January 10, 2006

SUBJECT:      Acceptance of the California Office of

                        Traffic Safety Seat Belt     

                        Compliance Campaign Mini Grant for Local

                        Law Enforcement Agencies and Budget 

                        Modification #14.

REPORT IN BRIEF

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has been offered an Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) mini-grant for $39,928 as part of the California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program for Local Law Enforcement Agencies. This is an overtime reimbursement mini-grant for the Public Safety Department to conduct a seat belt enforcement program over a three week period in May 2006. The grant also reimburses for administrative and support staff costs.

Staff recommends that Council authorize Budget Modification No.14 to accept funding from the California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program for Local Law Enforcement Agencies. Grant funds received by the Department of Public Safety will be budgeted into Special Project 825950 – Traffic Seat Belt Enforcement Grant.

BACKGROUND

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is a state agency charged with reducing fatalities, injuries and economic losses resulting from the operation of motor vehicles. The California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program is designed to increase seat belt usage in California to 93 percent in 2006 through the combined efforts of local law enforcement agencies, California Highway Patrol and OTS. The goal of the grant is to focus public information and enforcement on persons who fail to use seatbelts during the May 2006 Buckle Up America/Operation ABC National Mobilization.

The Department of Public Safety participated in this campaign in 2005 and utilized an OTS Grant of $36,766 as part of the California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program for Local Law Enforcement Agencies. The 2005 campaign results revealed Seat belt usage within the City of Sunnyvale increased from 96 to 98 percent, exceeding the desired state compliance rate of 93 percent.  OTS encourages continued participation in education and enforcement campaigns to ensure an exceptional rate of compliance is maintained.

EXISTING POLICY

4.1 Law Enforcement Sub-Element

Goal 4.1A: Provide a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community.

Policy 4.1A.5: Facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles.

Action Statement 4.1A5h: Participate in prevention and enforcement activities directed at minimizing personal injury in traffic collisions.

DISCUSSION

The OTS is offering local law enforcement agencies grants to conduct seatbelt enforcement for a 21 day period - May 15 through June 4, 2006. In addition to daily traffic enforcement activities, 20 hours of traffic enforcement unit staff time will be dedicated to this campaign. The grant will reimburse overtime costs generated for the seatbelt enforcement period.

DPS will conduct pre and post enforcement surveys to determine seat belt compliance before and after the enforcement period. The pre and post enforcement surveys are to be conducted one week prior to and one week after the enforcement mobilization period. The surveys consist of identifying 100 motorists and recording whether or not the driver was utilizing his/her seat belt. The pre and post operational surveys will be conducted by existing staff at representative locations throughout the areas selected for enforcement. Enforcement locations have been identified along the El Camino Real corridor, as well as those locations throughout the City with high accident rates. The 3-4 hours of staff time spent conducting the two surveys is not reimbursable and will be absorbed within the existing DPS budget.

The pre and post operational surveys and seat belt enforcement efforts will be conducted during daytime hours where the use of seatbelts can be readily observed. The Sunnyvale Traffic Unit will incorporate a combination of enforcement that includes targeting a specific geographical area and by saturation (designated section of roadway) efforts.  The grant award will fund 438 hours of lieutenant and officer overtime and 30 hours of administrative support overtime.

FISCAL IMPACT

Council approval of Budget Modification #14 will appropriate funds to Special Project 825950 – Traffic Seatbelt Enforcement Grant. This project will be fully funded by the OTS Seat Belt Enforcement Program Grant for Local Law Enforcement Agencies and will track overtime costs associated with conducting the 21 day enforcement period.  There will be very minor fiscal impact to the DPS budget of approximately $400 (as detailed in the Discussion section of this report) which will be absorbed within the existing DPS budget. 

BUDGET MODIFICATION No. 14

FY 2005/2006

Conclusion

Acceptance of this grant funding will enable DPS to conduct a seat belt compliance campaign, increasing roadway safety and driver awareness of the importance of wearing a seat belt.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and Office of the City Clerk.

ALTERNATIVES

1.    Council approves Budget Modification No. 14 to accept the California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program for Local Law Enforcement Agencies Grant in the amount of $39,928, appropriate the funds in special project 825950 – Traffic Seatbelt Enforcement Grant and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all agreements and documents necessary to effectuate this direction.

2.    Council does not approve Budget Modification No. 14 and declines the California Traffic Safety Seat Belt Enforcement Program Grant for Local Law Enforcement Agencies in the amount of $39,928.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council approve Alternative #1.

Reviewed by:

Don Johnson, Director of Public Safety

Prepared by: Tim Johnson, Deputy Chief, Special Operations

Reviewed by:

Mary Bradley, Director of Finance 

Approved by:

Amy Chan

City Manager