Consideration and Approval of Grant Application and Acceptance upon Award: Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Federal Fiscal Year 2016 for Police Department Applications for DUI Task Force, Youth Alcohol Prevention and Interdiction, Radar Units, Patrol Bicycles and Message Sign Board Grants.

This Staff Summary seeks approval and acceptance of the grant applications to GOHS for the Flagstaff Police Departments. We are seeking grant funds in the amount of $45,240.00 for the DUI Task Force, $44,160.00 for Youth Alcohol and Prevention and Interdiction, $11,459.34 for 10 Radar units, $8,635.46 for 4 patrol bicycles and $20,793.60 for a message sign board. Without monies allocated by the FY 2016 grant to the Flagstaff Police Department, monies needed to pay scheduled overtime for activities to prevent and control crime may not be available in the City's annual budget. There is no match requirement for this grant.

There is no significant financial impact to the Flagstaff Police Department in terms of expenditures. The expenditures will be budgeted in FY 2016 in 001-04-062-6069 with 100% offset in grant revenue.

Effective governance

Yes, Council has accepted prior-year funded GOHS grants for the Police Department.

 

• Approve the Grant Application(s)
• Disapprove the Grant Applications(s)

The Flagstaff Police Department considers any loss of life or limb to a drug or alcohol-related, motor vehicle accident unacceptable. We have conducted both in-service and advanced officer training in D.U.I. detection. We have a longstanding tradition of aggressive D.U.I. interdiction and enforcement. Every officer in our organization is held accountable to D.U.I. arrest standards. This is done in the interest of protecting life and property through collision reduction. Our interdiction efforts have further been supported with D.U.I. overtime operations such as task force patrols, and directed patrols on weekends and holidays. These efforts are staffed by officers on overtime to enhance effectiveness. Without the financial resources provided for by DUI Task Force grant application, it is difficult, if not impossible, to staff these operations with on-duty officers as they have primary responsibility to respond to all manner of calls for service during their shift.

The Youth Alcohol Prevention and Interdiction grant application fits in with our mission to protect and preserve life and property. The Flagstaff Police Department has a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol-related crimes including: driving under the influence, minor consumption, misrepresentation of age to purchase alcohol, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Related to these ends, the FPD expects each of its patrol officers to proactively engage in the arrest of liquor violations. Flagstaff Police Department officers are typically attached to patrol squads that work during the evening and night time hours. During their shift, these officers are responsible for answering calls for service while remaining vigilant for alcohol violations. However, we feel that we have the potential to be even more effective and have a greater impact in the area of underage drinking enforcement during known times and locations when these types of violations are more likely to occur. Our proposal concerns the granting of overtime reimbursement funds for directed patrol efforts for the enforcement of underage drinking laws, as well as an educational component.

The Flagstaff Police Departments grant application for the purchase of 10 radars will assist our officers in achieving our mission of keeping our streets safe. Studies of accident causes within the city of Flagstaff have historically shown speed not reasonable and prudent as the most frequent causal factor of collisions. Increased enforcement of speed statutes benefits the public by directly addressing the primary cause of accidents within our community. The most efficient way to enforce these statutes is through the implementation of a radar enforcement program. These radar units will directly assist the officers in lowering the number of speed related accidents. This in turn would result in better protection of life as well as a reduction of injuries and property damage from speed related collisions.

The consideration for grant assistance in the purchase of 4 patrol bicycles and related equipment would greatly increase our effectiveness in patrolling difficult areas of Flagstaff. These bicycles would be used regularly by officers addressing pedestrian and bicycle violations occurring within the downtown and south side areas of Flagstaff. The city has a vibrant downtown area frequented often by a large pedestrian and bicycle population. This area presents unique traffic enforcement challenges due to the congested nature of the downtown area. This congestion is due to the historic layout of streets, the frequency of one way only streets, as well as having Northern Arizona University located immediately south of the historic downtown area. Because of the volume of foot and bicycle use of the roadways in this area, traffic violations are not uncommon. Last year there were 80 accidents involving bicyclists. The most efficient way to enforce traffic statutes pertaining to pedestrians and bicyclists is through the implementation of a bicycle patrol program. Having police officers enforce traffic regulations on bicycle gives the officer the ability to negotiate the congested downtown area and make contact with violators for educational and enforcement purposes. This education and enforcement will result in better protection life as well as a reduction of injuries through a reduction of collisions.

Lastly, the Flagstaff Police Department is requesting grant assistance for the purchase of a message sign board. We are requesting a portable message signboard to serve as a vital tool in our comprehensive road safety program. Portable message signboards are an important tool to provide traffic information to motorists. These signs advise motorists of traffic incidents or construction ahead so they can consider alternate routes. Having the ability to provide real-time information about incidents, traffic, roadwork, and weather or pavement conditions is beneficial for all motorists and could aid in driver safety and traffic flow. This in turn would result in better protection life as well as a reduction of injuries and property damage from collisions.

The law-abiding citizens of our community expect and deserve our streets and neighborhoods to be places where they feel safe. The approval of these grant applications allow us to seek additional resources to help us reduce collisions by removing impaired drivers, conducting underage alcohol prevention/education, reducing speed related collisions with the use of radar enforcement, educating and enforcing bicycle laws and warning traveling motorists with appropriate signage. The numerous letters and comments the Police Department receives from citizens reinforce this goal.

The Police Department grant applications will assist the Flagstaff Police Department to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist crime victims.

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