HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2006 Blue Sheet Grant Agreement with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety
TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING
INFORMATION
MEETING DATE:
TOWN OF MARANA
October 17, 2006
AGENDA ITEM:
1.1
TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL
FROM: Richard Vidaurri, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2006-160: Relating to the Police Department:
authorizing full execution of a grant agreement with the
Governor's Office of Highway Safety funding a new motor cycle
under the Highway Safety Plan
DISCUSSION
The Marana Police Department has been awarded a grant to fund an additional motor unit to
target increased speed and aggressive driving resulting from rapid growth within the area and
increased traffic volume. This motor is not only needed to address current trends, but to
proactively posture the MPD for the scheduled three-year closure of I-I 0 for construction.
The primary goal of the Motors for Marana project is to reduce by five percent the number of
high speed, serious physical injury, and fatal collisions.
Major objectives ofthis project include:
. Increase public awareness of the 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.
This new motor unit will allow the Marana Police Department to take 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 are working 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 includes both driver safety and awareness and innovative programs aimed at
reducing traffic volumes such as ride-share.
Public education efforts will be conducted by Motor Officers and members of Marana' 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.
10/11/2006
. 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 Maran a's website.
In addition, MPD will continue its internal efforts to ensure that its entire workforce receive
ongoing education in a wide variety oflaw enforcement, driver safety, and community related
subject areas. Motor Officers will be required to complete a full series of trainings, become AZ
POST Motor certified prior to deployment, complete quarterly in-service, and field training.
Enforcement - The addition of Motor Officer 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. As compared to traditional police vehicles, motors offer 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.
This is the second award to the Marana Police Department in the past six months for deployment
of motor officers. The additional motor unit officer will concentrate activities 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 Marana will leverage salaries, uniforms, training,
supplies and safety equipment for both the education and enforcement components of this
program.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends authorization full execution of a grant agreement with the Governor's Office
of Highway Safety for funding a new motor unit and related equipment.
SUGGESTED MOTION
I move to approve Resolution No. 2006-160.
-2-
MARANA RESOLUTION NO. 2006-160
RELATING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING FULL EXECUTION OF A
GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY
FUNDING A NEW MOTOR CYCLE UNDER THE HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN.
WHEREAS, the Town of Marana recognizes its duty to protect its citizens
through effective police powers; and
WHEREAS, the Marana Police Department is working to reduce the number of high-
speed collisions in the region; and
WHEREAS, the Marana Police Department is working to increase enforcement to reduce
the number of aggressive and high speed drivers on Arizona roadways; and
WHEREAS, The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has awarded the Marana Police
Department a grant to help further these goals; and
WHEREAS, grant funding will allow the Marana Police Department to purchase a new
motor unit and related equipment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF MARANA, ARIZONA, that the Town Manager is authorized to execute the Grant
Agreement to purchase a new motor unit.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
MARANA, ARIZONA, this 17th day of October, 2006.
Mayor Ed Honea
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jocelyn C. Bronson, Town Clerk
Frank Cassidy, Town Attorney