City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration for a New Grant to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for a Program to Reduce Aggressive Driving and Speeding in FY 2019.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a new grant application to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for an aggressive driving and speeding program.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the grant application to the Virginia DMV in the amount of $20,000, which will provide funds to the Police Department to operate aggressive driving and speeding enforcement in the City; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: For the past nineteen years the City has obtained a grant from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for an Aggressive Driving and DUI/Interdiction program which allowed the Police Department to pay overtime for police officers to conduct high intensity patrol operations, targeting aggressive drivers whose behavior contributed statistically to automobile crashes and unsafe driving complaints. The targeted behaviors included right-of-way violations, stop sign violations, speeding and following too closely. This year the Police Department is proposing to apply for an additional grant which will focus on Aggressive Driving and Speeding. If the City receives funding, it will be able to combine resources with other grant funded plans and dedicate efforts to reduce aggressive driving, DUI enforcement and speeding in the City.
DISCUSSION: The new grant request is for $20,000 for Federal FY 2019 (October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019). If approved, the Police Department will employ police officers on overtime status to deploy mobile and stationary patrols as methods to reduce the number of aggressive driving and speeding related accidents in the City.
The Police Department will use the funds for management, enforcement, prevention/ intervention, and public information/education programs.
FISCAL IMPACT: To receive the DMV grant of $20,000, the City must identify 20 percent matching funds, which may be in-kind. Since the City’s share is an in-kind match of resources, there is no additional fiscal impact to the City in obtaining the grant. The proposed match is identified in the Police Department’s operating budget. Notification is expected in September 2018.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Michael L. Brown, Police Chief
Michael May, Lieutenant, Police, Traffic Safety Section
Brenda D’Sylva, Division Chief, Police, Fiscal Management
Jennifer Simon, Fiscal Officer I, Police, Fiscal Management