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-r...
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