STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
September 22, 2026
CONSENT
CALENDAR
22 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM – OPERATION
STONEGARDEN (OPSG) 25-SDCSDC-09-002 AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS (G2703)
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the FY 2025 Operation Stonegarden Memorandum of Agreement; and
2. Appropriate $60,000 in the General Fund (1102102-72068-G2703), with a corresponding increase in estimated grant revenue (1102100-45000-G2703), to fund eligible Laguna Beach Police Department Operation Stonegarden activities.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The Laguna Beach Police Department (LBPD) is a participating agency in the Fiscal Year 2025 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program administered by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), subject to operational oversight by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and passed through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
LBPD has participated in the Operation Stonegarden program since 2022, working in coordination with other participating law enforcement agencies on regional operations. The FY 2025 grant represents a continuation of the City’s existing participation in the program.
The purpose of the OPSG program is to enhance law enforcement preparedness and operational readiness along the land and water borders of the United States. Participating agencies are expected to increase law enforcement presence within their designated jurisdictions and coordinate with other OPSG partner agencies in support of efforts to address public safety threats related to regional border security.
Under the FY 2025 agreement, the Laguna Beach Police Department is specifically assigned to provide increased law enforcement patrols, drone surveillance, and special operations throughout the City of Laguna Beach and Orange County in an effort to reduce narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, and other borderrelated crimes.
These efforts do not require LBPD officers to check immigration status, communicate immigration information to other agencies, or perform any other action that would violate the California Values Act.
AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM – OPERATION STONEGARDEN (OPSG) 25- SDCSDC-09-002 AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS (G2703)
September 22, 2026
Also, the agreement does not provide federal authority for participation in local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws. Participating agencies enforce applicable local and state laws within
AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM – OPERATION STONEGARDEN (OPSG) 25- SDCSDC-09-002 AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS (G2703)
September 22, 2026
their jurisdictions and conduct activities meant to deter crime that may have a nexus to border security issues.
The approved FY 2025 OPSG budget provides LBPD with the following allocation:
• Law Enforcement Operational Overtime: $56,640
• Mileage: $3,360
• Total LBPD Allocation: $60,000
The budget identifies 15 LBPD officers and an estimated 560 overtime hours associated with the OPSG program. No additional fringe benefit allocation or equipment allocation is identified for LBPD in the FY 2025 Stonegarden grant budget.
The agreement provides for reimbursement of overtime worked by personnel assigned to OPSG operations and other costs approved in the Operations Order, based upon available funding and actual costs incurred.
The FY 2025 OPSG grant program period of performance is September 1, 2025, through May 31, 2028.
However, the operational project period for participating agencies is April 10, 2026, through February 28, 2028, following FEMA approval of the project.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Appropriate $60,000 in the General Fund (1102102-72068-G2703), with a corresponding increase in estimated grant revenue (1102100-45000-G2703) to offset the appropriation.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it involves administrative procurement activities and does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA. No further environmental review is required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum of Agreement
Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Jeff Calvert, Police Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Fred Yielding, Police Sergeant Jesse Schmidt, Police Lieutenant