City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 3 July 28, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 4.4
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of the Board of State and Community Correction’s Proposition 64 Health and Safety Grant Program Funds, in the Total Amount of $226,252.00, for Fiscal Years 2026-2027
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Union City Police Department (UCPD) applied for funds from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Grant Program. Subsequently, UCPD was awarded $226,252.00 in grant funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The intent of the program is to support local law enforcement efforts in addressing the public health and safety impacts of cannabis legalization. UCPD will be awarded these grant funds to purchase two vehicles and investigative software.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Citywide Strategic Plan- C: Economic, Community Development and Public Safety.
Institute forward-thinking business, land use development, housing, social services, and public safety strategies that promote community growth and innovation.
BACKGROUND
This grant significantly strengthens the Police Department’s ability to address illicit cannabis activity and associated property and violent crime, which continue to present complex public safety challenges throughout California. Illegal cannabis operations are frequently tied to broader criminal enterprises involving environmental violations, tax evasion, labor exploitation, money laundering, illegal firearms, and other offenses.
Operating outside the state’s regulatory framework, these activities create safety risks for residents and undermine legitimate businesses.
Union City has two licensed dispensaries, Flor and Lemmonade, both of which have experienced burglaries and armed robberies. The City also faces persistent enforcement challenges related to illegal cultivation and distribution in residential areas. Because cannabis businesses often operate largely in cash and face banking restrictions, they are disproportionately targeted by organized criminal groups.
Agenda Item No. 4.4
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 3 July 28, 2026
In 2023, a police officer in a neighboring jurisdiction was killed while responding to a dispensary burglary involving multiple suspects and vehicles. Rapid analysis of extensive digital evidence was critical to identifying and apprehending those responsible.
Cannabis-related investigations routinely generate large volumes of digital evidence, including surveillance video from licensed operators and surrounding areas. Depending on yearly caseloads, the Department’s current resources may be insufficient to process this material efficiently, leading to delays in suspect identification, reduced case clearance rates, and missed opportunities to identify repeat offenders operating across jurisdictions.
These challenges can hinder effective enforcement, protection of licensed operators, and overall community safety.
Based on these factors, UCPD applied for funding through the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Grant Program. The approved proposal includes two unmarked enforcement vehicles and Longeye AI investigative software—both essential for enhancing the Department’s ability to investigate, disrupt, and deter illicit cannabisrelated crime. Illegal operations are often sophisticated, mobile, and connected to organized networks, requiring specialized investigative tools beyond traditional patrol capabilities.
The unmarked vehicles will allow investigators to conduct covert surveillance, monitor suspected sites of illegal cultivation and distribution, and gather evidence without alerting suspects. They support prolonged surveillance, undercover operations, intelligence gathering, and coordinated enforcement efforts targeting organized criminal groups.
Dedicated investigative vehicles also reduce reliance on the patrol fleet, preserving patrol resources for emergency response and community policing.
Longeye AI will modernize investigative capabilities by providing advanced evidence-analysis tools. As digital evidence grows—surveillance video, body-worn camera footage, photographs, and other media—manual review has become increasingly time-consuming. Longeye AI uses video analytics, searchable evidence management, and cross-case analysis to rapidly identify persons, vehicles, objects, and investigative leads. It can detect patterns across incidents, organize evidence, and help link related crimes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
By reducing the time required to review digital evidence, Longeye AI allows detectives to focus on active investigations, interviews, and proactive enforcement. Together, the unmarked vehicles and AI technology significantly increase investigative efficiency, improve case development, and strengthen the Department’s ability to combat illicit cultivation, distribution, burglaries, robberies, and other organized criminal activity.
The grant provides dedicated investigative resources that enable intelligence-led enforcement, surveillance, and digital evidence analysis. Strengthening these capabilities helps deter illegal cannabis activity, reduce its impact on neighborhoods, and hold offenders accountable, improving overall community safety and quality of life.
Equally important, the grant supports the City’s commitment to a fair and well-regulated cannabis marketplace. Licensed businesses invest substantial resources to comply with state and local laws, undergo inspections, pay taxes, and meet strict operational standards. Illegal operators who ignore these requirements gain an unfair advantage by avoiding compliance costs.
Agenda Item No. 4.4
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 3 July 28, 2026
Strong enforcement preserves the integrity of the City’s regulatory program by ensuring compliant businesses are not disadvantaged. Reducing unlawful competition and strengthening oversight foster an environment in which licensed operators can conduct business responsibly while maintaining public confidence in the City’s cannabis regulations. This balanced approach protects consumers, supports legitimate economic activity, and reinforces the City’s commitment to lawful and responsible cannabis operations.
DISCUSSION
The use of the Board of State and Community Corrections Grant funds will provide the necessary resources to enable UCPD to conduct additional enforcement of cannabisrelated crimes. The additional revenue will be used to purchase Longeye AI software and two unmarked police vehicles. Overall, the Union City community will benefit from the acceptance of this grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
If accepted, the Board of State and Community Corrections Grant Program funding of $226,252.00 will be included in the 2026-2027 PD Grants Fund budgets.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of the Board of State and Community Corrections Grant funds, in the total amount of $226,252.00, for Fiscal Years 2026-2027.
Prepared by: Brian Baumgartner, Police Captain
Submitted by: Jared Rinetti, Police Chief
Attachments
1. Draft Resolution