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Report regarding a resolution accepting $157,722 from the California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program to be used for personnel overtime, equipment, and training expenses and amend the Police Department’s Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2028 by approving Budget Amendment Number 26.051 (Amy Sariotti, Police Lieutenant)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution accepting $157,222 from the California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program (TGP) to be used for personnel overtime, equipment, and training expenses and amend the Police Department’s Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2028 by approving Budget Amendment Number 26.051.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In June 2025, the Police Department submitted a grant application to the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) for funding of personnel overtime, equipment, and training expenses for the Tobacco Grant Program. The grant is administered by CA DOJ with funding provided by the State Budget Act and the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, as added by Proposition 56. The program will supplement normal police staffing for tobacco safety, training, and enforcement efforts.
The goal of the grant is to educate the public and retailers of the City of South San Francisco about recently enacted new municipal ordinances regulating the sale of flavored tobacco products and the high rate of youth vaping, which are on the rise across the country. The grant will also create multilingual and targeted outreach, such as newsletters, social media postings and post cards to reach designated communities throughout the City of South San Francisco.
The grant application was approved by CA DOJ in November 2025, and the Police Department was awarded $157,722. The operating period on the grant is December 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
This is the Police Department’s second time partnering with CA DOJ to address tobacco safety issues and education via grant funding. The grant funds may be used to enforce our local ordinance or state law related to the illegal sale and marketing of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to our youths. These enforcement efforts may include, but are not limited to:
• Retailer compliance checks
• Retailer training programs
• Public education outreach
• Parent engagement and education
• Tobacco retail license inspections
• Preventing and deterring use of tobacco products in partnership with the school district
• Tobacco enforcement and education efforts
Award Amount
Category of Expenditure Budget FY Budget FY Budget FY
2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
Personnel Services $39,004 $39,004 $39,004
Operating Expenses & $18,600 $7,300 $7,300
Equipment
Administrative Costs $2,880 $2,315 $2,315
(Not to exceed 5%)
Total Award Amount $157,722
FISCAL IMPACT
Budget Amendment Number 26.051 appropriates $157,722 in grant funding for the purpose of personnel overtime, equipment, and training expenses. The funding source is the California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Acceptance of this meets the Strategic Goals #3: Public Safety by rendering skilled police, fire, and emergency service management.
CONCLUSION
Adoption of this resolution will allow the City of South San Francisco to accept $157,722 from the California Department of Justice for the Tobacco Grant Program and amend the Police Department’s operating budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2028 by approving Budget Amendment Number 26.051.