To: Board of Supervisors
From: Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: MOU with City of San Ramon to participate in the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program, San Ramon area.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of San Ramon (City) to pay the City $20,000 for the County's share of program costs, to participate in the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program (Street Smarts Program), for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, San Ramon area. (District II)
FISCAL IMPACT:
In addition to the $20,000 payment to the City, the County will incur labor costs for staff to attend program meetings. All costs will be charged to the Local Road Fund.
An allocation of $20,000 has been approved to be transferred from The Livable Communities Trust Fund to the Local Road Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Street Smarts Program is a collaborative effort among the County Public Works Department, the City, the Town of Danville, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District to support traffic, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety for school children. It supports goal five of the Smart Growth Action Plan to help fund transit and other transportation improvements that foster smart growth principles. The County has participated in this program since 2004 by funding a share of the costs to implement the program. During Fiscal Year 2023/24, the City is administering the program and is requesting that the County fund a total of $20,000 for program development and administrative support services. On November 28, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $20,000 from the Livable Communities Trust Fund to the Public Works Department to participate in the Street Smarts program for Fiscal Year 2023/2024.
The Public Works Director, or designee, will execute on behalf of the County, a MOU with the City to participate in the Street Smarts Program for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The MOU is attached in its substantially final form and will be executed in a form approved by County Counsel.
The Street Smarts Program campaign is implemented through the collaborative effort of the Street Smarts Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee), which meets periodically to implement program components. The Advisory Committee has adopted several large-scale programs to be implemented. They include the following:
- Street Smarts Media Annual Press Release: An annual press release will be sent out at the beginning of the program year outlining the upcoming Street Smarts Program. The release will encourage members of the media and the public to learn about Street Smarts' traffic safety education activities for the upcoming school year.
-Elementary School Safety Assembly: Street Smarts devised an elementary school safety assembly designed to teach students the basics of bicycle and pedestrian safety. For the 2023/24 school year, a contest is offered for students to have the opportunity to learn about traffic safety through short, interactive, and entertaining bicycle and pedestrian themes.
-Community Bicycle Rodeo/Festival: As a component of Street Smarts' Safe Routes to School Efforts, a community bicycle rodeo/festival is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2024 that allows students to practice their cycling and traffic safety skills in a controlled, supervised environment.
- Community Outreach Efforts: Street Smarts staff attend over two dozen community events as part of its outreach efforts. At the events, Street Smarts representatives staff an informational booth with traffic safety educational program materials and activities for children and teen drivers.
The Street Smarts Program advances traffic, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety within the San Ramon Valley. For these reasons, Supervisor Andersen recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve continuing participation in the program during Fiscal Year 2023/2024 and allocating an award of $20,000 for program support and administrative services.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Contra Costa County will no longer be a participant in the Street Smarts Program.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Street Smarts Program supports Outcome 5: Communities are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.