To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Economic Development Collaborative
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ethan Brown, (707) 565-7152
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Second
Title:
Title
Funding Agreement with the City of Petaluma for Economic Development Fellowship Support
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Delegate authority to the Director of Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) to execute the proposed funding agreement with the City of Petaluma, for the City of Petaluma to contribute $20,000 in support of the EDC’s Economic Development Fellowship position.
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Executive Summary:
The City of Petaluma (City) and Sonoma County EDC are partnering to share a research fellow with City’s Economic Development Division. The fellow will work part-time (0.25 FTE) on City of Petaluma initiatives. The fellow will extend the City's analytical capacity by leveraging the EDC's data systems and research expertise to support the City's 2026-27 Economic Development Workplan implementation.
This item requests delegated authority for the Director of Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative to execute a funding agreement with City of Petaluma, in the amount of $20,000, for a period of one year, expiring August 31, 2027. Under the Agreement, EDC will employ a research fellow to carry out various tasks in coordination with the City, including development and maintenance of Economic Development Dashboard, Ad Hoc Research, and Economic Impact Analysis.
Discussion:
Under the Agreement, the EDC will employ a full-time Administrative Aide (Fellow), and City of Petaluma will contribute $20,000 to fund that position. On a quarter-time basis (approximately 10 hours per week), the Fellow will focus on Petaluma-specific analysis and initiatives as part of their overall EDC work, with a goal of supporting the Economic Development Dashboard, Ad Hoc Research, Economic Impact Analysis, and other tasks as assigned, consistent with the overall scope of work.
This Agreement is meant to support the EDC and the City’s shared goals of economic development and vitality through collaboration and partnership. This partnership represents a model for multi-jurisdictional collaboration and partnerships that strengthen economic development activities in the county. A similar fellowship funding agreement was entered with Town of Windsor in 2025 and was a success.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$20,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$20,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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City of Petaluma Funding |
$20,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$20,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The City of Petaluma will pay the County a total of $20,000 to be paid in four equal installments throughout the term of the Agreement. Appropriations for the salary and benefit expenditures were included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Adopted Budget.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The EDC has hired 1.0 FTE Administrative Aide to satisfy the terms of this Agreement. One-quarter of the employee’s time will be spent working with the City of Petaluma, the remaining time will be spent supporting the EDC’s grant-funded Broadband programs, including coordination with North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium and implementation of the EDC’s digital equity programs.
Attachments:
2026-2027 EDC-City of Petaluma Funding Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.