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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSanta Clara County Sheriff (7)COP S LOS ALTOS HILLS r CALIFORNIA FAX COVER PAGE DATE: 4/22M TO: he.I k Aohcun COMPANY: PHONE NUMBER: RECEIVING FAX NUMBER: (4Cn 1 28- —50-76 FROM: TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES (including cover): 4: COMMENTS: :Shel' oat f' x� i ui J ,EA, h Le -1 rne- p.,- i wor m i Girl Original to follow: Yes 26379 Fremont Road No Los Altos Hills California 91022 415/941-7222 Fax 415/911-3160 TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS April 15, 1999 Staff Report to the City Council RE: RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPENDITURE OF AB 3229 "COPS" PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING FROM: Jeff Peterson, City Manager Recommendation: That the City Council consider the recommendation presented in this report for expenditure of the COPS Grant funds and either; 1.) Adopt the attached resolution approving the expenditure of COPS funding to purchase a radar trailer and to fund bicycle education programs for youth; or 2.) Direct the Sheriffs Department and the City Manager to develop alternative program choices for expenditure of the COPS funds for presentation to the Council at a future date. Discussion In 1996, the California State Assembly passed AB 3229 (COPS Grant.Program) which provided grants for local agency public safety programs. The intent of the grant money was to fund anti- crime programs, youth education programs, and activities that supplement front line law enforcement. The grant money for each public agency was to be allocated for programs recommended by the police chief or lead law enforcement officer and approved by the City Council. The State has again appropriated the COPS grant money for fiscal year 1998-99. This year, $18,438.58 of new grant money has been received by the Town. Combined with $6379.09 of funds from last year that were not spent, a total of $24,817.67 is available to the Town for new programs. At the March 18, 1999 meeting, the City Council considered a recommendation for the purchase of the Teleminder notification system. Since the appropriate system and number of telephone lines cost substantially more than the available COPS funds, staff recommended that the Town either partner with the Fire District for the purchase of Teleminder or appropriate the additional funds from the General Fund. As a result of the discussions, the City Council directed staff to investigate the expenditure of grant funds on other types of programs such as a radar trailer, speed control device. Staff has investigated these devices and believes that the radar trailer may be helpful in controlling speeders within the Town limits. The Sheriffs Department has provided staff with vendor information from the manufacturers of "SMART", the Speed Monitoring Awareness Radar Trailer. This information is attached for your review. Three basic models of SMART are available for purchase, ranging from $8,095 for Model III, to $9,645 for their Model 1. Several accessories are also available at the prices shown on the attached quotation sheet. In addition to the basic features, Model I has a larger LED panel showing the speed of the vehicle, has a solar assisted system for recharging the batteries and also displays a red flashing light when a motorist exceeds a preset speed limit threshold. The vendors information and quotation is attached for your information. Radar trailers are increasingly being used throughout the Bay area as a tool for assisting law enforcement agencies in controlling vehicle speeds. Speed control with a radar trailer relies on voluntary compliance by the driver. Since staff has received complaints from residents about speeders on occasion, and since the Town of Los Altos Hills usually has only one Deputy Sheriff Staff Report to the City Council Recommendation for Expenditure of COPS Funds April 15, 1999 Page 2 performing traffic control at a time, it seems reasonable that speed enforcement could be enhanced by the use of a radar trailer. Staff recommends that the Town purchase a SMART Model I trailer along with the options of the axle lock, speed sign rack, tamper alarm and the storage cover with the solar panel. Staff also recommends that the Town purchase the software for collecting and summarizing the average daily traffic and speed information that would provide the Sheriff's Department hard data on the speeds that drivers are driving in Town. This would assist the Sheriff's Department in determining if additional enforcement measures should be taken on any given street. The total cost of a Model I SMART, with all of the recommended options would be approximately $14,425.00. Staff recommends that the Town also sponsor bicycle safety programs up to a not to exceed amount of $6,000.00 for next year. These programs have been sponsored for the past two years by the Town and have proved to be well attended by the Town's youth. The remaining funds of approximately $4392 would be held over until next year or until any other desirable programs are identified. Staff requests that the Council determine if this is an appropriate use of COPS funds or if another program would more appropriate. Alternatively, the Council could direct the Sheriffs Department and the City Manager to develop new program choices for Council consideration. Staff is available to answer any questions that the City Council or citizens may have Attachments: Resolution 2 RESOLUTION No. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS APPROVING THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS AND EXPENDITURE OF AB 3229 "COPS" GRANT FUNDING WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills is the recipient of AB 3229 "COPS" grant funding equal to $18,438.58 for fiscal year 1998-1999; and WHEREAS, $6379.09 of COPS grant funding remains unused from the previous fiscal year which may also be spent this year; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the program recommended by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department for enhancement of the Town's law enforcement efforts and agrees with this recommendation; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby RESOLVE, that the expenditure of AB 3229 grant funds for the proposed law enforcement program in the Town of Los Altos Hills are hereby approved for an amount equal to $20,425.00 for the purposes of purchasing a speed enforcement radar trailer and to fund bicycle safety programs for youth. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 1999. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk