DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
DEPARTMENT: SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: CARLOS ACOSTA, CHIEF OF POLICE
BY: TONYA ERICKSON, POLICE SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
VICKIE RAHMAN, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
TITLE: ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY (OTS) GRANTS RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve the following Resolutions:
Accepting the 2026 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant in the amount of $85,000.
Authorizing the City Manager and the Finance Director to execute all grant agreements and amendments without further City Council action; and Establishing the 2026 OTS-STEP Grant revenue appropriation to the Police Department in the amount of $85,000 and establishing the corresponding expense appropriation of $85,000 to support grant activities.
Accepting the 2026 California Office of Traffic Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (PBSP) grant in the amount of $195,000.
Authorizing the City Manager and the Finance Director to execute all grant agreements and amendments without further City Council action; and Establishing the 2026 OTS-PBSP Grant revenue appropriation to the Police Department of $195,000 and establishing the corresponding expense appropriation of $195,000 to support grant activities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Salinas Police Department has been awarded two California Office of Traffic Safety (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 Federal 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 an OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant funding in the amount of $85,000 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 has received OTS-STEP grant funding for the last 12 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, and for the purchase of DUI Checkpoint supplies and two new radar devices. The grant period will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
The Salinas Police Department has also been awarded an OTS Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (PBSP) grant funding in the amount of $195,000 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. As in previous years, SPD will subcontract the full amount of the grant award, $195,000, to Ecology Action for the provision of grant activities, and approval to execute this Agreement is included with this City Council item. Ecology Action is a non-profit organization based in Santa Cruz, with an office in Salinas, 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 2026 OTS-PBSP grant, Ecology Action will provide 30 Walk Smart Classroom Presentations and related Walking Field Trips, 27 Bike Smart Classroom Presentations and related Bike Rodeos, two Learn to Ride Workshops, three Community Group Rides, and three Bicycle Repair Clinics. The Learn to Ride Workshops are designed to teach elementary students the skills needed to ride a bicycle and provide students who already know how to ride a bicycle a chance to improve their skills. Community Group Rides are geared toward middle school and high school students and will teach them about bike safety and offer beginner-friendly opportunities to explore safe neighborhood routes, while gaining confidence with street riding. Bicycle Repair Clinics are designed to ensure that middle and high school students are riding safe and operable bikes. The clinics will offer free bicycle mechanical checks and basic repair, as well as instruction on bicycle checks and flat tire repair. Ecology Action will also distribute bicycle helmets and bicycle safety equipment during bicycle safety community events, bicycle safety courses, and other community events. The grant period will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
The Department is requesting City Council approval to accept the 2026 OTS-STEP Grant in the amount of $85,000 and the 2026 OTS-PBSP grant in the amount of $195,000. The draft Grant Agreements are attached to this City Council Report.
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).
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Approving the proposed Resolutions will support the City Council Strategic Plan Goals of Public Safety and Youth and Seniors.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Police Department will work with the Legal Department during approval, and with the Finance Department during implementation.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
No matching funds are required from the City of Salinas to receive the grant funds, and the Resolutions will authorize the establishment of a revenue appropriation and corresponding expense budget to support grant activities.
Fund
Appropriation
Appropriation
Name
Total Appropriation
Amount for recommendation
FY 25-26 Operating Budget Page
Last Budget Action (Date, Resolution)
3159
40.7110
TBD
TBD
$85,000
N/A
N/A
3156
40.7101
TBD
TBD
$195,000
N/A
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution – 2026 OTS-STEP Grant
Resolution – 2026 OTS-PBSP Grant
2026 OTS-STEP Grant Agreement (Draft)
2026 OTS-PBSP Grant Agreement (Draft)
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