City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
October 12, 2026
To: City Council
From: Police Department
Steve Shorts, Chief of Police
Subject: Accept the grant award from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program activities, including expenditures for traffic enforcement, community engagement operations, and the purchase of grant-related equipment and supplies
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Accept a $113,000 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) activities;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute all required grant documents;
3. Approve a transfer from the Law Enforcement Grants Fund (Fund 287) to the General Fund (Fund 100) to reimburse personnel costs for grant-related overtime;
4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute revised agreements, amendments, or other documents necessary to accept and administer any additional grant funds awarded after execution of the original agreement, provided the additional funding is consistent with the approved grant purpose and does not materially change the nature of the program; and,
5. Authorize the City to receive and expend any additional grant funds for eligible grant purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant and applicable City policies and procedures.
Background
In January 2026, the Police Department submitted a STEP grant application to the OTS.
Funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and administered by OTS, the $113,000 grant was approved in May 2026 for STEP activities. The grant budget was included in the Law Enforcement Grant Fund (Fund 287) in the FY 2026-27 budget adopted by the City Council on June 8, 2026. The purpose of this grant is to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol and other primary collision factors.
Agenda Item No.
Consent (5)
STEP activities include the following strategies: impaired driving enforcement; operations focusing on primary collision factors such as distracted driving or seatbelt compliance; traffic enforcement operations highlighting motorcycle safety; public awareness and educational programs focusing on bicycle and pedestrian safety in areas of high collisions; and participating in community collaboration and engagement activities to discuss traffic safety, share information, and gather input from community members.
These strategies aim to reduce collisions and collision fatalities and to act as a deterrent through media attention.
OTS may award additional funds to the City during the grant period after execution of the initial grant agreement; therefore, staff is requesting that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute revised agreements and accept additional funds subsequently awarded under the STEP grant. This authorization would permit the City Manager, or her designee, to execute any necessary grant amendments or related documents and authorize the Police Department to expend the additional funds for eligible STEP grant activities, equipment, supplies, and other allowable costs.
Financial Impact
The cost of this action was included in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget. No additional appropriation is required at this time.
City Council Priority
This item supports the City’s Public Safety Pillar of Excellence.
Suggested Motion
I move that the City Council:
1. Accept a $113,000 OTS grant for STEP activities;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute all required grant documents;
3. Approve a transfer from the Law Enforcement Grants Fund (Fund 287) to the General Fund (Fund 100) to reimburse personnel costs for grant-related overtime; and
4. Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute revised agreements, amendments, or other documents necessary to accept and administer any additional grant funds awarded after execution of the original agreement, provided the additional funding is consistent with the approved grant purpose and does not materially change the nature of the program; and
5. Authorize the City to receive and expend any additional grant funds awarded for eligible grant purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant and applicable City policies and procedures.
2 Summary
In January 2026, the Police Department applied to OTS for STEP funding. The grant, funded by NHTSA and administered by OTS, was approved in May 2026 in the amount of $113,000, and the grant budget was previously included in the FY 2026-27 budget adopted by the City Council on June 8, 2026. Staff recommends that the City Council accept the $113,000 STEP grant; authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute all required grant documents; approve a transfer from the Law Enforcement Grants Fund (Fund 287) to the General Fund (Fund 100) to reimburse personnel costs associated with grant-funded overtime; and authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute any revised agreements, amendments, or related documents necessary to accept and administer additional STEP grant funds awarded after execution of the original agreement, provided the additional funding remains consistent with the approved grant purpose and does not materially change the nature of the program. Staff further recommends authorizing the City to receive and expend any such additional funds for eligible grant purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant and applicable City policies and procedures.
Prepared by: Josh McAlister, Traffic Sergeant
Attachments
Attachment A – OTS STEP Grant Agreement
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