CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 14, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Michael Ellis, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSITION 64 (PROP 64) GRANT PROGRAM AND AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2026-2027 CITY OPERATING BUDGET RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-85 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2026-27 CITY OPERATING BUDGET TO INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $820,000 THROUGH ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSITION 64 GRANT Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute all related documents to receive the grant funds and implement the funded activities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On June 26, 2026, the City of Pomona was notified by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) that it was awarded $4,500,000 through the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program for the grant period of July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031. The grant will support the City's Cannabis Regulatory Compliance and Equity Initiative, which is designed to strengthen cannabis-related regulatory enforcement, improve compliance with state and local cannabis laws, enhance officer training, and provide a structured diversion program for eligible individuals involved in low-level cannabis-related offenses. Approval of the resolution (Attachment No. 1) and acceptance of the grant (Attachment No. 2) will allow the City to expand public safety efforts, promote regulatory compliance, and implement evidence-informed diversion strategies that improve community safety while reducing unnecessary justice system involvement.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will be fiscally neutral, involving the acceptance of $4,500,000 in grant funding over a five-year-and-six-month period, with expenditures directly offset by the grant award. Approval of the resolution will amend the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget by increasing revenue estimates (FD215 CC2090 43000-Grant-State GR58742) and appropriations (FD215 CC2090 51000-Staffing GR58742) in the amount of $820,000, with annual appropriations for grant revenues and expenditures reflected in the proposed budget for subsequent fiscal years.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
Ordinance No. 4254, also known as the Tax Ordinance, established the tax structure for commercial cannabis in the City of Pomona.
Ordinance No. 4257, also known as the Business Ordinance, established the merit-based process for awarding commercial cannabis permits, and established the regulations pertaining to commercial cannabis in the City of Pomona.
Ordinance No. 4273, also known as the CCPP Overlay District, established the zoning of parcels where commercial cannabis related land uses may locate in the City of Pomona. It is accompanied by a map, which can be accessed by PDF or through interactive GIS.
Resolution No. 2019-159, also known as the Process Integrity Standards, established rules to prevent lobbying and unfairness in the CCPP permit award process, including rules pertaining to contact of Mayor or City Council members, gifts, and campaign contributions.
Resolution No. 2019-2016 established the maximum number of CCPP permits issued at eight, which includes two (2) storefront retailer, two (2) microbusiness, and four (4) in any combination of manufacturing, testing, or indoor cultivation.
DISCUSSION:
On June 26, 2026, the City of Pomona was notified by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) of an award totaling $4,500,000 through the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program for a five-year-and-six-month period, from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2031. The grant will support the City's Cannabis Regulatory Compliance and Equity Initiative, which is designed to strengthen cannabis-related regulatory enforcement, improve compliance with state and local cannabis laws, expand diversion opportunities for eligible individuals involved in low-level cannabis-related offenses, and provide specialized cannabis enforcement training.
The City of Pomona continues to experience ongoing cannabis-related enforcement responsibilities associated with licensed cannabis retailers, suspected illegal cannabis operations, community complaints, and youth exposure concerns. While Proposition 64 legalized adult-use cannabis, it also shifted significant regulatory and enforcement responsibilities to local jurisdictions. This grant provides dedicated funding to enhance the City's ability to proactively address these responsibilities through coordinated enforcement, diversion, and training efforts while promoting public safety and regulatory compliance.
The proposed program aims to achieve three primary goals:
Goal 1: Strengthen cannabis regulatory compliance and enforcement by conducting proactive inspections of licensed cannabis retailers, investigating suspected illegal cannabis activity, improving documentation of regulatory violations, and enhancing the City's overall enforcement capacity.
Goal 2: Expand diversion opportunities by implementing a structured pre-arrest diversion program in partnership with PCS Family Services for eligible individuals involved in low-level cannabis-related offenses. Participants will receive case management, restorative programming, education, workforce readiness support, and referrals to community-based services designed to reduce future justice system involvement.
Goal 3: Improve consistency, transparency, and accountability in cannabis enforcement by providing specialized cannabis regulatory enforcement and procedural justice training for officers assigned to cannabis-related enforcement duties.
Project performance will be independently evaluated by the University of Southern California to monitor implementation, measure program outcomes, and ensure compliance with BSCC reporting requirements throughout the grant period.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: This item supports the FY 2026-27 City Council Priority No. 4 – Safe and Clean Community by strengthening public safety through enhanced cannabis regulatory enforcement, reducing illegal cannabis activity, and promoting compliance with state and local laws.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Vanessa Moreno
Violence Prevention Senior Analyst
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2026-85
Attachment No. 2 – Prop 64 Grant Agreement
Resolution to Accept and Appropriate Prop 64 Grant Funds