DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Ratifying the acceptance of a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for the FY21 High Priority-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) program.
SUMMARY:
An ordinance ratifying the acceptance of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grant - High Priority-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) Program in the amount of $500,000 for the period of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2022 an authorizing an in-kind match no to exceed $88,301 from the Police Department General Fund Budget. This grant augments the San Antonio Police Department’s (SAPD) effort to combat aggressive driving behaviors of both passenger and commercial motor vehicle drivers through enforcement and public information and education. This grant will also increase enforcement of commercial motor vehicles safety inspections including driver qualifications by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Division is dedicating funds for traffic safety projects such as the High Priority-Commercial Motor Vehicle enforcement program. The grant application was authorized by a Special Category Grant Opportunity Submission Authorization Request and the application was submitted to FMCSA on February 21, 2020.
The major objectives of the program are to reduce the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles through enforcement and education. The Police Department will increase public awareness of dangerous driving behaviors that cause collisions between motor vehicles by utilizing High-Visibility Enforcement (HVE) strategies that combine enforcement, publicity and visibility elements in an attempt to modify aggressive driving behaviors. Additional enforcement will take place in the form of Department of Transportation (DOT) commercial motor vehicle inspections. These inspections will ensure that both the commercial motor vehicles, and the drivers, are meeting all Federal and State regulations. The grant would provide funding for overtime and training for Officers.
This will be the sixth year that the SAPD has been awarded funding for Commercial Motor Vehicle enforcement. Previous awards were:
2010 - $75,000
2011 - $327,500
2012 - $740,372
2013 - $862,912
2014 - $568,215
In-kind contribution will be through credit of existing staff time to administer the grant, and mileage for vehicles used in the grant program.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on this grant on September 11, 2020 and the Committee recommended this item for approval at the October 1st, City Council “A” Session.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues the City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for traffic safety programs that address hazardous and aggressive driving in and around commercial motor vehicles. These programs from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will enhance the City's efforts in reducing the number and severity of crashes and fatalities due to aggressive driving.
ALTERNATIVES:
This grant provides the opportunity for SAPD to augment efforts to combat aggressive driving behaviors of both passenger and commercial motor vehicle drivers through enforcement and public information and education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance accepts grant a $500,000 grant and authorizes a $88,301 of in-kind match over two fiscal years (FY 2021 and FY 2022). The City’s in-kind contribution will be covered from the mileage and maintenance from the vehicles used during enforcement and the administrative costs of personnel to manage the grant. The City’s in-kind contribution for FY 2022 is subject to City Council future appropriation approval.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this item.