To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Emergency Management
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jeffrey DuVall / 707-565-1152
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth District
Title:
Title
District 4 Infrastructure Funds - City of Healdsburg, Abel De Luna Community Center and Resilience Hub
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Executive Officer or designee to execute a funding agreement with the City of Healdsburg for the County to provide funding toward the Abel De Luna Community Center Resilience Hub project in an amount not to exceed $500,000 through December 31, 2026.
B) Adopt a Resolution adjusting the Department of Emergency Management FY2024-25 adopted budget to program $500,000 of District 4 Community Infrastructure funds. (4/5 Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
This item seeks the Board’s authorization to use $500,000 of the District 4 Infrastructure Fund ($1.3 million available balance) for improvements to the City of Healdsburg’s Abel De Luna Community Center towards the goal of creating a Resilience Hub, with improved functionality and accessibility to better serve ongoing community needs and emergency response and disaster recovery capacity. This item seeks authorization for the County Executive Officer or designee to execute an agreement in the amount of $500,000 with the City of Healdsburg to receive the funds and complete these improvements to the Abel De Luna Community Center. The funds will provide a public benefit for the community as allowed by Government Code section 26227.
Discussion:
The Healdsburg Community Center (Center) has long served as a cornerstone of emergency response and recovery efforts in our city. It has been an indispensable location during wildfires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Healdsburg in partnership with Corazón Healdsburg has hosted a wide range of critical resilient community services, including:
1. Operating as a designated Local Assistance Center (LAC) in collaboration with the County during wildfire events, providing coordination, information, and essential support services to impacted residents.
2. Hosting a community space for updates from CalFire, City officials and first responder briefings on fire conditions and safety measures.
3. Coordinating large-scale distributions of food and emergency supplies in partnership with the Redwood Empire Food Bank and local businesses, ensuring basic needs are met for families during emergencies.
4. Serving as intake site and anchor organization for emergency relief, distributing gift cards to residents impacted by natural disasters and providing immediate relief during challenging times, and collaborating with the County Office of Equity, Department of Emergency Management and COAD Sonoma County to support intakes and site logistics during the winter storms.
5. Operating emergency shelter rooms, collaborating with the Red Cross, offering safe and secure refuge for individuals and families evacuated during wildfires. Providing essential language access, support for monolingual Spanish-speaking residents, and providing flyers and information for Temporary Evacuation Points (TEPs) and shelter locations, ensuring equitable access to vital information and resources.
6. Facilitating the distribution of critical health supplies, masks, vaccines, and COVID-19 tests, safeguarding public health during the pandemic in partnership with community-based organizations.
7. Hosting education workshops centered around preparedness and planning, Emergency Disaster Preparedness workshops, renters’ insurance and financial preparedness through Corazón Healdsburg’s programming.
With its proven history of supporting the community in times of crisis, the Center has naturally become a resilience hub for emergency response along with the vital resources, services and partners located on-site.
The Center, located at 1557 Healdsburg Avenue in Healdsburg, serves as a community hub offering essential services and gathering spaces. It currently provides leased spaces to the YMCA for full-day infant and toddler childcare, preschool programs, a temporary library location, Corazón Healdsburg, and Alliance Medical Center. A wide range of services and activities are available, including Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) classes, the Building Blocks Preschool Program, a community garden, and sports programs such as soccer and baseball. The Center also hosts an annual Preschool Fair and partners with the Redwood Empire Food Bank for weekly food distribution.
The Center also fosters community connections by providing space for gatherings, special events, and cultural presentations in a safe and welcoming environment. Additionally, Corazón Healdsburg offers co-located services, including mental health support through Humanidad Therapy, legal assistance from Legal Aid of Sonoma County, and employment resources through the Employment Development Department (EDD).
Corazón Healdsburg’s mission is to build a compassionate and just community by empowering and dignifying individuals and families, advocating against injustices, and uniting people to celebrate diversity. Under its annual lease agreement with the City of Healdsburg, Corazón Healdsburg delivers ongoing services through the Family Resource Center, Cradle- to-Career Academic Development programs, and Community and Civic Engagement initiatives to residents of the City of Healdsburg and those living or working in Northern Sonoma County (Windsor-Cloverdale).
This project, in partnership and co-creation with the City of Healdsburg, Corazón Healdsburg and community members will transform the Center into a full-scale Multicultural & Resiliency Center, providing a dedicated space for emergencies, cultural gatherings, educational classes and workshops, and community-driven programs that reflect the needs, priorities, and diversity of Northern Sonoma County. Enhancing this multi-use space will enable Corazón Healdsburg and the City of Healdsburg to expand essential services and create a more resilient and connected Northern Sonoma County.
This infrastructure investment will transform the Center into a fully equipped Multicultural & Resiliency Center, enhancing its capacity to serve as both a disaster relief center and a year-round resource for our diverse community.
Funding will support critical infrastructure improvements at the Center to remain fully operational when our community needs it most. This space is a hub for multicultural sessions focused on community needs, including financial empowerment classes, mental health access, and culturally relevant programs that celebrate and preserve our diverse traditions. A portion of these funds will be used for completion of Americans with Disabilities Act required and identified Community Center site improvements, such as signage with braille and site entrance and exit improvements. These improvements will reinforce the City’s role as a trusted emergency response hub while continuing to serve as a gathering space for learning, connection, and resilience-building.
Additionally, the City and Corazon Healdsburg, in collaboration with the Northern Sonoma County Healthcare Foundation, will integrate a multicultural lens into the design and functionality of the space, guided by insights from a year-long series of listening sessions with Healdsburg’s most marginalized communities. By incorporating culturally inclusive elements-such as multilingual signage, dedicated gathering spaces, and programming tailored to the needs of our diverse residents-we will create a space that is not only safe and resilient but also welcoming and reflective of our entire community to help expand access to emergency preparedness, equitable disaster relief, and essential resources for all residents. This project will not only strengthen our community’s ability to withstand future crises but also ensure that resilience is built for everyone, by everyone.
This item seeks the Board's authorization to program $500,000 of the District 4 Infrastructure Funds to support the creation of a Multicultural & Resilience Center and for the County Executive Officer or designee to execute an agreement with the City of Healdsburg to receive the funds. The Healdsburg City Council will meet on May 19, 2025, to vote on accepting the funds and execution of the agreement with the County of Sonoma.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
Yes
A Racial Equity Analysis was completed and results available in Attachment 2.
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$500,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$500,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$500,000 |
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$500,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The funding for this project comes from District 4 Infrastructure Funds. Appropriations will be added to the 2024-25 Fiscal Year budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
1. Budget Resolution
2. Racial Equity Analysis
3. Agreement with City of Healdsburg
4. Healdsburg Multicultural Center Report
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.