HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 - Acceptance of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses -High Visibility Enforcement Pilot ProjectQ �EwPpRT
CITY OF
s NEWPORT BEACH
`q44:09 City Council Staff Report
February 11, 2025
Agenda Item No. 12
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: David Miner, Acting Chief of Police - 949-644-3701,
dminer@nbpd.org
PREPARED BY: Sabrina Fabbri, Traffic Sergeant - 949-644-3743, sfabbri@nbpd.org
TITLE: Acceptance of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses -High Visibility
Enforcement Pilot Project
ABSTRACT:
The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) seeks acceptance of a grant totaling
$57,800 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Illegal Passing
of Stopped School Buses -High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Project.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
b) Accept a $57,800 NHTSA Illegal Passing of School Buses -High Visibility Enforcement
Pilot Project award granted to the Newport Beach Police Department by Toxcell LLC.;
and
c) Approve Budget Amendment No. 25-052 increasing NBPD revenue estimates and
expenditure appropriations by $57,800.
DISCUSSION:
Through a NHTSA-funded research project, Toxcel LLC is developing a toolkit to help law
enforcement agencies (LEA) implement high visibility enforcement (HVE) campaigns to
address the illegal passing of stopped school buses. HVE combines enforcement,
visibility elements, and a publicity strategy to educate the public and promote voluntary
compliance with the law. While HVE campaigns are frequently used to address traffic
safety concerns such as seat belt usage and impaired driving, this will be the first NHTSA-
sponsored HVE campaign focused on illegal school bus passing.
According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation,
approximately 242,000 motorists across the United States illegally passed a stopped
school bus in a single day during the 2022-2023 school year. Projected across a 180-day
school year, that is more than 43.5 million stop -arm violations.
12-1
Acceptance of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Illegal
Passing of Stopped School Buses -High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Project
February 11, 2025
Page 2
These are preventable incidents that put children at significant risk; injuries and fatalities
to children occur more often outside or near a school bus than inside due to motorists
failing to heed the stop -arm warning.
The objective of this effort is to pilot test a toolkit that was developed by Toxcel to help
law enforcement agencies conduct HVE for the illegal passing of stopped school buses.
The pilot test will involve selected law enforcement agencies conducting HVE between
January 2025 and June 2025, with the toolkit available to guide them in their HVE efforts.
Agencies will be reimbursed for their HVE efforts related to this project, will be required
to submit deployment reports, and will be asked for input on the toolkit at the end of the
pilot period that may be used to enhance or improve the toolkit. When finalized, the toolkit
will be made broadly available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Budget Amendment appropriates $57,800 in additional revenue from the NHTSA
HVE Pilot Project and $57,800 in increased expenditure appropriations. The revenue will
be posted to a designated account for the pilot project in the Police Department Traffic
Division, 01035354-431453-G2550, and staffing will be expensed to accounts
01035354-713002-G2550 and 01035354-727016-G2550 for overtime and associated
compensation benefits.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A — Budget Amendment
Attachment B — NHTSA Grant Agreement
12-2
Q���WOR ATTACHMENT A
City of Newport Beach
BUDGET AMENDMENT
2024-25 BA#: 25-052
Department: Police
ONETIME. ❑� Yes ❑ No
Requestor: Sabrina Fabbri
Approvals
❑ CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL ONLY 1
Finance Director: : Q/W Date 1! Z3%
El COUNCIL APPROVAL REQUIRED City Cleric: Date
rnr-L.mrw i i ivim rvn nr-%Avra r :
To increase revenue estimates and expenditure appropriations to accept a grant for the National Highway ❑ from existing budget appropriations
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses - High Visibility Enforcement EJ from additional estimated revenues
(HVE) Pilot Project.
❑ from unappropriated fund balance
REVENUES
Fund #
Org
Object Project
Description
Increase or (Decrease) S
010
01035354
431453 G2550
TRAFFIC- FEDERAL GRANTS
57,800.00
Subtotal $ 57,800.00
EXPENDITURES
Fund #
Org
Object Project
Description
Increase or (Decrease) $
010
01035354
713002 G2550
TRAFFIC - OVERTIME SAFETY & 1/2 TIME
56,961.90
010
01035354
727016 G2550
TRAFFIC- MEDICARE FRINGES
839.10
Subtotal $ 57,800.00
FUND BALANCE
Fund #
Object
Description
Increase or (Decrease) $
010
300000
GENERAL FUND -
FUND BALANCE CONTROL
-
Subtotal $
No Change In Fund Balance
12-3
Attachment B
Page 1 of 3
toXcel
7140 Heritage Village Plaza
Gainesville, VA 20155
Phone: (703) 754-0248
January 7, 2024
Officer Isaac Furnari
Newport Beach Police Department
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Fax: (703) 310-6950
RE: Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses — High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Participation
Selection/Memorandum of Understanding under NHTSA Contract 22C-000002
Dear Officer Furnari,
Thank you for applying for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Illegal Passing of
Stopped School Buses — High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Project. Upon review of your application, the
Newport Beach Police Department has been selected to receive reimbursement of up to $57,800 for
conducting high visibility enforcement (HVE) focused on the illegal passing of stopped school buses.
Toxcel LLC is managing this effort under contract to NHTSA (Contract 22C-000002). All communication
for this project will go through Toxcel and Toxcel will handle all funding reimbursements.
Please review the attached information and return a signed memorandum of understanding (see page 3
for the MOU) to me (jennifer.symoun@toxcel.com) as soon as possible. Once signed you can begin
reimbursable HVE efforts to prevent the illegal passing of stopped school buses from January to June
2025. The attached information outlines directions for submitting invoices for reimbursement and
deployment reporting requirements.
I am excited to work with you to help stop the illegal passing of stopped school buses in Newport Beach.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
JeYl
Jennifer Symoun
Vice President, Engineering and Behavioral Sciences
Toxcel LLC
703-754-0248 x8208
jennifer.symoun@toxcel.com
12-4
Attachment B
Page 2 of 3
Background
Through a NHTSA-funded research project, Toxcel LLC is developing a toolkit to help law enforcement
agencies (LEA) implement high visibility enforcement (HVE) campaigns to address the illegal passing of
stopped school buses. HVE combines enforcement, visibility elements, and a publicity strategy to
educate the public and promote voluntary compliance with the law. While HVE campaigns are
frequently used to address traffic safety concerns such as seat belt usage and impaired driving, this will
be the first NHTSA-sponsored HVE campaign focused on illegal school bus passing.
According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation, approximately 242,000
motorists across the United States illegally passed a stopped school bus in a single day during the 2022-
2023 school year. Projected across a 180-day school year, that is more than 43.5 million stop -arm
violations. These are preventable incidents that put children at significant risk; injuries and fatalities to
children occur more often outside or near a school bus than inside due to motorists failing to heed the
stop -arm warning.
Objective
The objective of this effort is to pilot test a toolkit that was developed by Toxcel to help law
enforcement agencies conduct HVE for the illegal passing of stopped school buses. The pilot test will
involve selected law enforcement agencies conducting HVE between January -June 2025, with the toolkit
available to guide them in their HVE efforts. Agencies will be reimbursed for their HVE efforts related to
this project, will be required to submit deployment reports, and will be asked for input on the toolkit at
the end of the pilot period that may be used to enhance or improve the toolkit. When finalized, the
toolkit will be made broadly available.
Implementation Support Processes and Procedures
Eligible Expenses
Participating LEAS will be reimbursed up to their budgeted amount for officer overtime associated with
the HVE deployments and administrative time to log and report the HVE data, as well as any related
equipment costs that do not exceed 15% of the overall HVE budget.
Reporting
A deployment report template is attached. Deployment reports are preferred by the Friday of the week
following the deployments (e.g., The report for deployments that occur during week 1 of the month is
due by Friday of week 2). Invoices, supporting receipts, and proof of overtime rates are due bi-monthly,
to align with the Newport Beach Police Department's payroll schedule. If necessary, deployment reports
can also be submitted on a bi-monthly schedule with the invoices. Reimbursement is dependent upon
Toxcel's receipt of the deployment reports. Submit all information to jennifer.symoun@toxcel.com.
Reimbursement will occur within 30 days of receipt of the invoice if all requested information is
provided.
The report includes a summary section at the beginning to summarize all deployments that occurred in
the reporting week, as well as separate sections to document information about each individual
deployment. Complete this report with as much information and detail as possible.
Invoicing
An invoice template is attached. This invoice must be submitted along with receipts for any purchases
and proof of overtime rates (such as paystubs. Personal information can be redacted). Instructions for
completing the invoice are included on the first tab of the file. The invoice template on the second tab.
Timeframe
HVE deployments may begin upon receipt of the signed MOU and should be completed by June 30,
2025.
12-5
Attachment B
Page 3 of 3
PLEASE PROVIDE ON AGENCY LETTERHEAD (MINUS THIS HEADER)
DATE
Jennifer Symoun
toXcel
Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses — High Visibility Enforcement Pilot Support Coordinator (under
contract to NHTSA)
7140 Heritage Village Plaza
Gainesville, VA 20155
Dear Jennifer:
The Newport Beach Police Department agrees to follow the requirements for being reimbursed up to
$58,000 for allowable expenses for conducting high visibility enforcement (HVE) focused on the illegal
passing of stopped school buses. We will provide deployment reports by the Friday of the week after
each week of HVE deployments. Invoices and supporting backup for invoiced amounts will be submitted
bi-monthly. We understand that information and lessons learned captured from our efforts may be
included in updating the Toolkit and the project final report and we will have the opportunity to review
the Toolkit and report prior to its publishing by NHTSA.
We are committed to this effort and able to allocate the time and resources required to receive funding
assistance.
Our primary point of contact for this effort is:
Name
Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Sincerely,
x
(Signature)
NAME:
TITLE:
(Type or Print)
12-6