To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Amelyn Olson, 707-565-2696
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Grant Funding from the Office of Traffic Safety
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments in the amount of $97,000 to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 adopted budget to reflect revenues and expenditures associated with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program and the Child Passenger Safety Program grants from the Office of Traffic Safety awarded to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services (4/5th Vote Required).
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Health Services (hereinafter “DHS” or “the Department”) is seeking Board authorization to adjust its budget by $97,000 for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 to reflect revenues and expenditures associated with two grants awarded from the Office of Traffic Safety.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program - funding for Sonoma County Safe Routes to Schools community events and bike helmet distribution
• Child Passenger Safety Program - funding for training and distribution of child car seats through partnerships with six local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Discussion:
The Department diligently seeks state and federal funding to support critical Public Health programs serving the County of Sonoma. When a grant is allocated to the Department or an existing grant is extended after the budget is finalized in June of each year, the Department is required to secure Board authorization to adjust the budget to reflect the revenue and the program expenditures. The Department’s FY 2026-2027 budget included $128,000 for California Office of Traffic Safety grants, however the total amount of grants awarded totals $225,000. Because the award was made after the FY 2026-2027 budget was adopted by the Board, the Department seeks authority to increase appropriations by an additional $97,000.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program - $100,000
On January 30, 2026, the Department applied to the California Office of Traffic Safety for a grant to provide community pedestrian/bike safety events and bike helmet distribution.
Sonoma County Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS), in partnership with Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, will use grant funding to conduct Walk Audits, conduct Bike Rodeos, participate in other community events, as well as distribute helmets across Sonoma County.
SRTS routinely receives requests for over forty bike rodeo events each year, and current funding limits the number of events that can be conducted. This grant will allow for additional bike rodeos, as well as participation at additional community events, enabling both education and helmet distribution to both children and parents in need.
In 2025, SRTS conducted 20 walk audits, primarily in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and prior to this award, planned to conduct 10 additional walk audits by the end of 2026-27. This grant funding will support additional walk audits in jurisdictions/communities identified to have a high incidence of pedestrian and/or bicycle fatal or serious injury traffic crashes or "near misses.”
On June 8, 2026, the Department was notified by the California Office of Traffic Safety of a tentative award in the amount of $100,000 for a grant period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Child Passenger Safety Program - $125,000
On January 30, 2026, the Department applied to the California Office of Traffic Safety for a grant to provide car seats to local clinics for distribution to low-income families.
Low-income families are less likely to be able to afford car seats for their children, and many struggle to replace equipment as their children grow or after vehicle crashes. By bringing child safety seats closer to low-income families through maternal-child home visiting programs and partnerships with FQHCs, we can eliminate many of the barriers facing our most vulnerable community members. The Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) provides a wide range of culturally competent services to Medi-Cal enrolled pregnant people, from conception through 60 days postpartum. In addition to standard obstetric services, clients receive enhanced services in the areas of nutrition, psychosocial supports, and health education. Providing car seats during a CPSP visit qualifies as one of these enhanced services.
CPSP providers at community clinics will be trained to become car seat technicians and will help build the capacity of our safety net, bringing essential safety services closer to patients. Pregnant people will be able to access training, information, and a child safety seat during one of their scheduled clinic visits. Evidence indicates that by having a trusted medical provider give them this information, they are more likely to follow the guidance and use the car seat appropriately throughout the child's early years. Most CPSP providers across Sonoma County are bilingual and bicultural and can meet their patients' language access needs.
On June 15, 2026, the Department was notified by the California Office of Traffic Safety of a tentative award in the amount of $125,000 for a grant period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 4: Seek out grant funding to enhance programs and improve infrastructure
Objective: Objective 1: Align the Board of Supervisor’s strategic priorities, policy, and operational goals with funding and resources.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On July 7, 2026, the Board adopted a resolution delegating authority to the Director of Health Services, or designee, to accept funding allocations for the County of Sonoma and execute revenue agreements received in fiscal year 2026-2027.
On May 6, 2025, the Board adopted a resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments in the amount of $116,000 to the fiscal year 2024-2025 adopted budget to reflect revenues and expenditures associated with the Child Passenger Safety Program grant with the Office of Traffic Safety awarded to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
128,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
97,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
225,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
225,000 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
225,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget includes $128,000 in revenue and expenditure appropriations for California Office of Traffic Safety grant programs. Approval of this item increases revenue and expenditure appropriations by $97,000, for a total of $225,000. The additional appropriations allow the Department to dispense all of the two grant awards totaling $225,000, including $100,000 for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program and $125,000 for the Child Passenger Safety Program for the grant period of October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. Any unspent grant funds remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 will be appropriated through the FY 2027-2028 Q1 Consolidated Budget Adjustment process.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Budget Resolution
Attachment 2 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Award Notice
Attachment 3 - Child Passenger Safety Program Award Notice
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None