Coversheet

Board Action Request
19-0202

Item Description:
Agmt PW 23-40-19 with MN Dept of Public Safety for a 2019 Mini Grant for RTZ Safety Program, 050/1/19-9/30/19, NTE $25,000 (recv), auth to apply for 2020 RTZ Safety Grant, NTE $50,000 (recv)

Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement PW 23-40-19 with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the creation of a Hennepin County Road to Zero Program, during the period May 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, in the receivable amount of $25,000, be approved; that upon review and approval of the County Attorney’s office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to apply for the Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020, for a receivable amount up to $50,000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of grant funding for the program by Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continued commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.


Background: History: In 2016, the National Safety Council, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, along with a wide-ranging group of professional associations, business and industry associations and other safety groups, launched the national Road to Zero (RTZ) Coalition to provide a major push to achieve zero roadway deaths. Despite advances in road safety, roadway deaths continue to be a grave concern in Hennepin County. More can and needs to be done to engage local agencies, law enforcement, emergency responders, and policy makers to achieve zero roadway deaths. In 2018, Public Works hired the Sprattler Group, a nationally recognized highway safety consulting firm, to assess the status of the county’s road safety efforts and recommend processes and strategies for the creation and implementation of a county-based collaborative effort to improve road safety. The study will be completed this spring and will recommend adopting national RTZ goals and building a coalition of public, private, and community stakeholders that will focus and develop an implementation framework based on the 5-E’s of roadway safety: Education Engineering Enforcement Emergency response Engagement of policy makers, advocates and the community To support the creation of a Hennepin County RTZ Program in 2019, staff applied for and is being awarded a $25,000 Mini Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. The Office of Traffic Safety is encouraging the county to apply for another Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Grant for an amount up to $50,000 to support the ongoing RTZ efforts into the future. The grant solicitation will begin in May 2019 and, if awarded a grant, staff will seek board approval to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for a one-year period from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. Current Request: This request seeks approval of Agreement PW 23-40-19 with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for a 2019 Mini Grant to create the RTZ Program, during the period of May 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, in the receivable amount of $25,000; and authorization to apply for a Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, during the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020, for a receivable amount up to $50,000. Impacts/Outcomes: The Hennepin County RTZ Program will create and implement a county-based collaborative effort to improve road safety and build a coalition of governmental agencies, community stakeholders, law enforcement and first responders. Approval of the grant agreement and grant application with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will provide financial support for development of the county’s RTZ Program.