TITLE:
title
ACCEPTANCE AND ALLOCATION OF THE FY 2023 OPERATION STONEGARDEN (OPSG) FUNDS
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DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: JAMES BROWN, SERGEANT
CONTACT INFORMATION: JAMES BROWN - 714.754.5058
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the Agreement for the FY 2023 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) Funds and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-XX authorizing the acceptance of the FY 2023 OPSG funds and authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept the funds in the amount of $191,000.00.
3. Approve revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $191,000.00 for the FY 2023 OPSG funds.
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BACKGROUND:
Narcotics trafficking organizations continue to pose significant threats throughout the state of California, including the City of Costa Mesa. These organizations have become increasingly sophisticated and use counter surveillance, diversionary tactics, night vision devices, and secure communications while conducting operations. In addition, smugglers frequently utilize dangerous tactics such as failures to yield, wrong way driving, and assaults on police officers to further narcotics trafficking throughout the United States. These narcotics are plaguing local communities, including Costa Mesa, causing addiction and death to members of our community.
The mission of the Department of Homeland Security, state and local law enforcement agencies including the Costa Mesa Police Department operating in Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties is to collaborate to disrupt and degrade transnational criminal organizations, enhance land/coastal detection and interdiction capabilities in the combating of sophisticated narcotics trafficking organizations, and expanding formal communication, intelligence protocols, and nontraditional intelligence/fusion opportunities to overcome the influx of deadly drugs and effectively stop these narcotic trafficking organizations for a safer community.
The FY 2023 OPSG program is awarded to counties within California to help combat these criminal organizations by the California Office of Emergency Services on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA will allocate the grant to the Riverside Sheriffs’ Department, which then distributes funds to subrecipients in Riverside and Orange Counties, including the City of Costa Mesa.
In March of 2023, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) submitted a funding request for the OPSG program for the purchase of a fully outfitted marked patrol truck with mileage/maintenance and personnel operational overtime funding.
ANALYSIS:
In October 2023, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $2,900,000 for the OPSG program. CMPD’s allocation is $191,000 for the purchase of a fully outfitted marked patrol truck and operational overtime for personnel costs. The OPSG grant program period of performance is September 1, 2023 through May 31, 2026 with operational project period of March 25, 2024 through February 28, 2026.
Per the OPSG Program requirements, the funds shall be used to support the OPSG program to enhance law enforcement preparedness and operational readiness along the land and water borders of the United States.
The Costa Mesa Police Department conducts proactive tactical narcotic enforcement operations to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. These traffickers are involved in the smuggling and sales of illegal narcotics and firearms. The marked patrol truck purchased through the grant will be equipped with emergency equipment and a fabricated storage area for equipment utilized to successfully search for contraband, arrest drug trafficking subjects, and transport necessary property. This will enhance officer safety and the ability to conduct operations within the City of Costa Mesa and in surrounding cities within Orange County.
After the full purchase of the marked patrol truck, estimated at approximately $72,000 (see Attachment 3), remaining funds from the OPSG grant will be used for personnel overtime costs. The Costa Mesa Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit will utilize OPSG overtime funding to support operations as follows: Continue collaborative operations with our local, state, and federal partners targeting organized narcotics criminal activity within the City of Costa Mesa and throughout Orange County. The multi-agency operations will include intelligence gathering and sharing amongst OPSG teams. Identifying and dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may elect not to accept the OPSG funds. However, this alternative is not recommended as alternative funding sources, such as the City’s General Fund, would need to be used to purchase the vehicle and fund operational overtime.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Upon approval and acceptance of the FY23 OPSG funds, revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $191,000.00 respectively will be established. The OPSG grant program period of performance is September 1, 2023 through May 31, 2026 with operational project period of March 25, 2024 through February 28, 2026.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal: Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-XX authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all documents necessary to accept the FY 2023 OPSG funds in the amount of $191,000.00.
2. Approve revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $191,000.00 for the FY 2023 OPSG funds.