HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 6/21/2022 - Memorandum From Greg Yeager Re: May 10, 2022: Mid-Cycle Council Priorities 2021-2023: Traffic Surcharge
Fort Collins Police Services
Office of the Deputy Chief
2221 S. Timberline Rd.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
(970) 221-6540
MEMORANDUM
Date: June 15, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Greg Yeager, Deputy Chief of Police
Thru: Jeff Swoboda, Chief of Police
Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
RE: May 10, 2022: Mid-Cycle Council Priorities-2021-2023: Traffic Surcharge
Bottom Line:
Council requested follow-up regarding traffic surcharge use and any programmatic changes.
The current balance and projections from the Traffic Surcharge account will fund one Police
Services Traffic Officer in 2023-2024. No additional funding is available from this source to pay
for the second priorly-funded officer nor for Traffic Operations mitigation programs.
Background:
The Traffic Calming Surcharge was created in 2005 with a recognition that past traffic calming
methods alone were ineffective; the Council item stated police presence and enforcement were
the most effective means of reducing speed. The approach began with a $35 surcharge for
moving violations to fund two additional FCPS Traffic Unit officers who were supplemented by
the city-wide anti-speeding campaign (which included speed humps, signage, etc ). The costs
for two officers were covered and excess revenues were used by Traffic Operations.
The Surcharge Fund is generated only from issued citations. Several factors drew it down to a
point that it currently funds only one officer and no Traffic Operations programs:
1. The number of Traffic Officers has fallen below six, at times, resulting in lower numbers
of citations with attached surcharge inputs.
2. Increased technical and fatal traffic collision investigations keep Traffic Officers from
working enforcement duties.
3. Plea agreements in the municipal court lead to elimination of surcharge assessments.
Beginning in 2021, FCPS took all available revenue even when there wasn t enough to fund two
officers. That approach continues in an effort to address the traffic safety issues identified in
2005 and continuing today. Officers are issuing citations through the municipal court, rather than
the county, and we are working with the judge and prosecutors on possibly preserving the
surcharge assessment even during plea agreements. The information which follows illustrates
the status of the account and the annual disbursements.