SR 11-15-2022 5I
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
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TAKE THE FRIENDLY ROAD is an invitation to take practical steps to care
for the safety of everyone, especially when
we’re out on the road. Together as a city, we
all have a role to play in helping reach zero
road-related fatalities and severe injuries.
BE A FRIENDLY ROAD ADVOCATEIn the coming months, we want to involve you in bringing the Friendly Road to your family, community, and neighborhood. Please join us by signing up at santamonica.gov/friendlyroad. You’ll receive occasional campaign updates and invitations to take action, along with the City of Santa Monica’s bi-weekly newsletter.
Together, let’s create a safe and friendly Santa Monica for everyone.
HERE ARE THREE WAYS WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER:
INFRASTRUCTUREWe are constantly evaluating the best ways to improve our roads so that all road users feel safe and confident. The impact on people’s lives from these projects is significant; for example, severe injury collisions have fallen by 71% on Ocean Park Boulevard since bike lanes and left turn pockets were installed between Lincoln and Cloverfield boulevards.
Infrastructure projects are for you! Community
input is essential to understanding how people use
our streets and where improvements can be made.
To share ideas or issues in your neighborhood
through our map-based survey — or to find out
what projects are happening across the city — go to
santamonica.gov/friendlyroad.
Recently, the City began work to install 19 miles of green bike lanes, upgraded 20 traffic signals to detect bikes and implemented 50 Leading Pedestrian Intervals, which give pedestrians a head start and have been shown to reduce collisions by up to 60%. Major project are also coming to 17th Street and Michigan Avenue that will improve traffic flow and safety for everyone.
ENFORCEMENTThe Santa Monica Police Department plays a critical role in putting a stop to behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and not yielding to others. SMPD also takes on the responsibility of helping the community be safe in practical ways, including through the support of crossing guards and regular enforcement operations like DUI checkpoints. Next time you see an officer, thank him or her for helping
us all take the friendly road!
EDUCATIONNo matter what age you are or how you get around Santa Monica, we all need to know how to move about safely. Through our Safe Routes to School program, we are teaching students how to walk and bike safely. Through community events and outreach, there are opportunities to understand new projects and laws that are designed to keep us all safe.
If you have an event coming up, we’d love to be there! Friendly Road team members are available to come raise awareness and pass out swag. Send us an email at FriendlyRoad@smgov.net to get in touch with our team.
friendl yroad
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Packet Pg. 277 Attachment: SaMo_VisionZero_OnePager_Final (5402 : Office of Traffic Safety Grant)