To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Robert Plummer, Police Chief
Prepared By: Susana Aguilera, Management Analyst
TITLE:
Title
Police Department Program to Reduce the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages to Minors
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing acceptance of a grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, State of California, and authorizing a budget appropriation of $50,000 for the Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department was recently notified that we have been awarded $50,000 from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
This grant will fund the overtime for the Police Department to conduct Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Operations, visiting Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) on and off sale establishments such as convenience and liquor stores. Additionally, it will fund equipment and travel/registration fees for 2 officers to attend the 2019 Alcohol Policing Partnership Training Conference.
A Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Operation targets adults who willingly purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age. During the operation, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If the adults purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age, officers then arrest and cite them for the violation.
The program is intended to reduce future crimes involving alcohol and alcohol licensees involving a wide variety of enforcement and education activities. Statistics show this age group generally has a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults. Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct and victimization. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.
Education is a key component of our strategy. Educating all of our sworn officers, our community, and the merchants and their personnel on the importance of providing, selling, purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages responsibly. Enforcement is another strategy we will employ to reduce the amount of alcohol available to minors. Our enforcement strategy will be employed in a variety of operations to reduce crimes involving alcohol and alcohol licensing violations.
In addition to these operations, the Police Department will conduct Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Tendencies (IMPACT) Inspections and host one Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) classes in the City of Napa. The IMPACT inspections remind licensees of the responsibilities and accountability associated with the sale of alcohol. The officers also inspect licensed premises for compliance with State and local laws. The focus is to educate local merchants in deterring crime. The LEAD class is a free voluntary prevention and education program for retail licensees, their employees and applicants.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The grant positively impacts the General Fund and increases the Napa Police Department budget by $50,000 over a one year period offset by reimbursement from the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The following budget appropriations are requested for FY2019-20:
(Sources) Revenue:
49123-33561-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/State Reimbursements) $50,000
(Uses) Expenditures:
49123-51300-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Overtime) $41,294
49123-52201-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Medicare) $ 599
49123-52501-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Unemployment) $ 87
49123-52601-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Worker’s Compensation) $ 3,811
49123-53201-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Professional Services $ 2,500
49123-55902-PDABC2020 (Patrol non-recurring/Training) $ 650
49123-55801-PDABC2020 (Patrol nonrecurring /Travel) $ 1,059
Total Expenditures $50,000
CEQA:
The Police Chief has determined that the Recommended Action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution
ATCH 2 - Grant Agreement
NOTIFICATION:
None