Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1992 0304 CC REG ITEM 08QITEM MOORPARK 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark. California 93021 TO: THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: GEOFF DEAN, LIEUTE DATE: February 27, 1992 SUBJECT: COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM BACKGROUND (805) 529 -6864 ORPARK, CALI= OR`:!A City Coun 'I Meeting c1 199 Z t.CTION: In 1983, after the residents of Moorpark voted to incorporate, members of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department began working with city administrators to develop proposals by which the Sheriff would provide law enforcement services by contract to the newly formed city. Since State Highways 118 and 23 traverse the City of Moorpark on surface streets, vehicle traffic has always had an impact on the city. As the city's growth continued, this vehicle traffic has continued to have a significant impact on the quality of life in the city. As the volume of vehicle traffic has increased, the City has expressed a growing concern for regulating the commercial vehicle traffic that travels the city's streets. The basis for this concern has been both to ensure traffic safety by inspection of commercial vehicles and to extend the life expectancy of roadways throughout the city through enforcement of weight regulations. Past and present practice has been for roving Commercial Vehicle Enforcement units of the California Highway Patrol to patrol roadways throughout the County. Sporadically, a commercial vehicle enforcement task force has been brought into the County to supplement county based Highway Patrol Officers. These inspections have also occurred within the Moorpark city limits. Concurrently, in fiscal year 1986 -87, the city applied for a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for the purpose of implementing a traffic enforcement unit as part of the city's public safety services. A state grant was received that funded one additional officer for the specific purpose of traffic enforcement. Included within this officer's duties was commercial vehicle enforcement. This was accomplished on an overtime basis following the completion of a pre- requisite 80 hour training school conducted by the California Highway Patrol. PAUL 04 LAWRAS7N JR. JOHN E. WOZNIAK SCOTT MONTGOME;�� BERNARDO M. PEREZ ROY E. TALLEY JR. Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Page 2 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM Statistics compiled by both the California Highway Patrol and the Moorpark Police Department have shown that a major portion of all commercial vehicles stopped, have been issued citations. These violations have included license, weight, log book and a broad range of mechanical violations. In many cases the seriousness of these violations have required that officers order vehicles out of service. DISCUSSION The City of Moorpark clearly has a need for a commercial vehicle enforcement unit. As stated previously, the impetus for such a unit is two fold. First, the public safety is enhanced by inspections of commercial vehicles to ensure safety equipment is being maintained. Second, the life expectancy of roadways used by commercial vehicles is extended through the enforcement of weight restrictions. The City of Moorpark encompasses approximately 12 1/2 square miles. The City's rapid growth has included residential, commercial and industrial development. Unique circulation patterns and high -- traffic generation land uses have magnified the impact of this traffic on the city. This problem has manifested itself not only in the form of traffic collisions but also in terms of traffic movement and the type of traffic that utilizes city streets. Presently there are over 30 miles of local streets within the city including eleven miles of state highway and 1 1/2 miles of freeway within the city limits of Moorpark. Although the State is constructing the connection of State Routes 118 and 23, both freeways terminate within the city and continue as part of the state highway system, traversing and bisecting the community. This has resulted in a channelization of freeway traffic onto local streets. This may be exacerbated by the alignment of the state highways route system and the fact that these routes serve to circumvent the California Highway Patrol's commercial truck inspection station on the Conejo Grade in the City of Thousand Oaks. Although completion of the Highway 118 - 23 connector will remove a significant amount of truck traffic from surface streets, however, Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark Ave., and Walnut Canyon will continue to be the primary truck routes for truck traffic through the city. The connector will continue to allow truck traffic to circumvent the truck scales on the Conejo Grade. Page 3 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM The City has continued to express concern over the volume of commercial vehicle traffic on roads within the City's boundaries. In response to this concern State Assemblyman McClintock has sponsored AB 1528 that will authorize local police full authority to conduct commercial vehicle inspections. Currently, this can only be conducted pursuant to an observed Vehicle Code violation. Although staff has concluded that the volume of commercial vehicle traffic is significant and could benefit from full -time enforcement, fiscal constraints, and other law enforcement activities prevent this from occurring this fiscal year. Last year and again this current fiscal year, the City Council dedicated appropriations for the purpose of commercial vehicle enforcement on an overtime basis in response to this need. Until recently, Moorpark has only had one fully trained commercial vehicle inspection officer available. We currently have three fully trained officers and hope to add a fourth to the list by the end of next year. With the availability of a sufficient number of trained officers, staff is now able to sustain a long term enforcement effort. Although this enforcement function will continue to be conducted primarily on an overtime basis, available staff will now allow this activity to occur on a regularly scheduled basis by occasionally using one of the two assigned traffic deputies as part of their regular shift. The commercial vehicle enforcement officers share use of the existing parking enforcement pick -up. When this vehicle was originally purchased and outfitted, it was also equipped to function as the commercial enforcement vehicle. PROPOSAL Two major items remain to be purchased to allow staff to conduct thorough commercial vehicle inspections. These items include a full set of commercial vehicle scales and a camper shell that will allow this equipment to be secured in the vehicle. Staff discussed this proposed program expansion and the purchase of scales and a camper shell during the current year's budget discussions. Since staff was unable to ascertain when the available training might be scheduled, staff omitted funding for scales and a camper shell in it's budget submittal with the understanding that a request for funds might be brought before the Council at a future time. Page 4 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM PROGRAM COSTS While the purpose of a commercial vehicle enforcement unit is increased public safety and reduced wear and tear on the City's roadways, it appears the effort will generate sufficient revenue to offset the equipment costs for the program. This revenue will revert back to the City's Traffic Safety Fund, Fund 02. July - August Statistics Bail Forfeited Outstanding Warrants Pending Cases $1,130.00* 393.00* 956.00* Total $2,479.00 Revenue per Hour worked $40.35 14.00 34.00 $88.35 * This is the City's 43% share of the fine levied by the court. overtime Nine thousand dollars ($9,000) was appropriated in the current budget for Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Overtime (Account Number 121.642). This amount was insufficient to provide enforcement every week of the entire year, but there are sufficient funds to provide an average of eight (8) hours of enforcement per week from January to the end of the fiscal year. Vehicle /Communications An existing police vehicle (pick -up truck) will be utilized. Sufficient funds were appropriated for mileage and depreciation to cover the additional use for commercial vehicle enforcement (Account Number 121.654). No additional appropriation is required. Camper Shell Staff proposes to purchase a camper shell with both side and rear doors, similar to those used by commercial vehicle enforcement teams. Initial inquiries indicate a cost of approximately $900. The tool box on the pick -up truck will be removed and returned to the City for use on another vehicle. Page 5 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM Scales Staff has communicated with the CHP and determined that the most appropriate scales that meet CHP specifications are manufactured by P.A.T. Industries in Los Angeles County. These state of the art scales are capable of weighing the individual axles of a vehicle. This is also the scale of choice for other allied police agencies in the state conducting commercial vehicle enforcement. Staff proposes to purchase a full set of four (4) Profile Static portable scales, Model #SAW10C, including the necessary charging unit, cables, tax and delivery for $12,792.50. The scales will be calibrated and maintained, without charge, by County Weights and Measures Department. RECOMMENDATION 1. The City Council authorize the transfer of $14,500.00 in additional Public Safety appropriations from the c i t y ' s Traffic Safety Fund, Fund 02, into Account Number 121.906. 2. The City Council authorize an expenditure not to exceed $1,000.00 for the purchase of a camper shell. 3. The Honorable City Council authorize an expenditure not to exceed $13,500.00 for the purchase of portable commercial scales.