ADMINISTRATION- Chris Olson/Police Chief
Title
OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT OFFICER
Background
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is seeking proposals from law enforcement agencies for a full time DWI officer. The DWI officer will work the peak nights and times when drinking and driving occurs. Data from 2011-2013 was reviewed and to get the highest impact, the eight counties with the most impaired-related deaths serious injuries were chosen as being eligible for grant funds. Those eight are Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Ramsey, St. Louis and Stearns. In addition, applicant agencies must have a sworn complement of at least 25 officers.
The OTS has a mandate to promote the safety of those who use public roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides federal funding to the OTS to design and implement public education and traffic law enforcement programs to fulfill this mandate. The OTS and NHTSA seek to support traffic safety interventions that have been proven to reduce deaths and severe injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. The OTS is committed to funding projects that have identified traffic safety problems with proposed enforcement strategies likely to alleviate those problems.
Within the last two weeks, we were made aware of this grant process. It is competitive process among the law enforcement jurisdictions within the above-noted eight counties. As part of the application process, the entity making application needs to have Council approval, by Resolution, to participate. Specific grant awards will likely occur within the next month.
Funding exists for these eight officers and related squad cars for a total of four years (with one officer and one squad car per jurisdiction). The grant award will initially be for the fiscal years of October 1, 2014-September 30, 2016 and is to be renewed each year for a total of four years. According to a Department of Public Safety spokesperson, the beginning of the four-year grant process starts when the dedicated DWI officer starts.
Recommendation
By Resolution, allow the Police Chief to enter into a grant agreement with Minnesota Department of Public Safety (Office of Traffic Safety) for one (1) dedicated DWI officer and related equipment.
Body
WHEREAS, The Blaine City Council recognizes that progress continues to be made in reducing the incidence of drinking and driving; unfortunately it still remains an issue; and
WHEREAS, In 2013 it was estimated by the National Safety Council that the cost of alcohol-related crashes in Minnesota was $235 million. In the same year, 20 percent of those involved in alcohol-related crashes were seriously injured and another 30 percent were killed; and
WHEREAS, To address this ongoing issue, the Office of Traffic Safety is implementing a program to support eight full time officers and equipment needed to enforce traffic laws, including squad cars to be used solely for DWI enforcement,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Blaine City Council will allow the Blaine Police Department to enter in grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for traffic safety enforcement projects during the period from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016 and subsequent grant years thereafter. The Chief of Police of the Blaine Police Department is authorized to execute such agreements and amendments as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City of Blaine and the Blaine Police Department and to be the fiscal agent and administer the grant.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Blaine on Thursday, December 4, 2014.