To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor Chris Coursey, 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Third
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 25-26 Third District Community Investment Fund Grant Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve Community Investment Fund grant awards and authorize the County Executive, or designee, to execute an agreement with the following entities: Food For Thought, $2,000; North Bay Honor Flight, $1,000; Petaluma Blacks for Community Development, $1,500; North Bay Performing Arts Association, $750; Kids Again Foundation (Diggs Publishing), $500; Rohnert Park Babe Ruth Baseball League (Rohnert Park Cal Ripken), $1,000; Northern California Center for Well-Being, $2,000; Sonoma County Farm Trails, $1,000; South Park Coalition (Sonoma Community Action Network), $1,500; Museum of Sonoma County, $2,000; Children's Museum of Sonoma County, $2,000; Santa Rosa Arts Center (Inquiring Systems, Inc.), $1,500; Red Peloton, $500; Los Cien Sonoma County Inc., $2,000; Kid Scoop News, $500; Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, $1,000; Santa Rosa Zombies Hockey Club, $500; Community Equity Foundation Inc., $1,000; and She Inspires Inc., $1,000; 404 Found Code, $750; Made in Santa Rosa Education Foundation, $1,500; Council On Aging, $2,000.
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. (Third District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Board established the Local Events, Organizations, and District Priorities category to fund local events and programs that will support businesses, culture, and organizations that provide a benefit to the community, or to award funding to County Departments to fulfill Supervisorial District priorities. Events and organizations may make requests throughout the year to one or more Supervisorial Districts.
The Third District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1. Food For Thought for the 24th annual Dining Out For Life event, grant award of $2,000.
2. North Bay Honor Flight for the Welcome Home Ceremony, grant award of $1,000.
3. Petaluma Blacks for Community Development for the 2026 Black History Exhibit, Program, Lectures, Youth trip and Black History events, grant award of $1,500.
4. North Bay Performing Arts Association for the Clara's Enchanted Dream, Land of Sweets, grant award of $750.
5. Kids Again Foundation (Diggs Publishing) for Safe & Sound: A Day of Healing Through the Senses, grant award of $500.
6. Rohnert Park Babe Ruth Baseball League (Rohnert Park Cal Ripken) for equipment for the Cal Ripken World Series, grant award of $1,000.
7. Northern California Center for Well-Being for the Juntos de la Mano (Together Hand in Hand), grant award of $2,000.
8. Sonoma County Farm Trails for Weekend Along the Farm Trails Fall Tour, Farm Trails Map & Guide and Blossoms, Bees & Barnyard Babies Spring Tour, grant award of $1,000.
9. South Park Coalition (Sonoma Community Action Network) for the South Park Resource Fair, grant award of $1,500.
10. Museum of Sonoma County for Second Saturdays, grant award of $2,000.
11. Children's Museum of Sonoma County for the Museum’s Access for All initiative, grant award of $2,000.
12. Santa Rosa Arts Center (Inquiring Systems, Inc.) for the Speakeasy series, Artists’ Exchange Salon, and various Exhibits and Classes, grant award of $1,500.
13. Red Peloton for Tuesday Night Twilights, grant award of $500.
14. Los Cien Sonoma County Inc. for the Puente y Ganas Awards Access Ticket Program, grant award of $2,000.
15. Kid Scoop News for free Kid Scoop News delivered to students in Title One schools in Sonoma County, grant award of $500.
16. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts for ArtReach and the Bus Fund, grant award of $1,000.
17. Santa Rosa Zombies Hockey Club for the event costs and reduce registration fees, grant award of $500.
18. Community Equity Foundation Inc. for the 5th Annual African Soul Festival, grant award of $1,000.
19. She Inspires Inc. for the 2nd Annual Celebration of Joy - Black Joy, grant award of $1,000.
20. 404 Found Code for their International Hackathon, Capture the Flag Event and the Austin Creek Elementary Assembly, grant award of $750.
21. Made in Santa Rosa Education Foundation for the ELITE Early Literacy Enrichment Program, grant award of $1,500.
22. Council On Aging for the Latino Memory Café - Community-Based Workshops, grant award of $2,000.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits 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 award(s) by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Community Investment Fund grant agreement by the entity. The agreement(s) 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.
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:
9/23/2025: Awarded FY 25-26 Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grants
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$27,500 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$27,500 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$27,500 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$27,500 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Community Investment Funds are included in the FY 25-26 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Sample Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A