TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
Peter Wingert, Chief of Police
DATE: October 27, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
Staff Contact Peter Wingert 480-948-7418
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Acceptance of Governor's Office of Highway Safety Grants
Body
Agenda Item Relates to Mission/Vision:
- Provides high quality public services to a community which values limited government
Strategic Initiative:
- Continuously provide high quality public safety services for Town residents and visitors.
- Conscientiously manage the Town’s financial resources.
Council Goals or Other Policies / Statutory Requirements:
-Public Safety Task Force Recommendations
-Respond to neighborhood complaints in a timely manner
-Improve patrol level problem solving
-Paradise Valley Police Department Strategic Plan:
-Goal number one: Reduce crime and the fear of crime
Supporting goal:
-Reduce collisions and speed throughout Town by use of effective patrols and improved technology
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Authorize the Town Manager to sign three Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grants.
Background
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In FY 2016, the Police Department participated in the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant for the first time in over five years. During FY 16, the GOHS grant allowed officers to work overtime shifts in order to specifically seek traffic violations and DUI violators. Two grants were accepted, authorizing the expenditure of $25,000 of overtime to seek traffic violators. During the 46 overtime shifts that officers worked, they wrote 233 citations and arrested 5 DUIs.
In 2016, despite the increased numbers of patrols on the Paradise Valley streets through the use of the GOHS grant, traffic collisions in Paradise Valley increased by 30% over the three-year average
The GOHS has offered the Town of Paradise Valley three grants during this federal fiscal year. Two of the grants are to enforce DUI ($15,000) and Traffic laws ($20,000). These grants cover the officer’s overtime wage and a 28% of the employee related expenses associated with the employee, which includes part of the PSPRS match.
The third GOHS grant offers $27,000 for the purchase of an outfitted police motorcycle. Paradise Valley has had a police motorcycle in the past, but discontinued its use in 2014. A motorcycle program in Paradise Valley can assist with the following neighborhood problems that we currently have:
• The majority of the collisions occur on Lincoln Dr. and Tatum Blvd. and are speed or inattentive driving related.
o These areas are difficult to work in a Tahoe because the Tahoe is large and cannot be parked alongside the roadway, leaving moving radar as the only option.
o Moving radar is not a great option due to the traffic on both roadways. It is difficult to execute a U-turn in the large vehicle to get behind a violator, in order to stop the violator.
o If a stop is successfully made on Lincoln or Tatum, it is difficult to get the traffic stop off the main roadway, due to the raised curbing and private driveways. A traffic stop on Lincoln or Tatum impedes traffic due to the size of the Tahoe blocking one entire lane. This problem would be alleviated with the size of a police motorcycle.
o Motorcycles would allow us to park in town right of way alongside these thoroughfares, yet are nimble enough to conduct U turns on violators.
• PVPD receives a number of complaints about poor bicyclist attitudes and behavior and reduce speeding vehicles on Cheney, Mockingbird, and Doubletree.
o Motors would be beneficial in solving the bicyclist problem in the areas mentioned.
o Additionally, motors could be used to deter bicyclist problems near town hall, but includes several areas where we are regularly asked to work extra patrol due to bikers.
o Motors could be beneficial in deterring speed related problems in the same areas. Recently, we have received several requests for extra patrol due to speeders in the area of Cheney and Doubletree.
• We attempted to solve the bicyclist problems using stationary and mobile patrols in the areas identified. When we are stationed in these areas in the Tahoe, we are very visible. While we are in the area, we do not see the problem behavior due to our visibility. When the Tahoe leaves, the problem resurfaces. Motors are able to be concealed better, which might assist us in solving this neighborhood problem.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
The acceptance of this grant would not have a budgetary impact during the first year. The grant money would be used to increase patrol staffing during the selected times. Items associated with the motorcycle program would be purchased with the grant funds supplied for the motorcycle.
The cost of fuel for the motorcycle would be budgeted out of the current fiscal year budget.
During subsequent years, maintenance of the motorcycle would be the responsibility of the town.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Ltr Motors 09 28 16.docx