Title
AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO GRANT AGREEMENT DUIAC-I-016 WITH THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL ON DRIVING OR OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ABATEMENT
Staff Contact: Debora Black, Police Chief
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Purpose and Recommended Action
Recommendation
This is a request for City Council to waive reading beyond the title and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into grant agreement DUIAC-I-016 with the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement, and accept a grant award on behalf of the Glendale Police Department (GPD) in the approximate amount of $40,325 for employee related overtime expenses and materials and supplies to enhance Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Innovative programs and education throughout the City of Glendale. body
Background
Since 1995, the GPD has been receiving Arizona GOHS grant funds for use in the enforcement of traffic, seatbelt, and DUI violations, along with the purchase of equipment and training. Past grant funding has allowed GPD to increase the number of hours officers dedicate specifically to DUI enforcement and education. The GPD seeks to reduce impaired driving violations not only through enforcement, but also by promoting public awareness to the dangers of drinking and driving.
The City of Glendale is the fifth largest city in Arizona with an ever-growing population and expanding entertainment district. To combat DUI violations and alcohol impaired drivers, the GPD implemented a full-time DUI enforcement squad, resulting in increased DUI arrests over the last seven years. With the addition of a mobile DUI van to aid in faster processing of impaired drivers, the officers are also able to return to the field in a timelier manner. The GPD is dedicated to increasing the efforts to curb impaired driving, in order to maintain Glendale as a safe city to travel in, to, and from, and continues its contribution to the Arizona/West Valley DUI Task Force, which promotes roadway safety.
Analysis
The GPD DUI enforcement squad will deploy into entertainment district areas armed with portable breath tests devices and information on the consequences of a DUI conviction, based on breath alcohol content. The squad will conduct 12 to 24 "Know Your Limit" program nights during days/nights of peak activity through October 31, 2015. On nights in which the "Know Your Limit" program is deployed, there is an expectation for a decrease in the number of impaired drivers leaving the entertainment districts in Glendale.
If approved, the grant funds will be used for the overtime expenses incurred as a result of officers participating in the "Know Your Limit" program. Without these grant funds, the city would be responsible for the overtime expenses, or the overtime opportunity would be eliminated. Staff is requesting that Council adopt the proposed resolution, which authorizes the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the Arizona GOHS Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement, and accept a grant award in the approximate amount of $40,325.
Previous Related Council Action
On May 27, 2014, Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the Arizona GOHS Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement and accept a grant award in the approximate amount of $50,000 to enhance DUI enforcement throughout the City of Glendale.
Community Benefit/Public Involvement
If the requested action is approved, the grant award will benefit the citizens and community by allowing the Police Department to use more resources and officers to detect impaired drivers on our roadways.
Budget and Financial Impacts
There is no financial match required for this grant. A specific project account will be established in the city's grant fund, 1840, once the grant is fully executed.