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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 2007 ALCOHOLIC BEV CONTROL GRANT 07-03-07Agenda Item 2 ~ Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager Finance Director MEETING DATE: JULY 17, 2007 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: SCOTT M. JORDAN, CHIEF OF POLICE SUBJECT: 2007 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL GRANT SUMMARY The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) advertised a total of $3 million in state grant money for local law enforcement agencies throughout California. In the grant announcement, ABC intended on awarding 35-40 individual grants of up to $125,000 for Fiscal Year 2007-08. The purpose of the grants was to enable the selected agencies to expand their efforts in addressing alcohol-related problems through a comprehensive ABC program encompassing a wide range of strategies. The Tustin Police Department was awarded one of the grants in the amount of $43,200. The money will be used primarily for officer overtime to meet the basic goals outlined in the grant application. RECOMMENDATION 1. Open and close a Public Hearing. 2. Authorize usage of the funds as recommended by the Police Department. 3. Authorize reimbursement from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to the City of Tustin for the investigation of alcohol-related crimes, and authorize the Chief of Police to sign any grant related paperwork on behalf of the City. FISCAL IMPACT The grant award is in the amount of $43,200. $37,200 will be used for overtime to fund special operations, and $6000 will be used for training, equipment and operating expenses. There will be no impact on the General Fund. 2007 Alcohol Beverage Control Grant July 17, 2007 Page 2 of 3 BACKGROUND Tustin currently has approximately 142 businesses licensed through ABC. Prior to a decoy operation, letters are sent out to all businesses holding an ABC license, and a newspaper article is published warning businesses a decoy operation will occur in the near future. These operations have been successful by enforcing violations administratively, prosecuting criminally, and lowering the sales of alcohol to minors. However, there has been a -rise in the sales of alcohol to minors. During 2005 and 2006 decoy operations, businesses maintained a 28% failure rate. During decoy operation arrests in 2006, interviews revealed suspects were unable to read a driver's license correctly, or they did not understand ABC laws. Tustin does not have amerchant /citizen training program currently in place. By educating license holders and their employees through LEAD and IMPACT, Tustin could expect to see a reduction in sales to minors. Follow-up decoy operations showing compliance should verify that these programs are successful. The City of Tustin is currently facing the following problems: 1. Per recent decoy operation statistics, On and Off Sales establishments have been increasing their sales of alcohol to minors. 2. Repeated criminal offenses stem from. problematic .bars. Offenses include alcohol sales to minors, narcotic sales, DUIs, fights, and assaults. In 2006, we received 329 calls for service that were directly related to bars. These calls varied from drunk-in-public to shootings. 3. Rapid growth of Tustin will lead to a rush of new ABC license requests. Within the next 24 months, we anticipate having an 18% increase in On and Off Sale ABC licenses issued. The following goals will assist the Tustin Police Department in educating the community and proactively enforcing ABC laws. When these goals are accomplished, we expect to see a reduction in ABC rules and regulations violations, DUIs, crimes that occur around problematic bars, and minors in possession of alcohol. 1. Educate the following people reference ABC Rules and Regulations: Patrol Officers and their immediate supervisors, Detectives involved with enforcing ABC violations and their immediate supervisors, business license holders and their employees, and the citizens of Tustin. 2. Identify problematic ABC violations occurring in Tustin. Address these problems by using a wide variety of available resources. 3. Create a data system that will measure enforcement results. 2007 Alcohol Beverage Control Grant July 17, 2007 Page 3 of 3 After completing the above goals and objectives during this grant, the City of Tustin expects to see a 15% reduction in alcohol-related crimes. Measurable reductions in crime and calls for service can be documented through data collection and reported in monthly, quarterly, and a year end report. ~~`~2 SCOTT M. JO AN Chief of Police J N STRAI N Lieutenant Professional Standards Division OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the City Council, of the City of Tustin, will conduct a public hearing on July 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, California to consider the following: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) GRANT FUNDS TO COMBAT ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME WITHIN THE CITY OF TUSTIN. Effective July 1, 2007, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) awarded the Tustin Police Department a grant for $43,200. This grant will enable our agency to expand our present efforts in addressing alcohol-related problems through a comprehensive ABC program that will encompass a wide range of strategies. Our officers assigned to the project will work closely with ABC investigators and receive training in ABC law, alcohol enforcement strategies, and community resources. If you challenge the subject items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at a public hearing described in the notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Tustin at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. If you require special accommodations to attend this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (714) 573-3025. Information relative to this item is on file with the Tustin Police Department and is available for public inspection at City Hall. Anyone interested in the information above may call the Police Department at (714) 573-3282. Pamela Stoker City Clerk Publish: Tustin News Date: June 28, 2007