For City Council Meeting [June 26, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Robb R. Steel, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to Accept the Grant Assistance Program (GAP) Administered by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), in the Amount of $61,943.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
Despite the fact that the City of Rialto’s violent crime rate has continued to decrease over the past several years, there has been a steady rise in calls for service and crime at particular point-of-sale alcohol locations. There are currently 92 Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licensed establishments within the City of Rialto, of which 57 are off-sale and 35 are on-sale. The majority of the service calls come from, both on-sale and off-sale alcohol establishments that fail to comply with ABC standards. These calls involve intoxicated patrons, minors purchasing alcohol, beer runs, panhandling, prostitution, solicitation of alcoholic beverages, open container consumption in parking lot areas, drivers under the influence of alcohol, and various violent and property offenses. Additionally, over the past three years alcohol-related collisions have been on the rise with unlicensed minor drivers being involved. Continuous inspection of local ABC establishments is the key to ensuring compliance with ABC standards, and reducing related offenses.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control allocates funds through the Grant Assistance Program (GAP). Proposed projects must utilize a combination of educational programs, and proactive enforcement to develop an effective, and strategic approach to eliminate crime, and nuisance problems associated with the problematic establishments. Collaborating with ABC and other state and local agencies in conjunction with a proactive program will successfully address and treat the problematic ABC-licensed establishments in the community.
The Rialto Police Department is proposing a combination of educational programs and proactive enforcement to develop an effective and strategic approach to eliminate the crime and nuisance problems associated with the problematic establishments.
Collaborating with ABC and other state and local agencies, in conjunction with a proactive program will successfully address and treat the problematic ABC-licensed establishments.
In March 2018 the Police Department applied for a California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control Grant Assistance Program to assist us in our efforts to reduce the alcohol related problems identified within the City, and to provide the Department an opportunity to develop and improve education programs for the community. The Rialto Police Department was recently awarded $61,943 for related enforcement operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 California Environmental Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following:
1. Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy and procedure making
2. Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objects relating to public safety. The purchase of this equipment is consistent with meeting these objectives.
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
The City of Rialto has been awarded a Grant Assistance Program in the amount of $61,943. Revenue in the amount of $61,943 is budgeted in Police Grant Fund Account No. 247-400-6978-7560 and appropriation of $58,593 in Police Grant Fund Account No. 247-500-6978-1020, $850 in Account No. 247-500-6978-1050, and $2,500 in Account No. 247-500-6978-2022 in the Fiscal Year 2019 proposed budget for overtime, benefits and training funded by this grant. This grant requires no cash match.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
No immediate impact to Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This staff report is accepting a grant award. No business license is needed.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council accept the Grant Assistance Program (GAP) Administered by the California Alcoholic Beverage Control in the amount of $61,943.