City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 28, 2025 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION – FY 2022 CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,759; AND MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,690 – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Acceptance of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, FY 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program grant award in the amount of $78,759; and matching funds in the amount of $19,690 for the tentative period of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the grant agreement accepting the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, FY 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program grant award in the amount of $78,759 for the tentative period of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026; Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all required grant agreements and related documents, making minor and non-substantive changes; and With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and appropriation of expenditures in the same amount of $78,759, or the amount of the grant award, in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, FY 22 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements Grant revenue and expenditure accounts.
BACKGROUND:
The mission of the Federal Railroad Administration is to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people. The Federal Railroad Administration accomplishes this mission primarily through issuance, implementation, and enforcement of safety regulations.
DISCUSSION:
The Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program Grant assists communities at risk for rail trespassing related incidents and fatalities. The grant program funds will support City of Riverside efforts to reduce rail trespassing occurrences. The object of the program is to evaluate the effectiveness of funding local law enforcement activities intended to reduce trespassing on the rail right-of-way.
In 2022 and 2023, there were sixteen accidents in which pedestrians were struck by trains at railway crossings or on the railway rights-of-way in the City of Riverside. Additionally, there were 455 calls for service related to railways and railway rights-of-way during this period. These included one homicide and numerous "check the welfare" calls, where individuals were found on railways in danger of being struck by trains. As encroachment on railway rights-of-way continues, such incidents have the potential to increase.
The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program Grant will be implemented by the Riverside Police Department’s Special Operations Division. The grant will fund overtime for two police officers, a police sergeant, an outreach worker, and a code enforcement officer to patrol railways and crossings throughout the City of Riverside. Officers will engage with trespassers to educate them on the dangers of railways. In addition to the engagement, individuals will be offered alternative shelter options and assistance in accessing mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. Further, a private contractor will clean up encampments along railways and railway rights-of-way throughout the city. All activities and associated outcomes will be reported to the Federal Railroad Administration.
The grant term is one year from the program start date, tentatively April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.5 – Foster relationships between community members, partner organizations, and public safety professionals to define, prioritize, and address community safety and social service needs.
This item aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The Riverside Police Department is dedicated to improving the quality of life by creating a safe environment in partnership with the community it serves. RPD acts with integrity and grit to reduce fear and crime, while treating all with respect, compassion, and fairness.
Equity – RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside. The additional railroad trespass patrols assist in the achievement of this goal and ensure that every member of the community has access to these services.
Fiscal Responsibility – This grant will provide partial funding for two police officers, one police sergeant, one outreach worker, and one code enforcement officer to conduct railroad trespass enforcement and a private contractor to clean-up encampments along the railway and railway rights-of-way, lessening the financial burden on the City of Riverside’s General Fund.
Innovation – RPD must constantly change and adapt to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The additional railroad trespass operations that will be made possible with 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 this action is $98,449 which includes grant funds with an increase in revenue and expenditures of $78,759 and City matching funds in the amount of $19,690. Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenues and an appropriation in the amount of $78,759 will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, FY 22 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements Grant revenue and expenditure accounts. In addition, a budget adjustment will be recorded in the amount of $19,690 from the General Fund, Police Department Special Operations, Professional services account number 3125000-421000 for the City match portion of the grant. All budget entries are outlined in the table below.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
FY 22 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements Grant Revenue
9182200-331100
$78,759
Expenditures
9182200-413120
$34,759
9182200-421000
$44,000
General Fund
9182230-440301
*$19,690
Total Expenditures
$98,449
*Denotes Budget Adjustment for City Match
Prepared by: Brandi Becker, Police Administrator
Approved 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: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachment: Agreement
Federal Railroad Administration - Page 2