ORDINANCE approving and authorizing submission of electronic application for Grant Funds to the TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION for the Fiscal Year 2026 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Commercial Motor Vehicle (Step-CMV) Traffic Safety Grant Program, to fund Overtime Activities for Personnel to reduce the number of Unsafe Commercial Motor Vehicles through Inspections, Enforce CMV Speeding Violations and Maintain High-Visibility Enforcement of Traffic Safety Laws for the Houston Police Department; authorizing the Director of the Department to act as the City’s representative in the application process, to apply for and accept the Grant and Funds, and expend the Grant Funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant; providing for a Cash Match and In-Kind Contribution

The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the electronic application for and acceptance of grant funds from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the FY26 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Commercial Motor Vehicle (STEP-CMV) Traffic Safety Grant in the amount of $799,998.22. If awarded, TxDOT will provide $799,998.22 in grant funding, with a required Cash Match of $39,988.05 and an In-Kind contribution of $171,659.54.  Total program funding is $1,011,645.81. Although the Texas Department of Transportation requires a Cash Match of $39,988.05, they will allow the City to use a portion of employee salaries to satisfy this requirement.  The grant period is effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This will be the 31st year of funding for HPD.

HPD will use the grant to fund overtime for personnel over the 12-month period to reduce the number of unsafe commercial motor vehicles through inspections, enforce CMV speeding violations, and maintain high-visibility enforcement of traffic safety laws. The City’s in-kind contribution will cover associated costs for HPD vehicle use in the program (maintenance, fuel, mileage) and the fringe benefits of HPD classified personnel assigned to the grant.

The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.

Fiscal Note: 

Funding for this item will be included in the FY26 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy. 

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

________________________________

J. Noe Diaz, Jr.

$ 799,998.22 

Federal State Local - Pass Through

Fund 5030

$   39,988.05 - In-Kind/Cash Match Contribution

General Fund

Fund 1000

$ 171,659.54

In-Kind Contribution

Sonja O'Dat, Executive Staff Analyst

Houston Police Department 

(713) 308-1627