HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/2006 Blue Sheet Grant application to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety
TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING
INFORMATION
TOWN OF MARANA
MEETING DATE: April 4, 2006
TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM: 1.2
FROM: Richard Vidaurri, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2006-49: Relating to the Police Department;
authorizing the Marana Police Department to submit a grant
application to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for the
acquisition of two new motor units and related equipment.
DISCUSSION
The Marana Police Department (MPD) is submitting a grant proposal to the Governor's Office
of Highway Safety, under the 2006 Highway Safety Plan, to fund two additional motor units to
target increased speed and aggressive driving resulting from rapid growth within the area and
increased traffic volume. The resources are not only needed to address current trends, but to
pro actively posture the MPD for the scheduled three-year closure of I-I 0 for construction.
This closure will require through traffic to be diverted to already over-crowded frontage roads,
further pushing local and commuter traffic onto parallel arterial and collector roads.
The primary goal ofthe "Motors for Marana" project is to reduce the number of high speed,
serious physical injury, and fatal collisions.
Major objectives ofthis project include:
· Increase public awareness ofthe hazards of excessive speed and aggressive driving.
· Increase enforcement of excessive speed and aggressive driving.
· Coordinate efforts between the Town of Marana Police and Traffic Departments, and other
jurisdictions to mitigate problems resulting from the increased traffic on 1-10 and
scheduled closures.
The MPD is proposing a two pronged approach to target issues surrounding the increased
speed and aggressive driving trends resulting from rapid growth within the area and increased
traffic volume. Both excessive speed and aggressive driving will be addressed through
coordinated education and enforcement efforts utilizing internal resources and by partnering
with other like programs.
Education - The Marana Police and Traffic Departments will work cooperatively to educate
both internal and external audiences about safety concerns surrounding the excessive speeds
and aggressive drivers resulting from longer commutes and increased density on 1-10. This
coordinated effort will include both driver safety and awareness and innovative programs
aimed at reducing traffic volumes such as ride-share.
aimed at reducing traffic volumes such as ride-share.
Public education efforts will be conducted by motor officers and members of Maran a's Traffic
Department and will include:
· School resource officers conducting traffic safety as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce
teen-driver/alcohol and drug related accidents.
· Town-wide speeding awareness day featuring neighborhood events with "Traffic
Enforcement Zone" events, Motor demonstrations, and use of speeding radar trailers.
· Public education provided through the Marana Police Citizens Academy.
· Motorist information and traffic safety provided on the Town of Marana's web site.
In addition, MPD will continue its internal efforts to ensure that its entire workforce receive
ongoing education in a wide variety of law enforcement, driver safety, and community related
subject areas. Motor Officers will be required to complete a full series oftrainings, become
AZ POST Motor certified prior to deployment, complete quarterly in-service, and field
training.
Enforcement - The addition of motor officers dedicated to traffic enforcement will allow the
MPD to increase efforts to reduce speeding and aggressive driving, heading off the behaviors
that lead to increased incidents of motor vehicle accidents. By pro actively addressing the
issues and reducing the burden of accident investigation the MPD will be able to leverage
freed up manpower to more aggressively address the upcoming 1-10 closures and growth.
Increased maneuverability in congestion, faster acceleration and breaking make motor units
best suited for this enforcement effort. The motors lack the body structure provides the officer
a better observation platform without restriction to radar and laser beams. The units also have
less initial and maintenance costs reducing ongoing expense to the Town as compared to a
fully equipped traffic enforcement vehicle. Marana's weather and roadways lend themselves
to the use of police motors.
Motor units will be deployed during the key commute times in the areas that have statistically
show the highest incidents of in traffic enforcement coverage to those areas indicated as
having high incidents of aggressive drivers, high speeds, and collisions. The Town of Maran a
will leverage salaries, uniforms, training, supplies and safety equipment for both the education
and enforcement components of this program.
This resolution authorizes the MPD to submit a grant application to the Governor's Office of
Highway Safety to fund the capital expense for two new motor units.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the grant application.
SUGGESTED MOTION
I move to approve Resolution No. 2006-49.
MARANA RESOLUTION NO. 2006-49
RELATING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING THE MARANA
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TWO NEW MOTOR UNITS
AND RELATED EQUIPMENT.
WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety is seeking proposals from state
and local agencies for projects relating to all aspects of highway safety; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Marana, through the Police Department, is interested in
submitting projects to be considered for funding in the form of reimbursable grants from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Town of
Marana, Arizona as follows:
1. Approval of the submission of projects for consideration in Arizona's 2006 Highway
Safety Plan is granted.
2. Richard Vidaurri, Chief of Police, is the appointed agent for the Town of Marana, to
conduct all negotiations and to execute and submit all documents and any other necessary or
desirable instruments in connection with such grant.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Marana, Arizona,
this 4th day of April, 2006.
Mayor Ed Honea
ATTEST:
Jocelyn C. Bronson, Town Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Frank Cassidy, Town Attorney