REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 8, 2024
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with the State of California - Office of Traffic Safety, for the Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testers Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Agreement with the State of California - Office of Traffic Safety (State Grant No. AL25027), in an amount not to exceed $660,722, for the Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testers grant, for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
2. Authorize the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, Undersheriff, and Chief Deputy Director of Sheriff’s Administration to execute and electronically submit the grant award documents and any necessary non-substantive amendments, as required by the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Approve the purchase of the following unbudgeted fixed assets:
a. Two Desktop Evidentiary Breath Testing Instruments in an amount not to exceed $22,000.
b. Two Headspace Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer/Flame Ionization Detectors, in an amount not to exceed $548,800.
4. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s 2024-25 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
5. Direct the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, Undersheriff, or Chief Deputy Director of Sheriff’s Administration to transmit the grant award, and any amendments in relation to this grant award, to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Kelly Welty, Chief Deputy Director, 387-3760)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) will receive reimbursement in an amount not to exceed $660,722 from the State of California - Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), for the Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testers grant. The grant funding will be used to purchase desktop and portable evidentiary instruments and for travel expenses for training and other direct costs. No matching funds are required.
The Department requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post adjustments to the 2024-25 budget, as detailed below:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4438001000 |
54404040 |
Equipment |
Increase |
$570,800 |
|
4438001000 |
52002135 |
Special Department Expense |
Increase |
$81,900 |
|
4438001000 |
52942941 |
Conference/Training/Seminar Fees |
Increase |
$8,022 |
|
4438001000 |
40509094 |
Federal - Grants |
Increase |
$660,722 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
OTS provides funding to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of reducing the number of persons killed or injured in crashes involving alcohol and other primary collision factors. Through the Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testers grant, OTS will be funding the purchase of evidentiary instruments and related training to maintain high quality testing that assists with arresting and convicting suspected impaired drivers.
On January 30, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer approved the submission of the electronic grant application to OTS in the amount of $660,722. The County’s application was tentatively accepted, subject to the Board of Supervisors’ (Board) approval. The final grant award notice, in the amount of $660,722, was received by the Department on July 8, 2024, and is being submitted to the Board for approval on the first available meeting date upon completion of the required review process.
Through the grant, the Department will be able to purchase and replace outdated evidentiary instruments to meet the requirements and qualifications of Title 17 of the California Department of Public Health, which will increase turnaround time for testing of evidence. Items included in the grant and approved for purchase by OTS are: two Desktop Evidentiary Breath Testing Instruments ($22,000), two Headspace Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer/Flame Ionization Detectors ($548,800), and 21 Portable Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testing Devices ($81,900).
The grant funding includes training for up to 150 staff members on the use of the new Portable Evidentiary Alcohol Breath Testing Devices and the desktop Evidentiary Breath Testing Instruments. Additionally, three staff members will be trained on the operation of new Headspace Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer/Flame Ionization Detectors.
Authorization is requested for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, Undersheriff, and Chief Deputy Director of Sheriff’s Administration to accept and submit electronically the grant award and any non-substantive award amendments, as required by the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 12, 2024; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on September 12, 2024; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on September 16, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 17, 2024.