To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent - Received Too Late For Review (TLFR)
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Governing Body Resolution for the Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program 2026-2031
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Governing Body Resolution (Attachment 1) authorizing the County Administrative Officer, the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Deputy Director of Financial and Support Services, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director and/or the DHHS-Public Health (DHHS-PH) Director to submit the grant proposal for the Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant program;
2. If awarded, authorize the County Administrative Officer, the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Deputy Director of Financial and Support Services, the DHHS Director and/or the DHHS-PH Director to accept grant funds and sign any documents required by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for participation in the program; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return completed and signed copy of the Resolution to the Sheriff’s Office in original and email formats to Lucinda Jackson for submittal to funding agency.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
Proposition 64 is the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) that was passed by Voters on Nov. 8, 2016. The purpose of Prop 64 grant funding is to “assist with law enforcement, fire protection, or other local programs addressing public health and safety associated with the implementation” of the AUMA (Rev. and Tax Code, Section 34019, subd. (f)(3)(C)). The code further states the BSCC will prioritize local government grant applications that focus on illicit cannabis enforcement. The grant funding was first announced in 2020 with Cohort 1 funding. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was a recipient of the Cohort 1 funds that ended in Sep. 2023. The HCSO and DHHS-PH were recipients of a collaborative funding award for Cohort 3 that will end in Apr. 2028.
The Sheriff’s Office and DHHS-PH are collaborating for Cohort 4 funding. The two project purpose areas for this funding include the following Project Purpose Areas:
PPA 1: Public Safety/Enforcement
Public safety and enforcement projects that enhance a jurisdiction’s capacity to conduct coordinated enforcement and public safety operations that address illegal cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail activity, while protecting community health, consumer safety, and the integrity of the licensed cannabis market.
PPA 3: Youth Development/ Youth Prevention and Intervention.
Youth development projects and youth prevention and intervention projects that improve outcomes for youth by implementing trauma-informed, culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and community driven programs that prevent substance use, promote healthy decision making, and build the competencies needed for successful transition into adulthood. For purpose of the grant, individuals under the age of 21-years-old are considered use, consistent with the legal age for cannabis use and purchase.
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, as of 2019 Humboldt County holds the highest number of cannabis cultivation licenses. The legal cultivation industry can also be used by illegal growers, including those associated with Drug Trafficking Organizations, as a cover. With high numbers of permits and grows, Humboldt County is in dire need of additional enforcement resources. Trespass growers often leave a trail of environmental destruction in need of assessment and restoration. These illegal marijuana-related activities pose a serious short- and long-term threat to the community and to the legal marijuana cultivation industry.
HCSO would use funding from this grant to continue its enforcement on the black-market cannabis industry by maintaining two (2) FTEs that were funded with the Prop 64 Cohort 1 and Cohort 3 grants. Funding would allow for the shift of one (1) FTE Sheriff Sergeant position that was previously covered under another state grant that will be ending Jun. 30, 2026, and create one new (1) FTE Deputy Sheriff position. The Sheriff Sergeant position would lead the investigations of marijuana-related crimes, and the two (2) Deputy Sheriff would assist with investigations, and one (1) Crime Analyst position would assist with intelligence gathering and analysis to better inform the distribution of department resources and combat marijuana crimes. If not awarded, the existing Deputy Sheriff and Crime Analyst positions will be deallocated as of Apr. 30, 2028, at the end of the Cohort 3 funding, unless other grant funding is awarded to continue these positions.
The DHHS-PH would use funding from this grant to reduce cannabis use and substance-related school infractions for students 12-18 years old in Humboldt County school sites, with a focus on students who attend school sites in Southern Humboldt. This funding would enable DHHS-PH to maintain existing cannabis-specific education and continue the trauma-informed group and individual counseling, family counseling, student development activities, and support community events that support family systems. Additionally, this funding will support funding for office space, hazardous mitigation training, and purchase of critical-need supplies, such as personal protection equipment (PPE).
If awarded, BCSS will fund a five-year grant cycle beginning Jul. 1, 2026 and ending Dec. 31, 2031.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If awarded, the county would receive up to $4,500,000 in funding over the five-year grant cycle. There is no other financial obligation associated with receiving the grant, and there would be no impact to the General Fund. If awarded, HCSO and DHHS-PH will return to your Board for a supplemental budget.
STAFFING IMPACT:
|
Position Title |
Position Control Number |
Monthly Salary Range (1A-E Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Deputy Sheriff I/II |
221-0416A/B-42 |
E |
1 |
0 |
|
Sheriff’s Sergeant |
221-0414-11 |
E |
* |
0 |
|
*If grant is awarded, this would be net neutral due to Byrne JAG grant ending June 30, 2026 and Proposition 64 starting July 1, 2026. |
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
If awarded, HCSO would return to your board to allocate one Deputy Sheriff I/II and one Sheriff’s Sergeant that would be dedicated to grant goals and objectives. The Deputy Sheriff I/II allocation would increase the number of Sheriff Deputies in budget 1100-221 from 41 to 42. The Sheriff’s Sergeant position is currently funded by the Byrne JAG grant that is ending on June 30, 2026 and is being deallocated with the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget submission. If awarded Prop 64, then the re-allocation would retain the Sheriff’s Sergeant positions in budget 1100-221 at 11.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Board of State and Community Corrections
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could deny the request to sign the Governing Body Resolution and submit the grant application. This is not recommended as this grant is integral to the continuation of the county’s illicit marijuana control programs and to further support youth prevention and intervention of marijuana use.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Governing Body Resolution
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 6/2/2020, 11/29/2022
File No.: 20-643, 22-1573