Minutes 09/24/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 24, 2013 Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None 13 - 402 -Adoption of an ordinance accepting grant funding in the amount of $5,218 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Virginia Highway Safety Office and appropriating said funds in the FY 2013-14 Grants Fund to be used by the Portsmouth Police Department to increase the use of vehicle occupant restraints. Vision Principles: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community and Pride of Past. Background: • The Portsmouth Police Department has been awarded grant funding in the amount of $5,218 from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Virginia Highway Safety Office. • Since estimated revenue in the FY 2013-2014 Grants Fund will increase by $5,218, that amount will be appropriated in the FY 2013-2014 Grants Fund. Discussion: • The Portsmouth Police Department will utilize amulti-faceted approach to improve traffic safety in the city of Portsmouth as well as in the surrounding cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Norfolk. Many of the motorists in Portsmouth travel to and from our neighboring cities. It is certain that inadequate occupant restraint usage is among the major factors contributing to personal injuries resulting from vehicular crashes. We believe this should be focused upon through means of education, enforcement and the building of partnerships. Through these increased enforcement and educational efforts, we intend to significantly raise seatbelt usage and to reduce crashes that have the potential of death and serious injuries. • The funds received will enable Portsmouth Police Department to provide overtime payments for conducting checkpoints and saturation patrols by the Portsmouth Police Department. Financial Impact: • The grant award amount of $$5,218 by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Virginia Highway Safety Office provides funding for the Portsmouth Police Department. • The City does have to provide an in-kind match of $2,609. There is no obligation from the City once the grant has ended. Staff Recommends: • Adoption of an ordinance to appropriate the amount of $5,218 in grant funding from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Virginia Highway Safety Office to the Portsmouth Police Department. Vision Principles: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community and Pride of Past. Next Steps Following Council Action: • The Chief of Police or his designee will provide grant management and oversight. Motion by Mr. Meeks, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,218 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THROUGH THE VIRGINIA HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2013-14 GRANTS FUND TO BE USED BY THE PORTSMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE THE USE OF VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS." Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None