City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Police
Meeting Date: September 28, 2026
Report #:2607-6596
TITLE
Approval of the Acceptance of State of California Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Funds of $211,000 and a Budget Amendment in the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund for revenue and municipal police service expenses; CEQA status – not a project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the acceptance of annual Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) funds from State of California, totaling $211,000; and
2. Amend the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Appropriation for the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (SLES) Fund by (requires 2/3 approval):
a. Increasing the estimate for revenue from the State of California by $211,000; b. Increasing Police Department expense appropriation for Facilities and Equipment by $49,000; for Contract Services by $20,000; and for Supplies and Materials by $142,000.
BACKGROUND
Every year since 1997, the State of California, by statute, allocates designated funds to counties, which pass funding through to cities, through a Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) program. This ongoing program is apportioned by state statute, and the level of funding is relative to the population as determined by the California Department of Finance.
This funding is not related to the Federal Government Department of Justice “COPS” program with the same acronym.
State law provides for four main conditions on the use of the funds as written in California Government Code sections 30025-30029.12 and 30051-30063: 1) Each recipient (County and onto the City) is required to deposit the revenue into a separate fund so the funds are not co-mingled with General Funds (Sec. 30063); 2) the money shall be used for front line law enforcement services or municipal police services (Sec. 30061(c)(2)); 3) transfer to other funds is allowed provided it is to facilitate the use according to the code (Sec. 30063); and 4) the funds shall not supplant the city budget but must instead be used to enhance or expand services (Sec. 30062(a)).
Previous uses of COPS funds have included restarting the Community Service Officer (CSO) program, electronic traffic citation system, equipment upgrades, safety equipment, police training, staff wellness testing, police recruiting, upgrades to patrol vehicles, and upgraded tools and technology, pilot automated license plate reader technology, all benefiting municipal police services for the City of Palo Alto.
According to State staff, the source of funding is vehicle license fees. Specific allocations are directed by the State of California Department of Finance, in accordance with the Government Code, while the distributions are made by the State Controller’s Office. There are two parts to the distribution:
A. A semi-permanent component based on a minimum funding level for the program, paid monthly and;
B. A growth component for funds (referred to as Growth Fund) in excess of the minimum base, paid one-time the following year after reconciliation.
ANALYSIS
The City recently received the annual notice of COPS funding, for distribution in Fiscal Year 2026-2027, of $105,0001. Further, the Growth Fund portion (distribution B above) was reported and funded $106,0002. Staff recommends use of this year’s expected COPS funds in the following manner(s) which are compliant with the law. All expenses below are estimated.
Technical Equipment ($49,000)
If approved, the Police Department will procure several technology and safety-related items that are necessary to support current operational needs and replace equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
The Investigative Services Division will purchase laptops with sufficient processing capacity, storage, and memory to support the large volumes of digital evidence and case-related data used in modern investigations. The division’s existing laptops are undersized for these operational requirements. Under City policy, Information Technology budgets for replacement computers, while departments are responsible for funding new computers needed to meet expanded or specialized operational needs. The Police Department does not have sufficient funding in its current budget for these additional devices. 1 California Citizens' Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program and Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Funds https://www.sco.ca.gov/ard_payrments_cops.html
2 California Citizens Option for Public Safety Growth
https://www.sco.ca.gov/ard_payments_cops_growth.html
The Traffic Division will purchase Mobile LiDAR speed detection devices—commonly known as radar guns—to replace aging equipment that is no longer reliable or serviceable. These devices support traffic enforcement and roadway-safety efforts.
Finally, the Department will purchase a portable quantitative respirator fit-testing system.
This equipment will allow trained staff to conduct the required annual fit testing of respiratory-protection equipment, helping ensure that personnel who may need respiratory protection can safely and effectively use their assigned devices.
Public Safety AI and Emergency Communications Platform ($20,000) Software to enhance 9-1-1 response by securely delivering available real-time information—such as a caller’s location and certain device data—to emergency communications centers and first responders. It can help dispatchers locate people faster, improve situational awareness, and support more informed response decisions during emergencies.
Public Safety Building Equipment ($142,000)
Following occupancy of the new Public Safety Building, the Department identified minor adjustments to meet or improve operational needs: extending cellular signals within the facility, installing battery chargers in 100 lockers to increase utility of lockers for operations, further configuration to dispatch center audiovisual equipment, adjusting access control technology at a greater level of granularity beyond burglar and panic alarms, and adding police-specific branding to the police operations levels to support recruitment.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.28.080 requires a two-thirds vote by Council to accept the funds and amend the budget. The California Government Code would limit how SLES funds are redistributed. As with the acquisition of any goods or services by the City, the purchasing process will be subject to City purchasing policy manual as established in the municipal code under the direction of the Chief Procurement Officer. Any purchase that is surveillance technology is subject to provisions of the Municipal Code during the purchase process. Some of the proposed uses here are considered surveillance technology and will require a surveillance use policy approval by City Council, in accordance with the Palo Alto Municipal Code, prior to purchase, which will be brought forward separately. None of the proposed uses here are considered military equipment and subject to reporting according to AB 481.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This activity directly impacts only the SLES Fund. The City has received revenue each year under this program since its inception in the 1990s. To receive the revenue into the SLES Fund, Council’s approval is required according to State Government code referenced above. Revenues and expenses of $211,000 are recommended to be recognized in the SLES Fund. Any ongoing maintenance costs will be absorbed by the Department budget, with the exception of the Public Safety AI and Emergency Communications Platform, which will seek continued funding through budget development. Otherwise, the activities will stop when the SLES funds are spent in full.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
No direct engagement. The public is encouraged to join the meeting and relay their opinions to City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because accepting funding and approving budget amendments is a government funding mechanism or fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4).
APPROVED BY:
James Reifschneider, Police Chief