CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: September 16, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Darren Goodman, Chief of Police
Department: Police
Subject: Accept and Administer the FY 26/27 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (Step) Grant (PT27198) (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-159:
1. Authorizing the City Manager to accept and administer the FY 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant and
2. Authorizing the Director of Finance & Management Services to amend the FY 2026/27 Operating Budget by $562,265.00 in revenues and expenditures.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager requests City Council authorization to accept the OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant.
Executive Summary
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded its Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant for Fiscal Year 2026/27 in the amount of $562,265.00. The OTS Grant is reimbursement based, and the Department will use grant funding to purchase a DUI trailer, pay for overtime to staff enforcement efforts include driving under the influence/California driver’s license (DUI/CDL) checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, motorcycle safety, and pedestrian/bicycle enforcement, attend grant funded training, and purchase supplies (Budget available in attached agreement). Staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council accept the Grant Award and amend the FY 26/27 operating budget to receive Grant Funds in the amount of $562,265.00 in revenues and expenditures.
Background
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded its Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant for Fiscal Year 2026/27 to law enforcement agencies in the state that have shown the best practice strategies to reduce traffic collisions and promote traffic safety awareness. The City of San Bernardino has received annual OTS STEP grant funding for well over a decade and has been awarded $562,265 for Federal Fiscal Year October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Discussion
The OTS STEP grant combines several traffic enforcement programs under a single grant umbrella, which reimburses law enforcement agencies for overtime worked on proven traffic enforcement strategies such as driving under the influence/California driver’s license (DUI/CDL) checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols. In addition to checkpoints and saturation patrols, the Police Department will use grant funds to develop a “Hot Sheet” program to alert patrol and traffic officers to be on the lookout for identified repeat DUI offenders with suspended or revoked licenses as a result of DUI convictions. Using STEP grant funding, the Police Department will also add patrols focused on motorcycle DUI enforcement, traffic enforcement, collaborative DUI enforcement with neighboring agencies, motorcycle safety enforcement, street racing, and bicycle/pedestrian safety enforcement operations. The Grant will also provide $45,000 of funding for one (1) new DUI trailer. The Department will follow appropriate purchasing guidelines to select and purchase the trailer. Grant funding will provide for supervisors, detectives, officers, and professional staff to accomplish OTS STEP grant objectives. Staffing levels will vary depending on the enforcement detail being worked.
There are no matching fund requirements for this grant.
All grant funded traffic operations will be conducted to make the streets of San Bernardino safer for all pedestrians and motorists. In addition to enforcement strategies, the STEP program will seek voluntary compliance of traffic laws through public education and safety awareness campaigns throughout the one-year grant period. The grant will reimburse the cost of DUI related training for officers, supplies used at checkpoints, and preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) device/calibration supplies. Staff recommends authorization for the City Manager to accept, execute, and administer the State of California OTS STEP Grant Agreement for Grant Number PT27198 (Attachment 2).
Strategic Goals and Priorities
The acceptance and administration of the OTS STEP grant aligns with Key Target No. 1: Financial Stability, by implementing, maintaining, and updating a fiscal accountability plan; Key Target No. 2: Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community, by developing and implementing a community engagement plan; and Key Target No. 3: Improved Quality of Life, by evaluating the public safety service delivery models to enhance the quality of service.
Fiscal Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. This action results in a financial impact of $562,265 in both revenues and expenditures to the FY2026/27 Operating Budget’s Federal Grant Fund.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, Adopt Resolution No. 2026-159:
1. Authorizing the City Manager to accept and administer the FY 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant and
2. Authorizing the Director of Finance & Management Services to amend the FY 2026/27 Operating Budget by $562,265.00 in revenues and expenditures.
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2026-159
2. Attachment 2 OTS Grant Agreement (PT27198)
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
October 1, 2025 Resolution 2025-372, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
September 18, 2024 Resolution 2024-0205, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
October 4, 2023 Resolution 2023-0153, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
September 21, 2022 Resolution 2022-0645, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
September 1, 2021 Resolution 2021-218, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
September 2, 2020 Resolution 2021-218, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
July 17, 2019 Resolution 2019-264, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
October 3, 2018 Resolution 2018-272, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
July 5, 2017 Resolution 2017-126, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
October 14, 2016 Resolution 2016-211, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
January 23, 2015 Resolution 2015-10, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
March 3, 2014 Resolution 2014-49, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
January 7, 2013 Resolution 2013-1, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
April 10, 2012 Resolution 2012-67, California Office of Traffic Safety - STEP grant, approved by Council.
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager