TITLE:
title
ACCEPTANCE AND ALLOCATION OF THE 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 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) Funds and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the agreement for a period of performance from September 1, 2024 through May 31, 2027.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-XX authorizing the acceptance of the OPSG Funds and authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept the funds in the amount of $170,000.
3. Approve revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $170,000 for the 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 the streets of Costa Mesa, causing addiction and death to members of our community.
The mission of the Department of Homeland Security, states and local law enforcement agencies including the Costa Mesa Police Department operating in Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties will 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.
To help combat these criminal organizations, the California Office of Emergency Services on behalf of FEMA will award grant money to counties within California. FEMA provided grant money to the Riverside Sheriffs’ Department, and they will award subrecipients within Riverside and Orange Counties, including the City of Costa Mesa.
In March 2024, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) submitted a funding request from the California Office of Emergency Services on behalf of FEMA for $170,000 in funding for the purchase of a handheld x-ray imager, vehicle mileage reimbursement, and personnel operational overtime.
ANALYSIS:
In October of 2024, the California Office of Emergency Services on behalf of FEMA approved CMPD’s request for the purchase of a handheld x-ray imager, vehicle mileage reimbursement and personnel operational overtime in the amount of $170,000. These funds will be dispersed to the City of Costa Mesa from the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. The OPSG grant program period of performance is September 1, 2024 through May 31, 2027.
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. It is common for narcotics traffickers to use hidden compartments to conceal their contraband. The handheld X-ray Imager will allow us to locate concealed contraband quickly and effectively in hidden compartments. This device will aid us in the identification, arrest, and seizure of narcotics with more accuracy. Additionally, it will enhance officer safety and improve the ability to conduct operations within the City of Costa Mesa and in surrounding cities within Orange County.
Costa Mesa Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit will utilize OPSG overtime funding in order 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; 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 Funds. However, this alternative is not recommended as alternative funding sources, such as the City’s General Fund, would be necessary to fund the purchase of equipment, mileage reimbursement and operational overtime.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Upon approval and acceptance of the OPSG Funds, revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $170,000 respectively will be established in the State Grants Fund (Fund 231).
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 the City Council:
1. Approve the Agreement for the Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) Funds and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the agreement for a period of performance from September 1, 2024 through May 31, 2027.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-XX authorizing the acceptance of the OPSG Funds and authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept the funds in the amount of $170,000.
3. Approve revenue and expense appropriations in the amount of $170,000 for the OPSG Funds.