City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 27, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Darrick Jacob, Interim Police Chief, Police Department Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Grant from the California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding that the Tobacco Grant Program is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15321 (Class 21, Enforcement Actions) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the acceptance of a grant awarded in the amount of $138,138 from the California Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program for the Tobacco Enforcement program at the Police Department, and to accept all grant renewals;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all grant renewals; and
4. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department (“SMPD”) has been awarded a California Department of Justice (“CA DOJ”) Tobacco Grant in the amount of $138,138. SMPD was awarded the grant for the enforcement of tobacco-related state laws and local ordinances, specifically those pertaining to the illegal sales and marketing of tobacco products to minors, and for investigative activities and compliance checks to prevent illegal sales of tobacco products to minors. The 2025-26 Tobacco Grant program would use a combination of education and enforcement strategies, with the goal of stemming the access of tobacco products to youth in Santa Monica. Funds must be used by the end of the grant period, June 30, 2029, and no local match is required. 2 of 3
Discussion
The CA DOJ Tobacco Grant is funded and authorized under the California Healthcare Research and Prevention Tobacco Act of 2016. SMPD aims to curb the illegal sales of tobacco to minors and keep youth tobacco free. The Tobacco Grant Program would help SMPD to accomplish this goal by supporting a comprehensive program of enforcement and education strategies. The grant will fund overtime over a 36-month period for officers to implement tobacco enforcement operations and retailer education meetings. SMPD was previously awarded the 2022 Tobacco Grant.
Santa Monica is home to 84 tobacco retailers. The City has received complaints from parents of violations by retailers near schools. In addition, the use of e-cigarettes is a known problem with youth as young as middle school through college-aged youth in Santa Monica. The combination of education and enforcement that this grant program would support would allow Santa Monica PD to gain a better understanding of tobacco usage rates and patterns to better address the problem of youth access to tobacco.
These grant funds would allow SMPD to begin work immediately tackling problematic tobacco retailers, focusing efforts on locations where minors are likely to be present, as well as pushing forward retailers’ education sessions.
Environmental Review
The Tobacco Grant program is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15321 (Class 21 Enforcement Actions) of the CEQA Guidelines. Class 21 consists of actions by regulatory agencies to enforce or revoke a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement or enforcement of a law, general rule, standard, or objective. The Tobacco Grant program would provide for enforcement of tobacco-related state laws and local ordinances, and therefore, is categorically exempt as set forth in Section 15321 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Past Council Actions
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Meeting Date Description
02/14/2023
(attachment A)
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Grant from the Tobacco Grant Program
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept $138,138 from the California Department of Justice for the FY 2025-26 Law Enforcement Tobacco Grant Program.
Approval of the recommended action requires the following budget amendment.
FY 2025-26 Grant Budget Amendment
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number Amount Account Number Amount
20180002.405592 $138,138 20180002.556442.80108 $138,138 Total $138,138 Total $138,138
If modifications or renewals are awarded, budget adjustments will be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on Council Budget approval.
Prepared By: Kiajett Charles, Administrative Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Staff Report - February 14, 2023 (Web Link)
B. Resolution - Tobacco Grant - 2025