Public Works outlines Safe Streets for All planning grant; council clarifies $200,000 award and local match

Hans Mercer, Public Works Director, briefed the council on the Safe Streets for All planning and demonstration grant program and presented the city’s proposed acceptance of a grant award.

Mercer said the federal Safe Streets for All initiative, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and administered by Federal Highway, aims for zero roadway deaths. The city seeks a demonstration/planning award to analyze roadway safety problems, collect data, convene stakeholders and develop an action plan that could lead to later implementation projects.

Mercer said the award being presented for acceptance is $200,000 from Federal Highway with a 20% local match of $50,000 funded from public benefit funds. He asked that the public works director be designated as the authorized representative to sign grant documents. Mercer said he received the exhibits and general terms and conditions and did not see items of particular concern but noted federal grant requirements tend to include extensive rules and procedures.

Council members asked whether specific corridors or crossings (for example, near Lautz Park) could be studied; Mercer said locations will be identified through data collection, stakeholder input and analysis. A council member also observed that executive orders and administrative requirements for federal grants can change with administrations; Mercer acknowledged that program rules had been modified since earlier notices of award.

The transcript shows staff presentation and clarifying questions; no formal vote to accept the grant appears in the study-session record.