City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 28, 2023 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARD: ALL SUBJECT: STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY 2023/2024 –SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $464,000, CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000, AND MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,000 – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve the acceptance of grant funds for three traffic safety programs in the amount up to $512,000 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of the grant awards. The programs include the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program in the amount up to $464,000, the Child Passenger Safety Program in the amount up to $25,000 and the Motorcycle Safety Program in the amount up to $23,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the acceptance of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program funding in the amount of $464,000 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; Approve the acceptance of the Child Passenger Safety Program funding in the amount of $25,000 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; Approve the acceptance of the Motorcycle Safety Program funding in the amount of $23,000 from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $464,000, or the amount of the actual award, and record a supplemental appropriation in the same amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $25,000, or the amount of the actual award, and record a supplemental appropriation in the same amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Child Passenger Safety Program; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $23,000, or the amount of the actual award, and record a supplemental appropriation in the same amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Motorcycle Safety Program; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all 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, Child Passenger Safety Program grant, and Motorcycle Safety Program grant. These grants are 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 will 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, Child Passenger Safety, and Motorcycle Safety. These programs use several best practice strategies to impact traffic safety including training, community education, strategic operations, and supplies to support those operations.
These grants will be implemented by the Riverside Police Department’s Field Operations Traffic Division and will fund overtime operations during the term of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
The STEP grant will focus on bicycle and pedestrian enforcements, distracted driving operations, traffic enforcement operations, and DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints.
The Child Passenger Safety Grant program will focus on a variety of activities to educate parents and guardians on child safety seat laws, including child safety seat check-ups, education classes on using and properly installing the right car seat, and providing child safety seats to families in need, as well as Child Passenger Safety Technician training and certification courses.
The Motorcycle Safety Grant aims to reduce motorcycle collisions, injuries, and deaths and includes programs that provide hands-on motorcycle training to riders. The training allows experienced riders to hone their skills. Motorcycle safety programs also include campaigns reminding riders of mandatory DOT-compliant helmet requirements, increasing other road users’ awareness of motorcycles, and reducing impaired riding.
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 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 of the three grant awards is $512,000. No matching funds are required for the grant awards. Upon Council approval, an increase in revenue and an equal amount of appropriations will be recorded in the funds and programs as indicated in the table below.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
Revenue
OTS Step
9179200-331100
$263,300
9179210-331100
$200,700
OTS Child Passenger
9179400-331100
$25,000
OTS Motorcycle
9179300-331100
$23,000
Total Revenue
$512,000
Expenditures
OTS Step CFDA – Overtime
9179200-440110
$230,797
OTS Step CFDA – Supplies
9179200-426800
$32,503
OTS Step Enforcement – Overtime
9179210-440110
$193,765
OTS Step Enforcement – Travel
9179210-427100
$6,935
OTS Child Passenger – Overtime
9179400-440110
$19,328
OTS Child Passenger – Supplies
9179400-426800
$5,672
OTS Motorcycle – Overtime
9179300-440110
$21,998
OTS Motorcycle – Supplies
9179300-426800
$1,002
Total Expenditures
$512,000
Prepared by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Grant Agreement with the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Agreement with the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety for the Child Passenger Safety Program Grant Agreement with the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for the Motorcycle Safety Program Office of Traffic Safety 23-24 - Page 2