That the City Council approve and authorize the Chief of Police to execute an agreement and accept funding in the amount of $171,000 from the Fiscal Year 2024 Operation Stonegarden grant program (OPSG) provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered through the California Office of Emergency Services, and distributed by the County of Riverside. 

The Homeland Security Grants Unit (HSGU), administered by FEMA, is responsible for the overall management of grant funding for the Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program. OPSG funds are intended to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States' borders along routes of ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in states bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as states and territories with international water borders. The main objective is to raise the level of U.S. border security to reduce the threat of border-related crime by promoting collaboration between law enforcement agencies and increasing law enforcement presence. The grant takes into account various factors, including the need for funding for certain agencies based on the illegal activities occurring in a region and the impact that the funding will have in that region to help address transnational threats such as human trafficking, the distribution of illegal narcotics, and other types of criminal activity.

The La Habra Police Department (LHPD) recognizes the need to utilize contemporary tools and technology, as well as take advantage of opportunities to help reduce the impact of criminal activity, such as illegal narcotics, from being transported through or distributed in the La Habra community. In late 2023, staff submitted a grant request to participate in and receive funding from Operation Stonegarden to combat transnational threats and prevent criminal organizations from establishing a foothold in local communities. That request was approved by Council on July 15, 2024 and this current request for Council approval will enable the City to continue participating in the OPSG grant program, allowing staff to expand its communication network with other agencies and share intelligence. 

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) applied for and was awarded grant funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, passed through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, under the Fiscal Year 2024 Operation Stonegarden grant program and will act as the grant administrator. The RCSD was responsible for overseeing the application process and selecting law enforcement agencies within the region to receive a grant award.  Other participating agencies include the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Seal Beach, as well as the counties of Riverside and Los Angeles.

If approved by City Council, the grant awarded to the City of La Habra for use by the Police Department is $171,000, and the funds must be used by May 31, 2027. The Police Department will be allocating the grant funds to help support program related costs such as overtime, and equipment costs such as license plate readers and drug testing equipment.

If approved by City Council, $171,000 in grant funds will be allocated to a Special Revenue fund for the payment of Police overtime and equipment related to the Operation Stonegarden grant. There is no local match requirement for the acceptance of these grant funds, and there is no impact to the General Fund.