REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve an Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Agreement and the Related Budget Amendment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s (OTS) mission is to effectively and efficiently administer traffic safety grant funds to reduce traffic deaths, injuries and economic losses.
The OTS reviews local, county, and state crash data to identify roadway users (e.g., motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, teens, older drivers, etc.) with a statistically higher crash risk. This data, combined with citation, licensing, vehicle miles traveled, and demographic information are analyzed to help OTS and its partners understand what is prompting crashes and the resulting injuries/fatalities on California’s roadways not only statewide, but also at the county and city level.
OTS uses crash rankings to compare traffic safety statistics of cities and counties of similar population size. Data for the rankings is taken from several agencies, including the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), California Department of Transportation, etc. The rankings, which are developed using the Empirical Bayesian Ranking or EB Method, factor in not only population and daily vehicle miles traveled but also crash records and trends. This results in a single, more accurate ranking. Rankings are available addressing fatalities and injuries; alcohol; motorcyclists; pedestrians; bicyclists; speed related, hit and run, and nighttime crashes; and composite. With this information, individual agencies can identify emerging issues and develop a plan to combat these issues. In turn, OTS and individual cities use this data to monitor progress in addressing ongoing traffic safety problems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified priority areas, which OTS has determined to be effective in reducing motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities. The priority program areas are as follows:
• Alcohol-Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Drug-Impaired Driving
• Emergency Medical Services
• Motorcycle Safety
• Occupant Protection
• Police Traffic Services
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
• Roadway Safety and Traffic Records
• Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing Program
The Police Department has been the recipient of several OTS grants in recent years, including:
• Fiscal Year 2014/15, $50,000
• Fiscal Year 2017/18, $35,000
• Fiscal Year 2019/20, $70,000
• Fiscal Year 2020/21, $24,900
• Fiscal Year 2024/25, $70,000
DISCUSSION
In December 2024, Police Department staff attended a grant workshop to learn about the OTS funding opportunity and fulfill the preliminary requirement to submit a grant application. In January 2025, the Police Department submitted a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant application to OTS in the amount of $106,316 with public awareness, enforcement operation and specialized training opportunities with priorities consistent with OTS rankings specific to the City of Santa Clara.
Through a competitive process, the Police Department was informed in July 2025 that the Department was awarded a $80,000 STEP grant contingent upon final approval from the NHTSA. Final approval from NHTSA is granted following City Council acceptance of the funding and authorization to execute the grant-related documents. In turn, the OTS Grant Coordinator will work with the Police Department to finalize a Grant Agreement using information included in the original grant application for the October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, grant period.
With OTS financial support, the Police Department will have the ability to offer overtime opportunities to officers to implement public awareness efforts, enforcement operations and attend specialized trainings, such as:
• Initial press release announcing grant partnership and participate in OTS / NHTSA messaging campaigns (e.g., National Walk to School Day, National Teen Driver Safety Week, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, etc.) throughout the grant term
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and driver’s license checkpoint(s)
• Pedestrian and bicycle enforcement operation(s)
• Traffic enforcement operation(s) with a focus on distracted driving, especially through the use of handheld cell phones and texting
• Saturation patrol(s) to increase the number of officers in a small area to maximize the number of DUI arrests
• Traffic enforcement operation(s)
• The purchase of supplies in support of Police Department’s Traffic Unit Operations
• Member(s) of the Traffic Unit to attend training supporting the grant goals (e.g., Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) course, Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) course, etc.)
Each initiative has the goal of increasing the probability that roadway users (e.g., motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.) arrive at their destination safely.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance of an Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant will allow the City to be reimbursed up to $80,000 in police officer overtime for approved public awareness efforts, enforcement operations and training. A budget amendment recognizing and appropriating this grant revenue is detailed below.
The Police Department will be responsible for fulfilling standard grant requirements, such as compiling data to submit to OTS, invoicing and media requirements. These items are not reimbursable as part of the grant.
Budget Amendment
FY 2025/26
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Police Operating Grant Trust Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Other Agencies Revenue |
$0 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant 2025 |
$0 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and City Manager’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Approve the Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Agreement on substantially the terms presented;
2. Approve the FY 2025/26 budget amendment in the Police Operating Grant Trust Fund to recognize grant revenue in the amount of $80,000 and establish a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant appropriation in the amount of $80,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue); and
3. Authorize the Chief of Police, City Manager and/or Director of Finance to sign the required grant-related documents in final forms approved by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Cory Morgan, Chief of Police
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Office of Traffic Safety Grant Agreement