DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
DEPARTMENT: SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: ROBERTO FILICE, CHIEF OF POLICE
BY: TONYA ERICKSON, POLICE SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
TITLE: OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY (OTS) GRANTS AND AGREEMENT WITH ECOLOGY ACTION RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve the following:
A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the 2024 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant in the amount of $101,000 for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), the execution of all grant-related documents, and the establishment of the 2024 OTS-STEP Grant appropriation of up to $101,000 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities.
A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the 2024 California Office of Traffic Safety grant in the amount of $115,148 for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (PBSP), the execution of all grant-related documents, and the establishment of the 2024 OTS-PBSP Grant appropriation of up to $115,148 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities.
A Resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Ecology Action for $115,148 to provide services funded by the 2024 California OTS-PBSP grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution to authorize the acceptance of the OTS-STEP and OTS-PBSP Grants and to authorize the establishment of the grant appropriations and corresponding revenue budgets to support both OTS-STEP and OTS-PBSP grant activities. Staff further recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Ecology Action for $115,148 to provide services funded by the 2024 OTS-PBSP grant.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Salinas Police Department has been awarded two OTS Grants to support the department’s traffic enforcement and education efforts related to traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. The Department is requesting authorization to accept both the OTS-STEP and OTS-PBSP grants, and to execute an agreement with Ecology Action to provide OTS-PBSP grant activities.
BACKGROUND:
Annually the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) makes funds available to local agencies to further their traffic enforcement and education efforts related to traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. The Salinas Police Department (SPD) has been awarded OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant funding in the amount of $101,000.00 to aid in its efforts to reduce the number of people killed and injured in traffic collisions, both alcohol-related and non-alcohol related. SPD had received OTS-STEP grant funding for the last 10 years to support DUI and traffic enforcement activities. This STEP grant will target problems that include speed violations, distracted driving, red-light violations, pedestrian/vehicle right-of-way violations, and enforcement at locations with a high instance of collisions and injuries. The grant will also provide funding for DUI saturation patrols, Distracted Driving patrols, and Sobriety Checkpoints. The grant funds will enable SPD to employ best practice strategies on an overtime basis. To further deter serious traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities, the Police Department will use the grant funds to conduct traffic enforcement operations targeting distracted drivers and other violations that have shown to be the proximate cause of collisions in Salinas. The Police Department will also use the grant funds as reimbursement for training and travel expenses associated with the Department’s traffic enforcement efforts. The grant period will run from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
The Salinas Police Department has also been awarded OTS Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (PBSP) grant funding in the amount of $115,148 to aid in its efforts to reduce the number of people killed and injured in pedestrian and bicycle traffic collisions. SPD has been awarded the OTS-PBSP grant since 2019, and the grant period will run from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. As in previous years, SPD will subcontract the full amount of the OTS-PBSP grant, $115,148, to Ecology Action for the provision of grant activities. Ecology Action is a company based in Santa Cruz and they have partnered with the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) in hopes of serving every student in Monterey County with pedestrian and bicycle safety education by the time they finish 5th grade. To achieve this goal, Ecology Action works in close collaboration with several community partners, including TAMC, the Monterey County Health Department, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the Community Foundation of Monterey County, and others to provide support for these efforts. Through their work with the Salinas Police Department on the 2024 OTS-PBSP grant, Ecology Action will provide 30 Walk Smart Classroom Presentation and related Walking Field Trips, and 27 Bike Smart Classroom Presentations and related Bike Rodeos. In addition to the educational components provided by Ecology Action, they will distribute bicycle helmets and bicycle safety equipment during bicycle safety community events, bicycle safety courses, and other community events.
The Department is requesting City Council approval to accept the 2024 OTS-STEP Grant in the amount of $101,000, accept the 2024 OTS-PBSP grant in the amount of $115,148, and approval to execute an Agreement with Ecology Action to provide training to the community as funded by the $115,148 OTS-PBSP grant.
POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
The Police Chief discussed the awarding of these OTS grants with the Police Community Advisory Committee during their meeting on August 23, 2023. The Committee had no questions or comments related to these requested actions.
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 Resolutions will support the City Council Strategic Plan 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 OTS Grants will be used to support the Salinas Police Department’s traffic enforcement and education efforts related to traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian safety, including the Agreement with Ecology Action. No matching funds are required from the City of Salinas to receive the grant funds and the Resolutions authorize the establishment of an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution – Acceptance of OTS-STEP Grant
Resolution – Acceptance of OTS-PBSP Grant
Resolution – Agreement with Ecology Action
Draft 2024 OTS-STEP Grant Agreement
Draft 2024 OTS-PBSP Grant Agreement
Draft Ecology Action Agreement
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