Just weeks after accepting a grant that will fund its first ever traffic enforcement officers, the city dipped into its own coffers for $95,000 to fund a third motorcycle traffic cop.
"We want to take back our streets, to reduce the fear factor in the front yards," said King Lear, a member of the Los Altos City Council.
The request before the council at its Oct. 13 meeting, from the city's traffic advisory task force, was for two traffic officers in addition to the two funded by the grant.
The council members agreed more officers would be good. But they balked at the six-figure price tag.
The council eventually voted 3-2, for a compromise position, to add one more traffic officer, with Mayor Kris Casto and Councilman Lou Becker voting no.
"I'd like the two additional officers," Becker said. "But items should be budgeted and not dependent upon revenues from fines and reserves."
Casto pointed out that "We only had 13 speed-related accidents last year. I would like to wait until a budget cycle so we can look at all the issues that may require funding rather than approve reserve operating expenses out of context," she said.
The third officer will be dedicated entirely to neighborhood issues, said Los Altos Police Capt. Cliff Balch, and "will provide the city with a lot of options."
The grant that funds the first two traffic officers "is a vehicle impound grant with specific requirements," Balch said. The grant officers "can spend some time in the neighborhoods," he said. But half their time will be spent on unlicensed vehicles or those with a lapsed registration. The grant officers also will be dealing with drivers with suspended licenses, Balch said.
The grant officers will work as a team, with the same schedule, the same days off, Balch said.
With this third officer, "now we can schedule seven days a week and cover both the morning and afternoon commutes," Balch said.
Currently three Los Altos officers are attending the training to be motorcycle officers. Two should be ready to hit the streets soon into the new year.
The third officer will not be in place until spring or early summer, Balch said. The police department first needs to replace the officers moving into the motorcycle jobs.
The $95,000 city funding for the third officer comes from the following: $14,000 from operating reserves; $54,000 from the traffic safety budget; and $27,000 from extra impound fees, said Los Altos City Clerk Carol Scharz.
State law does not allow traffic ticket money to be spent for traffic enforcement officers, council members said.