City Council Adopted Resolutions Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a Grant from the State of Texas, Department of Transportation, for a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for Fiscal Years 2005 through 2014.

Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant from the State of Texas, Department of Transportation, if Awarded.

The Texas Department of Transportation disseminates federal highway grants to local jurisdictions for the enforcement of traffic laws. The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant is a comprehensive grant that targets traffic violators who drink and drive or speed. The STEP grant reimburses local jurisdictions for police officers to work overtime to educate the public and to enforce these laws.

The STEP grant will focus its efforts toward slowing speeders on U.S. Highway 75, McDermott Drive, Exchange Parkway, State Highway 121, Bethany Drive, and Stacy Road during all hours of the day. Additionally, the STEP grant will focus City-wide on persons who drink and drive and those who do not wear seatbelts as required by Texas law. STEP seatbelt enforcement will occur City-wide during daylight hours. The STEP program will be enforced from October, 2014 through September, 2015. This is a one-year grant application.

If awarded, the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant includes reimbursement for overtime beginning October 1, 2014. STEP pays the officers' actual overtime rate. The City will match the grant award by paying for officers' fringe benefits when they work STEP overtime. The TxDOT portion is approximately $53,000 with an approximate match of $28,100.

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the State of Texas, Department of Transportation, to accept the award of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant.