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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A DUI STEP GRANT AWARD FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to: 1) accept a DUI STEP grant award from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety in the amount of $450,000, and make all necessary appropriations in compliance with and for the purposes stated in the grant application; and, 2) Execute the STEP Grant agreement and all related documents to carry out the purpose and intent of the grant award.
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Summary
The Stockton Police Department (SPD) seeks Council approval to accept grant funding from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant, for the period of October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017. The STEP Grant provides funding for SPD overtime and related expenses in an effort to reduce alcohol-involved accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries, and raise general public awareness regarding the problems associated with drinking and driving. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the OTS, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DISCUSSION
Background
In January 2016, the SPD submitted a Memorandum Proposal to the OTS requesting consideration to participate in the DUI STEP Grant. The SPD’s proposal included “best practice” strategies to be conducted on an overtime basis to help reduce the number of individuals killed or injured in alcohol-involved crashes. Those “best practices” include, but are not limited to, DUI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, warrant service operations targeting DUI offenders, traffic enforcement, distracted driving operations, motorcycle safety, and court stings targeting DUI offenders.
Under the DUI STEP Grant, these missions would be conducted by the SPD during the Winter Holiday Mobilization period which is December through January, Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day weekend/period; and during the Summer Mobilization period which is mid-August through the Labor Day Holiday; and as well as any special dates, county fairs, festivals, and other community events. In June 2016, the SPD was notified that its’ proposal was approved to receive a grant in the amount of $450,000.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2017, the OTS discontinued the “AVOID the 10” grant program. In prior fiscal years, the SPD has been the recipient of this grant and served as the host agency for the coordination of DUI missions with several other local law enforcement agencies. However, the OTS decided to combine the AVOID and STEP funding because they were not seeing the desired participation from the allied agencies. The OTS determined that the purposes of the grant would be best served if all the funding was devoted to one participating agency. As a result, as a grant recipient, the SPD will get the OTS grant in FY17 through the STEP grant for DUI related missions, and allied agency missions will no longer be funded. The allied agencies, who in the past partnered with the SPD, were notified well in advance of the OTS’s program change and were provided the same opportunity as the SPD to apply for this year’s STEP Grant.
Present Situation
In June 2016, the SPD received notification from the OTS indicating the proposal was accepted for funding in the amount of $450,000. Grant funds will be used to pay for overtime staffing costs for the DUI enforcement activities, training, operations equipment, and miscellaneous related materials/supplies.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The SPD’s Traffic Section will carry out the various operations required of the grant program. The grant program does not require matching funds and will have no impact to the general fund. A budget appropriation is requested for grant revenue and expenses in the amount of $450,000 to the Police Grants & Special Programs Other Special Revenue Programs OTS/DUI STEP Grant Program Account No. 025-6433.