Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Greenfield Union School District, to promote active modes of transportation to students, parents, and the broader community to reduce the incidence of injuries and fatalities to pedestrians and cyclists due to collisions, upon execution to June 30, 2031 with no exchange of funds; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three future amendments that do not significantly change the scope and do not add funds to the agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Greenfield Union School District, to promote active modes of transportation to students, parents, and the broader community to reduce the incidence of injuries and fatalities to pedestrians and cyclists due to collisions, upon execution to June 30, 2031 with no exchange of funds; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three future amendments that do not significantly change the scope and do not add funds to the agreement.
SUMMARY:
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is the designated highway safety office of the State of California that awards annual grants to state and local sub-recipients for innovative, evidence-based education and enforcement programs designed to improve the safety of everyone on California roads. Through federal funding made available to California by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), OTS funds more than $140 million for programs that address the state’s current and future traffic safety needs. OTS engages with historically underserved areas, focused on safety strategies to improve traffic safety in communities that have been most harmed by injuries and deaths. OTS supports initiatives, including Safe Routes to School programming, to encourage active modes of transportation and promote safer travel while walking, biking, rolling, and driving.
DISCUSSION:
In recent years, Greenfield has experienced serious problems with automobile collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists, ranking among the top 16 communities in California with the highest traffic crash rates that resulted in pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths. OTS provides crash data annually and ranks cities and counties. Number 1 in the rankings is the highest, or “worst”. According to OTS crash data, the City of Greenfield ranked poorly for pedestrian crashes in 2019 and 2022. Greenfield’s rank was even worse for crashes involving pedestrians under 15 years old. It ranked 5th in the state in 2019 and 3rd in 2021. The city ranked 10th in crashes involving bicyclists in 2019 and ranked 12th in an overall composite in 2020.
This problem disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations of Greenfield, including seniors who face increased risk due to mobility limitations and children and youth who are at heightened risk traveling to and from school and recreational activities. The high incidence of collisions suggests the need for pedestrian and bicycle safety education, training, outreach, and raising awareness of safe walking, biking, and driving.
The County of Monterey Health Department was awarded an OTS grant in November 2025 to develop and implement Safe Routes to School programming and community education in Greenfield to encourage safe active modes of transportation. Education delivery methods will include community workshops, stakeholder meetings, training, presentations for children, adults, and seniors, and Walk to School Days. Presentation topics will include discussions on pedestrian and bicyclist safety and community health and wellness. These grant-funded activities will be led by the Health Department and will take place primarily at the following target schools: Mary Chapa, Cesar Chavez, Oak Avenue, and Arroyo Seco.
This work supports the County of Monterey Health Department 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Goals: 1. Build community power and partners’ capacity to increase equity and improve health. It also supports three of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it; and 4. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health; and 7. Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The Offices of the County Counsel and Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved this agreement as to legal form and fiscal provisions, respectively.
This item was unanimously supported by Greenfield Union School District on February 24, 2026.
FINANCING:
There is no exchange of funds between parties associated with the Agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This Agreement supports the County of Monterey Strategic Plan Goal A: Well-Being and Quality of Life. The Agreement strengthens services provided to the community through a partnership between the County of Monterey Health Department and Greenfield Union School District, thereby improving the health and safety of Greenfield residents. The initiative delivers school-based prevention education and family engagement strategies. Through this agreement, students will receive public health prevention information that promotes pedestrian and bicycle safety and overall well-being.
Mark a check next to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals:
X Well-Being and Quality of Life
Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
Prepared by: Veronica Salinas, Management Analyst II, 755-4630
Approved by: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Memorandum of Understanding