REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  December  12, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-12.

SUBJECT:

OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY REVENUE AGREEMENT – TEENS DRIVE SAFE

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Brandy Isola, MPH – Public Health Deputy Branch Director. (530) 245-6861

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD – Public Health Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions: (1) Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a retroactive revenue agreement, #AL18024, with the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in an amount not to exceed $100,000 to promote safe driving through the Shasta Teens Drive Safe program for the period October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018; (2) approve and authorize the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Public Health and Business and Support Services Branch Directors, authority to sign prospective and retroactive amendments and other documents associated with the agreement that result in a net change of no more than $20,000 to the maximum compensation and that otherwise comply with Administrative Policy 6-101, Shasta County Contracts Manual; (3) approve and authorize the Chairman and the HHSA Public Health and Business and Support Services Branch Directors authority to sign the Alternate Signature/Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS) User Authority form and authorize the HHSA Public Health and Business and Support Services Branch Directors to sign documents on behalf of HHSA, and log into the GEMS for all matters relating to the OTS grant, including but not limited to, completing and submitting Quarterly Performance Reports and reimbursement claims; and (4) approve and authorize the HHSA Public Health and Business and Support Services Branch Directors to designate one Community Education Specialist II and one Accounting Technician, when necessary, to sign the GEMS User Authority form only for the purpose of logging into the GEMS for all matters relating the to the OTS grant, including but not limited to, completing and submitting Quarterly Performance Reports and reimbursement claims.

SUMMARY

Shasta County suffers a high rate of motor vehicle collision-related injuries.  Approval of this recommendation will allow Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) – Public Health to receive Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2018 Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) funding to promote safe driving through educational efforts in Shasta County high schools in collaboration with local partners.

DISCUSSION

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States.  The loss of lives and the high cost of injuries due to motor vehicle crashes create a significant traffic safety and public health problem in Shasta County, especially for young people.  Alcohol and unsafe speed are major causes of motor vehicle collisions.  In Shasta County during Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2014, there were 118 alcohol involved collisions resulting in 27 fatalities and 1,024 injuries. While only 18 percent of the fatal and injury collisions involved alcohol, 56 percent of the fatal collisions involved alcohol. In FFY 2014 there were 41 collisions involving a pedestrian, resulting in five victims killed and 37 victims injured. This accounts for five percent of fatal and injury collisions, 19 percent of all fatalities and four percent of all injuries.

Shasta County Public Health has been fortunate to receive funding from OTS in the past to address Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Distracted Driving, and seat belt use in Shasta County.  Grant activities were conducted in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, Injury Prevention Coalition of Shasta County, a group comprised of local enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations such as Shasta County Chemical People, Inc., hospitals, etc. This grant will give HHSA-Public Health an opportunity to build on past successes, expand on collaborative efforts, and develop additional strategies to address ongoing teen DUI and unsafe driving challenges in Shasta County.

The major efforts funded through this agreement include: 1) Conducting four Traffic Safety Events at junior high/high schools in October, in recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week.  Traffic Safety Events include interactive DUI prevention activities, educational booths and presentations, educational material distribution, and student leader involvement;  2) Conducting six Pedestrian Safety activities at schools/community events during California Pedestrian Safety Month in September; 3) Hosting traffic safety booths at community events/health fairs; 4) Conducting traffic safety educational presentations in high schools and driving schools; and 5) Conducting distracted driving prevention campaigns in high schools.  The campaigns will involve activities such as interactive educational booths, distribution of educational items, and disseminating traffic safety messaging through announcements, bulletins, banners, and posters.

In addition to preventing unnecessary death, human suffering, and disability, a reduction in traffic injuries will benefit the community financially through reduced hospitalization, medical care and rehabilitation costs.  This grant will also strengthen collaborative efforts to prevent motor vehicle collision-related injuries in Shasta County.

The Office of Traffic Safety uses one form delegating authority to access their Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS) and delegating the authority to sign all documents on behalf of Shasta County.  It is necessary for us to have front-line staff access the GEMS system but not have authority to sign documents on behalf of Shasta County.

ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives include not approving the agreement or requesting that revisions be made to the agreement.  Another alternative is to revise the recommended authority for the Director to sign future amendments. 

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

Project activities will be performed in collaboration with Shasta County high schools, junior high schools and local partners such as the Shasta County Chemical People, California Highway Patrol, Anderson Police Department, Shasta Regional and Mercy Medical Centers, Shasta Community Health Center, Caltrans, Department of Motor Vehicles, Shasta County Office of Education, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and other agencies and individuals committed to the prevention of unintentional injury.  County Counsel has reviewed the agreement and approved as to form.  Risk Management has approved the agreement. The County Administrative Office has reviewed the recommendation.

FINANCING

Revenue and Expenditures associated with this agreement were included in Public Health’s FY 2017-18 Adopted budget. There are no additional County General Funds requested with approval of the recommendation.