DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing and possible action on a San Antonio Police Department grant award in an amount not to exceed $900,000.00 for the Comprehensive Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Police Department will provide the Public Safety Committee with a briefing on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Comprehensive Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant, which has been awarded to the City for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. The STEP grant in the amount of $900,000.00 will enhance the San Antonio Police Department’s (SAPD) efforts to combat incidences of DWI, speeding, occupant protection, distracted driving and intersection related violations. This grant requires a cash match not to exceed $265,000.00 and an in-kind match not to exceed $77,500.00.
The acceptance of this grant is scheduled for City Council consideration in “A” Session on September 17, 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Comprehensive Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant will provide for traffic enforcement and educational activity on an overtime basis to help augment the SAPD’s efforts to reduce the incidence of DWI, speeding, occupant protection, distracted driving and intersection related violations. Enforcement activity will be conducted with sworn officers assigned to the program on an overtime basis and the educational component will consist of both regular duty and overtime assignments.
The TxDOT award consists of $900,000.00 from TxDOT, a City cash match of $265,000.00, and an in-kind match of $57,393.00. The total proposed program budget is $1,222,393.00. The City's in-kind contribution will come from the cost of the vehicles used while performing grant activities (fuel, maintenance, repairs, etc.) and the cost of court appearances by officers who make arrests while working the grant.
The grant application was authorized by a Special Category Grant Opportunity Submission Authorization Request and the application was submitted to TxDOT on January 9, 2020. The STEP will pay for traffic enforcement and educational activity on an overtime basis to help augment the SAPD’s efforts to reduce the incidence of DWI, speeding, occupant protection, distracted driving and intersection related violations. Enforcement activity will be conducted with sworn officers assigned to the program on an overtime basis and the educational component will consist of both regular duty and overtime assignments.
The TxDOT award consists of $900,000.00 from TxDOT, a City cash match of $265,000.00, and an in-kind match of $77,500.00. The total proposed program budget is $1,242,500.00. The City's in-kind contribution will come from the cost of the vehicles used while performing grant activities (fuel, maintenance, repairs, etc.).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total program budget is estimated at $1,242,500.00. The total proposed program budget includes grant funding of $900,000.00, a FY 2021 General Fund cash match of $265,000.00, which has been budgeted, and an in-kind contribution of $77,500.00. The City's in-kind contribution will come from the cost of the vehicles used while performing grant activities (fuel, maintenance, repairs, etc.) and the cost of court appearances by officers who make arrests while working the grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Public Safety Committee forwards this grant to full City Council for approval and acceptance. This item is scheduled for consideration in “A” Session on September 17, 2020.