City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 18, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Darrick Jacob, Interim Police Chief, Police Department Subject: Authorization to Accept Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15321 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $285,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Police Department to accept all grant renewals;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all subsequent grant renewals; and
4. Authorize the budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department (“SMPD”) has been awarded a $285,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (“STEP”) grant for 2025/26 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (“OTS”). This grant was awarded to SMPD for a year-long program of education and special enforcement efforts to help prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries. The 2025/26 STEP grant will 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 eleven 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, to attend annual training, and to purchase the equipment necessary in support of SMPD’s traffic enforcement operations and the City’s Vision Zero goals. Like previous OTS STEP grants, the 2025/26 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 2025/26 STEP grant program would include six traffic safety educational presentations to the community, known as the “Know Your Limit” campaign, six traffic enforcement operations focused on Pacific Coast Highway, and participation in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. 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.
Environmental Review
Acceptance of grant funding for enforcement activities is categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15321 (Class 21 Enforcement Actions by Regulatory Agencies) of the CEQA State Guidelines. Section 15321 exempts enforcement of a law or law enforcement activities by peace officers acting under any law that provides criminal 3 of 3
sanction. Therefore, the use of grant funding for enforcement actions is exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.
Approval of the recommended action requires the following budget amendment:
FY 2025-26 Grant Budget Amendment
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
20180002.40469J $285,000 20180002.55522F.89019 $266,683 20180002.55522F $18,317
Total $285,000 Total $285,000
If renewals are awarded, budget changes will be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Kiajett Charles, Administrative Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council