Skip to main content
File #: 2020-0408   
Type: Consent Calendar Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 4/17/2020 In control: County Administrator
On agenda: 4/28/2020 Final action:
Title: Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Attachments: 1. Summary Report, 2. Attachment A Tourism Impact Fund Grant Data

To: Board of Supervisors

Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office

Staff Name and Phone Number: McCall Miller 565-7099

Vote Requirement: Majority

Supervisorial District(s): Countywide

 

Title:

Title

Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards

End

 

Recommended Action:

Recommended action

A)                     Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute agreements for a total of $347,500 with grantees: Sonoma Overnight Support, $60,000; Sonoma County Regional Parks, $30,000; Latinos Unidos del Condado de Sonoma, $5,000; Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. dba KBBF, $5,000; Reach for Home, $5,000; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, $5,000; Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, $5,000; Russian River Chamber of Commerce, $7,500; TLC Child and Family Services, $15,000; River to Coast Children’s Services, $20,000; Russian River Alliance (two grants), $10,000; The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship, $10,000; Sonoma County Farm Trails, $20,000; Sebastopol Center for the Arts, $15,000; Friends of Rio Nido, $5,000; Main Stage West, $5,000; Lazy Bear Fund, Inc., $20,000; Pets are Loving Support, $5,000; West County Community Services (two grants), $45,000; Russian Riverkeeper on behalf of Clean River Alliance, $5,000; Latino Service Providers, $25,000; North Bay Organizing Project on behalf of UndocuFund, $25,000; and

B)                     Authorize the County Administrator, 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 agreement.

end

 

Executive Summary:

Today’s Actions would award a total of $347,500 of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Funds from the Community Investment Fund and authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a total of $347,500 in funding agreements with grantees to complete projects; and authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to amend these agreements and make minor modifications 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.

 

Discussion:

Transient Occupancy Tax Funding

The Transient Occupancy Tax (Hotel/Motel Tax or Bed Tax) is levied at a rate of 12% in unincorporated Sonoma County. In 2016, voters approved Measure L, which authorized a 3% increase to the tax - from 9% to 12%. The first 9% of TOT is divided with 33% of revenues received going into the General Fund. The remaining funds, including the Measure L funds, are allocated according to the Community Investment Fund Policy.

 

Tourism Impact Funds

One component of the Measure L funds is the Tourism Impact Fund, established to mitigate the impacts of Tourism. The Tourism Impact Fund distributes 10% of revenue from Measure L among the Supervisorial Districts, according to the percentage of TOT revenue collected in each District during the previous fiscal year.

 

The Tourism Impact Fund was established to meet unique and urgent needs of areas within unincorporated Sonoma County that are most impacted by tourism. District Supervisors recommend how funding should be allocated in their district, for approval by the Board of Supervisors. In order to address urgent needs in a timely manner, the Board of Supervisors awards Tourism Impact Funds twice a year.

 

Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements (e.g. lighted and/or marked crosswalks, traffic calming devices), environmental impact mitigation (e.g. removing trash from beaches, waterways, and areas with high tourist traffic), public safety (e.g. Fire Services), and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement in heavily trafficked areas. Funds may be used to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils.

 

Unused funds in a single fiscal year will be accounted for and available in following years.

 

Details of the proposals may be found in Attachment A.

 

District One Funds: $90,000

Project

Organization/ Department

Amount

Emergency Winter Shelter

Sonoma Overnight Support

$60,000

Sonoma Valley Trail

Sonoma County Regional Parks

$30,000

Sub-Total

$90,000

 

District Four Funds: $20,000

Project

Organization/ Department

Amount

COVID-19 Community Outreach

Latinos Unidos del Condado de Sonoma

$5,000

COVID-19 Community Outreach

Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. dba KBBF

$5,000

COVID-19 Community Outreach

Reach For Home

$5,000

COVID-19 Community Outreach

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

$5,000

Sub-Total

$20,000

 

District Five Funds: $237,500

Project

Organization/ Department

Amount

Chamber Cash Program

Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

$5,000

Small Business Online Services

Russian River Chamber of Commerce

$7,500

Transitional Housing Expansion Program

TLC Child and Family Services

$15,000

COVID-19 Relief Fund

River to Coast Children’s Services

$20,000

Transportation Fund

Russian River Alliance

$5,000

Food Gift Card Fund

Russian River Alliance

$5,000

VISTA Academy Youth Detention Program

The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship

$10,000

Shelter-In-Place Portal

Sonoma County Farm Trails

$20,000

Website Improvements and Development

Sebastopol Center for the Arts

$15,000

Gift Card Purchase Program

Friends of Rio Nido

$5,000

Online Functionality of Main Stage West

Main Stage West

$5,000

Meals Fund

Lazy Bear Fund, Inc.

$20,000

Pet Supply and Food Delivery

Pets are Loving Support (PALS)

$5,000

Crisis Support Program

West County Community Services

$30,000

Shower Fund

West County Community Services

$15,000

Russian River Clean Up and COVID-19 Response

Russian Riverkeeper on behalf of Clean River Alliance

$5,000

Gift Card and Bill Pay Programs

Latino Service Providers

$25,000

Financial Aid Program

North Bay Organizing Project on behalf of UndocuFund

$25,000

Sub-Total

$237,500

Total

$347,500

 

Funds will be distributed upon approval of these awards by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Tourism Impact Fund Agreement contract by the entity. The contracts will be executed by the County Administrator. The contracts will require the County logo on promotional materials produced using the grant award, and will require submission of receipts to the County Administrator’s Office for the total amount of the grant award.

 

Due to the scope and nature of projects funded by the Tourism Impact Fund, the project may require modification and/or work may not be completed during the award year, necessitating an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project. Therefore it is recommended that the County Administrator, 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.

 

Prior Board Actions:

12/17/2019 - Allocation of FY 19-20 Tourism Impact Funds

 

Fiscal Summary

 Expenditures

FY 19-20 Adopted

FY20-21 Projected

FY 21-22 Projected

Budgeted Expenses

$347,500

 

 

Additional Appropriation Requested

 

 

 

Total Expenditures

$347,500

 

 

Funding Sources

 

 

 

General Fund/WA GF

 

 

 

State/Federal

 

 

 

Fees/Other

$347,500

 

 

Use of Fund Balance

 

 

 

Contingencies

 

 

 

Total Sources

$347,500

 

 

 

Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:

Funds are included in the FY 2019-2020 budget.

 

Staffing Impacts:

 

 

 

Position Title (Payroll Classification)

Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step)

Additions (Number)

Deletions (Number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):

N/A

 

Attachments:

Attachment A: FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Award Data

 

Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:

FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Agreement

Community Investment Fund Policy