Consent 1.F.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 10/12/2010
- TITLE
- Resolution Approving Use of Contingency Funds for Distracted Driving Publicity
- PRESENTED BY:
- Tina Volek
- Department:
- City Hall Administration
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council approved an initiative at its Sept. 27, 2010, meeting to provide up to $2,500 from Council Contingency funds for water bill inserts and other materials needed to publicize the Oct. 31 effective date of the City's Distracted Driving Ordinance.
The Distracted Driving ordinance was approved on July 26, 2010. It bans the use of cell phones for most drivers, unless a hands-free device also is used. The City Council directed the Ad-Hoc Committee on Distracted Driving to create an informational campaign that will explain the pending ordinance to both residents and visitors. The group has planned for many methods of publicizing the ordinance, including the use of social media, signs at City entrances, information provided to students at local high schools and colleges, and television appearances and public safety announcements.
The Distracted Driving ordinance was approved on July 26, 2010. It bans the use of cell phones for most drivers, unless a hands-free device also is used. The City Council directed the Ad-Hoc Committee on Distracted Driving to create an informational campaign that will explain the pending ordinance to both residents and visitors. The group has planned for many methods of publicizing the ordinance, including the use of social media, signs at City entrances, information provided to students at local high schools and colleges, and television appearances and public safety announcements.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The Council may:
- Approve the resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $2,500 from Council Contingency for a Distracted Driving campaign; as originally directed by the Council
- Approve the resolution for a modified amount of money for the campaign; or
- Deny the resolution, forcing the Distracted Driving Ad-Hoc Committee to find funding elsewhere.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City Council has $60,000 budgeted for Council Contingency (Account 010-1110-411.79-70) in Fiscal Year 2011 (FY '11). The Council already has allocated $2,000 from the fund for a trails study being conducted through the Chamber of Commerce. Another $8,000 allocation for a study on the effects of a Tax Increment Financing District study to be conducted by Montana State University-Billings is also being considered on the agenda of Oct. 12. If both the Oct. 12 requests are approved, the balance in the Council Contingency Fund for the remaining three quarters of FY 2011 will be $47,500.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the attached resolution, authorizing the expenditure of up to $2,500 from FY '11 Council Contingency for campaign materials to publicize the Distracted Driving Ordinance that goes into effect Oct. 31, 2010.