City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 15, 2022 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARD: ALL SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT UP TO $437,341.66 FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY – SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 TO DETECT AND REMOVE IMPAIRED DRIVERS FROM THE HIGHWAY – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve the submission of and accept grant funds in the amount up to $437,341.66 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of the grant award.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the submission of a grant application in the amount up to $437,341.66 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for Fiscal Year 2022-23; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record and increase in revenues and appropriate expenditures in the amount of the grant award to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police State Office of Traffic Safety Grant Account; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the grant documents with the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
On September 29, 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2552 into law. The bill distinguishes the offenses of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of any drug, and driving under the combined influence of alcohol and any drug. The law went into effect on January 1, 2014. California recognizes that drug-impaired driving is a serious threat to public health and safety, and this law complements other work being done in the state to address it.
DISCUSSION:
The State of California, Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) strives to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries through the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant. The grant is available to local and state public agencies for programs that help them enforce traffic laws, educate the public about traffic safety, and provide various and efficient means of reducing fatalities, injuries and economic losses from collisions.
The grant funds would support the City’s efforts to reduce occurrences of injury and fatal collisions and to improve Riverside’s positioning in the state-wide OTS rankings through STEP. The program uses several best practice strategies to impact traffic safety including training, community education, strategic operations, and supplies to support those operations.
The STEP grant would be implemented by the Riverside Police Department’s Field Operations Traffic Division. The grant would fund the overtime operations during the term of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. Strategic operations will include bicycle and pedestrian enforcements, distracted driving operations, traffic enforcement operations, motorcycle safety, and DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal number No. 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The Riverside Police Department is dedicated to improving quality of life by creating a safe environment in partnership with the people it serves. RPD’s ability to enforce traffic laws and serve the public interest benefits the City’s diverse population, and results in the greater public good.
Equity – RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside. The addition of traffic policing funds assists in the achievement of this goal and ensures safer streets for everyone.
Fiscal Responsibility – This grant will provide partial funding for traffic related operations, lessening the financial burden on the City’s General Fund.
Innovation – RPD must constantly evolve and adapt to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future. This grant provides funding for the Police Department to implement traffic and safety enforcement and education programs that might not otherwise be implemented.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The additional funding from this grant ensures the Police Department has the capacity to preserve, adapt, and grow with the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact is $437,341.66. No matching funds are required. Upon grant award and City Council approval, an increase will be made in revenues in an amount up to $437,341.66 in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Revenue and Expenditure account listed in the table below.
Description
Expenditure Accounts
Revenue Accounts
Reimbursement Amount
OTS STEP CFDA - Overtime
9174800-440110
9174800-331100
$234,345.22
OTS STEP CFDA - Supplies
9174800-426800
9174800-331100
$45,387.80
OTS STEP Enforce – Overtime
9174810-440110
9174810-331100
$153,608.64
OTS STEP Enforce – Travel
9174810-427100
9174810-331100
$4,000.00
Prepared by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Lea Deesing, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement 22-23 - Page 2