City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 15, 2022
Agenda Item: 5.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ramon Batista, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Authorization to accept Grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $290,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program in the Police Department.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grants and all grant renewals.
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report.
Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has been awarded a $290,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (2022 STEP) grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of education and special enforcement efforts to help prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries. The 2022 STEP grant would provide funding for an array of strategies to impact roadway safety, as well as funds for training and outreach. SMPD continues to work with community partners and mobility groups to ensure the safety of the roadways. These annual grant activities support Santa Monica in striving to attain the goals of Vision Zero and to ensure our commitment to providing safe travel for all transportation modes.
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Discussion
For over ten years, SMPD has been awarded OTS STEP grant funding that is specifically directed toward improving roadway safety in Santa Monica. SMPD uses these funds to conduct a variety of focused traffic enforcement operations, attend annual trainings, and purchase equipment to support traffic enforcement operations.
Similar to previous OTS STEP grants, the 2022 STEP grant would fund the following enforcement activities, mainly with overtime funds:
• DUI Checkpoint Operations
• DUI Saturation Patrol Operations
• Traffic Enforcement Operations focused on unsafe practices such as speeding and unsafe turning
• Distracted Driving Enforcement Operations
• Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement Operations
Additionally, the 2022 STEP grant program would include 10 traffic safety educational presentations to the community, “Know Your Limit” campaigns, and participation in the following state and national campaigns throughout the calendar year: National Walk to School Day, National Teen Driver Safety Week, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Winter Mobilization, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, National Motorcycle Safety Month, National Bicycle Safety Month, National Click it or Ticket Mobilization, NHTSA Summer Mobilization, National Child Passenger Safety Week, and California’s Pedestrian Safety Month. These strategies combined aim to help the community safely share the road and are proven strategies for reducing the number of injury traffic collisions. Safe movement throughout the city is an ongoing high priority at both the state and local level.
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Environmental Review
This is not a project for the purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. Staff also recommends the following budget changes.
FY 2022-23 Grant Budget Changes
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number Amount Account Number Amount
20180002.40469G $290,000 20180002.511400.89016 $258,444 20180002.55522C $31,556
Total $290,000 Total $290,000
Prepared By: Neela Patel, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. SaMo_VisionZero_OnePager_Final