SR-11-25-2014-3FCity Council Meeting: November 25, 2014
Agenda Item: 3-.F�
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jacqueline A. Seabrooks, Chief of Police
Subject: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Mini Grant Program
Recommended Actions
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $10,700
from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Mini Grant
Program.
2. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
section of this report.
Executive Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has been awarded an ABC grant in the
amount of $10,700. Funds must be used by the end of the grant period, September 30,
2015. No local match is required.
The purpose of this grant is to assist the Police Department in conducting operations
that reduce the number of licensees who sell alcoholic beverages to minors or adults
who furnish alcoholic beverages to minors, as well as providing education to merchants
through inspections. All enforcement operations would be conducted on an overtime
basis which would be funded by the grant.
Background
The ABC Multi- Program Mini Grant program provides funding to support three
programs: the Minor Decoy Program, Shoulder Tap Program, and IMPACT (Informed
Merchants Preventing Alcohol - Related Crime Tendencies) inspections. Funding for the
project comes from the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Safety
Administration. The City has been a recipient of ABC Mini Grant funding previously in
2011. The 2014 grant program would provide funding for overtime costs associated with
enforcement operations. The funds must be spent by September 30, 2015.
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Discussion
One of the Police Department's priorities is to address quality of life issues which
include the illegal purchasing and distribution of alcoholic beverages by and to minors.
With 337 ABC active licensees, Santa Monica has one of the highest ratios of alcohol
establishments to population in the state. Communities, such as Santa Monica, with a
high concentration of alcohol outlets experience a greater number of alcohol - related
problems.
This grant focuses on education and enforcement. The funds would allow the Santa
Monica Police Department to expand its present efforts in identifying and targeting
problematic ABC licensed establishments. The grant would fund five overtime minor
decoy operations, five shoulder tap operations, and 40 IMPACT inspections. In addition,
Santa Monica would host a LEAD (Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs) class, led
by ABC's LEAD Unit, for ABC licensees located within the grantees jurisdiction during
the term of the agreement.
The goal of the Minor Decoy Program is to reduce the number of licensees who sell
alcoholic beverages to minors. The Minor Decoy Program has proven to be a significant
and effective tool for law enforcement officials in combating sales of alcoholic
beverages to underage persons.
The Shoulder Tap Program targets adults who furnish alcoholic beverages to minors.
"Shoulder Tapping" refers to the practices used by minors to obtain alcohol from adult
strangers near off -sale retail outlets. Data collected from prior Shoulder Tap Programs
reflected one -third of the adults arrested for purchasing alcohol for minors were on
parole, probation, had outstanding warrants or extensive criminal histories.
IMPACT inspections focus on licensee education. Officers randomly select licensed
outlets to conduct business friendly compliance inspections. The officers look for
loitering, litter, graffiti, posted signs, lack of food service in restaurants, illegal weapons,
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or other violations. The licensee must then correct any problem areas. Follow up visits
are then conducted to ensure the licensee has corrected the problems.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Award of a $10,700 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control requires the
following FY 2014 -15 budget changes:
1. Establish a revenue budget at account 20306.406041 in the amount of $10,700.
2. Appropriate the following expenditures to reflect receipt of the California Alcoholic
Beverage Control Multi- Program Mini Grant: $10,700 at account number
20306.511490 89006 W.
Prepared by: Nicole Dibling- Moore, Senior Administrative Analyst
Forwarded to Council:
City Manager
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