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July 25, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Grant Award: Accept a Grant from the Department of California Highway Patrol for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, and Appropriate Funds.
Report Number: 23-0179
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Police
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution accepting $324,836 in grant funds from the Department of California Highway Patrol for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program and appropriate said funds to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Police Grants Section of the State Grants Fund. (4/5 Vote Required)
SUMMARY
The Police Department recently received notice of a $ 324,836 award of the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, which is administered by the Department of California Highway Patrol. The intent of the program is to educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving, enforce impaired driving laws on the roadway, and improve the Department’s effectiveness through training and development of new strategies.
Staff requests that $324,836 be appropriated to the Other Expenses Category in the State Grant Funds; this appropriation is fully offset by grant revenues.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
Thus, no environmental review is required.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The Police Department recently received notice of a $324,836 award of the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (CTFGP), which is administered by the Department of California Highway Patrol (CHP). The intent of the program is to educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving, enforce impaired driving laws on the roadway, and improve the Department’s effectiveness through training and development of new strategies. The CTFGP award covers a one-year period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
The Police Department ’s goals for this project are to reduce the number of collisions involving marijuana consumption (and other impairing drugs) and driving, as well as training C hula Vista Police Department (CVPD) officers and other San Diego County officers to be successful in the recognition of marijuana (and other drug) impaired drivers. Part of the goal is to educate the public on the dangers of using marijuana and driving to reduce/stop this type of behavior. The education will be done in classroom settings as well as during DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints. By having DUI enforcement operations, CVPD hopes tha t drivers will make the right decision when it comes to consuming marijuana and driving.
Additionally, the Police Department will work closely with school resource officers (SRO s) to provide education to students throughout the Chula Vista school district s in relation to the dangers of using marijuana products and impaired driving. The SRO unit currently has an officer assigned to issues/concerns within the school system of marijuana consumption/sales. This officer will be of tremendous value when implementing education on marijuana dangers to these students. CVPD Officers will also reach out to schools to teach staff what to look for when it comes to drug impairment in their students (Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals – DITEP).
Training for police personnel, such as Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), is also funded by the grant. Enforcement and education efforts by police personnel will be conducted on an overtime basis.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member, of an y other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in the acceptance of $324,836 in grant funds from CHP for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. Additionally, there is a current -year appropriation requested of $324,836 to the Other Expenses Category in the State Grants Fund to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget. The funding from CHP P a g e | 3
will completely offset these costs, resulting in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund or the State Grants Fund.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact as a result of accepting these grants funds.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Jonathan Alegre, Police Department
Police Chief Roxana Kennedy, Police Department