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Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Sheriff to sign the Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program grant funding Letter of Agreement 2020-12, with the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration in the amount of $66,500 to provide funding retroactively for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020 to defray costs relating to the eradication and suppression of illicit marijuana.
FUNDING: United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.
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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. This funding cannot be used for the enforcement, monitoring or administration of any legal cannabis program in El Dorado County.
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.
In the past, grant funds have been advanced and monthly reports of expenditures were required to account for the funds. Starting with the grant from Federal FY2019, funds are not advanced and monthly invoices for expenses are submitted for reimbursement to capture actual costs. The Sheriff's Office received this agreement on December 19, 2019 from the DEA.
The Sheriff's Office did not budget Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program revenues in the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget due to the uncertainty of Federal Funding regarding illegal Cannabis in the State of California. In Fiscal Year 2020-21 we will be including a revenue estimate in the Sheriff's Office Budget.
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 March 11, 2019, Legistar Item # 19-0417, in the amount of $40,000 for the period October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019, Letter of Agreement 2019-14.
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
Net County Cost for the Sheriff's Office will be reduced by $66,500. The revenue offsets the Sheriff’s Office’s costs for the marijuana eradication program. No budget amendment is necessary to recognize additional revenues, as appropriations do not need to be increased.
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 Randy Peshon