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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RECOMMENDATION
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Accept a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Award of $160,000, from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funding; and
Authorize the City Manager, and/or their 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)
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
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, 2025, and ends on September 30, 2026, and supports a comprehensive program to reduce traffic collisions through education, enforcement, and outreach.
In 2024, the City of Murrieta (City) recorded 686 traffic crashes. Of these, seven (7) were fatal-linked to unsafe speed, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), pedestrian violations, and wrong-way driving. Twelve of these crashes resulted in serious injuries from causes such as improper turning, failure to obey traffic signals/signs, DUI, unsafe lane changes, and pedestrian violations. Crashes involving "other visible injury" (100 total) and pain complaints (182 total) were largely caused by unsafe speed, signal/sign violations, improper turning, and right-of-way violations.
A growing concern involves juveniles oper...
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