DATE: 02/04/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Police Department
2026-39
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION AND MOU WITH CALIFORNIA DOJ FOR FY 25-26 TOBACCO GRANT
FUNDING AND OFFICER AUTHORIZATION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to accept a California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Proposition 56) grant award that will allow the Corona Police Department to add a dedicated officer position to focus on tobacco enforcement, retailer compliance, and public education efforts to reduce illegal tobacco sales to minors. The proposed grant provides reimbursement funding for Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2029.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-003 accepting up to $648,500 from the State of California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program Fiscal Year 2025– 2026 for a three-year period.
b. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the State of California Department of Justice for the award of funding through the Tobacco Grant Program, and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.
c. Authorize one Police Officer position for three years to conduct tobacco enforcement and training activities with budget supplemented by grant funding. d. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $213,965 to the Police Department’s operating budget and increase estimated revenue by the same amount in the U.S.
Department of Justice Grant Fund 411 for Fiscal Year 2027. e. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $214,628 to the Police Department’s operating budget and increase estimated revenue by the same amount in the U.S.
Department of Justice Grant Fund 411 for Fiscal Year 2028. f. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $219,907 to the Police Department’s operating budget and increase estimated revenue by the same amount in the U.S.
Department of Justice Grant Fund 411 for Fiscal Year 2029.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Proposition 56) provides funding to support a healthier California by curbing illegal retail sales and marketing of cigarettes, tobacco products, and e-cigarettes to minors. Through the Tobacco Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Attorney General, these funds are distributed annually to local law enforcement agencies across the state.
Since its launch in 2017, the program has awarded approximately $240 million in competitive grants. For the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 cycle, $28.5 million was made available statewide to strengthen enforcement efforts aimed at reducing unlawful tobacco sales to youth.
In Fiscal year 2021 – 2022, the Corona Police Department was awarded PROP56-2021- 22 and successfully utilized DOJ Tobacco Grant funding to fund a School Resource Officer position focused on tobacco education at intermediate schools.
In April 2025, the Corona Police Department applied for Proposition 56 funding and, in November 2025, was awarded $648,500. The grant will enable the city to add an officer dedicated to tobacco enforcement and training, as well as purchase necessary equipment and program supplies to support these efforts from Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2029.
ANALYSIS:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-003 accepts a one-time award of up to $648,500 in reimbursement from the State of California Department of Justice under the Tobacco Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025–2026. This three-year funding, which will begin July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, will enable the Corona Police Department to enhance local tobacco enforcement efforts, including:
Retailer compliance inspections
Targeted enforcement operations
Tobacco education and training programs
Prevention of tobacco sales to minors
The goal is to add an officer to the FLEX Team to reduce the sale of tobacco products to minors in alignment with California Business and Professions Code requirements that establish restrictions on tobacco sales and enforcement activities.
At the conclusion of the current contract term, the continued budget appropriation for the officer position will be evaluated. This evaluation will be based on department staffing levels, operational needs, and overall budget conditions at that time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact in Fiscal Year 2026, however, approval of the recommended actions will result in appropriations and corresponding estimated revenue increases to the Police Department’s operating budget within the U.S. Department of Justice Grant Fund 411 in Fiscal Years 2027 through 2029. The appropriations and revenue estimates are $213,965 for Fiscal Year 2027, $214,628 for Fiscal Year 2028, and $219,907 for Fiscal Year 2029.
The grant term will be three years, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Eligible expenditures will be reimbursed by U.S. Department of Justice Grant Fund 411 after submitting the quarterly claim amounts for that period. There is no cash match requirement. Budget appropriation and revenue estimate will be incorporated into each fiscal year through the annual budget process. Any remaining budget from Fiscal Year 2027 will carry forward into Fiscal Year 2029.
Reimbursement Structure: This is a reimbursement grant where expenditures will be reimbursed to the General Fund following submission of quarterly claims, consistent with prior DOJ grant agreements.
No Local Match Required: There is no cash match requirement for this grant, meaning the full program cost is covered by the grant award.
Budget Carry Forward: Any unused budget from Fiscal Year 2027 will carry forward into Fiscal Year 2029, providing flexibility in program implementation. This is consistent with the City's standard practice for multi-year grants.
FY 2025-26 TOBACCO GRANT PROGRAM
Funding Source: 411-US DOJ Grant
Budget Category FY 2025-26 FY 2026-
27 FY2027-28 FY 2028-
29 Total
Request
Personnel Costs $- $211,465 $214,628 $219,907 $646,000
Operating Expenses $- $2,500 $- $- $2,500
Total Project Cost $- $213,965 $214,628 $219,907 $648,500 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CQEA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This action only increases police staffing levels by one officer to increase tobacco enforcement and education, and there is no possibility that this action will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: GARY GRIFFITTS, POLICE LIEUTENANT
REVIEWED BY: JASON PEREZ, POLICE CAPTAIN
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Resolution No. 2026-003 State of California DOJ
2. Exhibit 2 – FY 25-26 DOJ Tobacco Grant Memorandum of Understanding