Authorize the City to act as the pass-through agency between the Lomita Sheriff’s Station from the State Office of Traffic Safety for the 2003-2004 Seat Belt Compliance Campaign Grant.

On January 21, 2003, the City Council authorized the City to act as the pass-through agency for the FY 02-03 Seat Belt Compliance Campaign Grant. The $13, 226.02 grant allowed the Lomita Sheriff’s Station to conduct two focused seat belt enforcement campaigns during a seven (7) day period in November 2002 and an eight (8) day period in May 2003. The funds are to be used to increase the level of seat belt enforcement on an overtime basis using first line officers. During the November 2002 campaign, the Lomita Station issued a total of 113 seat belt violation citations in Rancho Palos Verdes. During the May 2003 campaign, the Sheriff issued a total of 167 citations in the City.

Based on the success of the FY 02-03 program, recently the Lomita Sheriff’s Station informed City staff that it was interested in seeking another Seat Belt Compliance Campaign grant for FY 03-04 in the amount of $9,688 and requested City Council authorization to use Rancho Palos Verdes as the grant pass-through agency. Although enforcement can take place anywhere within the Peninsula region, because we are the largest city in terms of population and area in the region, the Lomita Station has requested that the City of Rancho Palos Verdes again act as the pass-through agency for this grant.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,268 vehicle occupants lost their lives in collisions in California during 2001. Of this number, 571 (45%) of these lives could have been saved if the occupant was wearing their seat belt.

The goal of the California Seat Belt Compliance Campaign is to increase seat belt use statewide from 91.1% to 92% by June 2003 in order to save lives and minimize injuries. The grant requested by the Lomita Sheriff’s Station would provide for increased enforcement of seat belt regulations on the local level in conjunction with this public awareness campaign.

This grant will have no direct fiscal impact on the City, as we will simply be acting as the pass-through agency for the funds. There will be minimal staff time associated with processing some of the necessary paperwork, however, the Lomita Station will be responsible for all of the reporting requirements associated with the grant program.

Respectfully submitted:

Carolynn Petru

Assistant City Manager

Reviewed,

Les Evans

City Manager