Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/06/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5406) DOC ID: 5406
Updated: 4/22/2025 2:49 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
ACCEPTANCE OF COPS GRANT - Adopt a Resolution and Spending Plan of the 2024/25 State of California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Grant; Appropriation Actions
Contact Persons:
Name: Diane Brasil Sean Washington
Title: Police Business Manager Police Chief
Div/Dept: Police Department Police Department
Phone: 510-790-6816 510-790-6969
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The State of California has provided supplemental funding to local law enforcement agencies through the continuation of funding for the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant program through the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA). These funds are distributed by the State to the County, which passes through the funding to local agencies proportionally based on population, to be allocated at a minimum of $100,000.
In order to make use of the COPS funds, the City Council must authorize the acceptance and use of the funds. The FY 2024/25 COPS grant allocation to the City of Fremont is $725,822, which will be spent on items supporting frontline law enforcement services. A portion of the grant funds are requested to be utilized to purchase additional Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which qualify as military equipment under FPD’s Military Equipment Use Policy (708) and therefore require City Council approval to utilize allocated grant funds for this specific purchase.
BACKGROUND: Since 1997, the California State Budget Act has included allocations to counties and cities for the COPS program. This funding is intended to fill the need for additional resources at the local level to ensure public safety. Under the provisions of Government Code Section 30061-30063, a percentage of the funds are allocated to counties and cities, based upon population, for law enforcement services.
The COPS funds must be used for front line municipal police services and must supplement and not supplant existing funding. The City Council shall appropriate existing and anticipated moneys exclusively to fund frontline municipal police services in accordance with written requests submitted by the Chief of Police.
Each city must create a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA) for the COPS grant money. The funds cannot be used for administrative overhead costs in excess of
0.5 percent of the total allocation. The allocation may not be used to fund the costs of any capital project or construction project that does not directly support front line law enforcement.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: In FY 2024/25 the Fremont Police Department expects to receive $725,822 from the COPS grant into the SLESA and the funds will need to be spent by June 30, 2026. In accordance with the Military Equipment Use Policy (708) and California Council Staff Report (ID # 5406) Meeting of May 6, 2025 Updated: 4/22/2025 2:49 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
law, the Fremont Police Department specifically seeks City Council approval to allocate some of these grant funds to the purchase of UAVs as outlined in the separate agenda item also appearing before City Council on May 6, 2025. UAVs are considered military equipment in California, and grant funds allocated to purchase military equipment are required to receive City Council approval. The funds are requested to be spent as follows:
Description Cost
Police Safety Gear
• New, improved or replacement police safety gear for use by front line police personnel such as, but not limited to:
o PAPR Safety Respirators
$88,000
Police Field Supplies and Equipment
• New, improved or replacement field equipment for use by front line police personnel such as, but not limited to:
o Ballistic helmets and vests
o Vehicle accessories and/or equipment
o Items such as computers, monitors, printers, software, mobile devices or other miscellaneous Police equipment in need of an upgrade or replacement
$166,077
Police Capital Equipment
• New, improved or replacement capital equipment for use by front line police personnel such as, but limited to:
o Additional Police vehicles and outfitting of equipment o Cell Site Simulator
o Purchase of additional Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Drone for use in critical events, fugitive apprehension and rescue operations as part of existing program
$471,745
Total Costs $725,822
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY 2024/25 funds must be spent or encumbered by June 30, 2026.
There are no matching requirements for this grant and no direct impact on City resources for the fiscal years associated with the action in this staff report. Purchases will be made in accordance with the City’s adopted policies. Staff is requesting an appropriation of $67,584 in the COPS Grant Fund (Fund 151) in FY 2024/25.
Certain equipment and/or software procured with these funds could have ongoing service/maintenance costs, such as annual software licenses and monthly cloud storage fees. Depending on the purchase and the amount supported, the costs will vary. If the Police Department continues to receive the COPS grant annually, equipment/software related service/maintenance costs may continue to be funded by this program. However, should COPS grant money become unavailable, these service costs may be accommodated in the Police Department General Fund budget to the extent new funding becomes available.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended action is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) Council Staff Report (ID # 5406) Meeting of May 6, 2025 Updated: 4/22/2025 2:49 PM by Dina Lewis Page 3
and as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution COPS state grant 2025 in MT
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a resolution accepting the 2024/25 California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) grant in the amount of $725,822 as allocated in the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA) for the Fremont Police Department and approving the spending plan set forth in the resolution to purchase items supporting front line law enforcement services.
2. Increase the revenue estimate and appropriate $67,584 in the COPS Grant Fund (Fund 151) for the purchase of UAVs and ballistic vests.