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August 18, 2026
ITEM TITLE
Acceptance and Appropriation: Accept Grant Funding for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program from the California Highway Patrol and Appropriate Funds
Report Number: 26-0253
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Police
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) State Guidelines. Therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $4 39,974.82 from the California Highway Patrol to be used for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program and appropriating funds for that purpose. (4/5 Vote Required)
SUMMARY
The City of Chula Vista on behalf of the Chula Vista Police Department has been awarded $439,974.82 in grant funding from the California Highway Patrol for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (“Program”). The intent of this Program is to educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving; enforce impaire d driving laws on the roadway; and improve the Police Department’s effectiveness through training and development of new strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed activity has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it has been determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposed activity consists of a governmental fiscal/administrative activity which does 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.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (“Program”) is administered by the California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) and provides State funding to allied agencies for the education, prevention, and enforcement of laws related to driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, including cannabis. The Police Department has been awarded $439,974.82 (“Funding”) for the fiscal year 2026-27 program, covering a grant period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Funding will also be used to enhance training for officers.
Following the 2016 passage of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, the Police Department has seen a continual increase in driving under the influence (“D UI”) and drug-related arrests and collisions. As of January 1, 2018, Proposition 64 legalized the recreational use and possession of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. This change, along with the rising prevalence of other impairing substances in the community, underscores the need to expand officer training in impaired driving enforcement.
To address this, the Police Department is seeking to increase the number of officers certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (“SFST”), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (“ARIDE”), and the Drug Recognition Expert (“DRE”) program. Expanding these skill sets will enhance the Police Department’s ability to detect and respond to impaired driving, while also supporting community education and awareness efforts.
The SFST is a set of standardized tests used by officers to determine whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or other substances. These tests assess specific physical and cognitive responses , or reflexes, that may be diminished by intoxication.
ARIDE bridges the gap between SFST and the Drug Evaluation and Classification programs (“DEC/DRE”). The ARIDE course trains officers to observe, identify, and articulate signs of impairment due to drugs, alcohol, or both. By enhancing officers’ recognition of impaired driving, ARIDE helps reduce impaired driving incidents and serious crashes.
A DRE is a specially trained law enforcement officer who can identify drivers impaired by substances other than, or in addition to, alcohol. DREs complete all phases of training under the DEC Program, as established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police ( “IACP”) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”). The Police Department is currently the only DRE certification site in San Diego County. Two officers are certified DRE instructors, and three officers are certified SFST instructors.
The Police Department will host the following training courses , which will be taught or attended by Police Department personnel on an overtime basis. These classes will be open to law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County and the State of California:
2 SFST courses (Instructors - 1 Sergeant, 1 Agent, 1 Officer) Goal: 30 officers from the Police Department trained over the two courses
2 ARIDE courses (Instructors - 1 Sergeant, 1 Agent, 1 Officer ) Goal: 10 Police Department officers trained over the two courses
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1 DRE course (Instructors - 1 Sergeant, 1 Agent) Goal: 2 Police Department officers trained 16 DRE Field Certification - to correlate with the DRE school in San Diego during 3rd quarter of grant DRE recertification course - Goal: 2 Police Department officers recertified Grant funds will also be used to support DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols. Saturation patrols involve deploying officers to targeted roadways during designated times to identify and apprehend impaired drivers. Unlike checkpoints, saturation patrols do not involve stopping every vehicle and do not use roadblocks.
Additionally, grant funds will allow DRE -certified officers to attend the IACP Impaired Driving and Traffic Safety (“IDTS”) Conference in Anaheim on August 21-23, 2026. The IDTS Conference offers a platform for sharing proven strategies to improve road safety, the latest science in impaired driving enforcement, and best practices for community engagement.
The Police Department will utilize the Funding as outlined in the table below.
DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
Overtime: SFST Training - Instructor $21,378.00
Overtime: SFST Training - Attendee $45,696.00
Overtime: ARIDE Training - Instructor $8,316.00
Overtime: ARIDE Training - Attendee $17,920.00
Overtime: DRE Training - Instructor $6,426.00
Overtime: DRE Training- Attendee $14,336.00
Overtime: DRE Field Certification - Instructor $158,592.00 Overtime: DRE Recertification - Attendee $1,848.00
Overtime: DUI Checkpoint $30,384.00
Overtime: DUI Saturation Patrol $121,536.00
Subtotal Personnel Costs $426,432.00
PAS Devices $4,434.82
IACP IDTS Conference - Travel $4,484.00
IACP IDTS Conference - Registration $3,260.00
DRE Instructor Training - Travel $864.00
SFST Wet Lab Supplies $500.00
Subtotal Supplies & Services Costs $13,542.82
TOTAL FUNDING $439,974.82
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Councilmembers do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act. (Gov. Code, § 87100 et seq.) P a g e | 4
Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Councilmember of any 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 accepts $439,974.82 in grant funds from the California Highway Patrol and amends the fiscal year 2026-27 budget by appropriating $426,432.00 to the Personnel category and $13,542.82 to the Supplies and Services category in the Police Grant s section of the State Grants Fund.
Funding from the California Highway Patrol will completely offset the total costs of this Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program, resulting in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact associated with acceptance of these grant funds.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Dan Peak, Acting Chief of Police
Alicia McLaughlin, Police Sergeant