Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorization to Accept the Office of Traffic STEP Grant - Authorize the Visalia Police Department to accept the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Fiscal Year 2025-26 Grant in the amount of $190,000 awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, appropriate $40,000 from the General Fund and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the Grant Agreement.
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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
Police Lieutenant Mike Short, 559-713-4573, mike.short@visalia.gov
Police Sergeant Henry Martinez, 559-713-4232, henry.martinez@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Authorize the Visalia Police Department to accept the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) FY 2025-26 Grant in the amount of $190,000 awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), appropriate $40,000 from the General Fund and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the Grant Agreement. The Grant is effective 10/1/2025 - 9/30/2026.
Summary:
The Visalia Police 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: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoints and saturation patrols, distracted driver, motorcycle safety, pedestrian/bicycle enforcement operations, and several educational presentations. The Grant has also funded equipment and provided the resources necessary to effectively complete 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.
In the FY 2023-24 Grant year (10/01/23-09/30/24), the Visalia Police Department responded to four alcohol-related traffic fatalities and 61 alcohol-related injury collisions. In total, the department addressed 17 fatal traffic collisions and 579 injury collisions. During that Grant year, the Department was awarded $170,000, which funded 19 DUI enforcement operations, 31 traffic safety enforcement operations, and training for 39 officers in DUI detection and enforcement.
In the 2024-25 Grant year (10/01/24-09/30/25), the Visalia Police Department responded to three alcohol-related traffic fatalities and 32 alcohol-related injury collisions. In total, the department addressed nine fatal traffic collisions and 437 injury collisions. During this Grant year, the Department was awarded $200,000, which funded 21 DUI enforcement operations, 25 traffic safety enforcement operations, and training for officers in DUI detection and enforcement.
For the 2025-26 Grant year, the STEP Grant will provide the Visalia Police Department funding for six DUI/DL checkpoints, 12 DUI saturation details, eight traffic enforcement operations, 10 distracted driving operations, four motorcycle safety operations, three pedestrian and bicycle enforcement operations, two traffic safety presentations, and two collaborative DUI enforcement operations. The Department also received funding for DUI checkpoint supplies.
The City of Visalia has experienced a steady increase in drivers and vehicles. This Grant funding will provide additional resources to enhance enforcement and educational efforts, ultimately improving roadway safety.
Fiscal Impact: The STEP Grant is budgeted annually and currently has a budget of $150,000 in the Traffic Division 2103. An additional $40,000 in appropriations is required. The General Fund will be reimbursed by the Grant.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Not to authorize the Visalia Police Department to submit the STEP Grant application.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize the Visalia Police Department to accept the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program FY 2025-26 Grant in the amount of $190,000 awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, appropriate $40,000 from the General Fund and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the Grant Agreement.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 10/6/2025
Attachments: Draft Grant Agreement.