CA Review JRT
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[email protected], 442-339-2100
Subject:
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Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept $17,439 in Fiscal Year 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds and appropriate the funds to the Public Safety Grants Special Revenue Fund.
Executive Summary
The Carlsbad Police Department has been allocated $17,439 through the Fiscal Year 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The grant was named for the year the application window opened, not the year the money is awarded. The department proposes using the grant to purchase one dual-tube night vision goggle device as part of a phased equipment acquisition plan to incrementally expand night vision capability within the SWAT team. The grant requires City Council approval and an opportunity for public comment.
Explanation & Analysis
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program provides federal funding to support state and local law enforcement efforts to prevent and reduce crime and improve public safety outcomes. Grant funds are allocated through a formula based on population and violent crime statistics, providing jurisdictions with flexibility to address local public safety priorities.
The Police Department currently has eight night vision goggle devices acquired through prior grant funding. An additional night vision device will address an existing gap in low-light operational capability and expand access to night vision technology during critical incidents and tactical deployments. Expanding the night vision inventory will improve situational awareness, enhance officer safety and support consistent operational capability in low-light and no-light conditions commonly encountered during tactical operations.
The equipment proposed for purchase falls within the category of military equipment already authorized under the Police Department's adopted Military Equipment Use Policy in accordance with Government Code Section 7070 and related sections (Assembly Bill 481). City Council has Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 1 of 6
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previously reviewed and approved the use of night vision devices as part of this policy. This action does not expand or modify the authorized use of military equipment; it supports the continued acquisition and replacement of already-approved equipment within the existing policy's scope. The Police Department will continue to meet all applicable annual reporting and oversight requirements under Assembly Bill 481.
Fiscal Analysis
The Fiscal Year 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program provides $17,439 in federal grant funding, which will offset the cost of purchasing one dual-tube night vision goggle device for the Police Department. The grant does not require any matching funds.
Next Steps
Upon City Council approval, the City Manager, or designee, will accept the grant funds, and the Mayor will sign the certification and assurances form (Attachment A to Exhibit 1). The City Manager, or designee, will then appropriate $17,439 to the Public Safety Grants Special Revenue Fund for the purchase of one dual-tube night vision goggle device.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because the creation of funding mechanisms, including the pursuit and/or acceptance of grant funding, is a government fiscal activity which on its own does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment. Applying for or accepting the grant does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The activities or projects for which this funding is intended may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines. The proposed action will not foreclose review of alternatives or mitigation measures by the public as part of the environmental review process.
Exhibit
1. City Council resolution
Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 2 of 6
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Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-165
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO ACCEPT $17,439 IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE
ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDS AND APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY GRANTS SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, administers the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to assist state and local units of government in supporting a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad is eligible to apply for and receive funding under the FY 2025 Justice Assistance Grant Program Local Solicitation; and WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad through its Police Department has been allocated $17,439 in grant funds under the FY 2025 Justice Assistance Grant Program Local Solicitation; and WHEREAS, the Police Department intends to use the grant funds to purchase one (1) dual-tube night vision goggle device to expand night vision capability within its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, thereby enhancing officer safety and operational effectiveness during high-risk operations conducted in low-light conditions; and
WHEREAS, the proposed use of grant funds constitutes the acquisition of "military equipment" as defined under Government Code §7070, and is consistent with, and authorized under, the Police Department's Military Equipment Use Policy adopted by the City Council pursuant to Government Code §7070 et seq. (Assembly Bill 481); and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the proposed grant award and finds that acceptance of the funds, and the appropriation and use thereof as described herein, serve the public interest and support the City's public safety objectives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 3 of 6
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the creation of funding mechanisms, including the pursuit and/or acceptance of grant funding, is a government fiscal activity which on its own does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment. Applying for or accepting the grant does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The activities or projects for which this funding is intended may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines. The proposed action will not foreclose review of alternatives or mitigation measures by the public as part of the environmental review process.
3. That the purchase of one dual-tube night vision goggle device is authorized in accordance with the requirements of the Fiscal Year 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
4. That the City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized to accept the said grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice and execute any documents necessary to administer the grant, including required reports and final statements.
5. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign the Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government form, attached hereto as Attachment A.
6. That the City Manager, or designee, is authorized to appropriate $17,439 to the Public Safety Grants Special Revenue Fund for the purchase of one dual-tube night vision goggle device.
Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 4 of 6
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 1st day of September, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN None.
ABSENT: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 5 of 6
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Mayor
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEOFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2025 Local Solicitation Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government On behalf of the applicant unit of local government named below, in support of that locality’s application for an award under the FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program, and further to 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a), I certify to the Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”), U.S. Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), that all of the following are true and correct:
1.I am the chief executive of the applicant unit of local government named below, and I have the authority to make the following representations on my own behalf as chief executive and on behalf of the applicant unit of localgovernment. I understand that these representations will be relied upon as material in any OJP decision to make anaward, under the application described above, to the applicant unit of local government.
2.I certify that no federal funds made available by the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above will be used to supplant local funds but will be used to increase the amounts of such funds thatwould, in the absence of federal funds, be made available for law enforcement activities.
3.I assure that the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was submitted for reviewto the governing body of the unit of local government (e.g., city council or county commission), or to an organizationdesignated by that governing body, not less than 30 days before the date of this certification.
4.I assure that, before the date of this certification— (a) the application described above (and any amendment tothat application) was made public; and (b) an opportunity to comment on that application (or amendment) wasprovided to citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations, to the extent applicable law orestablished procedure made such an opportunity available.
5.I assure that, for each fiscal year of the award (if any) that OJP makes based on the application described above,the applicant unit of local government will maintain and report such data, records, and information(programmatic and financial), as OJP may reasonably require.
6.I have carefully reviewed 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(5), and, with respect to the programs to be funded by the award (if any), I hereby make the certification required by section 10153(a)(5), as to each of the items specified therein.
7.If the applicant named below is not the unit of local government itself, I certify that it is an instrumentality of theunit of local government and is approved to serve as the applicant and recipient of FY 2025 JAG fundingon behalf of the unit of local government. _ Signature of Chief Executive of the Applicant Unit of Local Government Keith Blackburn
Printed Name of Chief Executive
City of Carlsbad
Name of Applicant Unit of Local Government
Rev. March 2026
Attachment A
Sept. 1, 2026 Item #3 Page 6 of 6
Docusign Envelope ID: 8794B515-6F1A-86F4-83CA-AB561E701893 9/2/2026