DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
DEPARTMENT: SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: ROBERTO FILICE, CHIEF OF POLICE
BY: TONYA ERICKSON, POLICE SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
TITLE: CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT FOR THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYLE SAFETY PROGRAM RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution accepting the 2023 California Office of Traffic Safety grant for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program and authorize the execution of all grant acceptance documents.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution accepting the 2023 California Office of Traffic Safety grant in the amount of $110,233.00 for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program and authorize the execution of all grant acceptance documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The proposed resolution will provide much needed funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in the amount of $100,000.00. This money will be used to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The funded strategies include classroom education, bicycle rodeos, community events, presentations, and workshops. These countermeasures will be conducted in areas with high numbers of pedestrian and/or bicycle related collisions. The focus areas will include communities with older adults, and school-aged children. If implemented in Salinas, the program will reach a third of all 2nd graders in the City of Salinas with pedestrian safety education and practice, and a third of all 5th graders with bike safety education and practice. The Salinas Police Department will partner with Ecology Action to perform activities under this grant.
BACKGROUND:
Annually the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) makes funds available to local agencies to further their traffic enforcement and education efforts. The Salinas Police Department (SPD applied for and is tentatively awarded OTS grant funding in the amount of $110,233.00 to aid in its efforts to reduce the number of people killed and injured in pedestrians and bicyclists traffic collisions. SPD was previously awarded the grant for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program in 2019, 2020, and 2021. This will be the fourth consecutive year the grant is awarded, and the grant period runs from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. As in previous years, the Salians Police Department will subcontract with Ecology Action for the provision of grant activities.
In the three years of 2017-2019, a total of 245 pedestrians were injured in pedestrian-vehicle crashes. A total of 41 injuries (17%) involved ages under 18 years, and 20 injuries (8%) involved ages 65 and over. During the same time frame, there were 88 bicycle-vehicle collisions, with seven bicyclists under the age of 18 injured.
The lower number of injuries and deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists is encouraging, yet these data show Salinas continues to have a serious traffic safety problem that greatly affects children and youth. Residents may not fully understand traffic laws as they pertain to bicycles and pedestrians. Pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety in Salinas are exacerbated by language and cultural differences, a large transient population, and low education and high poverty levels. As the number of people engaging in outdoor activity is increasing, pedestrian and bicycle safety has never been more important to the community.
In addition to the educational components, this funding will be used to distribute bicycle safety items at community events or bicycle safety courses. The funding will pay for the distribution of 100 bicycle helmets at bicycle rodeos, workshops, and community events.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Approving the proposed Resolution is consistent with the City Council Goal of Public Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Police Department will work with the Legal Department during approval, and with the Finance Department during implementation.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Proposed funding from the 2023 Office of Traffic Safety grant is $110,233.00, all of which will be used to support SPD’s efforts to reduce the number of traffic collisions and fatalities. No matching funds are required from the City of Salinas to receive the grant funds. No impact to the City’s General Fund is anticipated with the recommended actions.
ATTACHMENTS:
2023 OTS-PBSG Council Resolution
2023 OTS-PBSG Draft Grant Agreement
Page | 3
Page | 1
CITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORTCITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT