Report Prepared by: Lance Eber, Crime Analyst, Police
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution to Accept the Grant Award of $573,636 From the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program and Authorization for the City Manager to Sign the Grant Award for the Police Department to Conduct Checkpoints, Conduct Saturation Patrols, Conduct Educational Presentations, Attend Court all on Overtime Status, and Attend Training, Issue Press Releases, and Purchase Supplies and Equipment
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers accepting grant funding from the California Highway Patrol offered to the Merced Police Department in the amount of $573,636 from the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program to conduct checkpoints, conduct saturation patrols, conduct educational presentations, attend court on overtime status, and attend training, issue press releases, and purchase supplies and equipment.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Adopting Resolution 2021-61, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, to accept grant funds in the amount of $573,636 from the State of California, Department of California Highway Patrol, CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Law Enforcement Grant Program and approving the grant agreement; and,
B. Accepting and increasing the revenue budget in account 001-1002-324.02-00 by $573,636; and,
C. Appropriating the same amount in Police Operations Division 001-1002; and,
D. Authorizing the use of pooled cash until reimbursement from the grant is received; and,
E. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by Staff; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2021-22 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
With the passage of Proposition 64, The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use Marijuana Act (AUMA), in 2016, California voters mandated the state set aside funding for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to disperse to local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations for the education, prevention, and enforcement of impaired driving laws pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 34019.
It is the intent of the CHP to enhance traffic safety by administering AUMA grants to educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving, fund efforts to remove impaired drivers from the roadway, and advance research into impaired driving issues.
This grant program marks an important step forward in the effort to address the following goals and objectives:
• Reduce the number of crashes by impaired drivers
• Increase public awareness related to the dangers of impaired driving
• Improve safety on roads
The Merced Police Department submitted a grant application for this funding opportunity by the due date of February 23, 2021. On May 19, 2021, the CHP notified the Merced Police Department that their grant application was approved.
The CHP offered the MPD a grant in the amount of $573,636 that runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. There is no match requirement on this grant. The grant includes the following objectives:
• Conduct 2 checkpoint operations
• Conduct 24 saturation patrols
• Conduct 24 education presentations
• Attend court cases involving cannabis
• Issue monthly press releases summarizing grant activities
• Send officers to Standard Field Sobriety Test training
• Send officers to Drug Recognition Expert training
• Send officers to Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement training
• Purchase supplies and equipment that assist with completion of the objectives
All checkpoint operations, saturation patrols operations, education presentations, and attendance at court cases will be conducted on overtime status.
The grant is a reimbursement grant. Expenses are incurred and then requests for reimbursement are submitted on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
History and Past Actions
This is the first time that the MPD has received grant funding from this funding source.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Staff is requesting that Council accepts the grant award; increase the revenue budget in the account 001-1002-324.02-00 by $573,636; and, appropriate the same in Police Operations Division 001-1002; and, approve the use of pooled cash until reimbursement from the grant is received. Without grant funding, the operations described in this grant would not get accomplished.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of the Grant Agreement
2. Resolution
3. Page 1 (City Attorney Approved to Form)