From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, for the Grand Prairie Police Department's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit to conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections, conduct public awareness campaigns, and fund a full time police officer position in the amount of $223,674
Presenter
Chief Steve Dye, Police Department
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The City of Grand Prairie covers 81.4 square miles, is the 5th largest city in the Metroplex in land mass, and is situated in three counties (Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis). The City has a growing population of over 180,000 residents and provides emergency response service for two major Interstate Highways (I-20 and I-30), three State Highways (SH 360, SH 180, and SH 161), US Hwy 287, and Spur Hwy 303. Grand Prairie is a central and connecting City facilitating millions of large commercial vehicles each year. The City's industrial districts house some of the largest distributors in the country. Approximately 30 percent of the City's property tax value is industrial and commercial.
The mission of the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Unit is to enforce the laws of the State of Texas and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to help ensure the safe and efficient movement of commercial traffic traveling the highways and local streets within the City. Through effective enforcement and interaction with the trucking industry and citizens, the police department's goal is to reduce commercial vehicle crashes and the number of unsafe vehicles operating on the roadways.
The CVE Unit’s goal is to also promote detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle safety defects, commercial vehicle driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents. This should thereby contribute to the reduction of commercial vehicle crashes in the City. Due to the large volume of warehouse, industrial, and commercial space in the City, the unit plans to address the growing Metroplex problem of Commercial Motor Vehicle thefts and cargo thefts. The unit, in anticipation of proactively addressing cargo thefts, is applying for additional funds in this grant for that purpose.
Staff recommends the consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for the Grand Prairie Police Department's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit to conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections, conduct public awareness campaigns and fund a full-time police officer position in the amount of $223,674. A breakdown of the grant is as follows:
• Officer Overtime to work Commercial Vehicle enforcement - $100,894
• Full-time Officer Salary and Benefits - $102,886
• Equipment, Supplies, Travel, and Training - $19,894
The Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee reviewed this item on August 3, 2015 and recommended that it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
The Finance and Government Committee reviewed this item on August 4, 2015 and recommended that it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
Financial Consideration
The total project cost is $223,674. Requested FMCSA grant funds total $182,302. Grant matching requirements total $41,372, of which $24,556 will be a cash match paid from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Fund (AU 285510), and $16,816 will be in-kind services.
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT UNIT TO CONDUCT COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTIONS, CONDUCT PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND FUND A FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER POSITION IN THE AMOUNT OF $223,674
Whereas, the Grand Prairie Police Department wishes to apply for funding this opportunity to promote detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle safety defects, commercial vehicle driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents;
Whereas, the City will provide a cash match of $24,556 to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
Whereas, the City will provide an in-kind match of $16,816 to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
Whereas, in the event of loss or misuse of U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration funds, the City of Grand Prairie assures that the funds will be returned to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. the City Council of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, does hereby authorize the City Manager to apply for a grant in the amount $223,674 to promote detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle safety defects, commercial vehicle driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents.
Section 2. this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in accordance with the Charter of the City of Grand Prairie and it is accordingly so resolved.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 4TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2015.