled substances, and enforcement operations focusing on primary collision factors.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution designating the City Manager as the Authorizing Official to accept the OTS STEP grant on behalf of the City of Hercules.
STEP grant Agreement.
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