TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Matt Henry, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Dawnn Jackson, Management Analyst - Administration
SUBJECT:
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Acceptance of a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety
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ABSTRACT
The City Council is being asked to accept a $142,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The grant will fund traffic-safety education, enforcement, and outreach intended to reduce collisions involving impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. The proposed action also amends the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to appropriate the grant funds and authorizes the City Manager and/or designee to administer the grant. No local matching funds are required.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Accept a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Award of $142,000, from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funding as described below; and
Authorize the City Manager, and/or his designee, to execute all necessary documents and take actions required to accept, implement, and administer the grant, including ratification of the designees’ execution of the grant agreement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On June 3, 2025, City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2025/26 and 2026/27 Operating Budget (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with the City Council goal to provide a high level of innovative public safety.
DISCUSSION
The Murrieta Police Department was awarded a traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant began on October 1, 2026, and ends on September 30, 2027, and supports a comprehensive program to reduce traffic collisions through education, enforcement, and outreach.
In 2025, the City of Murrieta (City) recorded 606 traffic crashes. Of these, three (3) were fatal-linked to the failure to obey traffic signals/signs, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), and right-of-way violations. Twelve of these crashes resulted in serious injuries from causes such as unsafe speed, failure to obey traffic signals/signs, DUI, right-of-way violations, and other improper driving. Crashes involving “other visible injury” (127 total) and pain complaints (194 total) were largely caused by unsafe speed, failure to obey traffic signals/signs, improper turning, DUI, and right-of-way violations.
A growing concern involves juveniles operating electric bicycles unsafely, resulting in collisions and public complaints. Despite education and enforcement efforts, many juveniles fail to yield during stops, and officers are often unable to pursue them for safety reasons. The Murrieta Police Department continues to address the issue through social media, community outreach, and education.
Grant funds will support these efforts by funding multiple DUI checkpoints and saturation events, traffic, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle enforcement, and distracted driving enforcement.
These strategies aim to enhance traffic safety, reduce collision risks, and improve overall community awareness and compliance.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
If City Council approves the recommendations, staff recommends establishing a revenue and expenditure budget of $142,000 in the OTS Grant Fund (355), with the following details:
• Revenue: GL/JL 3550030-42222
• Expenditure: GL/JL 3550030 (various accounts)
There is no local fund match or cost-share requirement for the OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant. This is a reimbursable grant, meaning the City must incur the expenditure prior to requesting reimbursement.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Office of Traffic Safety Grant Agreement - PT27104