To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: M. Christina Rivera & McCall Miller, 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth and Fifth
Title:
Title
FY 25-26 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Executive, or designee, to execute an agreement with the following grantees: The LIME Foundation, $85,000; Cazadero Volunteer Fire Department, $9,005.38; Centro Laboral de Graton, $60,000; Circuit Rider Community Services, $9,500; Earthseed Farm (Society to Benefit Everyone), $10,000; Food for Thought, $10,000; Graton Community Services District, $10,000; Land of the Good, $15,000; North Bay Organizing Project, $15,000; On the Move, $10,000; ReVillage, $15,000; Russian River Chamber of Commerce, $6,000; Russian River Youth, $10,500; Sebastopol Area Senior Center, $5,000; Verity, $12,000; West County Community Services (2 grants), $28,000; and West County Health Centers, Inc., $2,500.
B) Authorize the County Executive, or designee, to amend these agreements to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreements. (Fourth and Fifth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
The Tourism Impact Fund was established to meet the unique and urgent needs of unincorporated Sonoma County and may be used for activities such as safety improvements, environmental impact mitigation, public safety, and other tourism mitigation activities. Funds may also be used for projects that benefit the community, or to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils.
Staff recommends award of a total of $312,505.38 in grants and requests authorization for the County Executive, or designee, to execute the funding agreements and to make minor modifications that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreements.
Activities performed utilizing the Community Investment Program funds provide public benefit that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Discussion:
Transient Occupancy Tax Funding
The Sonoma County Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT or Hotel Bed Tax) was established in 1965 and is authorized under State Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280. TOT, a general tax, is currently levied at a rate of 12%, a rate established in 2016 by the voter-approved Measure L. TOT revenue is allocated 25% to the General Fund; 50% to the Community Investment Fund; and 25% to the Measure L Fund.
Community Investment Fund Program and Policy
The Community Investment Fund Program, established in 1986 as the Advertising and Promotions Program, allocates a portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax to encourage economic development, community engagement, and culture in the County through a variety of grant award and funding avenues. The program provides grants to community-based organizations for a wide range of activities including economic development, community and countywide events, and advertising and promoting the county as a visitor destination with the goal of advancing economic growth through tourism. Additionally, the program provides grants to address impacts on safety due to tourism and to enhance community services throughout the county. The program provides funding to the Regional Parks Department, the Economic Development Collaborative, and additional county activities. Community Investment Funds are allocated per the Community Investment Fund Policy (Policy) (<https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/community-investment-fund-program/community-investment-program-policy>).
On September 16, 2025, the Board adopted revisions to the Policy, consolidating funding priorities into three funding categories: County Department Funding, District Priorities, and Community Funding. Staff are working on updating the application process to align with the new funding categories. In order to minimize impacts to the community, applications in process will continue to be processed based on the current Policy.
Revised District Priorities Category
The revised District Priorities funding category provides funds to events, organizations, and Supervisorial District priorities. Funding may be distributed through grants or assigned to County departments. The funds available in this category include $100,000 for each supervisorial district ($500,000 total) from the Community Investment Fund and 10% of Measure L revenue to be allocated to each supervisorial district proportionate to the amount of Transient Occupancy Tax collected within the district in the previous fiscal year. Unused funds will be accounted for and available for use in future years. Organizations may make their requests directly to each Supervisorial District.
Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements, environmental impact mitigation, public safety, and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement. Funds may be used for projects that benefit the community, or to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils. The Board may award funding to County Departments or to Supervisorial Districts to complete priority projects. Funding may be used to cover salary and benefit costs associated with changed or additional staff, and other costs associated with added staffing such as office space.
Funds will be distributed upon approval of these awards by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Community Investment Fund grant agreement by the entity. The agreements will be executed by the County Executive, or designee. The agreements require the County seal on promotional materials produced using the grant award.
Because a project may require modification as the work/project may not be completed within the fiscal year, an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project may be necessary. Therefore, it is recommended that the County Executive, or designee, be authorized to amend the contracts to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreement.
Funding Recommendations
Fourth District - Total $85,000
1. The LIME Foundation for the NextGen workforce development programs supporting career technical training for youth, grant award of $85,000.
Fifth District - Total $ $227,505.38
1. Cazadero Volunteer Fire Department for radio equipment, grant award of $9,005.38.
2. Centro Laboral de Graton for infrastructure and safety improvements, grant award of $60,000.
3. Circuit Rider Community Services for vegetation management, grant award of $9,500.
4. Earthseed Farm (Society to Benefit Everyone) for a Community Nourishment Program, grant award of $10,000.
5. Food for Thought for nutrition services in the Fifth District, grant award of $10,000.
6. Graton Community Services District for environmental studies associated with the use permit for Graton Town Square, grant award of $10,000.
7. Land of the Good for sensory garden improvements and programming, grant award of $15,000.
8. North Bay Organizing Project for the North Bay Rapid Response Network, grant award of $15,000;
9. On the Move for healing and wellness workshops, grant award of $10,000.
10. ReVillage for community-led revitalization work, grant award of $15,000.
11. Russian River Chamber of Commerce for trash pickup services, grant award of $6,000.
12. Russian River Youth for updating gym equipment for use by the community, grant award of $10,500.
13. Sebastopol Area Senior Center for accessibility and safety upgrades, grant award of $5,000;
14. Verity for human trafficking prevention program, grant award of $12,000.
15. West County Community Services for meal services for seniors; grant award of $8,000.
16. West County Community Services for homeless services, response, and outreach, grant award of $20,000.
17. West County Health Centers, Inc. for Project 100, a cross-sector community initiative, grant award of $2,500.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
10/14/2025 and 11/7/2025 - Awarded FY 25-26 Tourism Impact Fund Grants
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$312,505.38 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$312,505.38 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$312,505.38 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$312,505.38 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Tourism Impact Funds are included in the FY 25-26 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Sample Tourism Impact Fund Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None