Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Sheriff to sign the Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program (DCESP) grant funding Letter of Agreement 2021-15, with the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration - (US DOJ/DEA) in the amount of $533,000 for the period October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 to defray costs relating to the eradication and suppression of illicit marijuana only;
2) Approve the addition of one (1) vehicle trailer to the FY 2020-21 Fixed Asset list; and
3) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a budget transfer moving $12,000 in appropriations from the services and supplies expenditure class (40 character expenditure object class) to the fixed asset expenditure class (60 character expenditure object class) in the Sheriff's Office FY 20/21 approved budget.
FUNDING: US DOJ/DEA - DCESP funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
This is an annual agreement that the Sheriff’s Office has participated in since 1997. The funding is for activities related to the cooperation with the DOJ in locating and eradicating illicit cannabis plants, and investigating, arresting and referring cases to the prosecuting authorities.
As in the past years, the DOJ is requiring that none of this funding be used to offset costs associated with law enforcement oversight of legal marijuana activities. The Sheriff’s Office is complying with this requirement and has put procedures in place to separate the illicit marijuana suppression activities of staff from the legal marijuana monitoring activities.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to utilize a portion of the DCESP funds to purchase a vehicle trailer to assist in its illegal marijuana eradication efforts. The trailer is estimated to cost $12,000 which will be 100% reimbursed through DCESP funding. This purchase will assist the Narcotics division in more efficiently transporting seized marijuana from illegal grows to approved disposal locations.
In order to set up the Sheriff's Office budget properly so the trailer can be purchased, a Budget Transfer must be processed moving monies out of the EDSO Operations services and supplies expenditure class budget (40 character expenditure object class) to the fixed asset expenditure class budget (60 character expenditure object class). However, the entire cost of the trailer will be reimbursed by the DCESP program.
The DCESP annually funds overtime, clothing/protective gear, container/space rental, equipment, miscellaneous commercial contracts, supplies/materials, training, travel/per diem, and vehicle rental.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Annual Agreements have been in place since 1997. The last time a DCESP funding Agreement was approved by your Board was on January 28, 2020, Legistar #20-0065 for $66,500, and an Amendment on August 25, 2020, Legistar Item # 20-0993, in the amount of an additional $80,000 for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, Letter of Agreement 2020-12.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Letter of Agreement and the Sheriff’s Office willingness to comply with the restriction of use of funds for suppression of illicit marijuana operations only.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The revenue offsets the Sheriff’s Office’s costs for the marijuana eradication program and will reduce the Sheriff's Net County Cost. A budget transfer will be processed to reduce appropriations in Services and Supplies and increase appropriations in Fixed Assets for the purchase of the trailer.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
The Sheriff’s Office coordination with the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration allows for resources to be leveraged to enhance public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz