REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Brian Smith, Lieutenant, and Ingrid Ono, Sr. Exec. Asst.
Subject:
title
Adopt Resolution No. 2026-35 Accepting State Grant funds, Authorizing Execution of One-year California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Grant Agreement in the Amount of $100,000, and Approve Appropriation and Expenditure of Funds on Enforcing State Laws Regulating the Sales of Alcohol
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Statement of Issue:
On June 2, 2026, the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) received notice of the award of a one-year grant through the State of California, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in the amount of $100,000. The funds are intended for enforcement of state laws regulating the sales of alcohol.
Financial Impact:
Grant funds, estimated to be $100,000, will be fully reimbursed by the grant from the Department of ABC. No other matching or in-kind city funds are required for this grant. A new fund will be established for this funding.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Approve and authorize the Chief of Police to execute the State of California, Department of ABC Grant Assistance program Standard Agreement; and,
B) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-35, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing Application for and Acceptance of Grant Funds from the State of California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control and Authorizing Execution of the Grant Agreement;” and,
C) Approve the appropriation and expenditure of $100,000, of which is to be fully reimbursed by the grant from the Department of ABC.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The City has an exceptionally high per capita number of ABC licensed business establishments. Currently, there are 474 active retail (on-site and off-site) ABC licensed establishments in the City.
Huntington Beach also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including the Fourth of July celebration, the Pacific Airshow and the US Open of Professional Surfing. These events bring in thousands of tourists to the beach and downtown area which increases the number of alcohol related incidents.
The funds from this grant are intended to be used to target both ABC licensed establishments citywide, as well as proactive enforcement operations during special events.
This grant provides funding for overtime reimbursement, equipment, and training to conduct enforcement and administrative programs targeting underage drinking and alcohol related violations.
• Raise public awareness that selling, serving and / or furnishing alcoholic beverages to individuals under twenty-one years old is a criminal violation that will be prosecuted by local city and district attorneys.
• Conduct minor decoy operations designed to educate and deter licensed locations from selling / furnishing alcohol to minors.
• Conduct “shoulder tap” operations used to detect and deter adult furnishers outside of a licensed business.
• Conduct Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Tendencies (IMPACT) inspections, whereas the primary goal is to educate licensees on alcohol related laws to help reduce alcohol-related crime in and around licensed premises.
• Conduct undercover operations to detect alcohol-related violations.
• Conduct trap door operations to detect underage people attempting to enter ABC licensed establishments using fraudulent identification cards.
• Perform training for police department personnel regarding enforcement and educational techniques.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 8 - Public Safety, Strategy A - Community-wide comprehensive risk reduction program to optimize public safety's emergency response and reduce the number of calls.
Attachment(s):
1. ABC Grant Agreement 26-APP12, including Exhibit A through Exhibit D
2. Resolution No. 2026-35
3. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Letter