DATE: October 7, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Retroactive Approval of Office of Traffic Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Grant; and Grant Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Director of Public Works and Planning’s (Director) previous submittal of a grant application to the California Office of Traffic Safety for the Fresno County Pedestrian Safety Demonstrations - ($242,814);
2. Approve the draft form of the Grant Agreement with the Office of Traffic Safety, including its Certifications and Assurances;
3. Authorize the Director, as the Authorizing Official for the County under the Grant Agreement, to approve and execute the final form of the Grant Agreement, including such changes to the draft form of the Grant Agreement that the Director determines to be in the best interest of the County, subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel and as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector; and
4. Authorize the following officials of the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to execute the Grant Agreement, and to provide the Certifications and Assurances under the Grant Agreement, in their respective capacities: Erin Haagenson, Program Manager, as Grant Director under the Grant Agreement; and Lemuel Asprec, Financial Division Manager, as the Fiscal Officer under the Grant Agreement.
REPORT
To meet the grant filing deadline of January 31, 2025, the Department submitted the Grant Application on the due date for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) FY 2025-26 grant cycle. On June 4, 2025, the Department received communication from OTS of tentative award of the grant, and it is pending official approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As a condition of grant approval, the OTS sent a Grant Agreement to be signed by the Director, the Grant Administrator, and the Department’s Fiscal Officer. The impact of this item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the Department will withdraw the OTS program grant application and agreement. If that should be the case, the County’s proposed Pedestrian Safety Demonstrations will no longer receive OTS funding under the current FY 2025-26 cycle.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Pedestrian Safety Demonstrations are estimated to cost $242,814, which will be 100% reimbursed by the OTS. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in Roads Org 4510 Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of the OTS grant program is to reach a goal where everyone will travel safely on California roads through a thoughtful, forward-thinking, and data-driven selection of grants to local and state agencies. With grant funding made available to California by the NHTSA, the OTS funds more than $100 million annually in innovative, evidence-based education and enforcement programs and technologies designed to improve road safety.
In 2024, the Department was awarded its first OTS grant which proposed a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan to evaluate the most critical transportation issues students face at fifteen (15) schools located in or adjacent to unincorporated areas of Fresno County.
Walk audits were conducted last Spring at Cantua Creek Elementary School, Fipps Primary School, Riverdale Elementary School, Riverdale High School, Washington Colony Elementary School, Washington Union High School, Del Rey Elementary School, West Park Elementary School, Caruthers High School, Caruthers Elementary School, Tranquility Elementary School, Tranquility High School, Calwa Elementary School, Adams Elementary School, and Powers-Ginsberg Elementary School. The SRTS Action Plan with recommendations for improvements is currently being finalized by the consultant and County staff. The SRTS Action Plan will be presented to your Board later this Fall for approval. This plan included engaging students, staff, parents, community members, and relevant authorities in the assessment and planning process.
Based on recommendations in the SRTS Action Plan, the Department will organize up to seven (7) demonstration projects near some of the school sites studied in the action plan. Other recommendations may be implemented through permanent projects with other grant funding. Demonstration activities are temporary safety improvements that inform the action plan by testing proposed project and strategy approaches to determine future benefits and future scope. Although demonstration activities do not involve permanent roadway reconstruction, they are a roadmap for future projects and grant opportunities and show the public how potential future safety projects would operate in their community.
The Department was tentatively awarded $242,814 to complete Pedestrian Safety Demonstrations at various school locations in Fresno County. The Pedestrian Safety Demonstrations will conduct best practice strategies to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The projects will include using temporary paint, delineators, and other removable materials to create curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalks, pavement markings, pedestrian refuge islands, speed tables, lighting, signage, and other traffic-calming measures. All measures will be temporary and removable.
On June 4, 2025, Department staff received communication of conditional award, and it is pending official approval from the NHTSA. As a condition of grant approval, the Grant Agreement is to be signed by the delegated County staff and returned to OTS. The OTS worked with County staff to prepare the draft Grant Agreement using information included in the original grant application as well as any changes to the budget and/or strategies discussed. Any proposed changes to the draft Grant Agreement are not expected to be material. The draft form of Grant Agreement is on file with the Clerk. The eligible grant period is from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; however, no grant activities can occur until the agreement is fully executed.
Section 7 of the Grant Agreement incorporates by reference schedules and exhibits which contain the specific terms and conditions agreed to by the County and OTS. In general terms, the Department will select a consultant through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to assist in developing the Pedestrian Safety Demonstration projects and hire a construction contractor to install the demonstration projects. In addition, the grant requires the Department to participate in the following campaigns: National Walk to School Day, National Bicycle Safety Month, California's Pedestrian Safety Month and National Pedestrian Safety Month. Department staff would likely participate by issuing a social media post, or attending or participating in the planning of a community outreach event.
The OTS grant manual, which is incorporated into the grant, requires the County to indemnify the State for any claims or losses resulting to any contractor or other entity furnishing or supplying work services, materials, or supplies in connection with the performance of the agreement, as well as any person, firm, or corporation who may be injured or damaged by the County in the performance of this agreement. The OTS grant manual also contains a non-standard limitation on liability.
In addition to the standard State and Federal certifications included in the Board of Supervisor’s Administrative Policy No. 47, the grant also requires that the Grantee Agency will comply with the Hatch Act, a Federal law restricting the partisan political activities of employees ʺwhose principal employment activities are funded in whole or part with Federal Funds.ʺ
The OTS does not require signature from the County’s Board of Supervisors on the Agreement, however, it does require the signature of the Director of Public Works and Planning, the Grant Administrator, and the Department’s Fiscal Officer. This item is before you today to delegate authority to Steven, E. White, Director of Public Works and Planning; Erin Haagenson, Program Manager; and Lemuel Asprec, Finance Division Manager; to sign the Agreement. Your Board may choose to delegate responsibility to alternate staff should your Board see fit.
The County officials named on the Grant Agreement are required under the Grant Agreement to certify by way of their signatures, that the County complies with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and directives and State rules, guidelines, policies, and laws in effect with respect to the periods for which the County receives grant funding.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #9, September 24, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - OTS Application - Fresno County Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program
On file with Clerk - Draft Grant Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia