To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement with the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2019-20
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the Grant Agreement # PS20008 with the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in the amount of $125,000 for the period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020;
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Public Health, or designee, to sign two (2) original copies of the agreement;
3. Authorize the Director of DHHS - Public Health, or designee, to approve all future amendments to Agreement # PS20008 upon review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) copy of the certified board report to the DHHS - Contract Unit.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Funds
DISCUSSION:
The Safe Routes to School program in the Healthy Communities Division of DHHS - Public Health has applied for and received funding from the OTS to implement a one-year project to conduct best practice strategies to reduce the number of persons injured or killed in collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists in McKinleyville and Eureka. Strategies include outreach and education at schools and youth-serving settings, bicycle rodeos, development of media campaigns and community events targeting adults and youth.
According to the 2014 OTS rankings, Humboldt County ranked second in pedestrian-involved collisions and 10th for collisions involving bicyclists. Behaviors that led to these collisions included pedestrians failing to yield to automobiles, other pedestrian violations, bicyclists making unsafe lane changes, riding on the wrong side of the street, riding at unsafe speeds, making improper turns, riding under the influence of drugs/alcohol, and not adhering to traffic signs and signals. During 2014 in Humboldt County, there was a combined total of 879 fatal and injury collision victims, of which 59 involved pedestrians and 48 involved bicyclists.
Recently, infrastructure improvements in McKinleyville have been completed with the addition of colorized bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, and mid-block crossings on Central Avenue. Community education will be done to educate the public on appropriate utilization of new infrastructure with the goal of increasing safe, active transportation.
This grant agreement is coming to your Board after the start date of October 1, 2019 due to late receipt of agreement from OTS and multi-level short staffing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of Grant Agreement # PS20008 with OTS will allow DHHS - Public Health to be reimbursed a maximum of $125,000 for the period of October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020 for bicycle and pedestrian safety in the Safe Routes to School program in Fund 1175, budget unit 414, Healthy Communities. This revenue was anticipated in the fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 county budget in the amount of $95,000 and the remainder of $30,000 will be included in the FY 2020-21 county budget. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may decide not to approve Grant Agreement # PS20008 for OTS, however, it is not recommended, as it will result in a loss of both funding and services to the County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: One (1) original of Grant Agreement PS20008
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-14
Meeting of: 11/14/17
File No.: 17-2629; 19-1575