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Adopt a resolution approving the annual application and participation in the upcoming FY2020/21 Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Grant in the amount of $317,133; and Authorize the Sheriff or his designee to sign the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Contract, administer the grant and sign associated amendments, operational contracts and reimbursement claims
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt a resolution approving the annual application and participation in the upcoming FY2020/21 Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Grant in the amount of $317,133 plus any available augmentation funds not to exceed $75,000;
2. Certify the County shall expend on boating safety programs not less than an amount equal to 100% of the amount received by the County from personal property taxes on vessels;
3. Authorize the County Auditor-Controller to certify personal property taxes on vessels received annually by the County; and
4. Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and the Director of Administrative Services to sign the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Contract, administer the grant and sign associated amendments, operational contracts and reimbursement claims.
SUMMARY:
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office operates a highly successful Marine Patrol program. To support the operations of the program, the Sheriff annually applies for grant funds from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Grant. The grant funds support boating safety and enforcement activities on the County’s waterways. Solano County has received these funds for over 20 years and continues to be eligible because the cost of boating safety and enforcement activities exceeds actual vessel taxes collected by the County. Upon completion of the annual application which includes the attached resolution to be adopted by the Board, the Sheriff’s Office is eligible to receive $317,133 and, if available, a one-time annual augmentation in funding from DBW for FY2020/21.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is eligible to receive $317,133 from DBW to offset program expenses of the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and is also eligible to receive a portion of any unallocated funds on a one-time basis, per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Subsection 6593.7 (c ) (3), because as a participating agency the Sheriff’s Office incurs expenditures that exceed the funding received under this program. In FY2018/19 the Sheriff’s Office received a one-time augmentation of $4,018.09.
Revenue from personal property taxes on vessels and General Fund appropriations also sustain Marine Patrol operations. California Harbors and Navigation Code §663.7 governing the grant requires that the County first expend all funds received from personal property taxes on recreational boats registered in the County on the boating safety and enforcement program before receiving financial aid from the State. All aid received must be spent on boating safety and enforcement and will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol revenue and expenditures, including the financial aid from DBW, will be included in the Sheriff’s FY2019/20 Requested Budget.
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Boating Safety and Enforcement (BS&E) Financial Aid Program was established in 1969 by Assembly Bill 1827, which became Section 663.7 of the Harbors and Navigation Code (H&N) once enacted. Section 6593 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) was developed in 2002 to further implement this program.
The purpose of the BS&E Financial Aid Program is to provide State financial aid to local governmental agencies whose waterways have high usage by boaters and an insufficient tax base to fully support a boating safety and enforcement program. The program is intended to augment existing local resources for boating safety and enforcement activities and is not intended to fully fund BS&E programs. Solano County has been participating in the program since FY1996/97.
The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol is a highly successful law enforcement program. The main purpose of the program is to provide public safety and resources to recreational boaters and commercial vessels operating on Solano County waterways; and to promote safe boating and save lives through accident prevention. Marine Patrol performs random boating safety inspections and security checks of bridges and other potential terrorist targets, assists stranded boaters, conducts accident investigations, assists in search and rescue/recovery missions, and issues warnings/citations or makes arrests when warranted. The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol also provides mutual aid to Sacramento, Yolo, and Contra Costa Counties.
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, §6593.4 specifically states that the Board must approve a resolution authorizing a person to sign the contract and the reimbursement forms. It is recommended that the Sheriff be authorized to sign the contract and authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff and Director of Administrative Services to sign these documents pertaining to this grant.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to participate in the program; however, this alternative is not recommended. Nonparticipation will result in the loss of $317,133 in grant funding necessary to effectively administer boating safety, enforcement and rescue on County waterways. The grant funding will be obligated to other Counties and no longer be available to Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION