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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2012 c5 traffic impound grantcounci lacenba aEpol2t Meeting Date 3-6-1 2 Item Number C 5 C I T Y O F S A N L U I S O B I S P O FROM : Steve Gesell, Chief of Police Prepared By :Chris Staley, Police Captai n Melissa Ellsworth, Senior Administrative Analys t SUBJECT : AUTHORIZE FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT GRAN T FUND/TRAFFIC IMPOUND ACCOUNT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMEN T RELATED TO TRAFFIC SAFET Y RECOMMENDATIO N 1 Appropriate $16,000 from available fund balance in the Law Enforcement Gran t Fund/Traffic Impound Account to purchase mobile radar units for use by the Police Department's Traffic Safety Division personnel . 2 . Appropriate $8,200 from available fund balance in the Law Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffi c Impound Account to purchase tire deflation devices to equip patrol vehicles . DISCUSSION Mobile Radar Unit s The Police Department's Traffic Safety Division is comprised of four motor officers and a sergean t position .The sergeant's position is funded through Measure Y, the City's half cent sales tax . The main duties of the traffic safety program include enforcement of traffic laws, collisio n investigations, education programs and coordinating special events . The Department's Traffic Safety program supports the 2011-13 Major City Goal for Traffi c Congestion Relief Included in the work program for this major city goal is maintaining staff effort s on roads, transit and other programs related to congestion relief and safety . This is achieved by on - going implementation of the Traffic Operations and Traffic Safety Programs . Both of thes e programs help identify and correct existing traffic safety concerns . According to the 2010 Annual Traffic Safety Report, published by the City's Public Works an d Police Departments, speed was a primary collision factor for all non-injury and minor injur y collisions during that year . The Department's Traffic Division focuses enforcement efforts on hig h collision areas throughout the year . Focused enforcement often involves high visibility patrols and saturation deployment at these pre-designated locations . Currently, traffic officers monitor vehicle speed throughout the City by utilizing handheld ligh t detecting and ranging (LIDAR) devices .Officers must remain stationary while utilizing these devices,limiting their effectiveness . Authorize Funds from Traffic Impound Account Page 2 The ability for traffic officers to enforce speed violations in a mobile environment will improv e staffs ability to focus on speed enforcement and improve the City's traffic safety index . Other agencies within San Luis Obispo County currently utilize mobile radar units and have experience d positive results . Tire Deflation Device s Currently, the Police Department has one tire deflation device which is stored in a supervisor's vehicle . The device is utilized by law enforcement to disable fleeing vehicles by puncturing th e tires . Utilizing tire deflation devices allows officers to end pursuits in a safe and effective manner ; the device can be stored in the trunk of a patrol vehicle and depending on the brand of the device , deployment is relatively easy and fast . This technology has been used by police agencies throughou t the U .S . for over a decade with great success . Considering the Police Department only has one device, its likelihood of deployment is minima l due to the dynamic nature of police pursuits . Bolstering the number of available tire deflatio n device enhances safety on all levels for both the officers and the community . Moreover, deploymen t of these devices reduces liability exposure associated with police pursuits . Staff is requesting authority to purchase a device for every patrol vehicle in addition to one as a reserve for a total of 15 units . Ongoing costs are minimal due to the fact that most brands offer replacement at no cost during the warranty period, which is typically approximately five years . CONCURRENCE S The Director of Finance and Information Technology concurs with the recommendation . FISCAL IMPAC T All costs associated with these purchases will come from fees accumulated in the Law Enforcemen t Grant Fund/Traffic Impound Account . Approximately $42,000 in impound fee revenue ha s accumulated in this account and is available for use pursuant to the grant parameters . This account was established in 2000 as a requirement of the Office of Traffic Safety Grant t o receive fees collected from violators whose vehicles were impounded because they were drivin g without a valid license . Pursuant to the grant requirements, these funds must remain separate fro m the General Fund and must be used for traffic-related programs . The purchase of both the mobil e radar units and the tire deflation devices meet these guidelines . Allocation from the La w Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound account requires Council approval . ALTERNATIVE S 1 Do not purchase the mobile radar units or the tire deflation devices .This alternative is no t recommended ; purchasing these units will allow staff to enhance traffic safety throughou t the City and reduce liability exposure utilizing existing funding available in the La w Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound Account . G5 2 Authorize Funds from Traffic Impound Account Page 3 2 .Implement a pilot program for the mobile radar units .The pilot program would allow staff to purchase two units for the Police Department's traffic team . Staff would evaluate the effectiveness of mobile radar each quarter for a 12-month period . If staff determines the equipment improves the ability to enforce speed, then staff would request to purchase two more units to outfit the rest of the traffic safety team . Unit price is not influenced by the number purchased at one time . Purchase a reduced number of tire deflation devices :Staff does not recommend this alternative as outfitting every patrol vehicle with this device potentially decreases risk an d liability associated with a fleeing vehicle as it increases the probability of deployment . T,\Council Agenda Reports\2012\2012-03-06\Law EnforceGrant FundTraffic Impound (Gesell-Ellsworth)\Traffic Impound Acct_Traffic Safety.docx Page intentionally left blank .