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Home My WebLink About9C - Safe and Sober Communities Grant Funding STAFF AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 18, 1999 AGENDA #: 9C PREPARED BY: GREG ZOLLNER, POLICE SERGEANT REVIEWED BY: WILLIAM O'ROURKE, POLICE CHIEF SUBJECT: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 99-XX AUTHORIZING SAFE AND SOBER COMMUNITIES FUNDING FOR THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1, 1999 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. DISCUSSION: History: A joint application for Prior Lake and Savage has been submitted to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for grant money under the Safe & Sober Communities program. This program puts patrol officers on the street during designated enforcement periods. The departments will work in unison and identify target areas for enforcement. A resolution by the governing body receiving the grant money must be adopted. In our case, both communities are required to adopt a resolution. This would be our third year of participation in the program. Both communities have seen an increase in motor vehicle traffic due to additional housing developments and entertainment opportunities available in the communities. Motor vehicle crashes and complaints regarding driving violations are a common occurrence in both communities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides funding for this program. They have identified the top two traffic safety priorities as the 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER reduction of impaired driving and the increase of safety belt and child safety seat use. Traffic crashes are the biggest cause of severe and permanent injuries, including dismemberment, disfiguration, quadriplegia, paraplegia, adult-onset epilepsy and severe brain injury. During 1998 in Minnesota, there were 575 fatal traffic crashes in which 650 people were killed. Of those deaths, 42% were the result of alcohol related crashes (273). Of the 532 people who were occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes in 1998, only 30.3% were known to have used their safety belts (161). Statewide, only 64% of Minnesota's general motoring population used safety belts in 1998. Research shows enforcement alone does not have a lasting effect on a driver's behavior. However, combining increased enforcement with high publicity has been found to result in long-lasting improvements. These efforts are referred to as Special Traffic Enforcement Programs (STEPs). This will be the sixth year of the program in Minnesota. Two major components of Safe & Sober are: 1. Public Information and Education 2. Traffic Law Enforcement Minnesota's Safe and Sober campaign focuses on four waves of enhanced enforcement and public information activities. All four waves are designed to increase belt use and decrease impaired driving. Each wave also has a different sub-focus to keep media attention high. The four waves for Minnesota's Safe and Sober campaign will be conducted around November and December party times, May proms and graduations, Independence Day and Labor Day. Current Circumstances: Through the use of this grant money, both communities will be able to participate in the campaign, while still maintaining regular patrol functions. Officers are paid to work extra shifts at their respective overtime rate through the grant. Regularly scheduled patrol shifts will not be affected by the special shifts for the campaign. Officers will not be taken off the street and reassigned to work the campaign. The total Federal grant amount is $24,869.00. Of this amount, 85% ($21,261.00) is allocated for over time enforcement hours. The remaining 15% ($3,608.00) is allocated for administration. This will mainly be used for clerical support. The Savage Police Department is the lead agency for this grant. Prior Lake is the partner agency. Savage Police Chief Gordon Vlasak is designated as the fiscal agent and administrator for this grant. The partnership with the Savage Police Department allows both agencies to pool resources. Resources include equipment, personnel, support staff and prosecution. All of these resources should help to make this a successful campaign. Included with this report are copies of the application, proposed budget and basic agreement that will be filed with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The basic agreement provides details concerning our objectives and estimated enforcement hours. ISSUES: The grant is a one year effort. Does the council believe that this is an appropriate area of police concentration during the coming year? This is another example of cooperation between Prior Lake and other public agencies to deliver services most economically. Do such efforts still have the City Council's support? There is always some hazard potential associated with enforcement efforts. Does the council believe that the hazards and concentration of personnel and equipment to accomplish these stated objectives are appropriate? FISCAL IMPACT: The project is funded by a $24,869.00 one year grant from the Federal government. The City's contribution includes: 1. Clerical 2. Administrative 3. Equipment 4. Prosecution and court time This contribution is included in the draft 2000 Police budget. Note - A portion of the clerical and administrative costs will be covered by the grant. AL TERNA TIVES: Council has the following alternatives: 1. Accept the grant money by adopting Resolution 99- XX. 2. Deny approval of the Safe & Sober grant money. 3. Table action on this report until a later date. RECOMMENDATION: Alternative #1. Accept the grant money for the Minnesota Safe & Sober Communities project. ACTION REQUIRED: Motion and second to adopt Resolution #99-XX authorizing execution of grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the Safe & Sober Communities project for the period from October 1, 1999 to September 30, 200 RESOLUTION 99-XX RESOLUTION OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR SAFE AND SOBER COMMUNITIES PROJECT MOTION BY: WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, SECOND BY: The City of Prior Lake desires to guard the safety of the citizens by improving traffic safety and participating in the Safe & Sober Communities challenge; and Under the provision of the Highway Safety Act (P.L. 89-563), the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has federal funding to promote traffic safety; and A partnership with the Savage Police Department has been formed to jointly address traffic safety using Federal funding in both cities; and The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has judged the City's of Prior Lake and Savage Police Departments efforts to decrease impaired driving and increase seat belt use to be exceptional and wants to reward those efforts. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA, that: 1, The Prior Lake Police enter into a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the project entitled SAFE & SOBER COMMUNITIES during the period from October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000, 2, William O'Rourke, Police Chief of Prior Lake is hereby authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the Prior Lake Police Department. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUi'iITY EMPLOYER 3. Gordon Vlasak, Police Chief of Savage is hereby authorized to be the fiscal agent and administer this grant for both commuruties. Passed and adopted this 18th day of October, 1999. YES NO Kedrowski Mader Petersen Schenck Wuellner Kedrowski Mader Petersen Schenck Wuellner {Seal} City Manager City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Ave, $,E" Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714/ Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER L~ - JIj' .... RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT Be it resolved that the Prior Lake Police enter into a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the project entitled SAFE & SOBER COMMUNITIES during the period from October I, 1999 through September 30,2000. William O'Rourke, Police Chief of Prior Lake is hereby authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the Prior Lake Police Department. Be it further resolved that Chief Gordon Vlasak, Savage Police Department is hereby authorized to be the fiscal agent and administer this grant on behalf of the Savage Police Department. I certify that the above resolution was adopted by the City Council of Prior Lake, Minnesota on October 18, 1999, SIGNED: WITNESSETH: City Manager Finance Director (Date) (Date) 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S,E., Prior Lake. Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 A'i EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER