TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Matt Henry, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Dawnn Jackson, Management Analyst - Administration
SUBJECT:
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Acceptance of a Grant Funded by the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund and Administered by the California Highway Patrol Impaired Driving Section
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ABSTRACT
The Murrieta Police Department was awarded a $173,541.28 grant through the California Highway Patrol's Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The funding will support impaired driving enforcement efforts, including driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints and saturation patrols, to help improve traffic safety and reduce impaired driving within the community. This item requests City Council acceptance of the grant funds and authorization to execute the grant agreement and related documents necessary to administer the program.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 26-4966 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Authorizing Acceptance of Grant Funds in the Amount of $173,541.28 from the State of California Department of Highway Patrol and Authorizing the Chief of Police to Execute the Agreement on Behalf of the City; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funding.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
None.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
This item aligns with the City Council goal to provide a high level of innovative public safety.
DISCUSSION
The Murrieta Police Department has been awarded a grant from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Cannabis Tax Fund, administered by the CHP Impaired Driving Section, Cannabis Grants Unit. The grant's purpose is to improve public safety by enhancing the Department’s ability to detect and deter impaired driving through training, equipment upgrades, and public education and enforcement programs.
The funding is made available through the California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 34019(f)(3)(B) and is contingent upon the availability of funds disbursed from the California Cannabis Tax Fund. The grant award total is $173,541.28.
This grant will allow the Murrieta Police Department to pursue a comprehensive approach to reduce impaired driving through enforcement, education, and community engagement. The project scope includes:
• Purchase and Upfitting of a DUI Trailer ($40,000):
A new trailer will be used for storing DUI Checkpoint equipment, as the City’s current DUI trailer was manufactured in 2009 and is showing signs of aging and wear.
• Vehicle Upfitting ($20,000):
The trailer will be upfitted lights and decals and also wrapped with advertisements about
DUI checkpoints to increase awareness and increase visibility.
• Training and Enforcement Personnel ($113,541.28):
o Host one three (3) day Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) course.
o Fund three (3) DUI checkpoints across the year.
o Conduct 20 DUI saturation patrols across the year.
These efforts aim to reduce DUI-related traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities by increasing officer training and visibility in the community. Officers trained through this grant will retain their skills beyond the life of this funding, supporting long-term program sustainability.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funds in a special revenue fund as follows:
• Intergovernmental Revenue - State Reimbursement: $173,541.28
• Capital Outlay - Vehicles: $60,000
• Personnel Costs and Operating & Maintenance (various accounts): $113,541.28
There is no local fund match or cost-share requirement for this grant. This is a reimbursable grant, meaning the City must incur the expenditure prior to requesting reimbursement.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Resolution No. 26-4966