Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorization to apply for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant - Authorize the Visalia Police Department to apply for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Grant for an estimated amount of $230,000 and submit the application by the 1/31/2026 deadline.
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Prepared by: Police Chief, Jason Salazar, (559) 713-4215, Jason.Salazar@visalia.gov; Financial Analyst, Liz Ybarra, (559) 713-4250, Liz.Ybarra@visalia.gov; Lieutenant Mike Short, (5590 713-4573, Mike.Short@visalia.gov; Sergeant Henry Martinez, (559) 713-4232, Henry.Martinez@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Authorize the Visalia Police Department to apply for The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) FY 2026-27 Grant for an estimated amount of $230,000 and submit the application by the 1/30/2026 deadline. The grant is effective from 10/1/2026 to 9/30/2027.
Summary:
The Department has been awarded the STEP Grant for more than 10 years and has used the funds to enhance its traffic enforcement and educational efforts including but not limited to: DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, distracted driver, motorcycle safety, pedestrian/bicycle enforcement operations, and several traffic educational presentations. The grant has also funded equipment and provided the resources necessary to effectively complete Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement details.
Background Discussion:
With various strategies, traffic safety and DUI enforcement are aggressively targeted through checkpoints, saturation details, traffic enforcement, distracted driving operations, motorcycle details, and traffic safety education. The goal of the STEP Grant is to provide support and funding to reduce the number of persons killed or injured in traffic collisions, decrease alcohol-related collisions, increase DUI enforcement efforts, and raise public awareness about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. Operations are conducted in areas with disproportionately high numbers of traffic collisions.
For the 2024-2025 grant year, Visalia Police Department was awarded $200,000. These funds were used to purchase 10 new mobile ticket printers for the Traffic Unit, procure DUI checkpoint supplies, and conduct 19 DUI enforcement operations, 26 traffic safety enforcement operations, and training for 12 additional officers in DUI detection and enforcement.
For the 2025-2026 grant year, the Visalia Police Department was awarded $190,000 in funding. These funds will support 20 DUI enforcement operations, 25 traffic safety enforcement operations, two community-focused traffic safety presentations, and the purchase of new DUI checkpoint supplies for impaired-driving operations.
For the 2026-2027 grant year, the department will seek approximately $230,000 in funding. The requested funds will support 21 DUI enforcement operations and 35 traffic safety enforcement operations that include general traffic enforcement, distracted-driving enforcement, motorcycle safety enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and street-racing enforcement. The requested funding will also support two traffic safety community presentations and the continued purchase and replacement of DUI checkpoint supplies for safe and compliant checkpoint deployments.
The City of Visalia has experienced a steady increase in drivers and vehicles. The requested grant funding will provide additional resources to enhance enforcement and educational efforts, ultimately improving roadway safety.
Fiscal Impact: The grant budget can consist of staff overtime, equipment and supplies. Staff will go back to Council if the grant is awarded.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Do not authorize the Police Department to submit the grant application.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize the Visalia Police Department to apply for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) FY 2026-27 Grant for an estimated amount of $230,000 and submit the application by 1/30/2026.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 12/15/2025
Attachments: STEP Grant Budget