City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2025 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: GRANT AWARD FROM STATE OF CALIFORNIA CITIZENS’ OPTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY STATE PROGRAM 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $489,549 PLUS GROWTH PAYMENT – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Accept a grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program 2026 in the amount of $489,549, or the amount received, plus a growth payment, and authorize a concurrent supplemental appropriation.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Accept a grant award from the State of California Citizens’ Option for Public Safety program 2026 in the amount of $489,549, or the actual grant amount, plus a growth payment into the Special Deposits Fund, Police State COPS Funding Program; With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues and appropriate expenditures in the amount of the grant award in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police State COPS Funding Program revenue and expenditure accounts; 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.
The Riverside Police Department was awarded grant funds in the estimated amount of $489,549 from the County of Riverside’s SLESF Fiscal Year 2025-26 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 30th 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.
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 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, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenues and expenditures of approximately $489,549 plus a growth payment. No 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 in October of the following fiscal year.
Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenue in the amount of $489,549, or in the amount of this grant award, plus a growth payment, will be recorded to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, State COPS Grant 25/26 program revenue account 9355000-374510 and appropriate expenditures in the same amount to account 9355000-440210.
Prepared by: Brandi Becker, Police Administrator
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director and Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Letter regarding the 2025-2026 Enhancing Law Enforcement Activities Subaccount for COPS and JJCPA State COPS Grant Supplemental Appropriation 2026 - Page 2