For City Council Meeting [November 9, 2021]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request That the City Council: (1) Accept a Grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS Grant Program in the Amount of $20,000; and (2) Adopt Resolution No. 7796 Amending its Budget for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Adding $20,000 to the Revenue Account 247-400-6989-7551, $19,700 to Expenditure Account 247-500-6989-1020 and $300 to Account 247-500-6989-1050.
Body
BACKGROUND
There are currently 107 Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licensed establishments within the City of Rialto, of which 61 are off-sale and 46 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, loitering, solicitation of alcoholic beverages, open container consumption in parking lot areas, drivers under the influence of alcohol, and various property offenses.
Additionally, over the past two years the Rialto Police Department has responded to 747 party calls, of which have alcohol on site, 989 drunk driver calls, and 424 public intoxication calls. This has resulted in 684 DUI related arrests, to include 38 DUI arrests of persons under the age of 21.
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 Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). 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 September 2021, the Police Department applied for a California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS Grant 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 $20,000 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 acceptance of this grant 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 supports this staff report and resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The Rialto Police Department has been awarded the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS Grant Program in the Amount of $20,000. Staff recommends an increase in estimated revenues of $20,000 to the ABC Grant Account No. 247-400-6989-7551; and appropriation of $19,700 in Account No. 247-500-6989-1020, and $300 in Account No. 247-500-6989-1050 for grant overtime and benefits expenditures through August 31, 2022. 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:
• Authorize the City Manager to accept the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS Grant Program, in the Amount of $20,000.
• Adopt the resolution accepting revenues and appropriating budget for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ABC-OTS Grant Program in the Amount of $20,000.