TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: MICHAEL CISZEK, POLICE CHIEF
DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026-27 DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL - OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM (FUNDING SOURCE: ABC-OTS GRANT)
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SUMMARY
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), administers the ABC-OTS Grant Program to support local law enforcement agencies in conducting alcohol-related education and enforcement operations.
The Claremont Police Department submitted a Letter of Interest and supporting materials for participation in the 2026-27 ABC-OTS Grant Program. Following ABC’s review, the Police Department was selected to receive $25,000 in grant funding.
The grant will support enforcement activities through the Minor Decoy Program, Shoulder Tap Program, IMPACT Program, and Holiday Enforcement. ABC requires participating agencies to designate a sworn operations officer to attend a mandatory one-day training in Sacramento regarding program operations and grant reporting requirements.
As a condition of participation, ABC requires the adoption of a Resolution (Attachment) by the City’s governing body. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the City’s participation in the 2026-27 ABC-OTS Grant Program and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the grant agreement and related documents.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026-27 DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL - OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY (ABC-OTS) GRANT PROGRAM.
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the staff recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Request additional information.
B. Decline to participate in the 2026-27 ABC-OTS Grant Program.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Police Department has been awarded $25,000 through the ABC-OTS Grant Program. Grant funds will reimburse eligible costs associated with approved grant activities, primarily personnel overtime and allowable grant-related expenses. The grant does not require a local funding match.
The Department’s grant budget is based on overtime staffing for sworn personnel assigned to approved ABC-OTS operations, together with allowable payroll costs and required grant-related training expenses. Actual expenditures will be limited to eligible costs authorized by the final grant agreement and will not exceed the $25,000 award.
Eligible expenditures will be submitted to ABC for reimbursement in accordance with the grant agreement and applicable reimbursement procedures. Any costs incurred outside the grant’s authorized scope or reimbursement requirements would remain the responsibility of the City.
ANALYSIS
The ABC-OTS Grant Program is intended to assist local law enforcement agencies with alcohol-related enforcement and education. The Claremont Police Department’s award will provide additional resources for proactive operations focused on reducing underage access to alcohol, addressing adults who furnish alcohol to minors, promoting compliance at ABC-licensed establishments, and conducting targeted enforcement during designated holiday periods.
As part of its application, the Police Department identified the Minor Decoy, Shoulder Tap, IMPACT, and Holiday Enforcement programs as the primary grant-funded activities. These operations are intended to prevent the sale and furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors, educate and promote compliance among ABC-licensed establishments, identify alcohol-related violations, and provide targeted enforcement during periods of increased alcohol-related activity.
Grant-funded activities are anticipated to include the following:
• Minor Decoy Program - supervised operations using underage decoys to determine whether ABC-licensed establishments sell alcoholic beverages to minors.
• Shoulder Tap Program - operations targeting adults who purchase or furnish alcoholic beverages to minors outside licensed retail locations.
• IMPACT Program - inspections and education at ABC-licensed establishments to identify violations, provide licensees an opportunity to correct deficiencies, and conduct follow-up inspections.
• Holiday Enforcement - targeted undercover and high-profile enforcement addressing underage drinking, sales or furnishing of alcohol to minors, service to obviously intoxicated persons, and other alcohol-related violations during designated holiday periods.
ABC has advised that grant operations may begin after the designated operations officer completes the mandatory one-day training in Sacramento. The training will provide instruction regarding ABC’s expectations for conducting grant-funded operations and completing required grant documentation. ABC will provide separate fiscal training on reimbursement claims.
Participation in the grant will supplement the Police Department’s existing alcohol enforcement efforts and provide dedicated funding for proactive operations that otherwise would compete with general Police Department resources. Staff believes the grant will enhance the Department’s ability to address alcohol-related violations and promote responsible alcohol sales and service within the community.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated this agenda item in relation to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, General Plan, Youth and Family Master Plan, and the 2026-28 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Michael Ciszek Eddie Lomeli
Police Chief Police Sergeant
Attachment:
ABC-OTS Resolution