The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2024-118 for acceptance of grant funds from the Texas Department of Transportation, FY2025 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program COMPREHENSIVE Motor Vehicle Traffic Safety Grant and approving a required Cash Match.
As background, City Council passed Ordinance 2024-118 on March 5, 2024 authorizing the Chief of Police of the Houston Police Department to apply for, accept and expend grant funds from the Texas Department of Transportation FY 2025 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) COMPREHENSIVE Motor Vehicle Traffic Safety Grant in the amount of $1,105,408.51. The Grantor, Texas Department of Transportation has allocated $493,984.73 additional funds to the Houston Police Department for a total of $1,599,393.24 in awarded grant funds. The original grant request required a cash match in the amount of $54,998.53 and an In-Kind Contribution of $254,497.46. Both the Cash Match and In-Kind Contribution have now changed. The increased grant amount has increased the cash match to a total of $79,999.35 and increased In-Kind Contribution for a total of $342,620.24. The grant period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This will be the 30th year of funding for the Houston Police Department.
HPD will utilize the grant to fund overtime for personnel over the 12 month-period to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities by increasing and sustaining high visibility enforcement of DWI laws, occupant protection laws, speed-related laws, intersection traffic control laws, and state and local ordinances on cellular and texting devices. The City's in-kind contribution consists of the associated costs for using HPD vehicles for the grant program (maintenance, gas, mileage) and the fringe benefit costs of HPD classified personnel working under the grant program.
Fiscal Note:
Funding for this item is included in the FY 2025 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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J. Noe Diaz, Jr.
Chief of Police