REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 13, 2023
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2024 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for federal assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, in the amount of $1,108,476 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
2. Authorize the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to execute and submit the grant application, related assurances and certifications necessary, as requested by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to transmit all documents in relation to this grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Ernie Perez, Deputy Chief, 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 application to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) grant program, in the total amount of $1,108,476, will provide funding of $623,420 for the Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team (IRNET), $385,056 for the Regional Methamphetamine Task Force (RMTF), and $100,000 for the Vehicle Interdiction Pipeline Enforcement Resource Program (VIPER). If awarded, the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Department) will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the grant award and may request budget adjustments, if necessary. No matching funds are required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is seeking grant funds from the HIDTA program. HIDTA provides federal assistance to local law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. The purpose of the HIDTA program is to reduce drug trafficking and production by enhancing cooperation and facilitating intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies; and supporting coordinated law enforcement strategies that make the most of available resources. The HIDTA program funds 670 initiatives throughout the country, including:
• Enforcement initiatives comprising multi-agency investigative, interdiction, and prosecution activities;
• Intelligence and information-sharing initiatives;
• Support for programs that provide assistance beyond the core enforcement and intelligence and information-sharing initiatives; and
• Drug use prevention and drug treatment initiatives.
Since 1997, the County has received HIDTA grant funds from the ONDCP for IRNET and RMTF initiatives, and more recently, for the VIPER initiative. IRNET is a joint effort between the Department, as the lead agency, and other member agencies designed to target, investigate and prosecute major drug trafficking organizations. RMTF is a joint effort between San Bernardino and Riverside counties to target major methamphetamine production/distribution and arrest persons/organizations involved in illicit sales and trafficking of methamphetamine. VIPER is a joint effort between the Sheriff’s Departments of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties to target drug trafficking on the highway.
The total allocation for IRNET of $623,420 will fund the salaries and benefits of existing positions, overtime costs, travel, supplies, service contracts, and other Department program-related expenses. Additionally, the grant will provide overtime reimbursement to the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control, Montclair Police Department, Ontario Police Department, Redlands Police Department, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The $385,056 allocated for RMTF will fund the Department’s overtime and partial salary (without benefits), travel, supplies, service contracts, and other operating expenses of this program. The $100,000 allocated for VIPER will fund the Department’s travel, supplies, service contracts, and other operating expenses related to this program.
The HIDTA grant application requires the approval of certifications that are binding upon the County, as well as an up-front agreement to be bound by the conditions that will accompany the federal grant funds. Consequently, County Policy 05-13 requires Board approval to submit this grant application or any related amendments. This grant funding will cover the project performance period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
Approval of Recommendation No. 2 will authorize the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator to sign and submit the grant application and related assurances in compliance with ONDCP’s policy. If the County’s application is approved, the Department will return to the Board to accept the grant award.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard D. Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 7, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on June 7, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 8, 2023.