Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer request to accommodate the recently Board accepted grant funds for the Grant Agreement PS21036 in the amount of $100,000 with the State of California - Office of Traffic Safety, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2020-21.
FUNDING: California Office of Traffic Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Grant.
Body
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Department of Transportation (Transportation) recently brought forward an item to the Board requesting to accept a grant from the State of California’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program. This Legistar item 20-1051, was approved by the Board on September 22, 2020. These grant funds will be used to develop an educational/community outreach program focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety with a specific emphasis for non-motorized users under the age of 18. The intent of the program is to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.
Transportation recognizes the potential of a pedestrian and bicycle safety education program to encourage safe cycling and walking behaviors for users of the County's growing active transportation network. Additionally, education programs, as components of larger transportation infrastructure projects, often contribute to more favorable scoring when applying for competitive state and federal grant funding.
Efforts of the County’s program will be focused on target audiences in areas of the County where data shows a disproportionately high risk of pedestrian and bicycle crashes and injuries, especially for school-age children. Grant funds would be used on virtual public involvement and development of messaging strategies as an alternative to traditional in-person instruction. The grant also includes funds allocated to providing safety and personal protective equipment, and a requirement for the County to participate in National Walk to School Day, National Bicycle Safety Month, and California's Pedestrian Safety Month.
In order to utilize this funding, the budget needs to be amended as follows:
Budgeted appropriations need to be increased by $87,000 in Professional Services and $13,000 in Special Departmental in the Transportation Engineering Org, offset by an increase in Federal Other revenues in the amount of $100,000.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may elect not to approve the budget transfer as proposed, although funding for the previously approved Board grant would not be able to be utilized.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 20-1051, approved by the Board on September 22, 2020
OTHER DEPARTMENT/AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office, Community Development Finance and Administration
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will allow grant funds to be expended for pedestrian and bicycle safety purposes.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the budget transfer documents.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the budget transfer to the Auditor/Controller for processing.
3) The Clerk of the Board will return one (1) copy of the budget transfer to Chief Administrative Office, Community Development Finance and Administration for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation
Becky Morton, Chief Fiscal Officer
Chief Administrative Office, Community Development Finance and Administration