City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: GRANT AWARD FROM STATE OF CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY STATE PROGRAM 2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $489,055 PLUS GROWTH PAYMENT – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Accept a grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program 2025 in the amount of $489,055, or the amount received, plus a growth payment, and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of the total grant award.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept a grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety program 2025 in the amount of $489,055, or the actual grant amount, plus a growth payment into the Special Deposits Fund, Police State COPS Funding Program; With five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and appropriate expenditures in the amount of the grant award plus a growth payment, to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, State COPS Grant 24/25 Program; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute necessary documents on behalf of the City making non-substantive changes as necessary.
BACKGROUND:
In 1996, Assembly Bill 3229 established the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program. This program allows eligible counties and cities to receive a proportionate share of COPS funds based on population estimates determined by the California Department of Finance (see attached letter). The funds are distributed to the counties who then set up a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) and appropriate funds to the various cities.
California Government Code Section 30029.05(e) establishes an allocation of funds from the Local Revenue Fund 2011 to the Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Subaccount (State COPS). Additionally, California Government Code Section 30029.05(f) establishes an extended allocation of funds to the Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Growth Special Account in the Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Subaccount (State COPS Growth Payment). These allocations were both established for the purpose of the State COPS Program.
As required by statute, the City must establish its own SLESF to prevent funds received from being intermingled with any other funds in the City Treasury. In April 2002, Senate Bill 823 amended Government Code Sections 30061 and 30063 to require that the City Council appropriate existing and anticipated moneys exclusively to fund frontline municipal police services, in accordance with requests by the Chief of Police. Grant accounting for expenditures and revenues may still be subject to review or audit by the State of California or the County of Riverside.
DISCUSSION:
The Riverside Police Department was awarded grant funds in the estimated amount of $489,055 from the County of Riverside’s SLESF Fiscal Year 2024-25 allocation. Allocations shown on the attachment are estimates and may be slightly different from the final allocations made by the State of California Controller’s Office. State COPS Growth Payment amounts are not announced or distributed until later in the federal fiscal year. The City of Riverside generally receives the State COPS Growth Payment in October of each year.
This is the 29th year that the City has received this funding. This funding is intended to fill the need for additional resources at the local level for law enforcement services in accordance with Government Code Section 30061. Use of these funds is limited to front line municipal police services and can only be used to supplement, not supplant, existing funding.
The Police Department will use the grant award to continue funding civilian staff to assist customers, coordinate Police programs and process Police reports, thereby providing frontline Police services. These positions also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of officers in the field. The use of civilian support staff is an allowable expenditure under the grant.
The Police Department will use the remaining grant funds to purchase equipment and vehicles in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Policies. These funds must be expended by June 30, 2026.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.4 – Support of programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The proposed grant funds will allow the Police Department to purchase equipment, supplies and services needed for the Department to serve the public interest, benefit the City’s diverse populations, and result in greater public good.
Equity – The proposed grant funds will allow the Police Department to purchase equipment, supplies and services needed to continue to provide public safety services and ensure every member of the community has equal access to share in the benefits.
Fiscal Responsibility – The proposed grant funds will be used to fund frontline municipal police services. All purchases will be made in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Police and will be managed responsibly. The funding source is a non-General Fund source.
Innovation – The proposed grant funds will be used to make purchases that will assist the Police Department in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed grant funds provide the Police Department with a way to fund needed equipment, supplies, and services for frontline municipal services without using the General Fund. This allows the Department to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of approximately $489,055 plus a growth payment. No City matching funds are required. State COPS payments are received throughout the Federal Fiscal Year (October through September) with the State COPS Growth payment being calculated and distributed near the end.
Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenue and expenditures in the amount of $489,055, or in the amount of this grant award, plus a growth payment, will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, State COPS Grant 24/25 Program revenue account 9353100-374510 and expenditure account 9353100-440210.
Prepared by: Brandi Becker, Police Administrator
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachment: Letter regarding the 2024-2025 Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Subaccount for COPS and JJCPA State COPS Grant Supplemental Appropriation 2025 - Page 2