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Public Safety Advisory Committee seeks council guidance as Spot Program funding nears exhaustion
Summary
PSAC presented the Spot Program (initial $350,000) and warned staff estimates indicate the funds could be designated/exhausted by May; the committee asked council to clarify priorities (transportation‑only vs. broader safety equipment and CERT assistance) and discussed rapid interventions such as speed‑feedback signs.
The Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) presented an update on the Spot Program and committee priorities at the March 10 study session. The committee explained the program phases — proposal intake, engineering review, phase‑2 scoping with partners and a committee vote — and reiterated requirements for projects to be legal, safe and maintainable.
PSAC reported an initial $350,000 designated for Spot projects and staff said the committee has prioritized a set of projects that could exhaust those dollars by the May meeting unless some work rolls into the next fiscal year; staff also noted a $200,000 allocation planned in the next budget cycle. PSAC discussed common causes for denial (non‑maintainable sites, projects requiring different technical funding such as stormwater) and said it applies a $25,000 cap to typical Spot projects, combining projects only when appropriate.
Committee members asked council to clarify whether Spot should remain narrowly transportation‑focused (engineering and signs) or expand to a broader public‑safety umbrella that could fund equipment for community programs (for example, CERT equipment or pedestrian/bicycle counters). PSAC flagged that FEMA has reduced CERT funding and some equipment requests fall outside Spot’s current transportation orientation.
PSAC also described near‑term operational items: an order for ten speed‑feedback signs (data capable) that will collect speed and volume data and a proposed public education/marking campaign (thermal‑plastic pavement markings, educational flyers) to address parking and visibility issues around crosswalks and parks. Staff emphasized a phased rollout to match staffing and procurement cycles.
The committee asked council for direction on program scope and on reasonable turnaround expectations for Spot projects so staff can prioritize engineering and procurement accordingly.
