Sponsor: Sheriff's Office
Title
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Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Driving While Impaired and Traffic Safety Enforcement
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety in the amount of $150,000 for Driving While Impaired and Traffic Safety Enforcement.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, for the period of October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 in the amount of $150,000.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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On August 10, 2023, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, in the amount of $150,000. This is the second grant award for Driving While Impaired and Traffic Safety Enforcement for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and represents a 20% increase from last year.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, promotes the safety of public roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides federal funding to the Department of Public Safety to implement Minnesota’s highway safety program to reduce traffic crashes and the deaths, injuries, and property damage resulting from those crashes. To that end, the Office of Traffic Safety is funding grants to law enforcement agencies for full-time Driving While Impaired/Traffic Safety Officers.
From 2018 to 2022, Ramsey County had an average 146 traffic fatalities and serious injuries crashes per year, with 38 related to speed, 35 related to alcohol, 13 related to nonuse of seatbelts, and 11 related to distracted driving. Ramsey County is the second highest county in the state for fatalities and serious injuries behind Hennepin County.
The funding provided by this grant is for salary, benefits, and overtime for one Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Deputy Sheriff. The Deputy Sheriff will work the peak nights and times when data indicates impaired driving is most likely to occur. While primarily seeking to detect and interdict impaired drivers, the Deputy Sheriff will also focus on the dangerous driving behaviors of speeding, distracted driving, and occupant protection.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
All residents of Ramsey County face risks of injury and property damage because of impaired and distracted driving. As the most racially diverse county in Minnesota, communities within Ramsey County face these risks together. This request for board action helps to provide security to all the residents by reducing traffic crashes, deaths, injuries, and property damage related to impaired driving.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As part of the statewide grant application process, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety established Community Grant Advisory Boards. Community members reviewed all grant applications and made funding recommendations to the Commissioner of Public Safety.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This grant provides funding for an existing 1.0 FTE Deputy Sheriff previously funded under this grant for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 in the amount of $150,000. Any additional overages will be covered by the Contract Communities. Grant funding is expected to continue into future years.
Last Previous Action
On October 25, 2022, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the period of October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 and approved an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office by 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent Deputy Sheriff (Resolution B2022-240).
Attachments
1. Grant Agreement - Traffic Safety