Title
CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $108,400 FROM THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE (OHSO) TO BE USED BY THE NORMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT HIGH-VISIBILITY ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION / EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS DIRECTED TOWARD TRAFFIC SAFETY, IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION, AND UNDERAGE DRINKING COMPLIANCE; APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1819-68; AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE SPECIAL GRANTS FUND BALANCE.
Body
BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) has informed the Norman Police Department that it has been awarded a $108,400 grant. The money is allocated in three specific areas: (1) Traffic Enforcement - $83,400; (2) Impaired Driving Enforcement - $15,000; and (3) “Too Much To Lose” underage drinking compliance - $10,000.
High-visibility traffic enforcement and education activities will focus on those violations that cause or contribute to injury and fatality collisions. Specifically this year, funding is directed toward locations where injury and fatality collisions occur, aggressive driving actions, occupant protection enforcement, and locations with high concentrations of pedestrian/bicycle traffic. Impaired driving enforcement includes targeted enforcement and saturation patrols as well as related activities to include public information and education projects and sobriety checkpoints. Underage drinking efforts are directed at activities agreed upon with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OKDMHSAS).
DISCUSSION: The Norman Police Department will utilize full time officers in an overtime capacity to conduct distracted driving, seat belt and child restraint enforcement, and education activities. Additional overtime efforts will be used to conduct pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic enforcement and education operations. Activities are intended to increase compliance with traffic laws and to reduce the number of collisions and injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions. Enforcement activities will be directed by Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) analysis which identifies high-crime and high-collision areas, by identified locations of citizen complaints, and by recognized high-risk zones (e.g., schools, hospitals, day cares, etc.). Education activities will focus on general public safety announcements and more specific target population-based initiatives. Efforts will also include traffic safety and sobriety checkpoints, “No Refusal” weekends, high-visibility saturation patrols during holidays and special events (such as “Operation Cadence”), and OHSO mobilizations (“Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”). Educational efforts will include classroom presentations, press releases, social media announcements, and non-enforcement citizen outreach projects.
The Norman Police Department, in agreement with the OKDMHSAS, and in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Work (which has not yet been completed for this grant period), will also conduct targeted alcohol compliance enforcement as set forth in the anticipated agreement and in support of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration objectives.
The Norman Police Department will supply the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office with enforcement and education statistics on a monthly basis as stated in the attached contract between Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the City of Norman. Funding reimbursement will continue through September 30, 2019.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council accept the grant, approve the contract, and appropriate $108,400 from the Special Grant Fund balance (022-0000-253.20-00); and allocate $83,400 to Overtime (Account 022-6019-421.21-10; Traffic Enforcement Project GP0121); $15,000 to Overtime (Account 022-6019-421.21-10; Impaired Driving Enforcement Project GP0122); and $10,000 to Overtime (Account 022-6019-421.21-10; Too Much To Lose Project GP0123). It is further recommended that upon reimbursement, the funds be deposited into the Special Grants Fund, Other Revenue/Traffic & Alcohol Enforcement (022-0000-331.13-40).